BMS students learn business ropes with Tech-Ed Tree Lot | News, Sports, Jobs

BELLEVILLE — When it comes to teaching high school students about entrepreneurial math, Belleville Mennonite School teacher Richard Yingling prefers the hands-on approach to textbooks. 

And that has led to the creation of a line of decorative Christmas trees just in time for the holidays. 

“When you’re looking at textbooks, they can go into all sorts of things,” Yingling explained. “If you want to actually do something, you actually have to do it.” 

Thus, Belleville Mennonite School students’ business, Belleville Enterprises, was born. Once the business was in place, students needed a product or service to sell. 

Yingling came up with the idea of making decorative wooden Christmas trees when traveling to Virginia’s 100 Mile Yard Sale this past summer.

“I saw these trees, and thought, ‘That looks reasonably easy to make,’” he recalled. 

And construction started once school was back in session. It takes students about two to three hours to make a decorative tree, which are available in three different sizes. Constructed from recycled pallets, the trees are made in small, medium and large sizes – $18 for a two-foot-tall tree, $27 for a three-footer and $36 for a four-footer. 

The Tech-Ed Tree Lot, as it’s affectionately called by the students, is a collective effort of the tech-ed, conservation science and business and entrepreneurial math classes to create a product to sell as a business, thereby funding tooling for the tech-ed classroom. 

The entrepreneurial math class focuses on managing the business, including what products to produce and how they are marketed. 

“I’m excited about what the students are doing in running this business,” said Yingling, who helped students create the Belleville Enterprises name. “We can do anything under that heading.”  

Recent surveys by Junior Achievement USA indicate about 60% of teenage students ages 13 to 17 are more interested in someday starting their own business instead of working a traditional job.

Nearly two in five students surveyed said their inspiration for entrepreneurship mostly comes from social media influencers and celebrities.

The survey also revealed that 45% of teens want to learn the ropes from current business owners and 37% are interested in programs at or after school teaching entrepreneurship. 

At age 64, Yingling has been running various businesses since he was a teen. He’s tried to make the experience as realistic as possible for his students, having the students talk to the school administration to research utility costs and other expenses to the students’ business plan. 

“Even though our utility expenses are paid by the school, I wanted to learn about what the square footage is worth and factor in utility costs into the price of the product,” Yingling explained. 

“I’m trying to make it as real-world as possible,” he added. “When I started into business, I had to learn the hard way.” 

Meaning Yingling didn’t have anyone to help show him the ropes. He hopes to be a valuable resource for the students.

They will continue to manufacture the trees as long as there is a demand. Not only are the students selling the trees locally, but they have arrangements in place to provide products to craft stores in Juniata County and the Harrisburg area. 

“If we have orders, we will continue to produce them within the school until the orders run out,” Yingling said. “They can be customized – without the stars. Then we have to have them on hand for the craft stores next year. 

“It’s all about networking,” he added. The students are hoping to work with state agencies to secure wood duck box kits to sell. 

Yingling believes students will truly appreciate the experience when they see their products out in the world. For now, they are on display in the school lobby. 

Yingling cautioned them students might not get to see the fruits of their labor immediately. “They’ll see them for years to come on people’s front porches,” he said. “We painted them with rust-oleum, so they can be put outdoors.” 

Besides the trees, the students are also branching out into other products, such as making cornhole boards which are also a popular sell. 

Sales revenues will be used to invest in new equipment for the school’s tool program.

Belleville Mennonite School has been developing a unique and quick-growing vocational program that will connect directly to the community in a variety of specialized ways. The school’s goal is to equip students for the future as well as the demands of an ever-changing workforce.

To purchase a tree, please call the school office at (717) 935-2184.