DATE:   10/31/97
WRITER: Bill Baker, (864) 656-3875

Clemson Freshman Named
National Beef Ambassador   

     ANDERSON -- Clemson University freshman Rita Bolt was named
National Beef Ambassador at the national competition held Oct.
22-26 in Rochester, Minn.
     Bolt, 18, who won the state Beef Ambassador title earlier
this year, competed against 28 other state winners ages 15-19 in
the national spokesperson contest. The national event is
sponsored by the American National Cattlewomen, in cooperation
with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the Cattlemen's
Beef Board and the Cooperative Extension Service.
     Bolt's topic was the journey from farm to market to kitchen. 
     "I talked about life on the farm as far as stewardship and
animal welfare is concerned, the nutritional value of beef, and
how to select, store and prepare beef safely," she said.
     Bolt, an Anderson native, is majoring in speech and
communications at Clemson and plans to attend law school. She is
a Clemson University Calhoun Honors student and was valedictorian
of her class at Westside High School. She is interested in
agricultural issues and government.
     A former 4-H member, Bolt is remembered as an excellent
student by Anderson County Extension Agent Marty Watt.
     "She was on our 1991 Junior Livestock Judging Team, which 
placed first in the state," Watt recalled. "She was the high
individual in the state on the junior level, and her brother,
Brian, was the high individual among seniors."
     Bolt was chaperoned at the national competition by Mrs.
Willyne McGill, president of the S.C. Cattlewomen. This year's
state contest was a cooperative venture among the S.C.
Cattlewomen, the S.C. Cattlemen's Association, the S.C. Beef
Board, the Junior Beef Roundup Committee, and the Clemson
University Cooperative Extension Service.
                           END