CHARITON, Iowa — Farmers’ markets across the state are in full swing. For some business owners, it can take years of work just to secure a coveted spot. When it comes to Chariton, they believe in starting the path to entrepreneurship young.

Farmers’ markets celebrate community. “You will notice we do have different cultures of families here,” said Christine Grimes, director of the Chariton Farmers Market.

They often display a passion for buying local. Grimes said, “This shows everybody can do anything.”

In Chariton, their farmers’ market can be a small window into the future. “As long as kids keep showing up we are going to keep doing it because it’s their time to shine,” said Grimes.

In its second official year at the Chariton Farmers Market, the town has launched the “Mini Market.” Grimes said, “All you can do is try. That’s all we did. We didn’t expect last year to have the turnout we did and it was just like wow!”

Two times a year, kids in grades K-12 can sell handmade and homemade crafts, baked goods, and refreshments free of charge. Grimes said, “We just invite them. It doesn’t cost them for the day and so everything that comes in is money in their pocket. It gives them a chance to see what the adults do.”

Eight-year-old Alexis her six-year-old sister Paisley run Sassy Pants Lemonade. “When people taste it they say they love it,” said Alexis with a smile. Their table was filled with a variety of products. “We are selling some tomatoes, lemonade, cookies and pens, cups and bracelets,” Alexis said.

Huxlee McFall was running RenKyn & Company with his friend Ren Wright. “It’s like hand-made Play-Dough,” said Huxlee.

Annabelle Loew is ten years old and runs her own stand with Annabelle’s Loewmonade. It specializes in refreshments that stand out. She said, “The flavor and also that it is fresh-squeezed and not store-bought.”

The business experience gained is truly priceless, but just like the diverse items being sold by these kids in Chariton, their goals and dreams of what to spend their hard-earned money on is endless. Alexis said, “We save it up to go to a lot of places like Adventureland, Disneyland and a lot of stuff.”

Annabelle added, “To do stocks and invest my money and be smart about it and have some money when I grow up so I don’t have to start fresh when I’m twenty-something.”

Paisley was excited about how the day of business was going and said, “We make a lot of money.”

Whatever the reason, the experience is priceless for these young entrepreneurs. “I learned the income and all the stuff that we need to know to sell stuff,” Annabelle said.

When local leaders like Christine take a step back, they don’t see inexperience; they see the town’s future. She said, “I think it says we’ve got parents that care. We’ve got a strong community. I’m just happy they showed up.”

The second and final Mini-Market of the year is Thursday, July 17th, at the Chariton Farmers Market from 4:00 pm until 6 pm. The normal farmers market continues every Thursday through October 1^st on the east courthouse lawn in Chariton.