Winners Selected in Gobble Up! Turkey Marketing Competition

Students in grades 3 through 12 were eligible to participate. Students learned about the turkey production industry and turkey nutrition as a result of participation. Winners are as follows:

Elementary Division:

• 1st Prize: Des Moines Christian School taught by Rhonda Osborn. The student team of Sammie, Maia, Xander, Owen, and Ellary submitted a poster illustrating the nutritional difference between turkey breast, turkey drumsticks, and ground turkey.
• 2nd Prize: Des Moines Christian School taught by Rhonda Osborn. The student team of Callie, Josh, Jay, and Sophia created a poster promoting a turkey pot pie.
• 3rd Prize: Des Moines Christian School taught by Rhonda Osborn. The student team of Kaylee, Anya, Will, and Grady created a poster explaining why you should eat turkey.

Middle School Division:

• 1st Prize: River Valley Middle School taught by Kourtney Miller. The student team of Melody Brewer, Damon Cox, Monica Deeds, Tanned Dorschner, Alaina Goettsch, Tate Heilman, Jacy Jacobson, Dallas Kline, Andrea Knaack, Corbyn Kreger, Addison Law, Maddison Todd, and Keegan Volkert created a marketing plan to sell a turkey kebob or a turk-a-bob.
• 2nd Prize: Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School taught by Kristie Kuhse. The student team of Bradley Sage, Daniel Durbin, and Alec Faust created a marketing plan to sell a turkey bacon wrapped tater tot appetizer.
• 3rd Prize: Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School taught by Kristie Kuhse. The student team of Jude Landers, Jacob Dufner, Trevor Forey and Benny Ramker created a marketing plan to sell Miami street tacos.

High School Division:

• 1st Prize: Lenox Community Schools taught by Jackie Rush. The student team of Alexis Beberniss, Lauren Christensen, Austen David, Jordan England, Chelsey Hoakison, McKinna Hogan, Chase Johnston, Cassidy Nelson, Blake Rychnovsky, and Tyra Stoaks created a marketing plan to sell a creamy and cheesy pulled turkey sandwich.
• 2nd Prize (tie): Dubuque Senior High School taught by Jennifer Gravel. The class created a marketing plan to sell turkey jerky.
• 2nd Prize (tie): Lone Tree Community School taught by Bridget Mahoney. The student team of Cale Christofferson, Allison Marshek, Abby Westfall, Brynne Ronan, Lexi Garrett, Ashley Yedlik, Keegan Edwards, Cory Krueger, Tyler McCullough, and Tim Mills created a marketing plan to sell turkey jerky.

Elementary students who participated in the contest selected a turkey product and then work together in teams of three or more, or as a classroom, to submit a poster that advertises the product or showcases the health benefits associated with eating turkey. Middle school and high school students who participated worked together to submit a marketing plan of their selected turkey-focused product. Their marketing plans included an introduction, product details, marketing tactics, a market analysis, and nutrition information. The program is funded in part by the Iowa Turkey Marketing Council and the U.S. Poultry Foundation.

“Iowa is an important turkey producing state,” said Morgan Minnehan of the Iowa Turkey Federation. “This contest helps students understand about the industry and how turkey can be a nutritious part of a balanced diet.”

Contest submissions were due November 1, 2019. Submissions were judged by a panel of industry experts, turkey producers, and educators. Prizes include up to $200, a personalized virtual tour (FarmChat®) of a turkey farm, and first place classrooms will have a turkey brought to their school and supported by the Iowa Turkey Federation.

# # #