(Trenton, MO) – The Crowder College Agriculture Department took 20 students to Trenton, Missouri on November 11 and 13 to compete at the Missouri State Post-Secondary Agriculture Students (PAS) Organization Conference. The students competed in multiple contest areas. The goal of each contest is to provide agriculture students with the professional skills required to excel when entering the workforce after completing their college degree.
In additional to winning competitions, Addison Spencer (Nixa) was elected to be the Missouri State PAS President for the 2025–2026 term.
The conference also provided students with the opportunity to network with peers from across the state, as well as attend a tour of Roeslien Energy methane production plant. This facility has 17 farms, each comprised of eight swine barns, which produce methane that is then refined and sold to an energy company. Following the tour, Smithfield then hosted a dinner at their site in Princeton, Missouri, where students were able to mingle with representatives from across departments within the Smithfield company.
The Crowder Agriculture Department is proud to provide real-world opportunities for students to hone their skills and network to create beneficial connections for future endeavors. All 20 students qualified to attend the National PAS Organization Conference, which will take place in Branson, Missouri in March 2026. A full list of students and their placings in each contest area is provided below.
Career Planning
This competition prepares students in their field of agriculture regarding the career they desire to pursue.
- Agriculture Education Systems
- Addison Spencer (Nixa) – 1st Place
- Agribusiness Systems
- Noah Duncan (Pittsburg, Kansas) – 3rd Place
- Kolton Kleeman (Lockwood) – 4th Place
- Animal Systems
- Aubree Rogerson (Stotts City) – 2nd Place
- Lily Ballard (New Blaine, Arkansas) – 4th Place
- Plant Systems
- Castle Spieker (Aurora) – 3rd Place
Career Progress
This competition evaluates students on their progress towards the career they desire.
- Agriculture Education Systems
- Mya Lowery (Ash Grove) – 1st Place
- Animal Systems
- Kyle Ferron (Seneca) – 1st Place
Employment Interview
In this competition, students compete in mock interviews with their resume, cover letter, and employment applications, trying to obtain jobs in their career field.
- Agribusiness Administration
- Emma Butler (Neosho) – 1st Place
- Agriculture Education
- Mya Lowery (Ash Grove) – 1st Place
- Addison Spencer (Nixa) – 2nd Place
- Agricultural Equipment and Machinery
- Caleb Garvin (Anderson) – 1st Place
- Agronomic Services
- Cassie Falley (Diamond) – 1st Place
- Livestock and Dairy Production
- Kolton Kleeman (Lockwood) – 2nd Place
- Livestock and Dairy Services
- Lily Ballard (New Blaine, Arkansas) – 2nd Place
- Aubree Rogerson (Stotts City) – 3rd Place
- Forestry and Natural Resources
- Malorie Hance (Granby) – 2nd Place
Quiz Bowl
- Crowder College B Team – 1st Place
- Kyle Ferron (Seneca), Mya Lowery (Ash Grove), Noah Duncan (Pittsburg, Kansas) Caleb Garvin (Anderson), and Cassie Falley (Diamond)
- Crowder College A Team – 2nd Place
- Jason McCullough (Shell Knob), Jaxon Johnston (Springfield), Castle Spieker (Aurora), Lily Ballard (New Blaine, Arkansas), and Mallory Hance (Granby)
About Crowder College:
Crowder College was established in April 1963, as the voters of Newton and McDonald counties passed the issue to create a community college (formerly junior college) on the land formerly known as Camp Crowder. Today, the college provides services to a nine-county service region in southwest Missouri with locations in Neosho, Cassville, Joplin, McDonald County, Nevada, and Webb City. The student population exists from within the four-state region, and around the globe. With over 80 degree and program options, the college is a great place to train for a career or transfer to a university.
Reference:
Public Information Office
Crowder College
417.451.3223
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