BETWEEN 11 A.M. AND 8 P.M. I’M JENN SULLIVAN, REPORTING. ALL RIGHT. HERE’S A QUESTION I’M SURE EVERYONE CAN RELATE TO. DID YOU EVER HOST A LEMONADE STAND AS A KID HOPING TO EARN A FEW BUCKS? I KNOW I TRIED NOT REALLY SUCCESSFUL, BUT KIDS IN KENNEBUNKPORT TODAY, THEY WERE TAKING THAT TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH THE ACTON CHILDREN’S BUSINESS FAIR. RENATE SCHMIDT TELLS US WHAT WAS UP FOR GRABS, EVERYTHING FROM HAND WOVEN HATS TO MEATBALLS TO WOODEN REINDEER. THAT’S WHAT’S ON SALE AT THE ACTON CHILDREN’S BUSINESS FAIR IN KENNEBUNKPORT. THIS ONE? 25, VIENNA LEARNED HOW TO WEAVE HATS, AND NOW SHE’S TURNING HER CRAFT INTO CASH. SHE’S AIMING TO MAKE $200 BY SELLING HER HOMEMADE HATS, KEYCHAINS AND POTPOURRI BAGS AT THE FAIR. LAST YEAR, I SOLD THEM AT 18. I RAISED THE PRICES UP THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY’RE REALLY POPULAR, AND THEY SOLD OUT WITHIN THE FIRST HOUR AND A HALF. AS FOR WHAT SHE PLANS TO DO WITH THAT HARD EARNED MONEY? DONATE SOME OF IT AND KEEP SOME OF IT FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS AND FOR CHANGE FOR NEXT YEAR’S BUSINESS FAIR. THIS YEAR’S FAIR HOSTED 45 DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, ALL RUN COMPLETELY BY KIDS. PARENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND SHOP AROUND. THE FAIR IS PART OF A LARGER NETWORK RUN BY ACTON ACADEMY. THE SCHOOL’S FOUNDER SAYS THE STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF RUNNING A BUSINESS IN CLASS, BUT THE HANDS ON EXPERIENCE IS CRITICAL. THEY’RE GETTING FEEDBACK. THEY’RE COMING UP WITH THEIR PRODUCTS, SEEING HOW IT SELLS. THEY’RE EXCHANGING MONEY. EVEN SMALL THINGS LIKE MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH CUSTOMERS. IT’S SOMETHING THAT IS WE’RE KIND OF LOSING. I FEEL LIKE, IN THIS WORLD. SO IT’S JUST SUCH A WONDERFUL THING. THE KIDS ARE ALSO THINKING FURTHER AHEAD. IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO LEARN HOW TO TALK TO A CUSTOMER AND LEARN HOW TO ASSESS RISKS. IF YOU DECIDE TO COME NEXT YEAR. SHOW UP HUNGRY? MY BAGELS. THEY ARE HOMEMADE AND HOMEMADE BOILED BAGELS AND THEY ARE MADE FRESH TODAY. WERE YOU UP EARLY? YEAH, YEAH. HOW EARLY? 4:00. ANY CHILD IS WELCOME TO APPLY. SO IF YOUR KIDDO HAS A BUDDING BUSINESS IDEA, ORGANIZERS SAY THE FAIR WILL B
Maine students launch businesses
Participants earned hands-on entrepreneurial experience
Updated: 10:59 PM EST Nov 22, 2025
Editorial Standards
Acton Academy in Kennebunkport held its sixth annual Children’s Business Fair Saturday. The event hosted 45 children-run businesses, and applications for a booth were open to any children in the community. Businesses included hand-woven hats, bagels, crocheted stuffed animals, origami, and much more. Participant Keelan Stack was up at 4 a.m. preparing his bagels, but his preparation for the event goes back to last year. He says his range of products and pricing is based on feedback he got at last year’s fair. Another participant, Vienna, sells woven hats, potpourri bags, and puff keychains. Her goal for the fair is to make $200, which she was well on her way to meeting. Acton Academy Kennebunkport’s founder, Kori Stack, said the children learn about running a business in the classroom, including things like marketing a brand and starting a website. She emphasized that the hands-on experience of the fair was critical. “They’re getting feedback, they’re coming up with their products, seeing how it sells. They’re exchanging money,” Stack said. “Even small things like making eye contact with customers, it’s something that we’re kind of losing, I feel like, in this world, so it’s just such a wonderful thing.”Organizers encourage parents to take a back seat during the preparation and the event, allowing students to handle making the products, setting up their booths, interacting with customers, and making sales. Stack also said the fair will return next year.
Acton Academy in Kennebunkport held its sixth annual Children’s Business Fair Saturday. The event hosted 45 children-run businesses, and applications for a booth were open to any children in the community.
Businesses included hand-woven hats, bagels, crocheted stuffed animals, origami, and much more.
Participant Keelan Stack was up at 4 a.m. preparing his bagels, but his preparation for the event goes back to last year. He says his range of products and pricing is based on feedback he got at last year’s fair.
Another participant, Vienna, sells woven hats, potpourri bags, and puff keychains. Her goal for the fair is to make $200, which she was well on her way to meeting.
Acton Academy Kennebunkport’s founder, Kori Stack, said the children learn about running a business in the classroom, including things like marketing a brand and starting a website. She emphasized that the hands-on experience of the fair was critical.
“They’re getting feedback, they’re coming up with their products, seeing how it sells. They’re exchanging money,” Stack said. “Even small things like making eye contact with customers, it’s something that we’re kind of losing, I feel like, in this world, so it’s just such a wonderful thing.”
Organizers encourage parents to take a back seat during the preparation and the event, allowing students to handle making the products, setting up their booths, interacting with customers, and making sales.
Stack also said the fair will return next year.
