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The third-annual New York Statewide Best Bagger Championship is now one for the history books.

This is not a last-minute, run-of-the-mill contest. It’s part of a year-long, nationwide program in which the best-of-the-best grocery baggers in the country compete for great prizes and the title of North America’s Best Bagger.

The winner gets to go to the national finals in Las Vegas next February.

There were real rules to follow as well as judges from both sides to observe and assign scores. The contestants had the same items to pack including eggs, bread, paper, canned goods and more (two dozen or so in all). They were judged on “speed, bag-building technique, weight distribution between bags, style, attitude and appearance (of the loaded bags and the items inside).

This year D’Agostino Supermarket employees from “downstate” bagged-off against Price Chopper employees from “upstate”.

For the past two years, Price Chopper employees had defeated their New York City competitors and went on to the finals in Las Vegas. This year the D’Ag baggers were determined to win.

I can report that the competition was fierce.

After a number of well-fought, face-to-face heats the results were tallied and the state champion was crowned:

So now, 37-year old Arcola Pointer, a D’Agostino employee at their Columbus Avenue and West 91st Street store, will represent the Empire State in the finals.

Officially, a champion supermarket bagger (not a consumer) from each state is eligible to enter the finals at the National Grocers Association Annual Convention, to be held in 2010 at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel.

We’ll let you know how Arcola does in the nationwide event.