Media Contact: Angela Try

SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College Agriculture students placed among the top teams in the country at the National Professional Agriculture Student (PAS) conference held in Branson, MO. Ten LLCC students earned the right to represent the college nationally by placing in the top three at the state competition earlier in the school year.

LLCC’s Soil Specialist Team placed first overall. The team includes Michael Wright, of Greenfield; Whittney Williams, of Loami; and Griffin Fuchs, of New Berlin, who placed first individually. This is the second year LLCC students have won this event, and the seventh time LLCC students have won since its creation in 2003.

The Sheep Specialist Team also took first place. The team includes Kade Beckmier; of Morrisonville; Carter Lampe, of Bowling Green, Ohio, who also placed second individually; and Taylor Crouch, of Maroa who placed first individually.

The Beef Specialist Team placed second. The team includes Ava Shroyer, of DeGraff, Ohio; Michael Matesa, of Staunton; and Taylor Armstrong, of Rushville, who was the highest placing individual.

In Prepared Public Speaking, Cassandra Sexton, of Roodhouse, took sixth place with a presentation about the shortage of veterinarians in the U.S. In employment interviewing competitions, Taylor Armstrong placed first in Livestock Services, Ava Shroyer placed first in Ag Equipment, Griffin Fuchs placed first in Floriculture and Landscaping, Taylor Crouch placed first in Agribusiness Administration and Kade Beckmier placed fourth in Crop Production. Carter Lampe placed third in the Ag Sales competition.

PAS is a nationally recognized student organization that brings education and industry together in agriculture. The LLCC Agriculture Club is advised by Liz Conrady, Liz Stamberger and Bill Harmon.

The trip was made possible by the Kreher Farm Perpetual Trust and by a grant from Growmark, the parent company of FS in Illinois.