Las Vegas, Nevada -   The Youth of Indian Country arrived with full inter-Tribal representation in Las Vegas this year!  Close to 100 youth attended the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC)/Indian Nation Conservations Alliance (INCA) Agriculture Symposium December 6-10 at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino this year including two youth Pow Wow Dance Groups: Ayayat Idait TeNa NuMu Dance Group from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the Shooting Star Dance Group from the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

These groups were an outstanding addition to the conference where the focus and goal this year was on the Youth and bringing back the Native American Heritage to the conference.

The IAC/INCA Agriculture Symposium is the largest gathering of Indian Agricultural producers in the country and this year’s conference brought together close to 700 people including Indian producers, Indian Youth as well as a strong representation from our Nation’s decision makers within the United States Department of Agriculture.

The theme for this year’s symposium was, “A Celebration of Food Production” and presentations focused on Youth, producer and Tribal success stories in Indian Country Agriculture.  Participants included 60 Youth who received scholarships to attend and present at the conference by the Intertribal Agriculture Council.

Among the Youth in attendance were three very special attendees,not only in attendance for the conference, but were honorably chosen by the Native Women & Youth in Ag Youth Essay Luncheon.  MeLaina Wientjes (Cheyenne River Sioux), Lincoln Calabaza (Santa Domingo Pueblo) & Audrey Begay (Navajo) were the three essay winners out of a national essay contest titled “Do Your Reservation Farmers & Ranchers Feed You?”

To be eligible for the annual essay contest you must be a high school student enrolled in a federally recognized Tribe.  This year’s contest received many, many applicants and these three winners were definitely a “cut above” the contestants with their outstanding essays.

Year after year, the highlight of the week has become this luncheon, held on Tuesday, December 7th, where the world of rodeo combines with Indian Country to honor these very special students.

The 7th Annual Essay contest was hosted by Native Women & Youth in Ag, an organization that works in cooperation with IAC and has four Advisory Board Members; Verna Billedeaux (Blackfeet), Polly Hays (Seminole), Jeannie Benally (Navajo), Tina Voigt (Turtle Mountain) and the Executive Director is Vicki Hebb (Cheyenne River Sioux).  The essay contest was sponsored by USDA Risk Management Agency, Seminole Tribe of Florida, Office of Tribal Relations and the IAC and awarded each finalist  an all expense paid trip, as well as their chaperone, to Las Vegas to read their essays at the Awards Luncheon as well as an engraved Award from IAC; a Pendleton Blanket and a Coy Fisher beaded belt from NWYIA; a fully-loaded DELL computer from NWYIA; a hand-tooled leather lap-top case from President Bowers of the Seminole Tribe of Florida; a Wrangler Jeans & Shirts National Finals Rodeo shirt and duffle bag from Wayne Larson, Regional Manager for Wrangler; a gift certificate from Joe Beaver (8-time world champion); a colt or filly to each student from Roy Doore of Doore Registered Quarter Horses as well as several other gifts donated by various Tribes and organizations.

The stars of Pro-Rodeo were on-hand to support these youth including the 2008, 2009 & 2010 Indian National Finals Rodeo Announcer of the Year Ray Champ of the Crow Nation who was the Master of Ceremonies for the luncheon; opening words by Donnie Gay, (8-Time World Champion); inspirational words by Joe Beaver and the biggest supporters of these kids were 6-Time Indian World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider, Marty Hebb (Cheyenne River Sioux); Joe Wilson (Oglala Sioux), 2010 INFR World Champion All-Around; and Derrick Begay (Navajo), 3-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier who were there to support the youth and say a few words of encouragement as well.

Essay finalist, MeLaina Wientjes said, “I had a lot of fun, great experience and proud to present my tribe."  All conference participants were able to get autographs from the rodeo cowboys at the end of the luncheon as well as photo opportunities.

A special thanks to Sam Dunn and ESPN for your support and the coverage provided by your camera crews.  Sponsors and supporters were given hand-beaded horse breast collars & desk plates made by Liz & Coy Fisher (Oglala Sioux) and hand-beaded checkbook covers by Austin Livermont (Oglala Sioux) of South Dakota and provided by NWYIA.

All three essay winners will serve as ambassadors for a year to Indian Ag and Indian Country by working with NWYIA in their outreach efforts.

“The support this year was overwhelming and obvious that we are not alone in recognizing the necessity to bring our Native Youth full circle back to our roots in Ag,” Vicki Hebb, Executive Director of NWYIA stated.