Teams from Walsh and Cass counties took first place in their respective divisions in the 4-H consumer choices contest, which was held during the North Dakota State Fair in Minot.

The Walsh County team of Sydney Beneda, Tobias Zikmund, Beatrice Kjelland, Kristen Larson, Noah Zikmund, Annah Zikmund and Sandra Kjelland placed first in the senior division. The team will represent North Dakota 4-H in the consumer decision-making contest at the Western National Roundup in Denver, Colo., in January 2018.

Cass County’s team of Maddie Robinson, Damon Magney, Sam Radermacher and Linnea Axtman took first place in the junior division.

The contest is designed to educate youth about making better consumer decisions. This year, the youth judged classes of insulated jackets and vests, outdoor backpacks and smoothies, and gave oral reasons for why they placed the items in a certain order in some of the classes.

“The life skills youth learn through consumer choices help them to be responsible decision makers as adults,” says Meagan Scott, a youth development specialist in the North Dakota State University Extension Service’s Center for 4-H Youth Development.

Seven teams competed in the senior division and 14 teams competed in the junior division.

In the senior division, the Cass County team of Noah Roeber, Brianna Mohs, Astrid Axtmann, Josie Mohror, Hope Roeber, Danielle Roeber and Anna Skarphol placed second, and the Barnes-LaMoure County team of Eva Lahlum, Peter Bryn and Shannon Bryn placed third.

The junior division team of Allison Bryn, Alyssa Thomsen, Matayia Thompson, Kaidence Harstad and Chesney Thomsen from Barnes County placed second, and the team of Kari Fuhrman, Kris Fuhrman, Abby Erickson and Anna Hoistad from Sargent County placed third.

Eva Lahlum from the Barnes-LaMoure County team was the top scoring senior individual, and Reilly Meyer from the Stark-Billings County team was the top scoring junior individual.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - Aug. 7, 2017