Teams from Stark-Billings County took first place in both age divisions in the 2020 North Dakota 4-H consumer decision making contest.

The Stark-Billings County team of Faith Norby, Reilly Meyer and Michaela Mitchell placed first in the senior division.

Stark-Billings County's junior team of Paula Meyer, Phaden Schrum, Macy Kennington and Carley Bullinger took first place in the junior division.

These teams were among 68 youth who participated in the contest. The contest was held in a hybrid format this year, with the youth participating locally in their county Extension offices and presenting their oral reasons to judges virtually. Forty-seven competed in the junior division and 21 competed in the senior division.

The contest is designed to educate youth about making better consumer decisions. This year, the youth judged classes of activewear, cellphones and beverages, and gave oral reasons for why they placed the items in a certain order in some of the classes.

"Decision making, problem solving and verbal communication are important life skills that youth gain from participating in the consumer decision making contest," says Meagan Scott Hoffman, a youth development specialist in North Dakota State University Extension's Center for 4-H Youth Development.

Four teams competed in the senior division and 12 teams competed in the junior division.

Other teams placing in the senior division were:

• Second - Pembina County, with members Nora Crosby, Noah Helgoe, Graesen Helgoe and Lydia Gauthier
• Third - Walsh County, with team members Julia Pic, Marit Ellingson and Andrew Myrdal

Other teams placing in the junior division were:

• Second - Cass County, with members Elsa Axtman, Grace Burchill, McKenna Mohs and Aubrey Delaney
• Third - Cass County, with team members Sydney Schulz, Nora Severance, Logan Engelstad and Brody Engelstad

Faith Norby from the Stark-Billings County team was the top scoring senior individual and Mattia Braun from the Grand Forks County team was the top scoring junior individual.

The North Dakota 4-H Foundation sponsors this contest.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - Sept. 21, 2020

Source: Meagan Scott Hoffman, 701-231-7964, meagan.scott@ndsu.edu

Editor: Ellen Crawford, 701-231-5391, ellen.crawford@ndsu.edu