Owensboro’s Young Entrepreneurs

Content originally posted by Owensboro Parent Magazine, April 2026. 

Independence Bank believes in supporting big dreams – no matter how young the dreamers. That’s why they were eager to sponsor this special feature, celebrating eight incredible young entrepreneurs who are turning their ideas into reality. But they didn’t stop there.

Each of these entrepreneurs was challenged to submit a business plan, which was reviewed by an expert panel at the bank. The judges had the tough job of selecting three standout businesses to receive financial investments. In the end, they awarded $500 to first place, $300 to second, and $200 to third. The remaining entrepreneurs were celebrated with plenty of Independence Bank swag, and all were recognized during a special presentation at the bank’s lobby.

These young entrepreneurs are proof that big ideas can start early – and with the right support, they can grow into something even bigger.

1st Place Winners: Rosalie, Violet & Wren Layson, Ages 9, 7, and 5

Happy Hen Bakery

At Happy Hen Bakery, business meetings probably include sparkles – and that’s exactly how sisters Rosalie (9), Violet (7) & Wren (5) Layson like it.

The trio behind this growing home-based bakery started with a simple dream. Violet hopes to own a bakery one day, so she asked her mom if she could start making cookies to raise money for their homeschool activities. She invited her sisters to join in, and together they turned their kitchen creativity into Happy Hen Bakery – a sweet business built on teamwork and big goals.

Their signature treat? Dunker cookies. “We mostly bake dunker cookies with icing and sprinkles that you can dip it in, then we make it look fancy in a cup,” Violet explains. They create themed designs for holidays and seasons, making each batch festive and fun.

Each sister has an important role. Rosalie handles measuring, the harder math and writing down orders. Violet chooses cookie cutter designs, selects sprinkles, makes and rolls out the dough and prepares the icing cups. Wren helps cut cookies and proudly taste-tests the icing. “Spending time with my family while I’m making the cookies,” Rosalie says, is her favorite part. Violet agrees:
It’s just a good experience for me because I want to be a baker so I’m doing it now so I’ll be good at it later.”

They sell through their mom’s Facebook page, text orders to family and friends and set up booths at craft fairs. At events, they’ve learned to stay calm when lines get long. They’ve also learned valuable lessons in problem-solving – like the time their dough cracked from too much flour. “We added a little more water and it went back together again,” Rosalie shares.

Their first-place Independence Bank investment will help pay for homeschool supplies, farm school activities and additional baking supplies so they can continue growing their business – and their dreams – together.

2nd Place Winners: Caroline Altman, Age 5

Brave Creations

At just five years old, Caroline Altman already carries three big titles: President, CEO and Creative Director of Brave Creations. And while she may be small, her creativity – and her glitter collection – are anything but.

Caroline started her business with a simple idea. She wanted to sell something inside her mom’s mobile bookstore, Poppy Alan Book Boutique. Since her customers would be readers, she knew exactly what they needed: sparkly acrylic bookmarks that make every chapter a little more magical.

Each bookmark is handmade using molds, carefully mixed with acrylic and plenty of glitter. Caroline loves choosing the sparkles and deciding which colors to combine. The process takes time – “Mixing takes a long time!” she admits – and keeping enough bookmarks in stock can be challenging. But she’s learning that patience and hard work pay off.

Caroline sells her bookmarks at Poppy Alan Book Boutique and also takes special orders for custom designs. One of her favorite parts of owning a business is earning her own money and seeing customers choose something she made herself. She’s even set a big goal: selling 100 bookmarks and experimenting with brand-new sparkle combinations.

As a second-place winner, Caroline plans to use her Independence Bank investment to grow her sparkle stash, add new molds and tassels and expand her designs.

If Brave Creations continues to shine the way it has so far, readers all over town may soon be marking their pages with a little extra glitter.

3rd Place Winners: Denim K. Tutt, Age 14

WAN Wear

For 14-year-old Denim K. Tutt, fashion is more than style – it’s a statement. Through WAN Wear, Denim helps design and promote apparel that carries a message of positivity, purpose and leadership.

WAN Wear was created as an extension of Western Academy, a program dedicated to helping young African-American males grow into successful young men. What began as a small project to promote the academy quickly evolved into a business with a bigger mission: create clothing that educates, uplifts and represents something meaningful.

The brand’s message is simple but powerful – positivity matters. WAN Wear is for anyone who wants to wear something that reflects confidence, growth, and encouragement. By combining entrepreneurship with purpose, Denim and his team are building more than a clothing line; they’re building awareness.

Denim plays an active role as both a model and seller for the brand. He enjoys connecting with other business owners, sharing the mission and representing WAN Wear in the community. One of the most effective marketing tools is simply wearing the apparel themselves. When people see it, ask about it and connect with the message, conversations naturally follow.

The biggest challenge so far has been consistently spreading the message and maintaining steady sales. Through the process, Denimhas learned that consistency is key – and that believing in your brand is essential if you expect others to believe in it too.

WAN Wear is promoted primarily through social media and community engagement, helping expand its reach beyond Western Academy.

As a third-place winner, Denim plans to use the Independence Bank investment to create new designs that further reflect Western Academy’s mission, improve the quality of the apparel, and continue spreading a message that empowers others to lead with confidence.