Photo by Deb Gau Brenna Foster, a student in the Lyon and Murray County CEO program, created a business selling popcorn with flavors like ranch, dill and cookies and cream.

BALATON — They had spent the past school year getting firsthand knowledge of area businesses. Now, the students in the Lyon and Murray County CEO program were ready for the next step.

On Wednesday evening, the members of the inaugural Lyon and Murray County CEO class had booths set up at the tru Shrimp campus gymnasium. Visitors could check out a wide range of student-owned businesses, from a custom holiday light hanging service to products like dog treats and handmade candles.

“The best thing has been seeing the passion coming out in these guys,” said Lyon and Murray County CEO facilitator Shanda Walker. Each of the CEO students had shown a lot of growth this year, she said.

“It’s been a lot of fun, especially talking to all the different businesses,” said CEO student John Boerboom.

“It’s opened up so many new doors,” said Emma Schuur, a CEO student and a senior at Murray County Central.

CEO, short for Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities, is an investor-funded business education program for high school juniors and seniors. Students spent the past year meeting with area businesspeople, developing a class business, and then their own businesses. To cap it all off, students held a trade show for their businesses on Wednesday.

Students used their own interests and skills to help develop their own businesses. Boerboom started a business to sell locally-raised lamb, while classmate Tate Condezo started a business to design Christmas lights to fit to a specific building. Schuur started her own design business.

“I did a lot of invitations, and now I’m leaning toward more graphic design now that the graduation season is over,” she said.

Students said they learned a lot of skills, from time management to public speaking, as a part of CEO. Regan Loft said being in the program was stressful, but worth it.

“Through being in CEO, I’ve learned so much about how to run your own business,” Loft said.

Bridgette Herrig, a CEO student from MCC, said the class experience in the program was “awesome.”

“It’s amazing seeing all the different businesses in our community,” she said. And while at first she wasn’t sure aif she would fit in a group with a majority of student from the Marshall area, Herrig said it didn’t take class members long to get to know each other.

“I’ve definitely learned a lot,” Kaden Clark said of being in CEO. Clark had rented a box truck to start his own freight business transporting bulky items like furniture or major appliances.

Clark said his experiences actually helped him shape his future path. He realized, “I want to stay in the community,” instead of moving away, he said.

The next class of Lyon and Murray County CEO students has already signed on to the program. Walker said a total of 13 students from Marshall, Tracy and Slayton will eventually be trying their own hands at creating their own businesses.

Walker said support from the area business community, and from investors, has also been positive for CEO.

“We’ve had such good community support,” she said.