Prairie Home has added Future Business Leaders of America this year for seventh and eighth graders.
Cheryl VanKirk, the business and technology teacher in charge of the school's FBLA chapter, said this year the organization is focused on fundraising.
"The school paid for us to attend a leadership conference at the beginning of the school year and we are trying to pay that back," VanKirk said.
She said the organization is also working on community service.
"We did the Miracle Minute to benefit March of Dimes and raised over $106 in one minute," VanKirk said. "The FBLA team also put together Halloween cups for the elementary students and passed them out over Halloween. They wanted to do something for the 'little kids' for Halloween that was safe, like Trunk or Treat, but being in middle school they don't have trunks yet."
The students in FBLA also are learning about leadership skills - how to give presentations, learning about business and learning how to talk to business people.
This year the school has 19 out of their 24 total students in seventh and eighth grade in FBLA. VanKirk said that the school's superintendent, Michele Rex, is a supporter of FBLA and wanted to start with the middle school level.
The students are feeling great about what they have done so far, according to VanKirk.
"They were really proud of themselves for creating Christmas ornaments and crafts to sell at the Prairie Home Craft Festival in December," VanKirk said.
The students can learn important skills in FBLA, like confidence.
"Especially at the middle school level, this is a time when students are trying to find their place and where they fit and FBLA has something for everyone," VanKirk said.
Teamwork and leadership skills are other skills that students learn in FBLA, as well as problem solving.
"Members learn to work together as a team to achieve goals and they learn that everyone has unique gifts and skills that they can contribute towards a team project," VanKirk said.
She said she hopes the students have fun while in FBLA.
"I hope they have fun and realize that FBLA has taught them valuable life skills that will go with them no matter what they do," VanKirk said.