LifeSmarts, the ultimate consumer challenge, is a unique educational game show competition for youth in grades 9 through 12. Participants answer questions covering a broad range of consumer issues including credit, contracts, refunds, charitable contributions, food labels, food production and consumption.

The Blount County team is comprised of Coach Jan Gibbs and players Beth Gibbs captain; Chris Acker, Jesse Byrd and Shayne McGuffie.

"LifeSmarts participants in Alabama have gained many consumer smarts they’ll need to make it in the real world," says Bernice B. Wilson, urban resource management specialist, with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

"We’re proud to have the Blount County community team represent us, though they were not able to participate in the national competition in Arlington, Virginia, April 13-16. Minnesota's team is the 2002 National LifeSmarts Winner."

"There are no losers in the LifeSmarts competition," said Linda Golodner, president of the National Consumers League (NCL). "All participants win by learning to avoid common consumer pitfalls, by navigating the government, and by understanding credit card jargon before they sign on the dotted line."

Sponsored by the Urban Affairs and New Nontraditional Programs unit of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the National Consumers League, competition is open to youth from any school, group or organization in the state.