Several Highland Agriculture students were honored with awards at the 2022 Illinois PAS Conference on Thursday, Oct. 13 at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University.
Twenty Highland Community College Agriculture students participated in the one-day event. Students partook in several competitions with other students from across the state. Categories included employment interviews, career planning project presentations, agricultural sales presentations, agricultural teaching demonstrations, and knowledge-based exams and practicums in the areas of soil science, landscape horticulture, and equine science.
Professional Agriculture Students (PAS) Organization is a national student organization that provides opportunities for college agriculture students to experience individual growth, leadership, and career preparation through competition and cooperative activities.
To prepare for the 2022 Illinois PAS Conference, students completed resumes, career planning projects, lesson plans, sales presentations, and study content-related materials. Their results are below.
“I am very proud of all the students that competed at the 2022 Illinois PAS Conference,” said Justin Ebert, an Agriculture instructor. “It is a great way for students to network with other agriculture students and professionals while showing off their talents.”
Student placements:
• Adriana Anderson (Belvidere) — Ruminant Animal Career Planning Project, First Place; Feed and Animal Health Employment Interview, Third Place.
• Alyssa Miller (Shannon) — Agricultural Education Career Progress Project, First Place; Agricultural Education Teaching Demonstration, Third Place; Agricultural Education Employment Interview, Third Place.
• Anna Johnson (Durand) — Livestock Production Employment Interview, First Place.
• Hannah Visel (Lena) — Non-Ruminant Animal Career Planning Project, First Place.
• Magen Busker (Ridott) — Dairy Production Employment Interview, First Place.
• Sara Johnson (Esmond) — Agricultural Education Teaching Demonstration, First Place.
• Benjamin Bremmer (Pearl City) — Agribusiness Marketing/Management Career Plan, Second Place; Crop Production Employment Interview; Agricultural Sales Presentation.
• Dylan Greenfield (Forreston) — Retail Agribusiness Career Planning Project, Second Place.
• Kyley Cardoza (Freeport) — Ruminant Animal Career Planning Project, Second Place; Feed and Animal Health Employment Interview, Second Place.
• Regan Scidmore (Chadwick) — Dairy Production Employment Interview, Second Place.
• Carter Daws (Forreston) — Ag Equipment Service Employment Interview, Third Place.
• Brooke Ewald (Byron) — Livestock Production Employment Interview.
• Carter Conderman (Byron) — Fertilizer and Chemicals Employment Interview.
• Cole Becker (Forreston) — Crop Production Employment Interview.
• Jase Sheffey (Pearl City) — Fertilizer and Chemicals Employment Interview.
Highland had two Equine Science teams in the team competitions: Anna Johnson, Brooke Ewald, Hannah Visel, Sara Johnson, Kyley Cardoza, and Carissa Minx (Eagle River, WI). The two teams finished in fourth and fifth place with Minx placing sixth overall in the contest.
The Highland Soil Science team included Lakin Getz (Savanna), John Morgan (Mount Carroll), and Carter Conderman. The team finished in sixth place. Finally, the Landscape Horticulture team was Carter Conderman, Dylan Lewis (Forreston), and Mateo Garcia (Hanover). Conderman finished in fifth place and Lewis was seventh.
Students and teams that finished in first or second place are eligible to compete at the National PAS Conference to be held March 15-18, 2023, at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa.
If you would like more information on the Highland Community College Agriculture Program or the PAS Organization please contact Justin Ebert at justin.ebert@highland.edu or Monica Pierce at monica.pierce@highland.edu.
Photo caption: 2022 Fall PAS: L-R: John Morgan, Carter Conderman, Mateo Garcia, Dylan Lewis, Carter Daws, Jase Sheffey, Sara Johnson, Cole Becker, Dylan Greenfield, Kyley Cardoza, Benjamin Bremmer, Alyssa Miller, Adriana Anderson, Brooke Ewald, Hannah Visel, Anna Johnson, Carissa Minx, Magen Busker, and Lakin Getz. Not pictured: Regan Scidmore.