There were 26 Pottawatomie County high school students who chose to spend a couple hours of their Saturday morning taking a test.
It was the inaugural Beef Quiz Bowl - held at the Tecumseh High School Alumni Center on Oct. 22 - and the stakes were high, with a purse of $10,000.
Organized by the Pottawatomie County Cattlemen’s Association, the event could be entered online and two websites were to be studied for the multiple choice test.
After the first tests were graded by Beef Quiz Bowl Committee Members, seven teens had tied for one of 10 places, and two others had tied for another place. So, they had to take a shorter test for the tie breaker.
With all tests graded, sophomore Stephen Wickerd, of North Rock Creek FFA, won first place and received $2,500. North Rock Creek freshman Jet Smith won second place for $2,000. And Tecumseh High School sophomore Taylor Marrs won third place, earning $1,000.
In fourth through 10 places were Logan Matlock, Rylee Williams, Sawyer Speers, Schuyler Hill, Chloe Hill, Jocelyn Phelps, and Callin Smith. They earned between $500 and $1,000, with some including bonuses if their parents or grandparents are members of the Cattlemen’s Association.
There were 30 sponsors, and participants were given thank-you cards to write to them.
Cattlemen’s Association President Bob Freeman spoke with the students before and after the test.
“It encourages me through your participation,” said Freeman. “No one can ever take your education.”
He also thanked them for participating, and asked for feedback. Students were given surveys to fill out, but it was already decided by a raise of hands to include a concession stand next year.
One parent thanked the association for taking time out of their weekend to put the event on, and Freeman thanked Tecumseh Public Schools for the use of the building.
The beef organization has been planning this event since last December, and have been focused on it since February, said Freeman. There were 52 students signed up online. Booths from the association, BancFirst, First United Bank, Vyve and Gordon Cooper Technology Center were available in the lobby.
