West Des Moines, Iowa – April 5, 2018– The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation has recognized student winners in a cross-curricular program for elementary, middle, and high school students. The experiential learning contest allowed students to creatively develop a marketing strategy for a beef product of their choice, while learning about the multitude of agricultural careers and skills it takes to develop and sell a product.

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

Elementary Division:

  • 1st Prize:  Gilmore City-Bradgate Elementary School  taught by Kelsey Upah. The student team of Mallory Brown, Codey Froisland, Chevy Harris, Braxton Osorio, and Logan Lanus submitted a poster promoting Flat Iron steaks.
  • 2nd Prize: Gilmore City-Bradgate Elementary School  taught by Kelsey Upah. The student team of Chloe Dickey, Grady Goddard, Kiera Flynn, Graclyn Eastman, Jack Habben, Gabe Thumma, and McKyle Tuite created a poster promoting Steak Fajitas.
  • 3rd Prize (tie):  IKM-Manning  taught by Kristin Dreyer. The student team of  Collin Bainbridge, Austin Rhodes, and Maybelin Valladares created a poster explaining the nutrition of beef. The student team of  Richie Andrade, Camden Alexander, and Anna Stangl created a poster explaining the cow life cycle.

Middle School Division:

  • 1st Prize: Chariton Middle School  taught by Stephanie Lukavsky. The student team of 23 students created a marketing plan to sell beef jerky.
  • 2nd Prize: Mid-Iowa Youth Beef Team of Marshall County  taught by Julie Gray. The student team of  Dillon McMorran, Kaylynn Murty, Wes Thompson, and Wyatt Thompson created a marketing plan to sell a steak family meal.
  • 3rd Prize: Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School  taught by Kristie Kuhse. The student team of  Emily Vering, Ashley Klamfoth, Riley Ferguson, and Mikey Santoiemma created a marketing plan to sell a pizza burger pretzel.

High School Division:

  • 1st Prize: Mid-Iowa Youth Beef Team of Marshall County  taught by Julie Gray. The student team of  Alexa Callaway, Dresden Eldridge, Elizabeth Emely, Cael Kline, Cody Kline, Colby McMorran, and Mark Patten created a marketing plan to sell Beef Jerky.
  • 2nd Prize: Mid-Iowa Youth Beef Team of GMG/North Tama  taught by Erin Murty. The student team of  Layne Murty, Abe Dieleman, Frances Jackson, Wyatt Jackson, Dylan Hosek, Ryan Hosek, and Zoe Duncan created a marketing plan to sell Steak-N-Take Wraps.
  • 3rd Prize: Mid-Iowa Youth Beef Team of Marshall County  taught by Julie Gray. The student team of  Taylor Lekin, Lauren Mosher, Leah Mosher, Delaney Nichols, Emily Pansegrau, and Sydney Parizek created a marketing plan to sell Flat Iron Steaks to college students.

Contest submissions were due March 15, 2018. Submissions were judged by a panel of industry experts, beef producers, and educators. 

Prizes include up to $200, a personalized virtual tour (FarmChat®) of a beef farm, and first place classrooms will have a BBQ lunch brought to their school and catered by the Iowa Beef Industry Council.

Elementary students who participated in the contest selected a beef 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 beef. Middle school and high school students who participated worked together to submit a marketing plan of their selected beef-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 Beef Checkoff.

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About the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation
IALF serves as a central resource for educators and volunteers who want to teach Iowa’s students about agriculture. The mission is to educate Iowans, with a focus on youth, regarding the breadth and global significance of agriculture. Iowa is a leading producer of agricultural products that are essential to feed a growing world population, estimated to reach more than 9 billion by 2050. IALF believes it is important for all Iowans to understand the essential role agriculture has in their lives. IALF will support existing agriculture education efforts such as FFA, 4-H and Ag in the Classroom. IALF was created through a joint effort of agricultural stakeholders, including the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Silos and Smokestacks Foundation, DuPont Pioneer, GROWMARK, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council. For more information visit IALF online at IowaAgLiteracy.org, on Facebook, and Twitter.

Source:
Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation

Contact:
Will Fett, Executive Director
Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation
WFett@IowaAgLiteracy.org
515-331-4182