Western ND News

The annual “Brand a Stand” competition in Dickinson highlighted local youth entrepreneurship with the participation of Beckett and Harper Crossingham, who launched the Blue Hawk Snack Shack. The siblings drew inspiration from Dickinson State University (DSU) to create their lemonade stand, aiming to blend school pride with business skills.

“I wanted to try something cool for the Brand a Stand event,” Beckett said. “Selling lemonade for the Blue Hawks sounded awesome.”

The event, organized by the Dickinson Chamber of Commerce each year, is designed to encourage young people to collaborate with area businesses and develop unique lemonade stands. It aims to foster financial literacy, marketing experience, and community engagement among participants.

Beckett Crossingham led planning efforts for their stand by preparing a detailed business proposal that included budgeting for ingredients and supplies. He presented this plan to Ty Orton, executive director of the DSU Heritage Foundation. The partnership agreement included donating half of the earnings from the stand to the foundation, with DSU HF matching that donation up to a specified amount.

“Having a young entrepreneur focus on giving back is a powerful way to educate others about the importance of community involvement,” said Orton. “This business plan demonstrates how a venture can be both profitable and transformative in the lives of others. We’re proud of what he has created and honored that he wants DSU to benefit from his efforts.”

On July 26, Beckett and Harper opened their stand at the foundation’s location. They offered three types of lemonade: Original Blue Hawk Squeeze (classic), Blue Hawk Blitz (blueberry), and Hawk Pride Pink (raspberry). An additional option called Talon Tornado allowed customers to blend any flavor into an icy treat.

Alongside beverages, they sold cookies named after DSU themes such as Blue Hawk Classic (chocolate chip), White and Gold Wings (white chocolate macadamia), and Frosty Feather Sandwich (sugar cookie frosting sandwich). A coloring contest was also held at their booth.

Through these activities, Beckett and Harper aimed not only to sell snacks but also promote school spirit and bring together families in support of DSU.