9-year-old Richard Andino smiling while standing in his expansive vegetable garden.
While most kids spend summer vacation glued to devices, 9-year-old Richard Andino is running an agricultural LLC in Loomis, California.
His journey into entrepreneurship didn’t start with a business plan. It began as a medical necessity.
9-year-old Richard Andino inspecting plants in his thriving backyard vegetable garden.
“In kindergarten he started having really bad migraines from being inside and watching too many screens,” his mother, Kabryna Andino, said.
Scaling the Backyard Farm
To escape the screens, Richard turned his attention to the soil. A simple school lesson about growing plants sparked an idea that would transform his backyard.
He started small, planting a handful of vegetables in just two planter boxes. “I always loved vegetables,” Richard said. “Then I thought … I wanted to sell them.”
Three years later, that modest garden has nearly tripled in size. “Every year the garden just got bigger,” he said, scanning his latest crop to see what was ready to harvest.
He initially sold his produce from a humble farm stand in his front yard. Today, he operates an official LLC. After his family helped navigate the county approval process, Richard became a regular vendor at the Loomis Farmers Market.
Funding Summer and Feeding the Community
The young farmer’s hard work pays off directly. He uses his market earnings to fund summer excursions to Sky Zone and Sunsplash.
But Richard isn’t just focused on profits. Once he hits his personal savings goals, he donates all remaining harvest to local community members.
For him, the real payout is the lifestyle. “Screens I’m not a big fan of,” Richard said. “I’d rather just — I don’t know — play outside.”
Doctors Weigh In on the Digital Epidemic
Richard’s proactive lifestyle shift aligns perfectly with current pediatric research. Dr. Amanda Mitchell, a pediatrician at Kaiser Roseville, notes the severe impact of excessive digital consumption on growing bodies.
“We’re finding that it changes children’s sleep quality, which then can change their mood and change their behaviors,” Mitchell said.
However, she remains optimistic about today’s youth navigating the digital age. “Children have developed in this era, and they’re overcoming and becoming who they’re supposed to be,” she said. “Technology is there, and it helps them, but it does not define them.”
Lessons from a 9-Year-Old CEO
Between tending rows of vegetables and managing customer transactions, Richard has learned exactly what it takes to build a venture from scratch.
He has a straightforward message for other kids who dream of launching a startup.
“When you want to run a business, you’re going to have to go through challenges,” Richard said. “Don’t give up on them. Just do them, and you’ll succeed.”
