By RORY MOORE
Tiger Media Network
The office of Student Engagement hosted Small Business Market/Ag Day in the Quad on Wednesday to promote small businesses owned by Fort Hays students, agriculture programs and clubs on campus. Students were allowed to sell their products, while other vendors in Hays offered jobs to seniors and other soon-to-be graduating students.
Student Engagement hosts Small Business Market/Ag Day in the Quad. 
Mary Crawford sells her handmade jewelry. 
Midland Marketing offers job opportunities to students and teaches about the different soils used in Agriculture. 
Jacob Wegner rides a mechanical bull before checking students’ businesses. 
The FHSU Rodeo program runs a mock lasso activity. 
The Black Student Union sells self-care products. 
Fort Hays Tech Northwest Precision Agriculture Technology brought a sim tractor for students to operate. 
Silas Holliday and Andrew Waller sells bananas for a dollar. 
Holliday and Waller goof around to boost their profits. 
The FHSU Department of Agriculture provides data about other sources of planting Ag students can commit to.
Many students sold food and handmade items while learning about the economic incentives of owning a small business.
“We want them to fundraise for their business so they can promote what they do,” Student Engagement Coordinator Brett Meyer said. “It’s a cool collaboration with Ag Day to give them the opportunity to fundraise and get some money [for their endeavors] as entrepreneurs.”
In addition to assisting student owners, Student Engagement set out to teach students the value of applying critical thinking to their business.
“We want to teach them how to think outside the box,” Meyer said. “We tell them, ‘Hey! Go do summer markets,’ and those are really big hits here in Hays. That is the way we want to do it here in the Quad, too.”
One of the student owners, junior Mary Crawford, runs a business selling handmade beaded jewelry and bracelets she creates.
“It’s a learning experience every day,” she said. “Every time I set up an event, I learn something new. It’s more growth for my business, and coming to Fort Hays and majoring in Business Marketing has taught me quite a bit about running my own business.”
Crawford sells her bracelets for $5 while offering a deal to sell five for $20.
“Most of my bracelets are fairly cheap,” she said. “That’s why I sell them for the price that I do. So, it works out good for me. I’ve been able to meet many new people who have followed me on my social media but haven’t gotten the chance to see my bracelets in person yet. Being able to meet people through this event has been fun.”