Blackhawk's PAS members, left to right: Advisor Dustin Williams, Monica Reif, Jada Kletzke, Ty Gaffney, Abe Clark, Ale Bittner, Kaela George

JANESVILLE, WI – Blackhawk Technical College’s Professional Agricultural Students (PAS) competed March 17-20 in Sheridan, Wyoming, at the National PAS Conference. The students brought home several individual and team awards: 

First-place finishers:

• Ty Gaffney, Employment Interviewing; Category: Agriculture Equipment and Machinery       
• Ale Bittner, Employment Interviewing; Category: Livestock and Dairy Services
• Jada Kletzke, Employment Interviewing; Category: Natural Resource Systems

Second-place finisher:

• Kaela George, Impromptu Speaking

Fourth-place team for Livestock Beef Specialist:

• Kaela George, Ty Gaffney and Abe Clark

Fifth-place team for Agronomy Specialist:

• Abe Clark, Jada Kletzke and Monica Reif

Dustin Williams, PAS Advisor, said, “We are so proud of their attitude, work ethic and successes. We are also very proud of the work that Ty Gaffney did as he served this past year as a National PAS Officer. The entire Blackhawk family is proud of all the students who participated and brought home awards.”

The Blackhawk competitors traveled with other students from Fox Valley Technical College and Northcentral Technical College on a charter bus. They stopped at the Badlands National Park and Wall Drug. Students toured the Padlock Ranch, Weatherby Manufacturing, King Ropes, The Don King Western Museum and Fendt Tractor Manufacturing.  

Williams said the Blackhawk students represented themselves and the college well and learned a lot from the competition.