When most people think about Las Vegas, they picture flashing lights, massive hotels and slot machines around every corner.

For Drake Crumley, however, it was a completely different experience: a chance to prove that he is the best grocery bagger in the United States.

The National Grocers Association (NGA) Show, held February 1-3 at the MGM Grand Conference in Las Vegas, NV, is the premier annual event for the independent grocery industry. Organized by the National Grocers Association, the event gathers retailers, suppliers, wholesalers and manufacturers for three days of education, networking and competition – including The Best Bagger Championship.

Drake did not know about the event until three weeks before the national event took place. “Regular workers usually don’t pay attention to that stuff,” he explained.

His journey began when he heard about the state-level competition sponsored by his local grocery association Buehler’s, where he originally planned on competing for fun and to win a $1,000 cash prize. After talking with one of his managers, he learned about the NGA show and The Best Bagger Championship. That is when he decided to take it seriously.

At a national level, The Best Bagger Championship brings together one representative from a number of states across the country. Contestants were judged based on the following:

• Speed of bagging
• Accuracy in putting the items in the bag
• Weight distribution
• Style and appearance – including confidence and professionalism.

The competition starts with multiple heats, with top performers from each advancing to the final round where the placements are decided. The winning prize? $10,000.

Preparation for this event was not easy. Having only three weeks to train for the event, he spent a lot of his free time cycling through a list of 38 items of different weights and sizes until bagging became second nature.

“I found a list of items online that would potentially be used in the event, so I bought them all myself and practiced even when I should’ve been doing homework,” Drake said.

Drake landed in Vegas on Sunday, February 1, the day before the competition. The city made a strong impression on him.

“Vegas is an experience,” he said. “It’s like stepping into a whole other world.”

With “slot machines everywhere” and “hotels the size of campus” Drake joked that “everything I knew as a proud Ohioan doesn’t apply in Vegas.”

Before stepping on stage, Drake felt extremely nervous. Everything that he had been training for the past three weeks was about to be on full display. But once the competition began, he found his focus.

“It’s me and the groceries,” he said. “Not only that, but knowing that I had all my friends and family watching me actually calmed my nerves.”

Though well prepared, Drake encountered a challenge he did not quite expect: the reusable bag handles folding in on themselves as he bagged, costing him precious time.

 At one point, his hand got stuck in the handle, losing him about eight seconds. Because only the top baggers from each heat advance, Drake unfortunately did not make it to the next round but still walked away feeling proud.

For his first competition at the national level, his performance proved that an everyday grocery store worker can still shine on a national stage.