Buyers amble from table to table perusing the wares contemplating their options. Finally, with their decision made and the money exchanged, buyer and seller celebrate the exchange.
The third annual Economic Project Fair held during the first week in April will give students a chance to showcase their skills as they sell their products.
Robert Foshee, economics teacher, sees the event as a key learning experience, a chance for students to put to use what they have learned.
“We do this to teach them what it takes to be entrepreneurs,” Foshee said. “It teaches them about advertising, production, supply and demand. It helps book knowledge become real life.”
Students underwent a brainstorming session in class on Feb. 25. As they dreamt up product ideas they had to keep several factors in mind.
“Their product has to be original,” Foshee said. “They have to make it themselves and it has to be legal.”
Coming up with inventive ideas is a challenge for many students but others are excited about the project.
“We are going to make the best idealistic ID cards ever,” Derrick Lehman, ’04, said. “Through this project I will be learning useful in marketing and production tools to help me expand my knowledge of a consumer-based market.”
Entrepreneurs are the people mainly responsible for propelling the consumer-based market.
“Entrepreneurs are what run the economy,” Foshee said. “An entrepreneur is someone who takes risks in search of profits. A lot of the students have parents who own their own businesses. Whether they make or lose money, they take an idea and see if it works.”
Taking risks to pursue dreams can be profitable for those who have original ideas.
“The project is all about originality,” Rene Charest, ’04, said. “Being an entrepreneur means starting from scratch and working your way up. My dad wanted to do construction so he took the idea and made a business out of it.”
Other campus students not in the class enjoy seeing the outcome of the project and have fun seeing their peer’s efforts.
“The fair was fun last year,” Karen Tolladay, ’05, said. “The bullet key chains were cool and the salsa was really good; I hope someone comes up with unique products this year too.”
Anticipation for the upcoming event builds for many as the event approaches. The fair will be held in the courtyard between Building 6 and Ground Zero in the first week of April.
For more information about this event, contact the high school office at (559) 299-1695, ext. 5 or go to www.thefeather.com.
