Students in the Agriculture program at Spoon River College attended the Illinois State PAS Spring Conference that was held at Heartland Community College in Normal on February 13.
Ag instructor Allyson Smith commended her students for stepping out of their comfort zones, participating in networking, and gaining skills through competitions that can be added to their resumes.
“This was a new experience for everyone involved, so while we didn’t walk away with any awards, students did walk away with knowledge of how the competition works and areas to work on improving for next year,” said Smith.
Students participated in three categories: Soil Science: Clay Butler (Mason City), Jayson Kuzniar (Canton), Ayden Mench (Canton); Conservation and Natural Resources: Emily Vallianatos (Farmington); and Livestock Specialist, Beef Production: Jace Featherlin (Canton), and Nate Kramer (Avon).
PAS—Professional Agricultural Student Association—was founded in 1980 for two- and four-year college level students to provide them with hands-on development opportunities through competition events at the local, state, and national levels. Approved by the U.S. Department of Education as a vital part of career and technical education, the skills students gain can aid them in being better prepared to enter the workforce and become leaders in their career fields and their communities.
