Aaron and Isaac Holmbo started their first 14-week workshop with Weld County 4-H’s YouthBiz program as shy 13- and 11-year-olds, respectively. But as they learned how to choose, produce, pitch and market a real-world product to sell at the end of the workshop, their confidence grew.

This program, implemented in 2024 by Weld County’s 4-H Youth Agent, Patrick Pulis, is teaching middle- and high-school youth life skills that will carry them into future careers and experiences. Aaron and Isaac went through the program in the spring and enjoyed it so much that they signed on for a second round this past fall. During the first experience, Isaac made a phone holder, but he was excited to do something out-of-the box for the second round of the workshop.

“My younger brother, Gerard — he’s eight — has an autonomic disorder and celiac disease,” explained Isaac. “He can’t eat a lot of normal foods, so I wanted to make a cookbook full of recipes he, and our family, can enjoy.”

Isaac did just that. He researched celiac disease and discovered that going gluten-free was a huge way to help his brother feel better when it came to mealtimes. But Isaac didn’t simply take recipes that were already on the internet or sitting in established cookbooks. No, Isaac made his own unique recipes with Gerard as his guide. From chicken nuggets, pizza and cookies to pumpkin chili and enchilada casserole, Isaac and Gerard created recipes that were healthy and wouldn’t cause Gerard’s celiac disease to flare up.

From there, Isaac purchased materials to make the cookbook. YouthBiz offers $50 to each youth participating — $25 of that money is a loan. Isaac had to sign a “loan agreement” and a contract with Aaron and Gerard to ensure they’d work together well and resolve any potential disputes properly. But getting along with his brothers wasn’t the hardest part of the experience for Isaac.

“Math,” he sighed, talking about how the subject is not his strongest. “I had to figure out the cost to make the product and we had a labor cost that was $3 for four hours, so $12 total. But we got to figure out how much money we might make, and that got me really excited.”

For Isaac and Aaron, the prospect of making real-world money from marketing their products — Aaron made soybean candles — is a relief for the entire family.

“Whatever money I make, I want to give 40% of it to my parents to help them,” Aaron said, as his mom, Letty, fought off tears in the background.

Isaac and Aaron had to pitch their products to a shark tank of “investors.” This was the first time they’d spoken in front of a panel of adults, but they did well, according to Letty. And when it came time to sell their products on a Saturday in late November, they made some good money — Aaron’s candles garnered him a $66 profit while Isaac went home with $77 (after paying taxes). But according to Letty, they came away with something even more valuable.

“The boys’ personalities have done a complete flip,” Letty explained. “Coupled with eating healthier, thanks to Isaac’s cookbook, they have gained confidence they didn’t have before by educating themselves, believing in out-of-the-box ideas and being dedicated to their craft. This program has been a godsend for teaching them real-world skills and expanding their confidence.”

Pulis is grateful to teach the youth of Weld County entrepreneurial skills thanks to the public identifying it as a need back in 2023.

“We conducted a needs assessment and a lot of community members identified youth developing life skills, especially managing finances, as a big need,” Pulis said. “Seeing the kids struggle with parts of the program and observing them overcome and persevere to sometimes sell out of their products is highly rewarding.”

The rewarding experience comes from collaboration. Students learn alongside Pulis and Bethany Lanphere of Greeley’s LINC Library, using a challenging curriculum developed by the Denver-based Young Americans Center. The LINC offers top-notch resources. There’s a woodworking shop, maker’s space and media room, to name a few.

Letty couldn’t agree more about the program being fulfilling for youth. While she’s seen excitement in Isaac and Aaron, she’s also noticed a change in Gerard.

“All three of my boys transformed from shy caterpillars into confident young men. And now they’re able to sell their candles and cookbooks to community members outside of the program at craft fairs and local events. It’s amazing to see them gaining skills that most people don’t learn until college or when they go to take out a loan for a house or a car. We’re planning to participate in the next round of the program so they can keep enhancing these skills.”

Aaron and Isaac are excited to apply the skills they’ve learned through YouthBiz 4-H in the real world. At such young ages, the boys have dreams of being a lifeguard and professional soccer player. While it's too early to know exactly how the skills garnered from this class will help them in the future, for now, they're happy to make candles and cookbooks with their family. And earning a few extra dollars in the process doesn’t hurt.

Loneliness is more than an emotion — it's a public health concern with profound implications to our well-being. In Weld County, a collaborative initiative called Acts of Connection is leading efforts to understand and address the factors that contribute to loneliness and disconnection. Through partnerships and grassroots engagement, this program helps build healthier, more connected communities. Learn more about these efforts in the next issue of County Roots.