Madlynn Ruble, Albert Lea, Minn., Jessica Sweet, Livermore, Calif., Austin Joyce, Pearland, Texas, Kelli Fulkerson, Burlington, Mich., and Kristen Stufft, Lewistown, Pa., were chosen as the 2011 National Beef Ambassador Team winners at the annual competition, funded in part by the beef checkoff, held Oct. 1-3 in Rapid City, S.D. Contestants were judged in the areas of consumer promotion, classroom presentation, media interview technique and issues response.

Twenty-six contestants from throughout the country vied for a place on this elite team of agriculture advocates and $5,000 in cash prizes as well as five educational scholarships totaling $5,000 given by the American National CattleWomen Foundation, Inc. Additionally, one Beef Ambassador will be chosen for a prestigious USDA internship in Washington, DC.

Madlynn “Maddy” Ruble is a sixth generation cattle producer. Ruble, a freshman at the University of South Dakota, is majoring in Spanish and Political Science. Jessica Sweet is involved in her family’s cattle ranch and enjoys showing livestock at her county fair. She is a freshman at Modesto Junior College studying agriculture education and business. Austin Joyce, a freshman at Texas A&M is majoring in Agriculture Business. Joyce enjoys raising Red Brangus with his dad and uncle and hopes to have his own ranch someday. Kelli Fulkerson a sophomore at South Dakota State University is serving as a National Collegiate Agricultural Ambassador. Fulkerson travels around the nation speaking about American agriculture. Kristen Stufft was extremely active in 4-H and is on the board of directors for the Junior Hereford Association. Currently a junior at Penn State University, Stufft is majoring in Animal Science.

After the event, as youth ambassadors, they speak to industry issues and misconceptions, while educating peers and others about food safety, nutrition and the Beef Checkoff Program at consumer events, in the classroom and online.