by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
Breanna Osendorf recently won the Coborn’s 24th annual Best Bagger Contest held at the Sauk Rapids Coborn’s Superstore and also went on to compete at the Mall of America Aug. 17.
Locally, she was one of 33 employees who were judged on their bagging techniques. She won the contest and $100 cash for her efforts. At the Mall of America, Osendorf did not place at the MOA competition.
“The people there were crazy good,” Osendorf said.
Winners at the MOA won $500 and a trip to Las Vegas and a chance to compete in the national bagger contest in February 2014. The national winner gets $10,000.
Osendorf said the bagging contest is something the Minnesota Grocery Association puts on every year to honor its baggers. She said the goal of the event is to have the fastest possible speed, proper bag-building technique, appearance and distribution of weight between the bags.
The proper bag-building technique consists of placing heavy cans on the bottom of the bag, framing boxed items around the bag’s walls to create a cushion for other items, placing crushable items such as produce and eggs on the top and slipping small items such as packs of candy or gum in the spaces in the bag.
All contestants should also present a neat appearance, be polite and convey a customer-oriented attitude. They are also judged on their composure and self-confidence. Contestants need to know how to distribute groceries among sacks so all sacks in an order are about equal in weight.
Osendorf also competed in the 2012 contest and got second place.
A senior at the College of St. Benedict, Osendorf is pursuing a degree in business management and hopes to one day manage a business.
Osendorf, 21, is the daughter of Rose and Bruce Osendorf. She has two sisters – Kelsey, 19, and Shannon, 17.
Osendorf said she is currently busy working, finishing school and hanging out with family before she gets out into the real world.
Fun Facts
Favorite leisure activity:
Osendorf enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being on the lake and hanging around a campfire.
Favorite music:
Country
Favorite quote:
“Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So, love the people who treat you right, forgive the ones who don’t and believe everything happens for a reason. If you get the chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it’d be easy; they just promised it would be worth it.” Anonymous
Where she sees herself five years from now:
“I hope to have a steady job (and) a family,” Osendorf said.
The thing she likes best about St. Joseph:
“I love how everyone knows everyone in St. Joe,” Osendorf said. “It’s a small town and that is what I like.”
Breanna Osendorf recently competed in the Best Bagger contest locally and at the state level. She won at the local level, but did not place at the state level. Osendorf (right) and St. Joseph Coborn’s store manager Ryan Rothwell are pictured after she won at the local level. Osendorf is pursuing a degree in business management and hopes to one day manage a business.
