Entrepreneurship | Tennessee 4-H Youth Development

In the 4-H Entrepreneurship project, you’ll learn what it takes to turn your ideas into a real business. From creating products or services to marketing, selling, and managing money, this project helps you explore every step of running a business. You’ll gain hands-on experience, practice problem-solving, and discover how to meet the needs of your customers.

Entrepreneurs Project Snapshot

Entrepreneurship Project Toolkit

Beginning: 1-2 years in the Project

Intermediate: 3-5 years in the Project

Advanced: 6-9 years in the Project

Beginner Entrepreneurship

Advanced Entrepreneurship

Follow the links below to find some great online resources for your project.

Make and sell homemade crafts or artwork
Start a lawn care, pet sitting, or babysitting service
Bake and sell cookies, bread, or other treats
Create and sell handmade jewelry, candles, or soaps
Organize a garage sale or resale shop
Design greeting cards or custom stationery to sell
Grow vegetables, herbs, or flowers and sell at a farmers market
Offer a car wash or recycling pickup service
Build small wooden items like birdhouses or planters to sell
Provide digital services like simple graphic design or video editing
Create a booth at a local fair or community event to sell your products
Partner with other 4-H’ers to launch a group business project

4-H Entrepreneurs Are Us

The 4-H Entrepreneurs Are Us contest takes place during the Tennessee 4-H Academic Conference as part of the Entrepreneurship Project. Modeled after the television show “Shark Tank,” this competition gives youth the opportunity to develop and pitch their own business ideas to a panel of judges, or “Sharks.” Contestants present their business plans, explain their products or services, and make a case for investment—just like real-world entrepreneurs.

4-H members who are in 8th – 11th grade as of January 1 may compete.
4-H members may work individually or as a team with a maximum of 4 team members.
4-H members must be registered through your county 4-H office
4-H members must submit a written business plan and story advertisement for their created product/company.

Everyone must speak and participate during the pitch to the Sharks.
The time allotted for each individual/team in the contest room is 15 minutes. This includes 10 minutes of the individual or team pitching their idea to the Sharks, two minutes to outline advertising and marketing strategies, and the last three minutes for questions from the Sharks.
Set-up and tear-down time will be provided and is not included in the 15 minutes.

Business Plan = 40 points
Product = 45 points
Presentation = 55 points
Shark’s Scores = 10 points
Total points available = 150 points