Wyatt's Lemonade at Sturgis rally donates more than $100k to St. Jude

PIEDMONT – Bikers come to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally to party, but they might stop for some lemonade first.

Rally regulars have likely seen the yellow billboard and big yellow flag while heading west on Interstate 90.

When the Dennis family moved into a new home in 2019 off Sturgis Road in Piedmont, South Dakota, then 7-year-old Wyatt told his parents he wanted to give away lemonade to bikers the following year.

The young entrepreneur knew a parched audience when he saw one. Within five years, Wyatt’s Lemonade has donated more than $101,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one cup of Country Time lemonade at a time.

‘So many life lessons in saving and giving’

Wyatt, now 12, just wanted a $100, 500-piece Lego set.

Mom Robin and Dad Devin told him if he worked hard at his lemonade stand that first year, they’d buy it for him.

The Legos were paid for after the first day. Then, he made $700 that week.

The family decided to save some of that money for his college fund and then donate $200 to his charity of choice, St. Jude, a nonprofit pediatric research center where families receive free treatment.

“The stand has taught so many life lessons in saving, giving and spending,” said Robin, who sits with Wyatt every day at his stand, 8 miles outside Sturgis. Otherwise, “it’s his to run.”

“He’s carried over things he has learned into school, like public speaking or problem solving,” she says. “It’s fun to watch him be his own unique person.”

By year two, after the stand gained extreme traction on social media and made national news, Wyatt finished up with $32,500 in donations.

“Our busiest day ever was in 2021,” Robin said. “We poured 80 gallons of lemonade in six hours.”

Famous visitors

In 2022, he donated $21,000. In 2023, he donated $21,568; and last year, he donated $26,000, surpassing $100,000 in overall donations to St. Jude.

This year, he’s including four new charities to also support: Mission22, combatting veteran suicide; Dogs Inc., which trains service dogs; Piedmont Fire and Ambulance; and Western Hills Human Society.

“I think it’s cool that my stand continues to grow,” said Wyatt, who still has the original Lego set today and now is hoping for a vacation to Missouri.

He wants to visit the original Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World in Springfield and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

“This wouldn’t be possible without people coming to see me,” Wyatt said. “I’m always open to talk to anybody."

In 2021, he had a chat with former Gov. Kristi Noem. This week, Gov. Larry Rhoden came to say hello.

They’ve already served over 2,000 bikers and have gone through 165 gallons of lemonade. Wyatt’s stand will continue through Aug. 8.

“Sometimes we get so busy making sure things run smoothly that we don’t reflect on what’s happening here,” Robin said. “I’m just amazed at what my son has accomplished in six years. I’m a lucky mom that I get to experience this with him.”