It’s been months in the making but the 12 students in the Daviess County Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities or CEO program are finally ready to showcase their businesses during the annual trade show that will take place Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Bicentennial Walkway, near the CORE Center and just off Main Street.

“For the trade show, we’re each required to design a booth for our individual businesses,” said Gracie Madison, who will be selling handmade air fresheners as part of her Scents & Sensibility booth. “We get to choose what products we sell, how to decorate our booth and design our marketing materials and logos.”

Madison said her booth was inspired by an aroma bead air freshener she received as a gift that she kept in her car.

“The smell lasted for a long time and it was just a cute decoration,” said Madison, who said she has been busy making her product, which comes in seven scents, to sell at the trade show and promoting her business on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

The soon-to-be Barr-Reeve senior also recently had the opportunity to pitch her business plan at the Midland Institute’s 30 Second Pitch Contest.

“The time limit of 30 seconds really challenged me to focus on the main thing I want to convey about my business— my mission, what makes my product special or different and why customers need them,” said Madison. “It was really a great opportunity for me to get feedback on my ideas and to learn what goes into a good pitch.”

The trade show, which is free and open to the public, will also feature businesses from Melida Ajrandinoska (Macedonian Baklava), Jacob David (J.D. Soaps), Hadley Faith (Chef Veeta), McGuire Heacock (Hanging Around), Owen Jarrett (JF9 Promotions), Gretchen Kaiser (ANTLERR), Hallie Leischner (SimpliciTea), Becca McCarty (Beauty By Becca), Lara Santiago (Flavors from Home), Makayla Sipes (Scentsations) and Kiera Waller (Pretty Little Things).