Big Dreams Little Tables: Raising the next generation of entrepreneurs

The second season for the city of Ennis’ Big Dreams Little Tables program is underway, with more than a dozen young aspiring entrepreneurs enrolled.

“Last year was our first year doing this program, and we went through a class piece, which was the education piece, and then they got to go in the market after graduation,” said Anna McCane, the city’s marketing manager.

McCane conceived the program as a way to educate “the next generation on the opportunities that exist in their backyard, and entrepreneurship is a great way to take hold of some of those opportunities.”

The first year was a resounding success, and McCane says this year’s enrollees are just as motivated.

Parental participation is required, both in the four weeks of class sessions and at the market once the youth start selling.  

“They have to be here every Saturday for the class and then have to turn around and be here when their child wants to participate in the market, which is not easy at times,” McCaane said. “I understand that schedules sometimes don’t always allow for that type of buy-in. So, the fact that we had that, and seemingly have it this year as well, is huge.”

Once participants complete the program, they’re able to set up at the Ennis Bluebonnet Market.

“If you walk the market now, you'll see kids who graduated last year participating,” McCane said, noting that this year’s program participants will be eligible to join the farmers market after their graduation on July 12.

“They can actually debut into the Bluebonnet Market the following week,” said McCane, who’s enjoyed watching the young aspiring entrepreneurs develop their skills.

“When I started the program, I was hoping to watch kids grow, but to be able to see it in real time was incredible,” McCane said.

Last year and this year, the kids have put together business plans for a variety of products, from selling lemonade to pickles, bracelets, and more.

“It just goes to show that there’s a lot of variety in the products, and while they are being created by children, they’re in no way childish,” McCane said.

The four-week course teaches the children what it means to be an entrepreneur and also how they can apply those skills to day-to-day life. They learn about pricing and how to source materials, communication skills, displaying their items, and marketing.

“It’s really all about entrepreneurialism,” said McCane, who’s not just teaching theory but who has entrepreneurial experience herself, having started her own photography business as a teen.

“I’m a photographer by trade, and then I was hired on at the city of Ennis, where I’m currently the marketing manager,” she said. “I think it just goes to show that entrepreneurialism can be applied in any aspect of your life and benefits you wherever you go.”

At the end of the 2024 season, the top three earners with Big Dreams Little Tables addressed the Ennis Economic Development Board, where they shared about their products and what they had learned.

“They thanked the board because our funding, our seed funding, came from the Ennis Economic Development Board, and they were able to show them where that investment went,” McCane said. “I think that was probably the most rewarding, watching the kids go throughout the program, become the top earners, and then get to turn around and show the gratitude to the EDC board. Watching them present was so cute; it was so sweet to see them just take ownership of their business that they’ve created throughout the process of this program.”

For more information, visit bigdreamslittletables.com.

Written by Jo Ann Livingston/In The Know Ellis.