JUNE NIBJ: Stands will be out June 20 for Lemonade Day Kootenai County

Opportunities for young entrepreneurs to squeeze the most out of early lessons in business are offered through the Lemonade Day program.

Stands will be open across the region June 20 during the third annual Lemonade Day Kootenai County.

"When I found Lemonade Day, I thought, 'Oh my goodness, this is the thing I have been looking for to promote leadership and entrepreneurship for kids to have their first taste of opening something, making decisions and seeing results for their efforts,'" Lemonade Day Kootenai County founder, recent Ms. Idaho and Front ROI Chief Integrity Officer Bretta Provost said May 7.

As a youth who was raised by a single mom in a lower income household, Provost's family didn't have money for extras. She developed an entrepreneurial mindset and would braid hair or set up a lemonade stand to raise money.

"That kind of hands-on learning stays with you for a lifetime," Provost said.

Lemonade Day is designed to teach kids how to launch, own and operate businesses via lemonade stands. The annual program launched in Houston, Texas, in 2007. According to lemonadeday.org, Lemonade Day has since served 1.5 million kids in 97 communities in two countries who have generated $184 million in profits.

Kootenai County Lemonade Day is free for youth ages 5-18 to participate.

“I learned responsibilities because I had a lot of work to do," said 11-year-old McKenzie McMurray, the 2025 Lemonade Day Kootenai County Youth Entrepreneur of the Year who ran the MNM Lemonade Squad stand.

The 2025 season was her second year participating. 

"My business plan took some time, and I had to redo it a couple of times because my expenses did not make sense," McKenzie said. "I also wanted to make sure all the donations and money made went to the foundation for our fallen firefighters. They mean a lot to our community and me in Idaho."

She was thrilled to donate $1,238 in proceeds to the Red and Blue Foundation, a nonprofit that supports first responders and their families in times of crisis.

Sponsors helped McKenzie with her stand, where she served prickly pear lemonade, cupcakes, cheesecakes, snacks and invited visitors to try a scorpion sucker challenge.

"I also had help advertising, which was important, so we had enough people come to the stand and support the cause," McKenzie said. "It was important to me that I came up with easy treats and a lemonade that represented who I am and where I’m from, the Sweetheart State Arizona."

Lemonade Day allows young entrepreneurs to experience workplace interactions and practices, such as customer service, marketing and advertising, financial literacy and inventory management.

As the 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year, McKenzie shared this advice to her fellow lemonade stand proprietors: “Remember to smile and have good customer service and always look at your budget to stay within reason."

Info: local.lemonadeday.org/kootenai-county

    Honorable mentions for creative branding and growth for the 2025 Lemonade Day program in Kootenai County went to Sydney Sparks, left, and Quinn Sparks. This year's event will be June 20.