The Guiding Star Strategy Group is set to being a 16-week entrepreneurial program starting February 10th at Afton Town Hall.

Michael Horn from the organization says it tries to give youth of the community the education on how they can be successful in business in this community.

“What I hear from the young people is they love Star Valley,” Horn said. “They just don’t have a means to see a future here.”

He says he has been busy “evangelizing” business leaders in Lincoln County and he thinks it’s hard for some to see that future here.

“I have found that all of us can get behind the young people,” Horn said. “And I really feel like the vision for Star Valley’s future needs to come from the youth anyhow.”

He says he really wants to see the pioneering spirit that he sees in the community continue to grow in agriculture, in ranching, in dairy, and the families that have made it all great. He says it needs to now begin with the next generation.

He says this new program will start with the community. Locals will come in and share experiences. The meetings will be held each Thursday evening from 6:30-8 PM. The first four weeks will be held in Afton Town Hall.

“Then we’re going to spread that out throughout the valley,” Horn said. “So, that everybody has an opportunity to be at a class.”

He says this will also be available online so that anyone interested can attend as well. The foundation course will be about life skills according to Horn.

“Which is something that is absolutely imperative to be a good entrepreneur,” Horn said. “To be a good steward in community leadership roles. So, they’re really going to be learning things that aren’t taught in textbooks.”

He serves on the Star Valley Arts Council. He is on the board of directors at the Salt River Arts Society which owns the Ford Theatre in Afton. He is using those connections to get business leaders to help create the brand and the vision for Star Valley.

“My goal, I would say is in the next two years, through this program, to generate another industry for Star Valley,” Horn said. “So, that’s going to take the community coming together and investing in these young people.”

He says they are accepting students as young as 12 and as old as 18. He also says they will be accepting some post-graduates, but they also want parental interaction with this. If you have any questions you can contact the organization here.