Junior Achievement of Central Iowa’s 13th Annual JA Stock Market Challenge raised $79,000 during its recent event. Proceeds from all participating sponsors provide JA programs to local students in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship education. The 148 students participating spent a day in simulated stock trading, with Madrid High School taking top honors of the 41 teams from 12 high schools in Central Iowa. Second place went to Des Moines Christian, and placing third was Marshalltown High School. A new element this year featured an “investment hour” panel led by financial professionals who spoke on the importance of investing and saving early for retirement. Farm Bureau Financial’s presenting sponsorship provided the high school simulation at John Deere Financial Conference Center in Johnston as well as an evening simulation for corporate participants of 20 teams held at the River Center in downtown Des Moines. Prairie Meadows, led by JA board member Elaine Castelline, was the “Highest ROI” champ with an impressive 104.33% return. John Deere Financial won “Highest Net Worth” A.K.A. “donate the win” as the only team to surpass the $2 million mark in its fictitious portfolio balance.