North Dakota Team Wins First National Consumer Decision-Making Contest

Four North Dakota 4-H’ers came home with top honors from the first National Consumer Decision-Making Contest held in Denver Jan. 4-7. Members of the winning team were Melissa Kram, Anna Swenson, Crystal Barr and Ashley McLeod, all from Cass County.

The contest included six classes, situations in which they were faced with the challenge of making a choice between four objects while trying to meet specific criteria. Classes judged at the national contest were socks, toys, menus, sunscreens, shirts and enviro-shopping. Team members are then judged on their placings and explanations. Members were given samples of 11 classes to study and practice for the contest.

"The contest is designed to teach youth critical-thinking skills, observation skills, communication and organization skills, how to express ideas clearly and concisely, and how to make wise decisions-skills that will be useful throughout their lives," said Maxine Nordick, Cass County Extension agent.

"This team is a very sharp, bright, talented group of 4-H youth that I felt would do well at the contest," said Nordick. The Cass County team placed first at the North Dakota State Fair in July before moving onto the national contest.

Sponsors for the consumer judging team include NDSU Center for 4-H Youth Development, North Dakota 4-H Foundation, Cass County 4-H Leader’s Council, Fingal State Bank, Citizens State Bank of Enderlin, VFW Post #9050 of Enderlin and the Enderlin Lions Club.

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Source: Maxine Nordick, (701) 241-5700, mnordick@ndsuext.nodak.ext
Writer: Beth Payne, (701) 231-7881, bepayne@yahoo.com
Editor: Becky Koch, (701) 231-7875, bkoch@ndsuext.nodak.edu