Elijah Schipper from Fareway Stores in Harrisburg took the top prize Sept. 3 at the annual South Dakota Best Bagger competition hosted by the South Dakota Retailers Association at the state fair.
Sponsored by Associated Wholesale Grocers and NW French and Associates, the annual competition featured some of the quickest baggers in the grocery business in a fast-paced, head-to-head competition.
“The Best Bagger Competition is always great fun for everyone involved,” said Nathan Sanderson, South Dakota Retailers Association executive director. “We had some impressive contestants, a rowdy crowd this year, and we can’t wait to cheer on Elijah at the national competition in February.”
All contestants bagged identical grocery orders and were judged on speed, bag building technique, uniform bag weight, personal attitude and appearance.
Schipper was the South Dakota Best Bagger Competition winner. He received $200 cash and an expenses-paid trip to compete at the NGA’s National Competition in Las Vegas, Nevada, for a chance to win $10,000. Mary Peters from Buche Foods in Wagner took home second place and $150, and defending champion Natasha Artz from Fair City Foods in Huron was awarded $100 and third place.
“It was a great competition. I had fun with all the people and looking forward to going to nationals,” Schipper said.
The South Dakota Retailers Association is one of the nation’s oldest and largest trade organizations, operating as the restaurant, grocers and hospitality association representing nearly 4,000 businesses. For more information about SDRA’s support for South Dakota’s business community, visit sdra.org.
To view the story promoting the competition presented by The Shelby Report, click here.
