MCC Ag students excel at PAS spring conference
Submitted by Paul Martin, Agri-Business Instructor, PAS Advisor
Twenty-six MCC Agribusiness & Technology students recently attended the Postsecondary Agricultural Students of Iowa (PAS) spring conference hosted by Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls. The two-day conference focused on professional development, industry networking, individual and team competitive events.
This marked the last conference and official PAS function that MCC student Eric Franje, PAS Vice President, would be active in a role of official duties. Franje developed into a very good leader and the commemorative t-shirts for the conference became a reality largely through his work and effort. He designed and secured sponsorship from McGriff’s farm store in New Sharon.
During a banquet on Thursday evening, the students listened to Bruce Restetter, founder and former CEO of Heartland Pork. After liquidating his holdings in that company Restetter founded an ethanol plant that is profitable even in this day of high corn prices. His message was about the tremendous opportunities that await anyone interested in agriculture.
Jeff Ward, Executive Director of the Iowa Agricultural Development Authority (IADA) also spoke at a seminar telling the students interested in production agriculture about the Iowa Young Farmer Loan program. Millions of dollars are available each year through IADA for young farmers that lack equity and resources to get low interest loans through other means.
The MCC swine specialist team placed 2nd with two of the members placing high individually. Nathan Trapp of Flora, Indiana was the high score individual and Robb Chamberlain of Lone Tree placing 3rd, Brandon Smith of Columbus Jct placed 6th. It was a great individual and team result.
The MCC beef specialist team competed and performed well. Team members were Eric Franje of New Sharon, Jose Valencia of Muscatine and Shawn Blanchard of Illinois City, Illinois. Franje placed 6th as an individual.
Crop Specialist teams performed very well too. Brock Stover of Ottumwa and Brad Erickson of Milan, IL placed 2nd as a team and Erickson placed 2nd individually. The crops team of Ross Rickelman and Josh Van Kooten also qualified for the national event with Rickelman placing 3rd individually.
MCC Equine Specialist individuals Sylvia Schwantes of Douds and Lisa Fields of Lost Nation placed 6th and 10th respectively in a highly competitive field.
MCC has frequently had a long list of winners in the Employment Interview event. The following students placed 1st and will represent Iowa at the National PAS conference in Dallas. Ross Rickelman of Pulaski, Agribusiness Administration; Ki Schmidt of Columbus Jct, Sales and Service; Eric Franje, Dairy Production; Josh Van Kooten of Leighton, Livestock Production; Abe Ales of Muscatine, Forestry and Natural Resources; Andy Lloyd of Aledo, IL, Fruit and Vegetable Production; and Brock Stover, Fertilizer & Ag Chemicals. Three MCC sophomores placed 2nd in their employment interview event, Ben Schwarz of Davenport, Crop Production; Dustin Howell of Columbus Jct., Feed and Animal Health; and Brad Erickson in Ag Equipment Service.
Career Planning is a first-year student activity based on developing a 13-page research paper to learn more about specific segments of the agricultural industry. Participants are evaluated on goal setting, competency development and developing an application on how to become successful. MCC has enjoyed perennial success at the state level in this series of events. In Agricultural Management and Marketing 1st to Nathan Trapp, 2nd to Andrew Hermiston of Durant and 3rd to Mitch Finke of Columbus Jct. In Agribusiness 1st to Abe Ales, 2nd to Zach Wagner of Davenport, 3rd to Travis Wulf of Durant and 4th to Clayton Price of Bloomfield. In Animal Production 1st to Jose Valencia, 2nd to Sylvia Schwantes, 3rd to Brandon Smith and 4th to Shawn Blanchard. In Crop Production 1st to Mark Minnicus of Delphi, Indiana, 2nd to Lisa Fields, 3rd to Zach Farrell of LeClaire and 4th to Nick Petsel of Lone Tree.
Career Progress is a second-year student challenge based on providing evidence of competency attainment, developing a written application telling about occupational experience and goal setting and a management decision making case study. MCC has enjoyed perennial success at the state level in this series of events too as witnessed again by the showing this year. In Crop Production 1st to Brad Erickson, 2nd to Ben Schwarz and 3rd to Lee Burmeister of Bennett. In Animal Production 1st to Ki Schmidt and 2nd to Robb Chamberlain. In Agribusiness 1st to Brock Stover, 2nd to Dustin Howell and 3rd to Ross Rickelman. In Ag Technology 1st to Andy Lloyd and finally in Ag Management & Marketing 1st to Josh Van Kooten and 2nd to Eric Franje.
The MCC College Bowl team consisting of Erickson, Rickelman, Lloyd, Schwarz, and Franje finished 6th in a very tough field of 16 teams from seven different colleges. This team will be the Iowa alternate team at the Dallas national conference.
The PAS National Conference will be March 12 - 15 at the Westin Hotel in downtown Dallas. MCC students are looking forward to educational tours, educational and leadership seminars, networking with industry professionals, competing in competitive events and having a Texas sized good time. One evening during the conference, students will be going to Billy Bob’s, one of the nation’s biggest nightclub and entertainment facilities. A mechanical bull riding contest, line dancing and other activities are planned.
“Looking back at the PAS year, MCC had a great one," Advisor Paul A. Martin said. "Eric Franje lead the organization in many efforts with great ideas and followed through with commitments and gave PAS 100 % the whole year.
"Ross Rickelman needs a special pat on the back too since he served as the MCC senate member and assisted Eric on some projects. I also have to thank Bill Parli for working with the crop teams and coordinating the state career planning event. I would also like to say thanks to Marshall McDonald for coordinating the career progress event and both of those guys for being chauffeurs.”
As far as the trip to Dallas, Martin added, “I’m hoping 20 students see the benefits of the Dallas trip. We have had some success in our fundraising efforts recently but we have to acquire a huge amount of money in a pretty short period to make sure that 20 students can get there. It seems that fundraising is always the determining factor in helping students achieve their PAS goals.”