Teams from Cass and Burleigh/Morton counties took first place in their respective divisions in the 2024 North Dakota 4-H consumer decision making contest.

The Cass County team of Grace Burchill, Nora Severance, Greta Olsen and Jack Kram placed first in the senior division. The team will represent North Dakota 4-H in the national consumer decision making contest in 2025.

The Burleigh/Morton counties’ junior team of William Doll, Rita Goettle, Nathan Springer and Everly Boehm took first place in the junior division.

These teams were among 104 youths who participated in the contest held during the North Dakota State Fair in Minot. Sixty-six competed in the junior division and 38 in the senior division.

The contest is designed to educate youth about making better consumer decisions. This year, the youth judged classes of pizza, thermal wear and water bottles and gave oral reasons for placing the items in a particular order in some of the classes.

In addition to judging the classes, both junior and senior teams participated in a group think component. Each team received the same scenario and had 10 minutes to work collaboratively to evaluate the situation and make a final decision based on the given standards. Teams were scored on how well they worked together and presented their solution.

“Decision making, communication and teamwork are important life skills that youth gain from participating in the consumer decision making contest,” says Meagan Hoffman, youth development specialist in North Dakota State University Extension’s State 4-H Office.

Ten teams competed in the senior division and 17 in the junior division.

Other teams placing in the senior division were:

• Second – LaMoure County with team members Addie Robbins, Alex Lahlum, Leo Lahlum and James Ketterling.
• Third – Burleigh/Morton counties with team members Samantha Springer, Grace Goettle, Angel Abdallah and Ella Doll.

Other teams placing in the junior division were:

• Second – Cass County with team members Carter Burchill, Heidi Olsen, Daphne Kram and Olivia Richard.
• Third – Dunn County with team members Layna Dvorak, Clover Norby, Samuel Schettler and Hannah Schettler.

Ingrid Myrdal from Walsh County and Jarett Sanders from Oliver County tied as the top-scoring senior individuals. Gavyn Darrington from McKenzie County was the top-scoring junior individual.

The North Dakota 4-H Foundation sponsors this contest.

NDSU Agriculture Communication, Aug. 8, 2024

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

Editor: Elizabeth Cronin, 701-231-5391, elizabeth.cronin@ndsu.edu