strengths and weaknesses, Natalie, Brian and
Leah joined together and got to work planning
and welding.
Brian already knew how to weld, so he taught
the girls, and they began creating metal products
from horseshoes, road signs, forks and any other
types of metal they could get their hands on.
According to Connie Scarbrough, the “Three
Amigos” took a Gallop poll to find their strengths
before beginning their business plan. “They all get
along so well and have such compatible strengths,”
she said. “That is what made them so successful.”
The Three Amigos pitched their 10 minute
presentation to the judges and participated in a
five minute question and answer session. After
the judging process was over, Three Amigos
Metal Works won first place and a $10,000 prize.
They were also invited to attend the upcoming
collegiate business plan competition, but will be
unable to attend, so the group is sending a GoPro
video instead.
Winning such a competition and working so hard
to develop welding skills, financials, a business
The Three Amigos first competed at the Small
Farms Conference by putting together their lean
canvas, which is a short business model, for the
contest. After pitching their plan, Three Amigos
Metal Works was selected as the third place pitch
winner of the Small Farms Conference. Then
around the same time, the group discovered they
were also finalists out of hundreds of students
statewide for the Small Farm Business Plan
Contest at WVU.
Although they were excited and had most of
their work together, the group was not finished.
Knowing there was still work to do, Mrs.
Scarbrough scheduled an appointment with Fonda
Holehouse at the WVU Business Launch Lab
to assist with the development of their business
financials. Leah said, “Financials were probably
the hardest part, and Fonda gave us the tools we
needed to win.” After weeks of phone calls and
what seemed to be endless calculations, the group
was ready to compete for the finals.
Three Amigos Metal Works created metal
decorations, a 15 page financial and business plan,
a PowerPoint, and prepared to pitch their business.
In the end, only eight business plans were pitched
at the final contest, and the competition was
intense. Students from all over the state came with
strong, diverse ideas that were presented in front of
judges and other students in a format that is similar
to the television show, “Shark Tank”. One of the
competitors even had a partnership with Nike to
create a new “tech shoe”.
plan, and speaking in front of judges and peers to
make an idea come to life with a real small business
seems like an extraordinary venture for anyone.
These three high school juniors from Buckhannon
made it happen in a few short months. When asked
how they could develop a functioning business so
quickly, the students all agreed that the preparation,
education and experience they have gained, and are
still gaining, comes from their time spent in FFA
and 4H. “You definitely get a lot of opportunities
from FFA and 4H,” said Natalie. “The experience
we are gaining has been really helpful.”
Three Amigos Metal Works is currently working
on creating more diverse products, and the fun
doesn’t end with lawn décor. The group is also
making keychains from forks, and a few other metal
items. If all goes well, Three Amigos Metal Works
will have a shop on Etsy, and will begin selling
their products to the public.
West Virginia Farm Bureau News 13