How would you like to try a tasty dish of beef tongue tacos or cheesy beefsteak bake? Iowa students from across the state recently participated in the High Steaks! Beef Marketing Competition in a bid to win judges over with their knowledge of beef products and marketing savvy.  

The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation, in partnership with the Iowa Beef Industry Council, hosts the annual High Steaks! Beef Marketing Competition. The experiential learning contest lets students 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 third through 12 grade are eligible to participate. Students who participate learn about the beef production industry and beef nutrition. 

“This competition is an opportunity for Iowa’s elementary, middle and high school teachers to bring ag into their classrooms, incorporating it into subjects they’re already teaching about,” says Will Fett, executive director of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation.  

A total of 93 entries were received from elementary, middle and high schools across Iowa. The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation recognizes the following student winners in this cross-curricular program for elementary, middle and high school students.  

Elementary Division 

First — Central Elementary. Taught by Cheryl Kremer, the student team of Blair Scherf submitted a poster promoting ribs.

Second — Des Moines Christian. Taught by Rhonda Osborn, the student team of Anya, Attleigh and Aiden submitted a poster promoting “Palm Tree Beef.”

BEEF TONGUE TACOS: Students from Gilmore City-Bradgate Elementary submitted a poster for a taco recipe. 

Third — Gilmore City-Bradgate. Taught by Kelsey Wigans, the student team of Olivia Dickey, Reese Benjamin, Kinley Eastman, Alana Adamson, Bradley Wiemers and Jadalynn Dobbs submitted a poster promoting “Make Your Beef Tongue Your Number 1.”

Middle School Division 

First — Mid-Iowa Youth Beef Team. Taught by Maureen Hanson, the student team of Jillian Hanson, Olivia Hanson, William Kroneman and Natalie Nichols created a marketing plan to sell “Cheesy Beefsteak Bake.”

Second — Waverly Shell Rock Middle School. Taught by Kristie Kuhse, the student team of Chelsey Cole, Cambrie Otis, Ariana Ellerbrock and Clara Shoultz created a marketing plan to sell “Asian Beef Salad.” 

Third — Waverly Shell Rock Middle School. Taught by Kuhse, the student team of Annika Ross and Lanie Hermeyer created a marketing plan to sell “LA Gourmet Beef Bourguignon.”

High School Division

First — Mid-Iowa Youth Beef Team. Taught by Julie Gray, the student team of Gabriel Hanson, Frances Jackson, Conner Murty, Layne Murty and Sydney Parizek created a marketing plan to sell ‘ZIP Power Strips.’ 

Second — Sumner Fredericksburg High. Taught by Karen Van De Walle, the student team of Sydney Berkes, Katie Reno, Mariela Coronel Mejia, Lillian Sassmann, Sabrina Cox, Eddie Ball, Quinn Kottke, Andrew Rahlf, Dawson Schmidt, Lane Smith, Cameron Walvatne, Chris Wehling, Dylan Wehling and Colton Yungtum created a marketing plan for “Lasagna Ole.”

Third — Dubuque Senior High. Taught by Jennifer Gravel, the student team of Isiah Aguayo, Larissa Edwards, Patricia Fay, Gavin Guns, Marissa Kemp, Cal McCue, Dawson Olson, Allison Recker and Jacquelyn Schissel created a marketing plan to sell “Beef Box.” 

Submissions were judged by a panel of industry experts, beef producers and educators. Prizes include up to $200 cash, a personalized virtual tour (FarmChat) of a beef farm with a local farmer, and first-place classrooms will have a barbeque lunch. 

Competition details 

Elementary students who participated in the contest selected a beef product and then worked together in teams of three or more, or as a classroom, to submit a poster that advertises the product or showcases 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.  

COUNTRY STYLE RIBS: A team from Central Elementary School located in Elkader won first prize with their beef marketing poster promoting ribs. 

Each classroom that participates receives supporting books and lesson plans such as the “My Family’s Beef Farm” book, “Beef: A Healthy Option” or “True Beef Educator” among other materials. 

“We hope teachers find this program a fun and educational experience for their classrooms, and a unique way of engaging their students while also learning about beef production in Iowa,” Fett says. 

The competition opens annually in January and concludes in April each year. Interested teachers can sign up for the IALF quarterly newsletter at iowaagliteracy.org or follow the organization on social media channels to be notified of the next competition. The program is funded in part by the Iowa Beef Checkoff. 

Source: IALF, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.