Five BBCC Ag students headed to national competition

MOSES LAKE — Five students in the Big Bend Community College Agriculture program have qualified to compete at the National Professional Agricultural Student (PAS) Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota next month.

The National PAS Conference is a gathering of nearly 600 career-ready professional agricultural students, their collegiate advisors, and industry representatives. The conference gives students an opportunity to network with their peers and industry professionals, go on agriculture industry tours and participate in career exploration activities.

Students also get to showcase their skills and knowledge through specialized tests and various team and individual competitions. Students qualify to compete by placing at the state level.

The Big Bend students competing this year are: Hunter Duke, Career Development; Bethany Safe, Crop Specialist; Alonso Hernandez, Job Interview; Darren Saum, Job Interview; and Gage Mickelsen, Dairy Specialist.

All five will also participate in the conference’s College Bowl competition.

BBCC Agriculture Program Coordinator Ethan Tonnemaker said he is proud of his students’ dedication in preparing for the competition.

“These rising stars from Big Bend’s Agriculture Department have been preparing to compete nationally in their various disciplines while juggling school, work, sports, fundraising, and their personal lives—no small feat,” said Tonnemaker.

In addition to their other responsibilities, all five students are also officers of the college’s Ag Club.

“These students have been handling their responsibilities with an air of relaxed positivity. This resolve is a testament to their character, and the values espoused by the agricultural community as a whole,” he said.

The National PAS Conference kicks off March 17.