WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Nineteen students from the Agriculture Department at Missouri State University-West Plains recently placed in competitions at the 2016 Missouri Postsecondary Agriculture Student (PAS) Organization’s annual conference and competition Nov. 9-11 in West Plains.
Hosted by the university’s Agriculture Department, the conference brought together 156 students and advisers from seven community colleges in Missouri to learn about the agriculture industry and compete in 54 different contests that focused on activities designed to give students experience in career planning, employment application preparation, and writing resumés and letters of application, organizers said. Thirty-two individuals from the community served as contest judges and interviewers, organizers added. Most students competed in two or three different contests, organizers said.
The career specialists competitions tested students’ knowledge in a specific area. They also had to complete a problem solving exercise. Missouri State-West Plains students placing in these competitions included:
Dairy: Audrey McClellan, Willow Springs, fourth; Michaela Campbell, Springfield, sixth.
Equine: Liz Baty, Alton, second; Bryce King, Alton, ninth; Haden Garrett, West Plains, 14th; Keshia Wilson, Licking, 17th; and Dessa McBride, West Plains, 18th.
Livestock: Cordale Foster, West Plains, seventh; Kyle Wilson, Houston, 16th; and Mitchell Elkins, Ozark, 21st.
Soils: Jaden Hicks, West Plains, sixth; Benjamin Blank, Richmond, seventh; Casey Watkins, Caulfield, ninth; and Christine Jordan, Willow Springs, tenth.
Agricultural Education: Bailey McCully, West Plains, third; Blank, fourth; and McClellan, seventh.
The career planning contest encouraged students to explore careers in agriculture and interview professionals within that career while learning what skills, work habits, lifestyles and salaries are common in that field. Missouri State-West Plains students placing in these competitions included:
Agricultural Education Systems: King, second; Blank, sixth; McClellan, tenth; McCully, 12th.
Horticulture, Environmental and Natural Resource Systems: Shawn Lewis, Moody, fifth; Elkins, seventh; Matthew McEntire, Pomona, ninth.
Retail Agribusiness Systems: Watkins, third.
Ruminant Animal Systems: Foster, sixth.
Non-Ruminant Animal Systems: Samantha Janes, Couch, first; Keshia Wilson, fourth; McBride, fifth; Kyle Wilson, sixth.
Employment Interview participants were scored on their employment application, resumé, letter of application and personal interview. Missouri State-West Plains students placing in these competitions included:
Fruit and Vegetable Production: McEntire, second.
Agribusiness Sales: Watkins, sixth.
Dairy Production: McClellan, fourth; Jordan, fifth.
Natural Resources: Elkins, third; McClellan, fourth.
Feed and Animal Health: Janes, second; Keshia Wilson, sixth; McBride, eighth; Kyle Wilson, tenth; Foster, 11th.
Agriculture Education: McCully, sixth; Blank, eighth; Michaela Silva, Gainesville, ninth; King, tenth; McClellan, 12th.
“I am extremely proud of these young agricultural professionals,” said Linda Wulff-Risner, assistant professor of agriculture and the group’s adviser. “This was the first year our students completed in the career planning and career interview contests, and every student who competed placed. These students worked diligently to prepare for the contest and assisted with the many organizational and logistical details of organizing and hosting such a complex conference.”
All of the award winners will move on to the 2017 National PAS Conference and Competition set for March 13-15 in St. Louis. “The next step is polishing these applications and honing interview skills, as well as studying for career specialists contests in preparation for nationals,” Risner said. “The national contest will be another first for Missouri State-West Plains, as this delegation will be the first to attend a national PAS conference.”
The National Postsecondary Agriculture Students Organization was founded in 1980 in Kansas City, Missouri, to provide opportunities for individual growth, leadership and career preparation for college agriculture students. An estimated 1,400 members from 62 chapters in 18 states are PAS members.
Risner said officials with the Missouri State-West Plains Agriculture Department, including Assistant Professor of Agriculture/Entrepreneurship Cathy Proffitt-Boys, who assisted with the contest, would like to thank the many local businessmen and women who served as judges for the event. Financial support for the group was provided by the Student Government Association (SGA) and, in the past, has been provided by the Philanthropic Women for Education.