The National Professional Agriculture Student Organization (National PAS) is a student-led organization providing individual growth, leadership and career preparation opportunities for students enrolled in two and four-year agricultural colleges. Career development is accomplished through competition-style learning and real-life application, preparing these young skilled professionals, to work in areas throughout the agricultural, food, and natural resource industries.
This year’s conference theme is ‘Climbing Together’ and will feature, Kim Stackhouse, Director of Sustainability for JBS USA as the keynote speaker. During her presentation, Kim will provide an overview of changing consumer expectations related to transparency of food production and how animal agriculture has continued to innovate to meet changing consumer demands sustainably.
Stackhouse is the Director of Sustainability for JBS USA where she is responsible for coordinating the North American sustainability program, inclusive of the Company’s beef, pork, poultry, case ready, transportation, and branded product business. In this role, Kim leads the Company’s internal sustainability program and public reporting initiatives to leverage best practices and reduce environmental and social impacts. Kim is a board member and the Chair of U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and is active in the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Egg.
Kim received her Ph.D. in Animal Science from the University of California, Davis and was a postdoctoral fellow at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She was most recently awarded as the 2018 Distinguished Young Alumni by the UC Davis College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
National PAS Executive Director, Mary Kay Delvo, says, “Agriculture has been disrupted in nearly every way imaginable and Stackhouse will provide our students with tangible examples of how agricultural companies are being good stewards of resources and the environment while running profitable businesses. The two don’t have to be mutually exclusive.” PAS students come to the conference prepared in degree areas such as: precision agriculture, crops, agronomy, landscaping/horticulture, ag mechanics, soil science, ag education, sales, ag marketing, vet sciences, equine, beef cattle, dairy, sheep, livestock, and poultry.
In addition to competitions and a career fair, students, educators and professionals can tour several Colorado agricultural businesses to learn about the great diversity of agriculture in Weld County, CO.
The Career and Industry Luncheon which will take place Friday, March 15 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. where industry professionals will be seated next to students in effort to connect employers with potential candidates. The Luncheon will be followed by a career fair where employers will have access to upwards of 600 students within months to a year of entering the workplace full time.
For those who like to see their workforce prospects in action first, join us as a judge on Thursday and Friday, March 14, and 15th. You’ll get the opportunity to talk directly with students and assess their skills firsthand. The conference will be held at the Embassy Suites and Conference Center, Loveland, CO, March 13-16.
Detailed conference information can be found at https://www.nationalpas.org/events To exhibit, sponsor, or be a judge, contact Mary Kay Delvo at marykay@nationalpas.org