Young Makers Market seeks young artisans, food vendors
Feb. 27, 2026
By Tracy Courage
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Young Makers Market open to makers, food vendors ages 5-18
- Online applications due March 2, vendor fee $35
- Public sale on May 9 at Arkansas 4-H Center
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LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas youth with a talent for creating will have a venue to sell their wares at a one-day Young Makers Market planned for May 9.
The market will be open to the public from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center in Little Rock.
Online applications are open to youth ages 5-18 who wish to have a booth to sell their creative work. The deadline is March 2, but applications received later will be considered if space is available. Applications are available at bit.ly/2026YouthMarket.
“It will be an opportunity for youth to showcase their talents and practice their business skills while also earning money,” said organizer Creenna Bocksnick, who works with Arkansas 4-H, the statewide youth development program run by the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Participants do not have to be 4-H members to participate. There’s a $35 vendor fee, but artisans will keep all profits from their sales. The same goes for youth who run food trucks. While parents may be on site, the youth are required to prepare and sell food without parental help.
Bocksnick said the market will showcase a variety of high-quality goods. She’s received applications from youth who create welded fabrication arts, goat milk soap, candy and cookies, sugar scrubs, crocheted items, 3D-printed art, fantasy masks and more.
Bocksnick is participating in LeadAR, a statewide leadership program run by the Division of Agriculture. When developing the Young Makers Market project as part of the program, she drew inspiration from her work with 4-H members.
“One of our 4-H initiatives is ‘Beyond Ready,’ which emphasizes workplace readiness and helping youth develop the skills, resilience and confidence they need,” she said. “I wanted to create a place where young artisans have a venue to sell their crafts while practicing their entrepreneurial skills.”
For information about the Young Makers Market, contact Bocksnick at cbocksnick@uada.edu.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact: Tracy Courage
Director of Communications-Extension
501-658-2044