MINNEAPOLIS (August 4, 2015) — Minnesota 4-H poultry participants will display their advanced poultry knowledge and industry experience during the sixth annual Poultry Prince and Princess Contest, held at the Minnesota State Fair from August 27 through August 30, 2015. The scholarship program of Minnesota 4-H and Gold’n Plump recognizes the skills, leadership and confidence of the state’s top young poultry experts by awarding two teenagers with the Poultry Prince and Princess ambassador titles and scholarships of $1,000 each.

“This annual contest presents an excellent opportunity for Minnesota 4-H’ers to display their knowledge and passion for poultry while receiving recognition at the highest level,” said Brad Rugg, director of 4-H Fairs and Animal Science Programs, University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development. “We love seeing participants presenting their skills and learning from each other at the State Fair, with each year’s talent more impressive than the last. The dedication here is just outstanding.”

To qualify, contestants must first compete in the 4-H Poultry Interview, Quiz and Showmanship competition; next, they will show off their cooking skills in the 4-H Chicken BBQ contest. The six highest-scoring contestants (three male and three female) from the first two categories will be invited back to compete in the final round: Q&A Stage Presence. 

WCCO-TV reporter John Lauritsen continues the tradition of past years’ competitions by serving as emcee for the live event at the State Fair’s Sheep and Poultry Barn at noon on August 30, 2015. Immediately following this final round, last year’s winners —Tyler Amick and Hayley Carlson –– will be present to pass their titles onto the sixth annual 2015 Poultry Prince and Princess, complete with feathered capes and crowns. 

The 2015 winners will begin their roles as poultry ambassadors immediately following coronation with an appearance on the Minnesota 4-H float in the Minnesota State Fair parade. Winners will also receive:
•    $1,000 academic scholarships
•    Professional portraits from State Fair artist Adam Turman while donning royal capes
•    Opportunities to develop networking and presentation skills through industry and media appearances

“We are thrilled to be sponsoring the Poultry Prince and Princess scholarship program, in its sixth year,” said Rory Bidinger, brand advocacy and marketing manager for GNP Company™, the company behind the Gold’n Plump brand. “The youth who participate in this contest are those who are going to positively impact the future of Minnesota’s poultry industry and Gold’n Plump is proud to support their endeavors.”
 
According to the USDA, the U.S. poultry industry is the world's largest producer and second-largest exporter of poultry meat. In 2014, Minnesota’s production of broiler chickens, eggs and turkeys was valued at more than $1 billion, offering more than 26,000 of jobs. According to the USDA’s March 2015 report, annual U.S. chicken consumption per person rose to an estimated 84.7 pounds. By comparison, beef increased to 54.2 pounds and pork increased to 46.4 pounds.

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About Gold’n Plump® Chicken | Good Chicken is Our Mission™

Gold’n Plump® is distributed nationally by St. Cloud, Minn.-based GNP Company—a family-focused provider of premium branded and custom chicken products to retail, deli and foodservice customers. The brand's good chicken mission centers on being truly all-natural, highly trimmed and free of unwanted solution, skin and parts. The company employs about 1,700 people and partners with nearly 350 family farmers in Minnesota and Wisconsin to produce wholesome, high-quality chicken. To learn more about the Gold'n Plump brand and its products, as well as find great recipes, general cooking and safe handling tips and nutrition information, visit GoldnPlump.com and find Gold’n Plump on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. For more information about the company, visit GNPCompany.com.

About Extension 4-H

Minnesota 4-H is an after-school youth development program provided through the University of Minnesota Extension. The 4-H mission is to engage Minnesota youth in quality learning opportunities that enable them to shape and reach their full potential as active citizens in a global community. Last year, more than 75,000 kids throughout Minnesota participated in 4-H and learned invaluable life skills. According to a 2009 report from a Tufts University national study, 4-H youth are more than twice as likely to be civically active and make contributions to their communities, and are 47 percent less likely to have risky or problem behaviors. For more information about the program, visit extension.umn.edu/youth/mn4-H.

Learn more about the 2015 Poultry Prince and Princess Contest online at http://z.umn.edu/4hpoultryprinceprincess and view photos of last year’s contest and portraits at Gold’n Plump’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GoldnPlump.

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