Youth from throughout North Dakota demonstrated their creativity and knowledge of health and nutrition in this spring’s “Eat Smart. Play Hard.” poster contest.

The North Dakota State University Extension Service Nutrition, Safety and Health program and Center for 4-H Youth Development sponsored the contest, which was open to youth ages 8 to 19. Entrants competed in two categories: preteen and teen.

Winners in the preteen category were:

• First place: Tylor Carlson, Ramsey County
• Second place: Emily Lorenz, Cass County
• Third place: Kiannah Madsen, Ransom County

Winners in the teen category were:

• First place: Rachel Rae Tharalson, Pembina County
• Second place: Eric Bohl, Morton County
• Third place: Erin Gaugler, Grant County

The winners in each age division received a $50 gift card for first place, $35 gift card for second place and $15 gift card for third place.

The contest entrants were required to create posters that inform youth and adults about the importance of healthy food choices and regular physical activity. The theme of this year’s contest was on eating calcium-rich foods and/or playing hard to build strong bones.

“Most children don’t consume enough calcium-rich foods, such as milk products, especially as they enter their teen years,” says NDSU Extension Service food and nutrition specialist Julie Garden-Robinson, who helped organize the contest. “We hope this contest encourages children across North Dakota to become advocates for healthful eating,”

The posters were judged on how well they presented information, their general appearance and their effectiveness in educating others about healthy lifestyles.

“We were pleased that 207 students from across North Dakota entered posters in the contest,” Garden-Robinson says. “The judges were challenged to choose six winning posters from all the creative ideas that were entered. Every entrant received a certificate and an incentive item to remind them to eat smart and play hard.”

“Eat Smart. Play Hard.” is a U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service initiative that focuses on making America’s children healthier. It provides practical suggestions to help children and their caregivers eat a healthy diet and be physically active. For more information about healthy eating and regular physical activity, visit the NDSU Web site at http://www.ndsu.edu/eatsmart.

The Midwest Dairy Association helped sponsor the poster contest with grant funding.

NDSU Agriculture Communication