When Chinook High School held Parent Teacher Conferences (PTC) on Tuesday, April 16, the Senior Ag students held a Market Day. They invited the community to stop by Room 101 in the high school where booths were set-up to display their work and to advertise their services to the community. To maintain the market theme, the CHS Student Council also staged a table and sold baked goods and treats to raise funds.

Members of the Senior Ag Class, James Christensen, Karson Powell, Ryle Elliot, and Cord Schneider offered decorative products, metal signs and art work, mechanics services, woodwork and furniture. They interacted with the public from 5:30-7:00 p.m. According to their instructor Robin Allen, they wrote business plans, created brochures, and printed business cards.

"We have been building all year to Market Day," Allen said.

Christensen displayed several wood and metal products in his booth, including a table, lamp, paper towel holder, and decorative deer. From wood, he said he can make tables, benches and even bars. From metal, he will design a paper towel holder or other small metal products.

Elliot, who recently won recognition at the 89th Annual Montana FFA State Convention as the State Winner in the Ag Mechanics and Repair Maintenance proficiency and won the State Star in Ag Placement, developed a business plan for Ryle's Auto Repair and Fabrication. The business offers mechanic work on all pickups, trucks, busses, and heavy equipment as well as fabrication services. He had various wrench and ratchet extensions for sale at his booth.

"I will fabricate anything you need, from flatbeds to machining pin holes for buckets and hydraulic cylinders," Elliot stated.

Powell's Decorative Products displayed an entertainment stand as well as a gun cabinet and an art piece of a fish burned into wood. His specialty is decorative metal and wood working.

Schneider, Best of Show winner at the 70th Annual Montana Seed Show for his metal fabricated vehicle bumper, presented Mega Fab. His metal fabrication, welding, and cutting skills were on display in the form of Duke Blue Devil, Chinook Sugar Beeter, and Montana coasters with cork bottoms. He also exhibited other metal cut-outs and signs and said he can customize according to a person's wishes.

Karson Powell created an entertainment stand as well as a gun cabinet for sale. His specialty is decorative metal and wood working.

This past week, Schneider additionally received a scholarship for his Young Entrepreneur Project from Governor Steve Bullock.

Allen deemed Market Day a success in learning entrepreneurial skills but PTC didn't produce a buyer's crowd.