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Sweepstakes

World Beef Expo

Sweepstakes Rules

Overview

The World Beef Expo Sweepstakes contests are open to all youth ages 8-18 as of January 1, 2025. You do not have to exhibit live animals at World Beef Expo to qualify. FFA and 4-H youth are encouraged to participate. The age divisions are Junior (ages 8-13 years old) and Senior (ages 14-18 years old).

Youth can enter in one or multiple contests, but may not enter multiple entries in one contest (i.e., you may only enter one photo). Awards will be given to individual contests winners. No overall sweepstakes contests awards will be given. Please see specific contest rules below.


Schedule

The Sweepstakes contests will take place on Saturday, September 20, 2025. You must drop off your photo and/or essay at World Beef Expo at the upper level of the Double Deck Barn between 8 am and noon on September 20. For the Skillathon, you must complete the Skillathon activities in person between 8 am and noon on September 20. You can come any time between that window and do not need to stay the entire time. No late entries will be accepted for any contest.

Between 2 pm and 6 pm on September 20, the entries and results of all three contests will be displayed for public viewing at World Beef Expo in the Upper Level of the Double Deck Barn. Contestants may pick up their entries  in the Upper Level of the Double Deck Barn.after 6 pm on September 20 or from 9 am- noon on September 21. 

Photo Contest

  • Photo must include a beef animal
  • Photo must be original work (i.e., taken by the contestant) and taken in the last year (after September 20, 2024)
  • Photo must be 5” x 7” and mounted on paper or poster board
  • The contestant’s name and age as of January 1 must be on the back of the paper or poster
  • Photo must not be digitally enhanced in any way (i.e., no black and white, no photo shopping, no caption or title)
  • Scoring: photograph quality 25%, picture composition and lighting 25%, creativity 25%, meets formatting rules 25%

Essay Contest

  • Essays must focus on the following themes:
    • Junior: What is your favorite part of the beef industry?
    • Senior: What is one challenge that the beef industry is currently facing and what is a solution to that challenge?
  • Essays must have 1-inch margins, single spaced, 12 point times new roman font, printed on 8.5” x 11” white paper
  • Essays must include a cover page with the essay title, contestant’s name, and contestant’s age as of January 1
  • Essays must use the following word counts:
    • Junior: 200 word minimum - 250 word maximum
    • Senior: 450 word minimum - 500 word maximum
  • Scoring: Organization and development of content (logical order and unity, accomplishment of purpose) 25%, spelling and grammar 25%, format (font size, margins, cover page information) 25%, sources (includes bibliography, accuracy of content) 25%


Skillathon Contest

  • Parts of the contest will be geared toward the different age divisions
  • Topics covered at each station could include breeds, cuts of meat, grading system of beef, nutrition, health, and identification
  • Answers will consist of multiple choice, fill in the blank, true/false, and/or select all possible answers
  • Scoring: contestants will be ranked based on the number of correct answers
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