Left to right: Jada Kletzke – Janesville, Ty Gaffney – Barneveld, Monica Reif – Milton, Abe Clark –Beloit, Kaela George – Evansville, Danny Austin – New Glarus, Ale Bittner – Edgerton, Jackson Boatman – Darlington, Levin Crawford – Beloit, Dustin Williams – BTC PAS Advisor.

Students in Blackhawk’s Agriculture programs competed earlier this month in the Wisconsin Professional Agriculture Students (PAS) Competitive Conference, bringing home multiple awards.

Students from across the state participated in the conference, which was held in Wisconsin Dells from Feb. 9-11. The conference provides a platform for students to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and abilities in agricultural disciplines, preparing them for careers in the industry.

All of Blackhawk’s students qualified to compete at the National PAS Conference in Wyoming in March, and six plan to attend.

The National PAS Organization has over 6,000 members from 57 chapters in 18 states. PAS is available to students in Post-Secondary Agriculture, Agribusiness, and Natural Resource Programs in 550 technical colleges in all 50 states.

Blackhawk Award Winners and National Qualifiers

Employment Interviewing:

• Agriculture Equipment and Machinery: 2nd Place – Ty Gaffney (Barneveld)
• Agronomic Services: 3rd Place – Abe Clark (Beloit)
• Livestock and Dairy Services: 1st Place – Ale Bittner (Edgerton)
• Agribusiness Sales: 1st Place – Jada Kletzke (Janesville)
• Livestock and Dairy Production: 1st Place – Kaela George (Evansville)
• Agribusiness Administration: 1st Place – Monica Reif (Milton)

Career Planning:

• Power, Structural, and Technical Systems: 3rd Place – Abe Clark (Beloit)
• Agribusiness Systems: 4th Place – Monica Reif (Milton)

Impromptu Speaking:

• 1st Place – Kaela George (Evansville)
• 5th Place – Ale Bittner (Edgerton)

Agriculture Sales Demonstration:

• 2nd Place – Jada Kletzke (Janesville)
• 4th Place – Abe Clark (Beloit)

Animal Health/Vet Tech:

• 4th Place – Kaela George (Evansville)

Team Events:

• Livestock Specialist: 1st Place – BTC Team 1 (Ty Gaffney, Kaela George, Ale Bittner)
• Crops and Soils Specialist: 6th Place – BTC Team 1 (Abe Clark, Levin Crawford [Beloit], Monica Reif); 10th Place – BTC Team 2 (Danny Austin [New Glarus], Jackson Boatman [Darlington])