Heartland ag students earn national awards

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Eight Heartland Community College students placed in a national competition for the demonstration of agribusiness skills.

Students competed in 10 categories at the National Professional Agricultural Student Organization conference held March 11-14 in Springfield.

Heartland’s group of students produced a national winner, four national runner-ups and four more individuals and teams that placed in the national top 10.

“It may have been spring break, but our students were busy,” said Heartland PAS faculty adviser Miranda Buss. “Seven of our 10 students attending the conference are freshman, so we are already brainstorming ways to fundraise for next year’s competition in Sheridan, Wyoming.”

Student winners were:

• Ariana McCann, Normal — national winner in specialty crop employment interview.

• Joshua Henderson, Bloomington — runner-up in agriculture sales employment interview.

• Lauren Monk, Heyworth — runner-up in both agriculture education and ag ed career planning.

• Kaylee Lewis, Streator — runner-up in impromptu public speaking.

• Conservation and Natural Resources Team: McCann, Lewis and Phillip Merrill, Normal — fourth place.

• Kaden Farrell, Lexington — fifth place in agronomic sales employment interview.

• Payton Wiltz, Lexington — sixth place in both precision ag and plant systems career planning.

• Lori Jo Beverage, Normal — 12th place in animal health/vet tech.

The Heartland PAS College Bowl Team — with members Micah Mohr, Kaylee Lewis, Lauren Monk, Payton Wiltz and Joshua Henderson — also won two rounds before being bested by Dordt University and Brigham Young University.