Jared's tobacco education poster was selected as South Dakota's 1999 winner from 67 entries statewide. Kelsie Neblesick of Canistota Elementary, won second, receiving a bike with helmet and biking gloves. Jackie Bentzen, Tabor Elementary, placed third, receiving rollerblades with helmet, wrist guards and kneepads. Tar Wars brings volunteer health professionals into fifth grade classrooms to teach students about the effects of tobacco use, the reasons people use it, and the images tobacco companies use to market it.
Students then compete in a poster contest focusing on the positive aspects of avoiding tobacco.
The winning poster from each school is entered in a statewide contest with the winner moving on to national competition. A total of 161 health professionals presented Tar Wars to more than 4,700 students from 127 South Dakota schools in 1999. South Dakota students have participated in Tar Wars for the past eight years and have historically done well in the national contest. Students from the state have earned one second and one third place and also two honorable mentions in national competition. Contest prizes were provided by the American Lung Association of South Dakota.