Photo by Deb Gau Hallee Roggatz helped Everett Enestredt bag the stuffed animal he picked out at her booth at the second annual Spring Kindlmarkt. More than a dozen youth vendors took part in the market Saturday at the Marshall Area YMCA

MARSHALL — There’s no shortage of young entrepreneurs in southwest Minnesota.

The vendors at the second annual Spring Kindlmarkt filled up the community room at the Marshall Area YMCA on Saturday.

Around the room, more than a dozen youth vendors were talking with customers, and selling products ranging from crafts and games to soaps, jewelry, and even homemade baked goods and locally-produced honey. A big part of the fun was getting to meet customers, said Hallee Roggatz.

“I love talking to people, and I love meeting a lot of people,” Roggatz said.

Roggatz was at the Kindlmarkt with her business, Just Hooked. Roggatz was selling a variety of crocheted items like stuffed toys and pot holders — and crocheting new projects as she chatted with visitors at her booth.

Crochet started out as a hobby for Roggatz.

“At the beginning of quarantine, I got really bored, so I got a (crochet) kit from Hobby Lobby,” she said. The hobby grew into a business, as she participated in events like the Tracy Women’s Expo and the Kindlmarkt.

“It’s exciting to see the number of youth businesses,” said Cloie Stevens, one of the Kindlmarkt’s co-founders.

Over the past few years, the event has grown from a Christmas holiday event to having a spring market as well.

“This year for the winter one, we had over 20 vendors,” she said.

Each business at Saturday’s Kindlmarkt had a story behind it. Dante Thomas said the items he was selling were all made with sustainability in mind. There were stacking toys made from wood scraps, firestarters made from reused items like cardboard tubes and newspaper, and “star splashers” made from sponges.

“They’re like a reusable water balloon,” Thomas said.

The splashers can be soaked with water and then tossed, he said.

Lily Boelter said she got the idea for her series of children’s books when a family member asked for books at her baby shower.

“I thought I would make my own,” Boelter said. She decided to write and illustrate stories about an orange because there were already lots of books with animal characters. Her character, Otto Orange, is “really fun to draw,” she said.

Some of the newest vendors at the Kindlmarkt were area high school students who were part of the Lyon and Murray County CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) program. CEO students including Stevens, Paige Duthoy and Mallory Evans were selling their own products at the market.

Lyon and Murray County CEO had also taken part in this winter’s Christmas Kindlmarkt.

“It’s been a great way to promote the CEO program, and a great way to promote independent businesses,” Duthoy said.

CEO students’ businesses will also be in the spotlight next month, at the CEO trade show May 24 in Balaton.