The South Dakota Beef Ambassador Contest held recently in Huron gives the state’s young people a chance to show off their knowledge of the beef industry. From left to right: 2006 National Beef Ambassador Amanda Nolz; Andrew Jensen, 2nd Place, Senior Division; JoAnna Strom, 1st Place, South Dakota Beef Ambassador; Wyatt Janisch, 2nd Place, Junior Division; and Bailey Hurlbert, 1st Place, Junior Division. Strom will go on to compete at the National Beef Ambassador Contest in October.

Beresford Youth Named SD Beef Ambassador

  PIERRE (August 6, 2006)—JoAnna Strom, Beresford, won the title of South Dakota Beef Ambassador during the state-wide competition in Huron July 28.

  As South Dakota ’s Beef Ambassador, Strom will travel the state, giving her winning presentation, Extreme Makeover: Beef Addition, and representing the state’s beef industry at a variety of events and to the media.

  Strom won an all-expense-paid trip to the 2007 National Beef Ambassador Contest to be held in Minneapolis October 5-7. She will represent South Dakota with contestants ages 17 to 20 from across the United States in this annual national public speaking and interview competition. Winners at the national level represent the beef industry at events throughout the year and receive cash prizes and scholarships. Another South Dakotan, Amanda Nolz of Mitchell, won the 2006 National Beef Ambassador title last fall and currently holds that title. Andrew Jensen, son of Paul and Myra Jensen of Wakonda, earned second place in the state-wide contest.

            Strom lives with her parents Philip and Dorothy, who own a beef cattle business south of Beresford. She is a 2006 graduate from Beresford High School and will be attending South Dakota State University this fall majoring in Animal Science with a minor in Human Nutrition.

  The state-wide competition also includes a Junior (ages 10-16) Beef Ambassador contest. This year’s first-place junior winner was Bailey Hurlbert, daughter of Russ and Sherray of Raymond. Second place went to Wyatt Janisch, son of Julie Nelson and Paul Janisch of Lake City .

The purpose of the Beef Ambassador Contest is to train spokespersons for promotion of beef and the beef industry. Through preparation for the competition, contestants gain knowledge about the nutritional and economic value of beef, as well as cooking principles, safe handling and versatile use of beef. They also research the importance of beef as an agricultural product. Senior contestants present a five-to-eight minute presentation based on facts provided by the American National CattleWomen.

  In addition to winning the trip to the national contest, Strom received cash prizes, luggage, a jacket and miscellaneous items. Additional prizes were awarded to other contestants.

  The state competition is sponsored by the South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) with contributions from beef-related organizations and individuals. The South Dakota CattleWomen hosted the event with coordination by the Southern Belle CattleWomen and South Dakota Cattlemen’s Auxiliary.

  Both the state and national contests are funded in part by America ’s Beef Producers through their $1-per-head checkoff.