BYU-Idaho students earned first-place in the Farm Business Management Event for the fourth consecutive year at the 2026 National Professional Agricultural Students (PAS) Conference in Branson, Missouri. Over 550 students from across the country participated.
Students prepared for the competition through a structured special projects course that emphasized applied learning. Preparation included practice presentations, case study review, mock interviews, résumé development, and faculty feedback, equipping students for both national competition and careers post-graduation.
The agribusiness management team, comprised of Francis Badoo, Emily Johnson, and Jesse Ricks, won first place out of 15 teams in the Farm Business Management Event, continuing BYU-Idaho's winning streak. Jesse Ricks and Emily Johnson were also selected to serve on the National PAS officer team for the coming year.
“This sustained success reflects consistent student preparation and high‑level performance over time,” said Jeremy Slade, a faculty member in BYU-Idaho's Department of Economics. “Rather than being the result of a single standout year, these results demonstrate ongoing excellence and continuous improvement.”
The soil science team, comprised of Matt Humphreys and Joseph Kampelya, achieved top marks as well, winning second place in the Soil Science Event. Both also placed second in their individual Crop Science and Horticulture Employment Interview competitions.
“I’m incredibly proud of the hard work and professionalism these students demonstrated,” Slade commented. “They represented our programs exceptionally well.”