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Local supermarket bagger goes for $10,000 prize
An 18-year-old Bronaugh High School senior who wants to be a doctor will test his luck, skill and poise in the National Grocers Association's "Best Bagger" contest Sunday in Las Vegas.
Cody Bott, who has worked at Woods Supermarket in Nevada since last March, qualified for the national contest and $10,000 first prize by winning the Missouri Grocers Association's statewide competition last Aug. 27 in Branson.
He had not been one of the favorites for the state title because he only placed second among 16 contestants at the regional Woods contest in Bolivar, said Woods Director of Loss Prevention Doug Haworth of Bolivar.
"After winning second, Cody began practicing for state by setting up a checkout lane to resemble what the contest would provide and practicing a couple of hours each week, as well as preparing his strategy and presentation," said Haworth.
"His No. 1 asset is his positive outlook in all matters. Front-end employees like him have a major impact on customer satisfaction as they are the main contributors to quality service."
Woods Supermarket Office Manager Penny Shrimplin of Nevada said Tuesday that young Bott "is an amazing kid.
"He is a go-getter who does anything I ask of him," she said. "He has a bright future ahead of him and is very excited about the contest. As soon as he graduates this year, he will start on his way toward getting into medical school."
Shrimplin said 24 contestants will compete Sunday at the Mirage Resort & Casino. "There are really good odds," she said, chuckling.
Cody told the Daily Mail last September that the state bagging competition was based on timing, accuracy and weight distribution in plastic and reusable cloth bags. That contest was against tophands from the Dillons, Price Cutter and Woods chains.
Cody said he planned to enroll in a pre-medical curriculum at Pittsburg State University and then seek admission to the University of Kansas Medical School.
His mother Patti is a medical technologist and micro-biologist and his father Craig an auto mechanic and used car dealer at Moundville. His brothers are Cameron, a 21-year-old Pittsburg State University student, and Parker, a BHS sophomore.