Every market season, the youth of Snohomish have an opportunity to experience what it’s like to run a small business through Youth Vendor Day Experience. The program continues to expand as popularity and demand grow each year. The program is supported through partnerships with the Snohomish Farmers Market, Snohomish Chamber of Commerce, Coastal Community Bank, Little Books of Big Business, and Snohomish General Store.
Designed for youth ages 18 and under, the program introduces participants to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship through creative problem-solving, hands-on learning, and real-world market experience. Kids and teens are encouraged to develop their ideas, build confidence, and gain practical business skills as they bring their products to market.
Before setting up their booths, participants attend two educational workshops designed to prepare them for success. Age-appropriate learning tracks for younger children and teens help participants develop business concepts, create products, understand costs and pricing, design engaging displays, and practice networking and customer interaction. These are valuable skills that extend far beyond market day.
As part of the experience, participants also have the opportunity to attend Youth Chamber Day, where they join a Snohomish Chamber of Commerce meeting and gain experience presenting their ideas. Along the way, they connect with local business leaders, practice talking about their products, and refine their plans before making their market debut.
When Youth Vendor Day arrives, the young entrepreneurs step into the role of business owner. They showcase products they have made or grown themselves, manage their displays, interact with customers, and put their newly acquired skills into practice. “It's so wonderful to see the participating youth transform throughout this program - whether that's gaining confidence speaking in front of peers and adults to updating their business plans and ideas as they work through the process. It's such a rewarding experience all around for the market, our partners and our participants," says Sarah Dylan Jensen, Executive Director of the Snohomish Farmers Market.
Of course, entrepreneurship teaches much more than how to sell a product. Participants develop responsibility, communication skills, creativity, leadership, and self-confidence. Perhaps most importantly, they discover that they are capable of turning an idea into something tangible and sharing it with their community.
Programs like the Youth Vendor Day Experience remind us why investing in the next generation matters. They create opportunities for young people to explore different career paths, develop independence, and see business ownership as a possibility for their future. They also spark meaningful conversations within families about creativity, work, and what it means to build something of your own.
Be sure to stop by the Snohomish Farmers Market on August 6 and August 13 to support these young makers and entrepreneurs. And if you have a young person in your life who loves creating, building, or dreaming up new business ideas, keep an eye out for next year’s program — sign ups kick off in early 2027 and fill up quickly.
Every successful business begins with someone willing to take a first step—and for many local youth, that first step happens right here at the Snohomish Farmers Market.