From One Stand to Two Businesses: Meet Emily Rendon, Our 2026 National Youth Entrepreneur of the Year
Four years ago, Emily Rendon set up her first lemonade stand. Today, at 12 years old, she runs two businesses, and she’s been named Lemonade Day’s 2026 National Youth Entrepreneur of the Year.
Emily, founder of Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy, was selected from young entrepreneurs in more than 100 communities across North America. Each year, the award honors one young business owner whose story shows creativity, resilience, and real impact on their community. Emily’s story shows all three. 
A brand you can spot from across the parking lot
Emily’s stand has a look all its own: bright yellow from top to bottom, under the slogan “Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!” Her menu featured fresh-squeezed lemonade, lemonade pouches, and cakesicles.
She didn’t wait for customers to come to her. This season she took her stand to more than five locations, from a Tractor Supply store to two Lemonade Day events, and was named a Favorite Stand along the way.
She listens to her customers
Emily’s growth comes from paying attention. When her lemonade pouches became a hit with kids, she made more, and they became her best seller.
She promoted every location with flyers, a photo banner, and social media posts. After four seasons, she also knows the details that make or break a stand day: size your batches for the busy days, and bring extra ice, shade, and banner weights when the weather turns hot and windy.
Earn some, save some, share some
Emily’s results this season speak for themselves:
- $850 in sales
- $500 in profit, meeting her goal
- Her investor paid back, with no interest
- $250 saved
- $150 donated to flood relief
That donation went to a community where her family lives. It’s the second year in a row she’s given there, after donating following flooding the year before.
“Four years ago, I started with a lemonade stand. Now I have a lemonade business and a cakesicle business,” Emily said. “I can’t wait to see what I can build next.”
A sweet collaboration with Mikaila Ulmer
Entrepreneur and Lemonade Day alumna Mikaila Ulmer, whose own journey began at a lemonade stand, spoke at the award ceremony to help honor Emily. The two are now teaming up on a collaboration box pairing Mikaila’s lemonade with Emily’s cakesicles. Mikaila’s recent appearance on Good Morning America is a reminder for every young entrepreneur: the first drop of entrepreneurship can be a lemonade stand. How far they take it is theirs to discover.
“Emily’s story is what Lemonade Day is all about,” said Elizabeth Ramasamy, CEO of Lemonade Day. “She proves that when kids are given the opportunity to build something of their own, they don’t just grow a business. They grow into leaders who lift up the people around them.”
What’s next for Emily
Emily is already selling cakesicles outside of Lemonade Day and plans to grow that business for birthdays, holidays, and special events. Next on her list: flavored lemonades and a punch card for repeat customers.
Emily’s stand is part of Lemonade Day Coastal Bend, presented by the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce Foundation along with more than 15 other local partners. Since 2012, the program has helped young people across the Coastal Bend launch their own small businesses.
Every story like Emily’s starts the same way: with one stand. Since 2006, Lemonade Day has helped 1.6 million kids take that first step. To bring Lemonade Day to kids in your community, or to help support the next Emily, visit lemonadeday.org.
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Four years ago, Emily Rendon set up her first lemonade stand. Today, at 12 years old, she runs two businesses, and she’s been named Lemonade Day’s 2026 National Youth Entrepreneur of the Year.
Emily, founder of Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy, was selected from young entrepreneurs in more than 100 communities across North America. Each year, the award honors one young business owner whose story shows creativity, resilience, and real impact on their community. Emily’s story shows all three.
A brand you can spot from across the parking lot
Emily’s stand has a look all its own: bright yellow from top to bottom, under the slogan “Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!” Her menu featured fresh-squeezed lemonade, lemonade pouches, and cakesicles.
She didn’t wait for customers to come to her. This season she took her stand to more than five locations, from a Tractor Supply store to two Lemonade Day events, and was named a Favorite Stand along the way.
She listens to her customers
Emily’s growth comes from paying attention. When her lemonade pouches became a hit with kids, she made more, and they became her best seller.
She promoted every location with flyers, a photo banner, and social media posts. After four seasons, she also knows the details that make or break a stand day: size your batches for the busy days, and bring extra ice, shade, and banner weights when the weather turns hot and windy.
Earn some, save some, share some
Emily’s results this season speak for themselves:
- $850 in sales
- $500 in profit, meeting her goal
- Her investor paid back, with no interest
- $250 saved
- $150 donated to flood relief
That donation went to a community where her family lives. It’s the second year in a row she’s given there, after donating following flooding the year before.
“Four years ago, I started with a lemonade stand. Now I have a lemonade business and a cakesicle business,” Emily said. “I can’t wait to see what I can build next.”
A sweet collaboration with Mikaila Ulmer
Entrepreneur and Lemonade Day alumna Mikaila Ulmer, whose own journey began at a lemonade stand, spoke at the award ceremony to help honor Emily. The two are now teaming up on a collaboration box pairing Mikaila’s lemonade with Emily’s cakesicles. Mikaila’s recent appearance on Good Morning America is a reminder for every young entrepreneur: the first drop of entrepreneurship can be a lemonade stand. How far they take it is theirs to discover.
“Emily’s story is what Lemonade Day is all about,” said Elizabeth Ramasamy, CEO of Lemonade Day. “She proves that when kids are given the opportunity to build something of their own, they don’t just grow a business. They grow into leaders who lift up the people around them.”
What’s next for Emily
Emily is already selling cakesicles outside of Lemonade Day and plans to grow that business for birthdays, holidays, and special events. Next on her list: flavored lemonades and a punch card for repeat customers.
Emily’s stand is part of Lemonade Day Coastal Bend, presented by the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce Foundation along with more than 15 other local partners. Since 2012, the program has helped young people across the Coastal Bend launch their own small businesses.
Every story like Emily’s starts the same way: with one stand. Since 2006, Lemonade Day has helped 1.6 million kids take that first step. To bring Lemonade Day to kids in your community, or to help support the next Emily, visit lemonadeday.org.
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