South Dakota Youth Can Enter
SD Beef Ambassador Contest

            South Dakota youth interested in educating consumers and students about beef nutrition, food safety, and stewardship practices of the beef industry are encouraged to compete in the 2008 South Dakota Beef Ambassador Contest.
          The annual contest selects a junior and senior winner. The senior winner will receive an all-expense-paid trip to compete in the National Beef Ambassador Contest this fall in Oklahoma City.
          The South Dakota Beef Ambassador competition will be held in Huron in conjunction with the Summer Spotlight All Breeds Show.  The contest will be held in the Beadle County 4-H Office on Friday, July 25. Registration deadline is July 15.
            The state competition is open to juniors (10-16), and seniors (must be 17, but not over 20 as of Jan.1, 2009). Contestants may enter the state competition more than once unless they are a past senior winner, but may only compete nationally one time.
            On the state level, senior contestants are judged on a five-minute presentation, juniors on a three-minute presentation. Presentations can be based on a specific idea or an overview about beef and/or the beef industry and must be based on facts provided in the information from the American National CattleWomen. Both juniors and seniors will also be judged on their performance while being interviewed for radio, and seniors only will be judged on a written reply to a negative news article.
          By participating in the contest, youth gain knowledge about the nutritional and economic value of beef, cooking principles, safe handling and versatile use of beef, and the importance of beef as an agricultural product.  Presentations should focus on the positive impact of the industry on the economy and on families as producers and consumers. The state and national competition enhances personal leadership, career opportunities, speaking skills and everlasting friendships. 
            Each contestant will receive at least $50, a South Dakota Beef Ambassador shirt, and other prizes.  The senior winner will receive a South Dakota Beef Ambassador fleece jacket, an all expense-paid trip to compete and represent South Dakota in the national competition October 9-11, 2008, as well as other monetary and special gifts.
             Sponsors of the state competition include the South Dakota Beef Industry Council, the South Dakota CattleWomen, Inc., South Dakota Cattlemen’s Auxiliary, and others in the beef industry.
          For rules/regulations and additional information go to www.nationalbeefambassador.org, or contact Ruth Anne Farnsworth, 28332 294^th Ave., Carter, S.D. 57580-5003, 605-879-2497, ruthf@gwtc.net.