Local Iowa Central Agriculture Students Gear Up for National Competition

Agriculture students from Iowa Central are set to participate in a national competition during their spring break. They are members of the Professional Agricultural Students (PAS) organization, which focuses on skill development, leadership, and networking. Their qualification for the national competition came after a successful performance at a state conference in Moravia, Iowa.

Nick Kaska, a sophomore Animal Science major, is the president of the PAS chapter at Iowa Central. This is his second year qualifying for the national competition. He won the ag sales competition at the 2023 national conference and this year, he qualified through the ag sales employment interview and as part of the beef team. Kaska values the practical experience he gains from the competition.

The competition involves case studies, tests, and research on a current event related to agriculture. Kaska mentioned that the beef teams manage a farm and the current event segment of the competition requires quick thinking with only 45 minutes for preparation.

Hanna Boekelman, a sophomore agriculture business major and PAS chapter secretary, also qualified for the nationals as part of the beef team. She appreciates the hands-on learning experiences at PAS conferences. Terry Coleman, the group’s adviser, highlighted the students' growth and the unique experiences that challenge them.

The national conference is scheduled for March 11-14 in Springfield, Illinois. Iowa Central will compete in the beef and poultry team divisions and in individual categories like Ag Sales Employment Interview and Agribusiness Career Progress. The Iowa Central PAS State results included a first-place win for the Poultry Team and a fifth-place finish for the Beef Team.

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