20 JANUARY 2025 By Mallory Gleich Arcadia Park was the scene for the annual AZ Children’s Business Fair, an event dedicated to inspiring and empowering young entrepreneurs aged 6 to 14. The fair is part of a bigger movement that began in Austin, Texas, through the Acton Children’s Business Fairs. What started as a single event in 2014 has now grown into a worldwide initiative with more than 3,000 events in over 25 countries, serving over 73,000 young entrepreneurs. Arizona’s first was held in downtown Phoenix in 2015, and by 2016, the event moved to its current location at Arcadia Park, where it has grown year after year. Around 50 booths were set up in 2015. In 2024, the event boasted 140 businesses. Products varied from handmade jewelry and custom 3D-printed items to unique games, dog treats, homemade toys, custom books, and plants. Private, public and homeschooled students spend months leading up to the fair researching, creating and perfecting their products. For students at Acton Academy Phoenix and Phoenix Modern, the fair is an integral part of their entrepreneurship curriculum, where they are given the tools and challenges to prepare for the real world. The fair is more than just a fun day of shopping – it’s a learning experience. Participants are introduced to concepts like branding, marketing, sales and financial management. They learn firsthand about the responsibility and freedom that comes with managing their own company. One of the core principles is teaching children about business fundamentals, including the difference between revenue, expenses and profit. Many even get loans from their parents to cover initial expenses, learning about the importance of managing money, paying back debts and achieving profitability. “I love seeing each person’s energy and excitement at the start of the fair,” Director Andrew Collins said. “They have worked so hard to prepare their business and can’t wait to make their first sale. It is also so fun to see how much pride they have in their creations and the pure joy in selling something they have created.” The fair also serves as a confidence booster. Each entrepreneur gets the chance to practice their public speaking, interact with customers, and experience the satisfaction of making a sale, which helps them build self-esteem and critical life skills. The event brings together children, families, and local businesses, fostering a sense of connection and pride as young entrepreneurs share their successes and challenges while also learning from their peers. At the fair, children are given real-world challenges that teach them to embrace failure, focus on self- improvement, and understand the importance of perseverance. childrensbusinessfair.org Fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs AND THE WINNERS ARE… In the 5-8-year-old category: Most Original: Lola’s Art Pawty (Lola Hunt) Best Presentation/Pitch: Vivienna Energy Bar (Vivienna Lamore) Highest Business Potential: Date Doctor (Sawyer Donnell) In the 9-11-year-old category: Most Original: Fields of Fun (Skyler Fields) Best Presentation: Techno Printing (Santiago Arboleda, Milton Manley) Highest Business Potential: Cards of Kindness (Alison Williams) In the 12-14-year-old category: Most Original: La-La’s Bath Sweets (Lydia Macliver and team) Best Presentation/Pitch: Pearl’s Pantry (Pearl Sadira) Highest Business Potential: Mari Gold (Mari McWilliams) The AZ Children’s Business Fair is dedicated to empowering young entrepreneurs. A few of the winners from the 11-14 age category. More than 140 booths offered everything from handmade jewelry to complex business presentations. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDREW COLLINS Christ Lutheran School Preschool - Grade 8 • www.clsphx.org LC-MS 3901 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix | www.cclphoenix.org | (602) 955-4830 LOVE GROW SERVE IN-PERSON WORSHIP Traditional Worship 8:00am/10:45am Contemporary Worship 8:30am/10:30am Teaching Service 9:30am ONLINE WORSHIP Sunday @ 8:am/10:30am FB Live or CHRISTCHURCHPHX.ONLINE.CHURCH Experiencing hair loss? We have the solution! We specialize in luxury wigs, extensions, and hair toppers so you can look and feel your best. We also offer custom cut and color services tailored just for you. Contact us today for a free consultation! Call or text 602.287.9698 cxehair.com • @cxehair • 3115 E Indian School Rd #44

21 JANUARY 2025 By Mark Hays Ersland Touch Landscape has been a fixture in the community for four decades. Founded by Rick Ersland, the family owned and operated business has grown significantly over the years, expanding its services while staying true to its roots. Rick started the landscape company in 1984 as a one man, one mower operation in the heart of the Arcadia neighborhood, where it operated exclusively for the first decade. “When I started 40 years ago, I was only in my 30s and my sons were just young kids,” Rick said. “My only concentration at the time was serving my customers and my day-to-day responsibilities.” The road to success wasn’t without challenges. In the early days, Rick worked tirelessly to build a clientele, using hard work, honesty and integrity, which his son Adam said led to new clients through word of mouth and referrals. Over time, the business expanded to east Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Ahwatukee. Rick’s wife, Lori, worked in the banking industry until joining the team in 1996 as the office manager and in marketing and customer service. As the business grew, the challenge then became when and how to hire more employees and manage cash flow. Sons Adam and Erik were both part of the company growing up. The pair would join different crews and learned the basics of landscape maintenance. After high school, Erik attended college on the east coast and worked in the financial industry in Boston before officially joining the family business in 2003. Adam worked in the banking industry for several years before joining Ersland Touch in 2006. The brothers bought the company from their father in 2020 and now offer a wide array of services, including landscape maintenance, irrigation installation and repair, low-voltage lighting, chemical spraying, olive tree spraying and deep root tree fertilization. “Being able to keep our family name in the community we were raised in through our business is probably one of our favorite things,” Adam said. “I had no clue that 40 years later the company would still be thriving and in the competent hands of the next generation,” Rick said. “I am very proud of that and that we continue to serve our loyal customers.” These days, Adam and Erik are happy to continue the work their father started while emphasizing the company’s dedication to communication and client satisfaction: “We take pride in the company name and being able to sustain our business,” Adam said. “We have deep roots in Arcadia and are proud to continue servicing the clientele. The future of Ersland Touch Landscape is bright as the company continues to grow while maintaining the original core values established from the beginning.” erslandtouch.com From one man, with one mower: Ersland Touch celebrates 40 years Lori, Rick, Adam and Erik Ersland. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ADAM ERSLAND Being able to keep our family name in the community we were raised in through our business is probably one of our favorite things.