The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation recently recognized student winners in the High Steaks beef marketing competition for elementary, middle and high school students.

The learning contest allowed students to 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. Winners are as follows:

Elementary division
• First place — Gilmore City-Bradgate Elementary School, taught by Kelsey Upah. The team of Mallory Brown, Codey Froisland, Chevy Harris, Braxton Osorio and Logan Lanus submitted a poster promoting flat iron steaks.

• Second place — Gilmore City-Bradgate Elementary School taught by Kelsey Upah. The team of Chloe Dickey, Grady Goddard, Kiera Flynn, Graclyn Eastman, Jack Habben, Gabe Thumma and McKyle Tuite created a poster promoting steak fajitas.

• Third place (tie) — IKM-Manning taught by Kristin Dreyer. The student team of Collin Bainbridge, Austin Rhodes and Maybelin Valladares created a poster explaining beef nutrition. The team of Richie Andrade, Camden Alexander and Anna Stangl created a poster explaining the cow life cycle.

Middle school division
• First place — Chariton Middle School taught by Stephanie Lukavsky. The team of 23 students created a marketing plan to sell beef jerky.

• Second place — Mid-Iowa Youth Beef Team of Marshall County taught by Julie Gray. The team of Dillon McMorran, Kaylynn Murty, Wes Thompson and Wyatt Thompson created a marketing plan to sell a steak family meal.

• Third place —  Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School taught by Kristie Kuhse. The team of Emily Vering, Ashley Klamfoth, Riley Ferguson and Mikey Santoiemma created a marketing plan to sell a pizza burger pretzel.

High school division
• First place — Mid-Iowa Youth Beef Team of Marshall County taught by Julie Gray. The 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.

• Second place — Mid-Iowa Youth Beef Team of GMG/North Tama taught by Erin Murty. The 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.

• Third place — 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. Submissions were judged by a panel of industry experts, beef producers and educators. Prizes include up to $200 and a personalized virtual tour (FarmChat) of a beef farm. Also, first place classrooms will have a BBQ lunch brought to their school, catered by the Iowa Beef Industry Council.

Elementary students participating in the contest select 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 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.

For more information, visit IALF online at IowaAgLiteracy.org, on Facebook and Twitter. IALF serves as a central resource for educators and volunteers who want to teach Iowa’s students about agriculture. IALF supports existing ag education efforts such as FFA, 4-H and Ag in the Classroom. 

Source: Iowa Ag Literacy Foundation