My Big Idea

MyBigIdea!

is a youth entrepreneurship program that equips the next generation of business leaders with hands-on classroom instruction, pitch competitions & showcasing their products & services at youth fairs across the Upper Cumberland region.

04/19/2026

What an incredible day at the Youth Entrepreneur Fair at Cumberland Mountain General Store!

We had over 25 young businesses show up, step out in courage, and share what they’ve been working so hard on. The creativity, confidence, and determination these kids showed were truly inspiring.

In just 2 hours, one young entrepreneur made over $375 🤯 — proof that hard work, preparation, and a little bravery can go a long way!

We are so grateful to everyone who made this day possible. A special thank you to our speakers, Jacob Rosenbaum and Samantha Horst, for pouring into these young entrepreneurs and encouraging them to dream big.

Thank you to our judges, Jolene Calhoun and Chad Calhoun, for your time, wisdom, and thoughtful encouragement to each participant.

Thank you to The Biz Foundry for believing in our youth and supporting our future business owners!

We also want to thank Pastor Jackson White from The Refuge Community Church for opening the event in prayer and setting the tone for such a meaningful day.

And ultimately, our Lord and Savior for providing great weather and provisions to see these children flourish.

🎉 Award Winners 🎉

Each category winner received a $75 prize — and these young entrepreneurs truly earned it!

Ages 6–9

Best Original Idea: Aubry & Landon Branstetter — Rooted Creations
Best Business Potential: Elora Riley — Sweet with Cupcakes
Best Presentation: Aubri De La Torre — Aubri’s Creation

Ages 10–14

Best Original Idea: Breanna Sias — Lock and Key
Best Business Potential: Luke Hudacheck — JMJ Woodwork
Best Presentation: Lydia Sias — Fresh Fizz Refreshers

Ages 15–17

Best Original Idea: Matthew Hinton & Anakin — Parking Matt’sters
Best Business Potential & Best Presentation: Natalie Anderson — Pretty In Pink Pup Co

🏆 Grand Prize – Crowd Favorite ($350 prize)
Elijah Barnes — Creative 3D

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing support of our sponsors. Thank you for believing in these kids and investing in the next generation of leaders:

Matt Wolcott
Fentress County Chamber of Commerce
Andrew Austin – State Farm Insurance
Mountain Barn Builders
Cumberland Mountain General Store
The Hidden Paradise Farms
Blackwater Realty
The Venue Jamestown
Ed Butler
Grant De La Torre – Auctioneer

We truly couldn’t have done it without every single one of you.

And to the kids — you showed us what’s possible when you take initiative and believe in yourself. This is just the beginning.

We can’t wait to see what you all do next. 💛

-Jessica Hinton

04/18/2026

We’ve got some amazing items to be purchased this Saturday at the 2nd annual youth entrepreneurship fair!

Come out and support the 25+ local youth entrepreneurs from 10-12 at the Cumberland mountain General store in clarkrange, TN.

04/11/2026

What an incredible day at our Youth Shark Tank in Overton County!

We had 6 amazing young entrepreneurs, ages 7–14, step up with creativity, courage, and some seriously impressive ideas. Each one brought something unique, and we couldn’t be more proud of every single participant!

A big congratulations to Wade, who took home the $250 Crowd Favorite Award—your support from the community was felt loud and clear!

And a huge congratulations to our $1000 Grand Prize Winner, Elora! 🎉

Elora’s business, Sweet with Cupcakes, wowed the judges with her heart for inclusion—creating delicious gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan treats so that everyone can enjoy something sweet, no matter their dietary needs. Her mission to bring people together and make every day feel like a celebration truly stood out.

Thank you to everyone who came out in Livingston to support these young entrepreneurs. Your encouragement means the world and is helping raise up the next generation of leaders right here in Overton County. 💛

03/11/2026

🎉 Calling All Young Entrepreneurs! 🎉

We’re excited to announce our 2nd Annual Youth Entrepreneur Fair on Saturday, April 18, 2026! 🛍️✨

This is your chance to showcase your business, creativity, or project to the community! Whether you make crafts, sell treats, or have a brilliant invention, we want YOU to join us.

📌 Event Details:

Set Up: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Speakers: 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Shopping time: 10:00 AM – NOON
Wrap up and awards: NOON - 1 PM

💡 Sponsors Wanted!
Support our young entrepreneurs by donating prizes, supplies, or sponsorships. Your generosity helps kids learn real-world business skills and builds confidence.

📲 Sign Up Today!
na1.hubspot.com/payments/T4jTrPp9?referrer=PAYMENT_LINK

Interested in sponsoring tomorrow's business owners - Please reach out to me directly! We are looking for 7 businesses donating $200 each! Your business name will be on our youth's shirts!

Let’s empower the next generation of business leaders together! 🌟

02/12/2026

Yes!!!!

02/10/2026

🦈 YOUTH SHARK TANK RECAP + WINNERS ANNOUNCED! 🦈

What an incredible day at our Youth Shark Tank–Style Pitch Competition! We watched young entrepreneurs step into confidence, share bold ideas, and show our community just how much potential lives in our kids.

From start to finish, this event was about more than winning — it was about courage, creativity, and growth. And these students delivered.

🏆 WINNERS 🏆

👏 Crowd Favorite Award – $100
Maura (Age 11) – The Go To Place
Maura captured the hearts of the audience with her passion for community, athletics, and bringing entertainment to the County. What an inspiring vision — and a well-deserved crowd favorite!

🥇 Grand Prize Winner
Cypress (Age 10) – Friendgevity
Cypress blew us away with a thoughtful, compassionate idea focused on helping the elderly build meaningful friendships. The judges were impressed by both the heart behind the idea and the way it was presented. The future is bright!

🌟 To ALL of our participants:
You did something brave. You stood up, shared your ideas, answered questions, and believed in yourself. Every single one of you should be proud — this was no small thing.

❤️ To the families:
Thank you for supporting your kids, helping them prepare, and cheering them on. Your encouragement matters more than you know.

⚖️ To our judges:
A heartfelt thank you to

- Philip Horst, owner of P&L Construction & Barn Builders

- Wade Delk, owner of Hemlock Homes and of Blackwater Realty

- Jacob Rosenbaum, president of the Fentress Chamber of Commerce

Thank you for investing your time, wisdom, and encouragement into these students.

🤝 To our sponsors:
This event would not have been possible without your generosity and belief in youth entrepreneurship. Please join us in thanking:

Union Bank
Fentress Chamber of Commerce
Merle Norman Cosmetics
Ace Hardware
Singleton Family
Builtwell Bank
Jacob Rosenbaum
Hidden Paradise Farms
Cumberland Mountain General Store
Advanced Imaging
Brent Bush – Farm Bureau

🏛️ Thank you to Fentress County for allowing us to use the courthouse and welcoming this event into the community.

✨ A special shout-out to The Biz Foundry for supporting entrepreneurs at every stage of life. If you’re interested in learning more, connect with Jeff Brown.

And finally — if you loved this event and want to see more opportunities like this for our youth, please know: events like this don’t happen for free. Sponsorships, donations, and community support are what make them possible. If you’d like to help us continue investing in the next generation, we’d love to talk with you.

Today we planted seeds.
Confidence grew.
Voices were heard.
And the future got a little brighter 🌻

— Jessica Hinton 💛

02/07/2026

TODAY, something really special is happening in Fentress County — and YOU’re invited to be part of it!

Join us for a Youth Shark Tank–Style Pitch Competition here in Fentress County, where kids ages 8–17 will take the stage to share their Big Ideas, solve real problems, and pitch businesses designed to thrive right here in our community (and beyond!).

📍 Fentress County Courthouse
🕐 Saturday | 1:00 PM
🎉 FREE & open to the public

✨ Come cheer them on
✨ Hear creative, inspiring ideas
✨ Vote for the Crowd Favorite
✨ Support the next generation of leaders

These students have worked hard, practiced courage, and stepped way outside their comfort zones — and there is NOTHING more powerful than a community showing up to support them.

Whether you’re a parent, business owner, educator, or just love seeing young people succeed, your presence matters.

👉 Bring a friend.
👉 Bring your family.
👉 Bring your applause.

Let’s pack the room and show these kids that their ideas matter 💚

01/19/2026

Taught 77 - 7 & 8th graders about starting their very own business!

01/03/2026

CALLING ALL YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS (AGES 8–17)!

Do you have a BIG IDEA?
Do you see a problem and think, “I know how to fix that”?
This is YOUR chance to step into the spotlight!

We’re hosting a Shark Tank–style pitch competition for kids and teens right here in Fentress County, OR, Homeschooled (ANY COUNTY)—and $2,000 in prize money is up for grabs! 💥

✨ Here’s the best part:
✔ You do NOT need to already have a business
✔ You just need a great idea—especially one that could thrive in Fentress County and beyond
✔ Creativity, confidence, and effort matter more than perfection

🍽 Lunch will be provided for all participating kids before the event.

This is more than a competition—it’s a chance to:
• Build confidence
• Practice public speaking
• Learn real-world business skills
• Be cheered on by your community

📣 Teachers & parents: PLEASE share this with your students and kids! Encourage them to practice, dream big, and go for it. This could be the moment that sparks something incredible.

Let’s show our kids that their ideas matter. 💡
Let’s show up and cheer them on.

Tag a student/parent/teacher who needs to see this 👇

12/26/2025

Calling All Young Dreamers & Doers! (Ages 6-17)

Do you have a BIG idea? A business dream? A product or service you’ve been thinking about starting?

This is YOUR moment!!!!

Fentress County’s MY BIG IDEA: Youth Business Pitch Competition gives you the chance to pitch your idea in front of real local business judges, build confidence, and gain real-world business skills—AND compete for $2,000 in prizes 💰🏆

✨ 2 Categories:
• Fentress County Residents
• Homeschool (any TN county)

This event is all about courage, creativity, and dreaming BIG. You don’t need a perfect idea—just the willingness to step up and try.

Friends, families, and community members—mark calendars! Come cheer on our youth, get inspired, and help celebrate the next generation of entrepreneurs!

📍 Fentress County Courthouse | Jamestown, TN
🗓 Saturday, February 7, 2026
⏰ 1:00–4:00 PM

👉 Youth: Your idea could win BIG.
👉 Community: Let’s show up and support our kids!

Address

114 N. Cedar Avenue
Cookeville, TN
38501

Website

http://mybigidea.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when My Big Idea posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Featured

The Blackbird Academy
2806 Azalea Place, Nashville

Want your school to be the top-listed School/college in Cookeville?