Middle and high school-age students of Douglas County are invited to write up their business plans and polish their pitches for this year’s Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge.

The competition, open to kids in grades six through 12, consists of a trade show booth, a 90-second elevator pitch and a formal five-minute business presentation for judges, according to a news release from the county.

The application asks students to submit a business plan. Judges — including local entrepreneurs, teachers and community leaders — will consider categories of product or service knowledge, market analysis and strategy, business and financial plan and overall presentation, according to the application.

The competition will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, March 1 in Baldwin City at Baker University’s Collins Library.

The first-place winner will receive a $1,500 award; second- and third-place awards will be $1,000 and $500, respectively. An additional merit award of $500 “will be disbursed for business plans showing exceptional rural benefit,” according to the application. The Douglas County winner will go on to the statewide competition in April.

Entrants do not have to attend a public school in the county — private school and home-based school students are welcome.

Applications are due Friday, Feb. 15. They can be found online at douglascountyks.org. The website also offers an example business plan.