News

Ellsworth Community College Excels at National Professional Ag Students Conference

Ellsworth Community College proudly announces its outstanding performance at the recent National Professional Ag Students (PAS) Conference held in Springfield, Illinois. The event, which saw participation from over 430 members representing 40+ chapters across 8 states, showcased ECC’s excellence in agricultural education and leadership.

Twelve ECC students and five faculty and staff members attended the conference, engaging in a range of activities including contests, workshops, and networking opportunities with industry professionals.

Among the highlights of ECC’s achievements at the conference were the impressive results in both individual and team events:

Individual Events

  • Agriculture Sales: Ryanne Dunn – 3rd place
  • Animal Health – Vet Tech: Kiley Langley – 9th place
  • Career Planning – Agribusiness Systems: Tate Tentinger – 6th place
  • Career Planning – Power, Structural & Technical Systems: Nora Ryan – 1st place
  • Career Progress – Power, Structural & Technical Systems: David Van Dyke – 3rd place
  • Employment Interview – Agribusiness Administration: Anna Dirksen – 8th place
  • Employment Interview – Agriculture Equipment & Sales: Lizzy Findling – 7th place
  • Precision Ag: David Van Dyke – 5th place

Team Events:

  • Conservation & Natural Resources Specialist: 1st place team (Lydia Oetker, Mikaylan Winters, Jordan Laden)
    • 2nd high overall individual – Lydia Oetker
    • 3rd high overall individual – Mikaylan Winters
  • Farm Business Management Specialist: 5th place team (Tate Tentinger, Ryanne Dunn, Anna Dirksen)
  • Floriculture Specialist: 6th place team (Lizzy Findling, Gabe Reimer)
  • Sheep & Goat Specialist: 6th place team (Kiley Langley, Hannah Case, Nora Ryan)
  • Turfgrass Management Specialist: 2nd place (David Van Dyke)
    • 3rd high overall individual – David Van Dyke

In a historic moment for ECC, Nora Ryan and Elizabeth Findling were elected as National Vice Presidents for National PAS. This marks the first instance in which ECC has two representatives serving in a national officer role at the same time. The last time ECC has had a national officer was back in 2011-12.

For more information, please contact Kevin Butt at Kevin.Butt@iavalley.edu or call 641-648-8660.