Joshua Heidel, Brayden Mitzel, and Maddox Prescesky-LaClare launched Prairie Apparel in 2024 as part of their entrepreneurship class project at North Battleford Comprehensive High School. (submitted/ Josh Heidel)

By Kenneth Cheung

GIVING BACK

Prairie Apparel: High school entrepreneurs turn business into community impact

Feb 5, 2025 | 5:00 PM

What started as a high school entrepreneurship class project has quickly turned into a way to give back to the community. Prairie Apparel Co., a clothing brand founded by three high school students from North Battleford, is proving that business isn’t just about making money but about making a difference.

Joshua Heidel, Brayden Mitzel, and Maddox Prescesky-LaClare launched the brand in 2024 through their business class at North Battleford Comprehensive High School to create something that represents home and community.

“We wanted to create something that everybody could wear and see throughout the community, something that meant something to people,” Heidel said.

Their brand features designs inspired by rural Saskatchewan, such as an old-style grain elevator — a symbol, he said, resonates with many locals.

“It represents home. A lot of what’s on the Prairies is farming and the farm communities, so we put an old-style grain elevator on our clothing. I think that brings back a lot of memories for people,” Heidel said.

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“Even in the Battlefords, we have the grain elevator at the [Western Development] museum, and if you go half an hour north, you’ll see the old-style one in Maymont.”

One of their hoodies features a logo inspired by a grain elevator. (submitted/Josh Heidel)

Being a newbie to the retail world, the team faced the challenges of supply and demand, manufacturing, and marketing head-on.

“Our biggest challenge was probably supply and demand. When we started out, just trying to get our clothing to us and get it out to customers was definitely one of the hardest parts,” he explained.

To navigate these challenges, they worked with local companies to manufacture their clothing and spread the word through trade shows, social media, and word-of-mouth.

“We had friends and family share our brand online, and we also had three models throughout the semester who did photo shoots for us,” he shared. “We posted those online, and they got shared all over the place.”

Their efforts paid off, earning them over $1,000 in revenue during the past semester. But instead of keeping all their earnings, the young entrepreneurs recently donated $260 to Battleford Minor Football to support programming that helps build youth in sports within their school.

“At the end of the semester, we had to decide what to do with our money—how to split it between the three of us and what we wanted to do in terms of giving back,” he said.

“We just believe in supporting local and like to see the benefit others receive from that.”

Their products include shirts, hoodies, toques, and hats influenced by Saskatchewan. (submitted/Josh Heidel)

Giving back wasn’t based on massive profits or extra resources. Heidel believes it was rooted in a genuine desire to contribute to their community, even in the early stages of their business.

“It’s definitely a nice feeling knowing that I get to help others out in the community and support those other people,” he reflected.

Heidel’s journey

For him, entrepreneurship isn’t new—he’s been running small businesses since childhood, from lemonade stands to lawn mowing. When the opportunity came to take an entrepreneurship class, he saw it as the perfect chance to channel his passion into something bigger.

“All throughout my years growing up, I always had little businesses on the side,” he said.

“So when I saw the entrepreneurship class, I thought, ‘That’s a class for me.’ I could create something and use the skill set I’ve learned from other businesses.”

Looking ahead, he shared that the Prairie Apparel team hopes to expand their marketing efforts and explore new ways of manufacturing their products, possibly even producing their clothing.

“Right now, we’re just focused on getting our brand out there more and looking into different manufacturing options,” he said.

Brayden Mitzel, one of Prairie Apparel’s founders, presents the $260 donation they made to Battleford’s Minor Football. (Facebook/NBCHS)

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com