By Tim Leeds
Members of the Montana State University-Northern Post secondary Agriculture Students (PAS) recently attended a national conference in Des Moines, Iowa, and were rewarded with top finishes at competitions there.
Perry Johnston and Abby Ehlert of Winifred, Thor Loftsgaard of Peerless, Ami Verploegen and Cindy Vukasin of Havre, Brian Phipps of Jordan, Mike Luibrand of Corvallis, Traci Kirby of Brady and Rob Davis of Belgrade joined advisors Bill Danley and Tom Welch in attending the conference, held from March 15-18.
Over 750 students and advisors attended the conference, which included leadership and competitive events, national speakers, industry tours and a variety of other events.
Johnston and Ehlert took first place in the Crops Specialist competition, in which 46 teams participated. Johnston also received the high individual award.
Vukasin took first in both the Employment Interview in Agribusiness Administration and in Career Planning in Agricultural Management and Marketing.
Ehlert took second in Career Planning in Agribusiness Sales and Service.
Loftsgaard, Verploegen and Phipps took third in Livestock Specialist, in which 14 teams participated.
Loftsgaard, Verploegen, Phipps, Johnston and Luibrand took fourth in the College Bowl, in which 33 teams participated.
PAS is an organization associated with agriculture/agribusiness and natural resources offering in approved postsecondary institutions offering associate degrees or vocational diplomas and/or certificates.
PAS is one of the 10 vocational student organizations that has been approved by the U.S. Department of Education as an integral part of vocational instructional programs.
The motto for PAS is "Uniting Industry and Education in Agriculture." One of the main purposes is to provide an opportunity fro developing leadership abilities through participation in the employment experience programs, course work and organization activities.
The national organization was organized in March 1979 under draft bylaws. PAS was officially founded in March, 1980 in Kansas City, Miss. PAS recently celebrated 20 years of growth and success and to look in to the future.
