WESTBY, Wis. (WKBT) -- A Wisconsin Manufacturing and Commerce program is pairing local business owners with area middle and high school students.
Six area school districts (Westby, West Salem, Cashton, Sparta, Viroqua, and North Crawford) met with organizers of the program Wisconsin Business World to get a sense of what it takes to start a business from the ground up.
The roughly 80 students were split into groups of six, with each school district represented in every group.
Organizers hope the kids can learn to work with people they've never met before to create something special.
"Being with people who share a common interest and having people who work in these fields," said Viroqua sophomore Scout Dollhausen.
"For the confidence to know they can start something right here, that they don't have to leave the area, that they can start a business anywhere," said Michelle Grajkowski, Wisconsin Business World's senior director.
The students work together to come up with a product, and they pitch their idea to organizers at the end of the day.
Local business owners visit with groups for additional networking opportunities.
Wisconsin Business World runs about 50 events like these across the state, but this was their first in Westby.
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Ken is ecstatic to work in his home state of Wisconsin. After graduating from UW-Madison in 2017 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, he got his career started in Sports. He spent two years as a Weekend Sports Anchor at the CBS affiliate station in Bismarck, North Dakota, and then spent the last three years as WKBT’s Sports Director. Ken is humbled and excited to be promoted to News Anchor at 5, 6, and 10, and while he won’t be anchoring sports anymore, he’ll still be following all Wisconsin sports teams and Coulee Region high school athletics. Ken and his wife Leah love the La Crosse area and are excited to stick around WKBT and keep working on their house!
Favorite band: It varies by day. He’d say he’s pretty eclectic.
Favorite movie: Inception
Family: Wife Leah and their two dogs: 2-year-old black Lab named Bear, and 3-month old golden retriever named Bella.
Pizza: Pepperoni and bacon
Sports teams: All Wisconsin teams, especially the Brewers and Packers
Thing he’s bad at: Drawing, or basically anything you’d do in Art class
Favorite way to spend a day off?: Playing tennis with Leah, having some fun meals, and then spending time together with the puppies
