Altavista was founded and built by entrepreneurs over 100 years ago. Today, we’re continuing our community’s legacy of supporting small businesses.
The Children’s Business Fair of Altavista is organized by a volunteer team of parents and sponsored by local business owners, the town of Altavista, and private benefactors who believe in our mission of raising up a new generation of hard-working heroes.
Jonathan & Hannah, Cohosts
The first time we heard of the Children’s Business Fair and the Acton model of education, we knew this was something important that was missing from our kids’ lives.
Every parent wants their children to be someone who other grownups like to be around - a child who's well-spoken, respectful, hard-working, and helpful. A child who can give a firm handshake and look people in the eye. A child who's scrappy and resourceful. And the Fair is like a crash course in practicing those amazing character traits.
In school, you’re given a lesson, then a test - and hopefully you remember the textbook answers. But in real life, the test IS the lesson, and the answers have to be earned. At the Fair, the kids are put to the test in a big way and they always learn so much every year.
We underestimate children. We tend to forget what they’re capable of - and what WE are capable of, too. It's time we get back to raising strong young people.
Jeff & Emily, Cohosts
We’re always glad to play a small part in the business fair because we know how valuable the experience is for all the kids that participate, including our own.
The more kids can be exposed to entrepreneurship at a young age, the more prepared they’ll be when it’s their turn to go out into the world and start a career.
We especially love seeing kids that do the business fair every year. Experience builds confidence and that will benefit the participants in so many ways. We know how much we would have benefited from being able to participate in an event like the business fair at a young age, so helping to facilitate that experience for kids every year means a lot to us.
We believe every person is a Hero on a Mission.
Hero (n) : An ordinary individual with unique gifts, and a special calling to change the world.
Face trials and obstacles.
Goal achieved. Mission completed!
Listen to the call to adventure!
Pick yourself up and overcome.
Reflect on what you learned on your journey.
Now, reach back to help guide others through similar trials and challenges.
History
The very first Acton Children’s Business Fair was founded in 2007 in Texas. Founders Jeff and Laura Sandefer wanted to spark a sense of wonder and entrepreneurship in their children. That spark ignited a firestorm of thousands of young entrepreneurs in hundreds of cities across the country.