BYU-Idaho agriculture students achieved big wins at the 2024 National Professional Agricultural Student Organization (PAS) Conference held in Springfield, IL. Students
demonstrated expertise and excellence in a variety of team and individual events.
“It was very rewarding being able to apply what I’ve learned at BYU-Idaho in order to win the competition,” wrote Dallin Hibbard on his LinkedIn regarding the event.
The PAS Conference brought over 450 students, collegiate advisors, and industry professionals from across the country to provide individual growth, leadership, and career preparation opportunities for professional agriculture students.
Students compete in a variety of team and individual career program events as a part of the conference. Written exams, group collaboration, mock sales presentations, and timed simulations are presented and judged by industry representatives to showcase soft and analytical skills, practical insights, and industry knowledge of the competitors.
“The students’ achievements at the National PAS Conference reflect the quality of education and mentorship they receive at BYU-Idaho,” said Agribusiness professor Jeremy Slade.
A list of student achievements is included below:
Team Career Program Events
- First place | Agribusiness Management Team | Kaitlynn Sorensen, Dallin Hibbard, and Hailey Albertson | Case study
- Second place | Conservation and National Resources Team | McKay Rigby and Abi Greenhalgh | Case study
- Third place | Animal Science Team | Lee Jensen, Joshua Powell, and Dallon Laird | Case study
Individual Career Program Events
- First place | Kaitlynn Sorensen | Agriculture Sales
- First place | McKay Rigby | Precision Agriculture
- Second place | Lee Jensen | Precision Agriculture
- First place | Dallon Laird | Animal Health and Veterinarian Tech
- Second place | Hailey Alberts | Employment Interview
To further prepare for the world of professional agriculture, participants also attend career workshops, networking events, and industry tours with Illinois-based companies as well as international companies, including BASF and Growmark. These activities cover a range of industry-specific topics and career preparation, such as LinkedIn optimization, job interview skills, and mental health.
Along with the many accomplishments in the conference competition, BYU-Idaho Agribusiness Management student Sarah Holt was selected as the National PAS President for the 2024–25 term.