Ag students take home awards at PAS conference

Eight Heartland Community College students placed in a national competition for the demonstration of agribusiness skills. 

Students competed in ten categories at the National Professional Agricultural Student Organization (PAS) conference held March 11-14 in Springfield, IL. 

Heartlands group of students produced a national winner, four national runner ups and four more individuals/teams that placed in the national top 10. 

“It may have been spring break but our students were busy,” said Heartland PAS faculty advisor Miranda Buss. “Seven of our ten students attending the conference are freshman, so we are already brainstorming ways to fundraise for next year’s competition in Sheridan, Wyoming.” 

Student winners are: 

• Ariana McCann: National Winner in Specialty Crop Employment Interview
• Joshua Henderson: Runner up in Agriculture Sales Employment Interview
• Lauren Monk: Runner up in both Agriculture Education and Ag Ed Career Planning
• Kaylee Lewis: Runner up in Impromptu Public Speaking
• Conservation and Natural Resources Team (Phillip Merrill, Kaylee Lewis, Ariana McCann): 4th place
• Kaden Farrell: 5th place in Agronomic Sales Employment Interview
• Payton Wiltz: 6th place in both Precision Ag and Plant Systems Career Planning
• Lori Jo Beverage: 12th place in Animal Health/Vet Tech

 The Heartland PAS College Bowl Team, with members Micah Mohr, Kaylee Lewis, Lauren Monk, Payton Wiltz and Joshua Henderson, also won two rounds before being bested by Dordt University and Brigham Young University. 

The National Professional Agricultural Student Organization is a student-led organization that allows students to build and sharpen their skills so that they are ready for the workplace. Through competitive style learning and real-life application, our members are skilled professionals and prepared to work in all areas of the agriculture industry. ​ 

PAS is one of the 11 career and technical student organizations that has been approved by the U. S. Department of Education as an integral part of career and technical education.