Independence Bank believes in supporting big dreams — no matter how young the dreamers. That’s why they were eager to sponsor this special feature, celebrating eight incredible young entrepreneurs who are turning their ideas into reality. But they didn’t stop there.
Each of these entrepreneurs was challenged to submit a business plan, which was reviewed by an expert panel at the bank. The judges had the tough job of selecting three standout businesses to receive financial investments. In the end, they awarded $500 to first place, $300 to second, and $200 to third. The remaining entrepreneurs were celebrated with plenty of Independence Bank swag, and all were recognized during a special presentation at the bank’s lobby.
These young entrepreneurs are proof that big ideas can start early — and with the right support, they can grow into something even bigger.
Rosalie,Violet & Wren Layson
At Happy Hen Bakery, business meetings probably include sprinkles — and that’s exactly how sisters Rosalie (9), Violet (7) & Wren (5) Layson like it.
The trio behind this growing home-based bakery started with a simple dream. Violet hopes to own a bakery one day, so she asked her mom if she could start making cookies to raise money for their homeschool activities. She invited her sisters to join in, and together they turned their kitchen creativity into Happy Hen Bakery — a sweet business built on teamwork and big goals.
Their signature treat? Dunker cookies. “We mostly bake dunker cookies with icing and sprinkles that you can dip it in, then we make it look fancy in a cup,” Violet explains. They create themed designs for holidays and seasons, making each batch festive and fun.
Each sister has an important role. Rosalie handles measuring, the harder math and writing down orders. Violet chooses cookie cutter designs, selects sprinkles, makes and rolls out the dough and prepares the icing cups. Wren helps cut out cookies and proudly taste-tests the icing. “Spending time with my family while I’m making the cookies,” Rosalie says, is her favorite part. Violet agrees: “It’s just a good experience for me because I want to be a baker so I’m doing it now so I’ll be good at it later.”
They sell through their mom’s Facebook page, text orders to family and friends and set up booths at craft fairs. At events, they’ve learned to stay calm when lines get long. They’ve also learned valuable lessons in problem-solving — like the time their dough cracked from too much flour. “We added a little more water and it went back together again,” Rosalie shares.
Their first-place Independence Bank investment will help pay for homeschool supplies, farm school activities and additional baking supplies so they can continue growing their business — and their dreams — together.
Caroline Altman
At just five years old, Caroline Altman already carries three big titles: President, CEO and Creative Director of Brave Creations. And while she may be small, her creativity — and her glitter collection — are anything but.
Caroline started her business with a simple idea. She wanted to sell something inside her mom’s mobile bookstore, Poppy Alan Book Boutique. Since her customers would be readers, she knew exactly what they needed: sparkly acrylic bookmarks that make every chapter a little more magical.
Each bookmark is handmade using molds, carefully mixed acrylic and plenty of glitter. Caroline loves choosing the sparkles and deciding which colors to combine. The process takes time — “Mixing takes a long time!” she admits — and keeping enough bookmarks in stock can be challenging. But she’s learning that patience and hard work pay off.
Caroline sells her bookmarks at Poppy Alan Book Boutique and also takes special orders for custom designs. One of her favorite parts of owning a business is earning her own money and seeing customers choose something she made herself. She’s even set a big goal: selling 100 bookmarks and experimenting with brand-new sparkle combinations.
As a second-place winner, Caroline plans to use her Independence Bank investment to grow her sparkle stash, add new molds and tassels and expand her designs. If Brave Creations continues to shine the way it has so far, readers all over town may soon be marking their pages with a little extra glitter.
Denim K. Tutt
For 14-year-old Denim K. Tutt, fashion is more than style — it’s a statement. Through WAN Wear, Denim helps design and promote apparel that carries a message of positivity, purpose and leadership.
WAN Wear was created as an extension of Western Academy, a program dedicated to helping young African-American males grow into successful young men. What began as a small project to promote the academy quickly evolved into a business with a bigger mission: creating clothing that educates, uplifts and represents something meaningful.
The brand’s message is simple but powerful — positivity matters. WAN Wear is for anyone who wants to wear something that reflects confidence, growth and encouragement. By combining entrepreneurship with purpose, Denim and his team are building more than a clothing line; they’re building awareness.
Denim plays an active role as both a model and seller for the brand. He enjoys connecting with other business owners, sharing the mission and representing WAN Wear in the community. One of the most effective marketing tools is simply wearing the apparel themselves. When people see it, ask about it and connect with the message, conversations naturally follow.
The biggest challenge so far has been consistently spreading the message and maintaining steady sales. Through the process, Denim has learned that consistency is key — and that believing in your brand is essential if you expect others to believe in it too.
WAN Wear is promoted primarily through social media and community engagement, helping expand its reach beyond Western Academy.
As a third-place winner, Denim plans to use the Independence Bank investment to create new designs that further reflect Western Academy’s mission, improve the quality of the apparel and continue spreading a message that empowers others to lead with confidence.
Reagan & Riley McGinnis
Reagan and Riley McGinnis didn’t set out to start a business — they just wanted to play music for their grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary. The violin-and-cello duet planned to perform for free, but their Papaw had other ideas. He insisted they should be paid. That moment sparked a realization: if their grandparents valued their talent, maybe others would too.
And just like that, Sister Strings was born.
Reagan (cello) and Riley (violin) now perform live string music for weddings, parties and special events for anyone wanting to add an elegant touch to their celebration.
The sisters say their favorite part is “earning money!” but they’ve learned that performing professionally takes dedication. Building their repertoire — the growing list of songs they can perform — requires hours of practice.
Most of their bookings come through their mom’s social media posts and word of mouth. Their goal this year is to become more well-known and continue sharing their music with the community.
Dallis Lamar
For 12-year-old Dallis Lamar, fishing isn’t just a hobby — it’s part of who he is. After spending years bass fishing, he decided to turn his passion into a business, launching Kentucky Soft Plastics Fishing Lures.
Dallis creates custom soft plastic fishing lures, experimenting with different colors, glitters and scents designed to attract bass. As the owner and creator, he handles the entire process himself — from melting and pouring the plastisol material to carefully removing each finished lure from its mold.
One of his favorite parts of the business is talking with other anglers. Dallis enjoys sharing fishing tips and helping people choose the right lure while also exploring the creative side of designing new combinations.
Right now, his biggest challenge is equipment. With only two molds, he can make one lure at a time, which requires patience and practice.
Dallis currently sells to friends and family and hopes to expand sales at the farmers market while continuing to grow his business.
Kinslee Grace Kirby
For Kinslee Grace Kirby, entrepreneurship began with a simple question: why wear what everyone else is wearing?
As a senior at Apollo High School, Kinslee noticed how popular trendy, high-end bracelets had become. She loved the style but not the high prices or the lack of originality. Instead of settling, she began designing her own. That idea grew into Kinslee’s Keepsakes, a youth-owned business creating handmade bracelets that celebrate memories, milestones and personal style.
Her designs are sold locally at Legacy Salon and Robin’s Resale, and she also takes custom orders through her Facebook page, creating pieces for teachers, sports moms and customers from other states.
Kinslee has also expanded into digital design, co-owning K2 Kreations on Etsy where she sells original PNG designs for apparel and creative projects.
She enjoys the freedom entrepreneurship gives her to be creative while learning real-world skills like organization, responsibility and confidence as she continues growing her brand.
John Keller
At just 11 years old, John Keller is already building more than furniture — he’s building skills that will last a lifetime. Through John Keller Furniture, this homeschooled fifth grader creates handmade wooden pieces for families in the Owensboro and Daviess County area.
John has always enjoyed working with wood. What started as a hobby soon grew into a small business when he decided to share — and sell — his creations. As owner and operator, he takes pride in crafting each piece with care and focusing on quality.
One of John’s favorite parts of running his business is the creativity it allows. He enjoys trying new designs and setting goals to improve with every project.
Along the way, he has also learned valuable business lessons, including how to calculate the cost of materials and labor and determine profit.
John promotes his work through word of mouth and Facebook as he continues expanding his furniture designs.
Savion Roach
For 11-year-old Savion Roach, summer isn’t just a season — it’s an opportunity. As CEO of JCAS Summer Services, Savion and his friends are using the warmer months to earn money, build responsibility and help their neighborhood.
The idea started during lunch at school when Savion and his friends — Alias, Cruz and Jose — talked about ways they could start a business together. They noticed that snacks and drinks at community events like Friday After 5 can be expensive, and that some neighbors, especially older adults, might need help with yard work.
JCAS Summer Services now offers lawn mowing, car washing and affordable refreshments like lemonade, candy, water and pops.
As CEO, Savion helps organize jobs, talk with customers and make sure everyone does their part. He enjoys the leadership role and the teamwork it requires.
Savion says he’s learned that starting a business takes planning, hard work and believing in yourself.
Marilla Kanipe & Kate Knott
For sophomores Marilla Kanipe and Kate Knott, the perfect recipe includes equal parts flour and fiction. Together, they created Once Upon a Tart, a specialty baking business inspired by their love of books.
The duo combined two favorite hobbies — baking and reading — to create literary-themed treats. Their baked goods are inspired by stories, turning favorite books into creative desserts that are as fun to see as they are to eat.
Each member has a role in the business. Marilla serves as head baker, bringing their ideas to life in the kitchen, while Kate acts as CFO, managing finances and organization behind the scenes.
They promote their business through Instagram and word of mouth as they continue growing their brand. Their goal is to sell at the farmers market and expand their creative menu of story-inspired treats.
Cruz DeWitt
Nine-year-old Cruz DeWitt saw a need — and wasn’t afraid to step up to it. Through Cruz’s Poop Squad, he helps dog owners keep their yards clean and ready to enjoy.
The idea began when Cruz wanted to earn his own money. With help from his dad, he realized something important: lots of people love their dogs… but not everyone loves cleaning up after them. So he decided to solve that problem.
As Founder, Owner and Operator, Cruz handles the work himself. His customers are simple — anyone with a dog. He enjoys helping people and takes pride in leaving yards cleaner than he found them.
Running the business has taught him that earning money takes hard work and responsibility. He’s also discovered that sometimes the best way to spend an afternoon isn’t on video games — it’s outside helping others.
Cruz promotes his services through Facebook and word of mouth as he continues growing his business.
Emma B. Peercy
For 16-year-old Emma B. Peercy, art is more than paint on a canvas — it’s a way to connect with her community. Through Arts By EmmaP, the Owensboro High School student creates original paintings and drawings designed to inspire and bring beauty into everyday spaces.
Emma started her business with a simple goal: to share her art with others. What began as a personal passion has grown into a local brand. Her work is displayed and sold at Marsh Hen at Preservation Station, and she also accepts custom requests through her Instagram page, @arts_by_emmap.
As the artist and sole creator, Emma enjoys the freedom to manage her own schedule, plan projects and focus on creating. One of her biggest challenges is keeping enough supplies on hand and making sure people see her work.
Emma is especially motivated by custom commissions, where she can create something meaningful for someone else while continuing to grow her artistic journey.
Reeva Joy Tanner
For 11-year-old Reeva Joy Tanner, creativity isn’t just a hobby — it’s a business. As President and Founder of Rainbow Overload, Reeva designs and creates handmade earrings that are bold, colorful and full of personality.
Reeva began experimenting with different earring styles simply because she loved working with her hands. What started as creative fun quickly grew into something more when people began noticing — and wanting — her designs.
Her customers include “anyone who wears earrings or loves someone who does,” making her audience wide. Reeva enjoys creating bright, fun designs that stand out and make people smile.
One of her favorite parts of being an entrepreneur is the independence. She enjoys making decisions about her business and watching it grow. She has also learned that staying organized and managing orders takes commitment and hard work.
Reeva currently sells her earrings at local events like Porch Fest and through her Facebook business page as she continues growing Rainbow Overload.
Taylor Hoak
At 18 years old, Taylor Hoak isn’t waiting for opportunity — he’s knocking on doors to create it.
As the owner of Hilltop Window Cleaning, the Daviess County High School senior runs a residential window cleaning service that uses a deionized water tank and water-fed pole system to deliver spotless results. The business has also expanded into pressure washing and gutter cleaning to better serve homeowners.
Taylor came up with the idea last winter while going door-to-door shoveling snow with a friend. After noticing the need for quality window cleaning in Owensboro, he left his fast-food job and launched Hilltop in March 2025. He later partnered with his friend Jonah Cecil, who serves as lead window technician while Taylor focuses on sales and customer relationships.
Taylor enjoys the challenge of building a business from the ground up. Through the experience, he has learned that success requires hard work, consistency and following through on what you promise customers.
Laney Grace Wilson
For 12-year-old Laney Grace Wilson, a simple glass of lemonade serves a much bigger purpose. Through Laney’s Lemonade, she sells refreshing drinks from her driveway and donates 100% of the proceeds to a local animal shelter.
Laney has wanted to help animals since she was six years old. She once dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, but after learning that the job sometimes involves putting animals to sleep, she decided to find another way to make a difference. Her lemonade stand became that opportunity.
As Founder and CEO, Laney handles sales while sharing her mission with customers. She’s learned that when people understand the cause behind her business, they’re eager to support it.
One of her biggest challenges has been not having a stand or signs to clearly explain her mission to passing drivers. Even so, Laney continues serving lemonade and helping animals one cup at a time.