In wrapping up their participation in the National Lemonade Day program, the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce honored the top participants during the Chamber's October Good Morning Cherokee networking event. The Strawberry Sisters, best friends Elizabeth McCloskey and Ella Richmond, were named the Cherokee County Lemonade Day 2022 Youth Entrepreneurs of the Year. “The decision to honor Elizabeth and Ella was determined by a panel of judges who reviewed business results from a variety of Lemonade Day student entrepreneurs”, announced Chamber President & CEO Pam Carnes. “The business results included their goals along with how much they spent, saved and shared as well as why they participated and what they learned.”

The Cherokee County Lemonade Day 2022 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year award was sponsored by First Horizon Bank. “First Horizon was excited to support the Chamber and National Lemonade Day as financial literacy is extremely important to learn at a young age,” shared Sarah Gaither, First Horizon Bank Vice President, and Branch Manager. The winners have been invited to visit First Horizon for a tour to learn more about banking for their future business endeavors. They also received individual certificates, a team trophy, a cash prize, and bicycles. One bike was provided by the National Lemonade Day organization while an anonymous donor contributed the second since the girls were partners in their business.

A well-established global national youth entrepreneurship program, Lemonade Day taught leadership and business skills by encouraging students to launch a lemonade business in their community. Since 2007, more than 1 million students have learned about business ownership by participating in Lemonade Day.