Kids Can Youth Market winners named

Socks, cakes, cool art, granola, candles and jewelry were among the prize winners during the Kids Can Fiesta de la Primavera Youth Market held May 14 at Plaza de Las Cruces.

The winners were:

• 6-10-year-olds: first place: “Cakes of Ingleside,” Sadie and Cordin Bread; second place: “Cool Art by Faith,” Faith Sanchez; third place: “Brizzy's Socks,” Breilla Doyel.
• 11-12-year-olds: first place: “Ringtail Wear,” Millicent Smalley; second place: “Neighborhood Granola,” Mira McCoskey and Elliott Felix; third place: “Just Love,” Reanna Ramos.
• 13-17-year-olds: first place: “Sneakerhead Candles,” Ebeney Hernandez; second place: “Desert Fox Jewelry,” Abigail Urquidi; third place: “ENS Merch,” Sammy Laycock and Egan McConnell.

Each winner received a living trophy with soil and seeds included, made by state Sen. Carrie Hamblen of Las Cruces, who presented the awards along with Mayor Pro Tempore Kasandra Gandara.

“Thousands of dollars were exchanged at this event in support of our local youth entrepreneurs,” said Kids Can founder April Christensen, who is program director at Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico (CAASNM).

Christensen said more than 80 students, ages 6-17, from Las Cruces Public Schools, the Gadsden Independent School District and Hatch Valley Public Schools participated in the event.

“What a fiesta!” said Christensen, who launched Kids Can in 2016. “We all had so much fun celebrating together the launch of 55 new and developing businesses. Our amazing Kids Can staff, instructors, volunteers, parents and students worked together to make this event a success. Thanks to them and each of you that support these youth in the pursuit of their dreams.”

Market competition judges were Gandara, Autumn Moultrie, Robert Reno, Ricky T, Lucas Peerman,

Marcella Shelby, Chris Ingalls, Maria Zuniga and Nancy Sipes.

For more information, contact April Christensen at 575-527-8799 ext. 117 and kidscan.yep@gmail.com. 

Visit www.caasnm.org/kids-can.