Sisters High Schools Students Develop Financial Literacy Through Bite of Reality Fairs

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on February 18, 2026

Students responded positively to a financial literacy program held at Sisters High School. Photo by Bill Bartlett, The Nugget Newspaper

More than 50 students at Sisters High School, In Sister, Ore., stepped into the real world last week during a Bite of Reality financial literacy workshop, transforming the library into a hands-on budgeting simulation. Over two class periods, students used a largely app-driven platform to make real-life financial decisions — balancing monthly budgets, covering essential expenses, and adjusting when the unexpected happened.

The experience was supported by volunteers from the City of Sisters, the Sisters Rotary Foundation, OCCU, and High Desert ESD, who staffed merchant tables and guided students through spending choices. Each participant was assigned a unique financial profile, complete with a career, income, family situation, credit score, debt, and even potential medical costs. From there, they navigated booths representing housing, transportation, groceries, childcare, and lifestyle expenses — all while managing surprise bills, emergencies, and occasional windfalls. Overspending meant making tough choices, returning purchases, or reshaping their budgets.

Students described the event as eye-opening and engaging. “It was a fun and interactive event where the students stretched their financial decision-making muscles and got to hear wisdom and tips from our community leaders during the debrief,” said Rachel Shultz, Community Engagement Specialist for Mid Oregon Credit Union, which sponsored and produced the workshop. Sisters marks the fifth community to host the popular simulation, which reinforces key requirements outlined in Oregon Senate Bill 3 for Personal Financial Education.

Participants said the hands-on format made the lessons stick. Sophomore Efrain Gonzalez called it “a realistic and engaging experience about managing your finances.” While Elizabeth Beaver noted it helped her better understand spending, debt, and credit cards — and reconsider her own spontaneous spending habits. Bennitt Hayes said the simulation highlighted the true cost of everyday expenses and the importance of building strong credit. Junior Grant Roberson added that the experience underscored the need to track purchases carefully, especially discretionary spending like eating out.

Helping young people build strong money habits early is one of the most impactful ways credit unions can invest in their communities,, and Bite of Reality financial reality fairs help make that possible. To learn more about about how the GoWest Foundation can help your credit union can bring Bite of Reality to your community, click here.

Posted in Financial Education, GoWest Foundation, Oregon, Regional Member News.