Ty Elrod, a member of the Marshall County High School FFA Chapter, placed third in the state at the KACTE (Kentucky Association for Career and Technical Education) Entrepreneurship Event and will receive $500 to further advance his beef cattle entrepreneurship and forage businesses.
This event challenges CTSO members in grades 9-12 to complete a pitch for funding for a new or existing entrepreneurial business with $2500 in prize money going to the winners.
“We are very proud of Ty and are thrilled with his efforts to accomplish his personal and FFA goals”, said Chapter Advisor Jourdan Griffith.
Official Release
Frankfort- The winners of the tenth annual KACTE Entrepreneurship Event were announced today in Frankfort. The event was sponsored by the Kentucky Association for Career and Technical Education and was coordinated by the state advisors of the Career and Technical Education Student Organizations.
The event challenged high school career and technical education students to develop a plan for an entrepreneurial business. Students were required to submit an online video as well as a one page executive summary of their business plan. The videos were to be designed to provide information on the business plan to potential investors. Both the videos and the executive summaries were evaluated by a panel of outside judges.
The winning project was submitted by Cooper Bartlett and Ashton Harris of Nicholasville. They will split the $1000 first prize. Their business is named Jobs For Everyone and will involve the purchase of mini-vans to transport individuals to and from jobs. They hope to address two issues- pan handling and the worker shortage while turning a profit. Cooper and Ashton are members of DECA at Jessamine Career and Technology Center. Their advisor is Kayla Williams. Click here to view their video.
The second place project was submitted by Lilly Ruzanka and Anna Blackburn of Louisville. Their business “R & B Landscaping” will provide landscaping services in the Louisville area with a focus on quality work and creative designs. They will receive the second prize of $750. Click here to watch their video. Lilly and Anna are members of FBLA at Mercy Academy in Louisville. Their FBLA adviser is Beth Turpin.
The third place project was submitted by Ty Elrod of Marshall County. Ty receives the third prize of $500, sponsored by KACTE. Click here to watch his video. Ty produces cattle in partnership with his cousin in a business known as TAP Beef. They are expanding to offer locally raised beef directly to consumers in their community. Ty is a member of the Marshall County FFA and his advisors are Allan Smith and Jourdan Palmeri.
Thanks is extended to KACTE for sponsoring this event and to all the students who participated. Contact Matt Chaliff matt.chaliff@education.ky.gov or Mike Stone kmstone@mis.net for more information.