Howdy Hut: Ideas from young entrepreneurs

SILVERTON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – Maisie Forman isn't your typical business owner. The soon-to-be sixth grader is the owner of Howdy Huts, a business that sells handmade, customized trucker hats.

Forman has always had a passion for fashion, and the idea for Forman's Howdy Hut began at the August 2023 Briscoe County Celebration.

“There was a booth making trucker hats, so I tried making one too. I thought, 'This is so cool!' I've loved trucker hats ever since, and I kept telling my mom, 'I want to make trucker hats, I want to make them,' so I started making them,” Forman said.

Forman said he has sold 40 hats so far, with each one delivered in Forman's personalized box.

“She wrote on my box, 'Oh, wow!' She cares about me. She cares that I ordered from her. She appreciates it,' and that's what I want people to feel when they open a box or receive a box,” Forman said.

Maisy's mother, Molly, said it wasn't a surprise that she was running a business at her age.

“Ever since she was little, she would pretend she had her own boutique called Cactus Blossom Boutique. She would take out all of her clothes, shoes and accessories and line them up in the living room, and Maisie and Lessie would play shopkeepers,” Forman said.

Molly said Maisie was now saving some of the money she earned at Howdy Hut.

“My daughter has started saving. She shows animals in 4-H so she already has a savings account and has saved some money, but we try to live within a budget. Things she has wanted, like shoes. By her earning her own money it gives her the opportunity to buy things we didn't have in our household budget,” Forman said.

Molly said Maisy's involvement in 4-H activities has helped her business.

“It gave her the opportunity to do public speaking, learn about fashion and interior design projects and a lot of other things she learned through 4-H. She met a lot of different people, which gave her the idea and inspiration for this business. She sells to other 4-H people and they really spread the word about her business, so it's a great partnership,” Forman said.

Forman said she hopes to one day have her own clothing boutique.

“I wanted to have a business and I wanted to start early, I wanted to have everything ready for when I'm older… I really want to own a boutique type business,” Forman said.

“Who knows what the future holds for her, but I think she'll continue to be a business owner,” Molly Forman added.

Molly added that Macy helped out at 4-H Project Camp and taught fellow 4-H members how to make hats. Macy wants to teach others to be proud of who they are, Molly added.