The Mower County Pork Producers invites local youths to enter the Pork Industry Ambassador Program.

The person chosen to represent Mower County will receive a $500 scholarship from the organization and becomes eligible to receive a $1,500 scholarship if chosen as the Minnesota State Pork Industry Ambassador.

The objectives of the program are to develop leadership in the county’s youth and encourage young men and women to become more involved in the pork industry.

Contestants may be male or female and must be single with no dependents.

They must be 18 years of age prior to Jan. 1 the year in which they will compete for the state title, but shall not have reached the age of 22 prior to Jan. 1 of the year of the state competition.

The person or their parents must be actively engaged in production of pork and/or the contestant must be planning on entering an ag-related field.

Each contestant will be asked to give an oral speech of two to four minutes on the importance of the pork industry in agriculture.

There will be a personal interview with judges and contestants will also be judged on general appearance, vitality and sincerity to serve the pork industry, as well as speaking ability and knowledge of the subject.

For more information or entry blanks, contact any high school FFA or FLA advisor or Mower County Pork Ambassador Scholarship Committee Chairman, Jean Roe at (507) 324-5592.

The deadline for entries is Jan. 16.