Crystal woman wins trip to Los Angeles for "The Price Is Right" through Mystic Lake audition

PRIOR LAKE, Minn. – Ruth Bender's 10th wedding anniversary is likely to go down as her most memorable.

The Crystal woman and her husband, Jon, went to Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
for a weekend getaway to celebrate the occasion. Upon arrival, Ruth discovered that CBS's "The Price is Right" was holding auditions Saturday morning, August 1. Six weeks later, she received the news that she was one of three casino guests chosen to win a three-day, two-night trip to Los Angeles for a taping of the popular game show. One of the three winners is guaranteed a spot on contestants' row.

"I wouldn't have thought in a million years I would have won, I never win
anything," Bender said. "A couple people said I had a TV face and was going to win. But it was a complete surprise to me."

Bender, who said she has been watching "The Price is Right" since she was 4 years old, will be making her first trip to Los Angeles and is bringing along her husband for the October 19 – 21 trip. Bender hopes to find her way on stage to play Plinko – one of the show's most popular prize games.

If Bender does make it past contestants' row, she believes she is prepared for the show's pricing games.

"That's my second hobby – I love the grocery store," Bender said. "When I'm not cooking or cleaning, I shop around a lot in the stores."

The third-youngest of 16 children, Bender hopes she gets the opportunity to have friends and family watch her win on television. She's excited for her West Coast trip and anxious at the possibility of playing a pricing game on "The Price is Right." Still, Bender is confident she can be herself and not let the exhilaration of the moment get the best of her if she gets under the television spotlights.

"If my mom can take care of 16 kids," Bender said, "I can do this."