Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

While at last year’s Daniel Boone Pioneer Festival for the first time, Nichole Shafer and her two children caught on to something unique.

“We noticed that people were taking bags of crafts home, whereas [at] other festivals we’ve been to, things have been so expensive that you don’t really see people walking away with bags”, she said.

It seemed to be the perfect fit for a group of adolescents that put themselves to work this summer for a greater good, even as others around them partook in different activities.

Nine and fourteen-year-old Chloe and Coleman Shafer of Nicholasville, along with nine and eleven-year-old Ashlynn and Kaylee Sells of Winchester will be found selling crafts and goods at this year’s festival.

“It all started with an idea from [Chloe] that she wanted to create some cards and sell them to use the money to go toward St. Jude Hospital”, Shafer said. “Her specific crafts are going to be non-profit.”

Chloe Shafer then started the project with another woman from church, later realizing that she could give to non-profit organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Hospital which – with her desire to give back to children – made for an ideal fit.

While she may have brought the idea to fruition, she is far from alone when taking action.

“It just kind of sparked the business bug for everyone else”, Shafer said.

Her older brother, Coleman Shafer, has spent time making fishing jigs used as lures.

With a family friend involved, Ashlyn Sells will sell homemade soaps, while her older sister Kaylee will have hand-painted canvases and cutting boards for customers to purchase.

Thus, the tent under which they settle will have many options for clients to view.

“We thought it was a great experience for our kids to try this year”, Shafer said. “I think the [Daniel Boone] Pioneer Festival has a great clientele for what we’re selling. This is going to be a learning experience for the kids to see if this is something that is profitable for them and how the business world works.”

Along with the passion for making sales, an interest in customer service will be a driving force for the kids as they seek to make a positive impact.

“I think they’re looking forward to talking to the customers and explaining the whole process of how they made their crafts and what their profits are going towards”, Shafer said.