"I'm always trying to find ways to get my daughter involved in the
community and giving back, taking care of the people in her community.
Also, one of the things that really caught my attention was learning to be
an entrepreneur at a young age and learning those business skills.'

Stacey Haskell is talking about Lemonade Day Maine, a program designed to teach youngsters about finances. Her 7-year-old daughter Emma took part.

"I think when children are introduced on how to handle their money
finances at an early age it has such an impact on them throughout their
life. It enables them to make sound business decisions, financial
decisions."

Emma offered three different kinds of lemonade at her stand, key-lime,
raspberry and regular.

"I think it was really exciting for her to have her own business. She
really took it seriously. Mom was the investor and she had to pay me back."

"I spent some on a guitar that I've always wanted and then I saved some
and I gave some to the Hampden Food Cupboard."

Emma raised more than $100. She says she liked seeing all the people that came to her stand and she's planning on adding more flavors next time.

She says she understands the importance of earning money and deciding what to do with it.

"So that I can buy things that I really want."

For 9-year-old Ian Kelly, he remembers when he first started his entrepreneurship.

"My grampy let me sell some pumpkins I grew at his farm."

From there, he was hooked.

"First of all, you make money and second of all, it's kind of fun to help
people with something they need or is nice to have."

He seems to be on the right track.

"I'm keeping some money I get from the farm to save up for my college
money now."

He says he hopes others follow in his footsteps.

"I kind of find it important for their future, including college and all
of that. So they can get in without having so much problems."

Ian has also created some games based on Candy Land and Clue.

His mother says he's always coming up with new business plans. She likes
her son's ambition.

"They're able to set goals, work toward meeting them and help better
prepare themselves for their future. Plus I think it's really important
for Maine that we have kids who are interested in entrepreneurship so we
have businesses and great jobs in the future."

Ian has opened a bank account. His mother says he's a lot more
conscientious about putting away the money he earns, rather than spending
it on a video game or something else.

"We usually go together. I don't just take it for him and put it into the
bank account. We go together and he has his statement that he can look
over whenever he wants to."

It seems these kids have bright futures ahead and may even study business in college.

To learn more about Lemonade Day Maine, visit www.maine.lemonadeday.org.

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