Seeking Youth for SD Beef Ambassador Contest

Posted: 3/7/2012

South Dakota Beef Industry Council News Release       
For Immediate Release
For more information contact:
Holly Swee, Director of Nutrition and Consumer Information
605-957-5283,hswee@sdbeef.org; or
Courtney Nolz, 2011 SD Beef Ambassador
605-999-7063, courtney_nolz22@hotmail.com.

 
 PIERRE – (March 6, 2012) South Dakota youth interested in promoting the state’s beef industry and improving their own presentation skills are encouraged to participate in the 2012 South Dakota Beef Ambassador Contest.
            The contest, to be held July 26 at the Crossroads Hotel and Huron Event Center, will select a winner to move onto the national level and provide participating youth with the skills and information needed to educate consumers and fellow students about beef nutrition, food safety & stewardship practices of the beef industry.
            Sponsored by the South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC), the SD Beef Ambassador Contest will be held the evening before the South Dakota Summer Spotlight Show in Huron, an event focused on showcasing youth livestock exhibitors.
            This year’s SD Beef Ambassador Contest will involve three age divisions: beginner (ages 8-11), junior (ages 12-16), and senior (ages 17-20). Senior contestants must be 17 but not over 20 years old by Sept.1, 2013. Senior and junior contestants will be judged in four categories: media interview; consumer beef promotion; letter to the editor; and personal interview. Youth in the beginners’ division will be judged solely on a 3-5 minute presentation. They will also be welcome to watch the junior and senior competitive events.
            The winner of the senior division will receive $500 and all-expense-paid trip to the National Beef Ambassador contest in the fall of 2013. The winning junior division contestant goes home with $200 cash, while the top beginner contestant receives $50. All participants in the contest receive cash prizes.
            To find out more about the SD Beef Ambassador Contest, including a registration form, rules and regulations, go to sdbeef.org. The registration deadline is July 13. To find more about the National Beef Ambassador program go to nationalbeefambassador.org. You can also contact SDBIC Director of Nutrition and Consumer Information Holly Swee at 605-957-5283, or hswee@sdbeef.org, or 2011 SD Beef Ambassador Courtney Nolz, at 605-999-7036, or courtney_nolz22@hotmail.com.
            The SD Beef Ambassador Contest is funded in part by South Dakota beef producers through the checkoff program.

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The SDBIC collects and administers the $1 beef checkoff on cattle sold in South Dakota. Checkoff dollars are utilized strictly for promotion, education or research programs. Fifty cents of every dollar is directed to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board for programs on the national level. The SDBIC retains 50 cents, which is invested in additional national programs or in-state programs. 

 The SDBIC is comprised of three representatives from eight agricultural organizations:  SD Beef Breeds Council, SD Cattlemen’s Association, SD Cattlemen’s Auxiliary, SD CattleWomen, SD Farm Bureau, SD Farmers Union, SD Livestock Auction Market Association and SD Stockgrowers Association.