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SANDPOINT — A Sandpoint teen was the sole Idaho contestant to compete in the Washington State Best Bagger Battle Wednesday in Lakewood, Wash.

Keegan Kernodle, 18, was one of nine contestants chosen to go on to the state battle. As a Yoke's Fresh Market employee in Ponderay, Kernodle was eligible for the competition because Yoke's is a Washington-based company and a member of the Washington Food Industry Association.

"It was a lot of fun for sure," Kernodle said. "The highlight was just being able to participate in the competition and to see how well I could do against the other people."

The local Yoke's store held its own competition, which Kernodle won before moving on to the corporate competition in Spokane, which he also won, putting hime in the top nine baggers in the state competition. The winner of the state competition goes on to the national competition in Las Vegas. Although Kernodle did not place in the top three of the competition, he did well and enjoyed the competition.

The judges, he said, looked at how evenly the weight was distributed with heavier items on the bottom and lighter items on top. They weighed the bags, and paper bags were cut down the side and if items fall out, the contestant loses points. Another round with reusable bags was judged similarly except they were not cut open.

The communications and event director for WFIA, Leah Maxwell, said they were excited to have Kernodle compete in the competition since Idaho does not have its own. In an email to the Daily Bee, she said the competition only features the "best of the best" baggers from across the state. The front-end operation at grocery stores is the last, and possibly the most crucial opportunity for sending customers away with a good feeling about their shopping experience, she said.

"The state Best Bagger Battle is a way for the industry to promote great customer service and recognize outstanding employees who contribute to the success of the industry," Maxwell said in the email. "The baggers competing today are exactly the kind of employee that every company hopes will stay in the industry and grow to become the CEOs of tomorrow."

The Best Bagger Battle event benefits the scholarship fund for the Educational Foundation, founded by WFIA. Washington has won the national competition for the last three out of four years, and Maxwell said they hope to take another championship in February.

"We are so proud of all nine finalists who work so hard every day to provide outstanding customer service to shopper all across Washington State," said Jan Gee, president and CEO of WFIA, in an email. "You can just tell how much pride they take in their work and how much care they take in helping customers."

Kernodle was born and raised in Sandpoint and is a recent homeschool graduate. He has worked at Yoke's for about a year and plans to begin general education courses at North Idaho College next year.