PAS now encompasses universities
by Kendra Foster, posted Dec. 1, 2008
The Missouri Postsecondary Agricultural Student Organization unanimously voted Nov. 7 to alter the MOPAS Constitution to extend membership to students enrolled in four-year universities. As the MOPAS state reporter and acting secretary, I recorded it. Then, just a couple of hours later, I gave over my office to perhaps one of the last state officers from a community college.
MOPAS has been a well-kept secret for the past 29 years. PAS is an organization for students who enjoyed FFA while in high school and would like to have similar experiences in college. PAS has contests that are similar to FFA’s career development events but have a stronger emphasis on industry knowledge. It, like FFA, was founded in Kansas City, Mo., and the national headquarters are in Indianapolis.
This year’s annual MOPAS conference was Nov. 5 through 7 in St. Louis. A wide array of competitions took place, such as interviewing for a job in the floriculture industry, identifying different parts of a motor and taking a written test. Tours and College Bowl, a contest similar to a quiz bowl, were also part of the conference. The games went on until almost midnight. Awards were given out on the last day and new officers took office. Overall, MOPAS President and National PAS Secretary Brittany Garrett called the conference “a success.” MOPAS Vice President Robert Williams Jr. attributed some of the success of the conference to this year’s officer team.
“I feel that we had a hardworking officer team that worked great together,” he said. “We divided out our work and everyone got their job done and then some.”
Since MOPAS now allows four-year universities to join, MU is eligible to begin a chapter. However, Leon Busdieker, District Supervisor for Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, did not think that PAS would be suited for MU.
“MU has so many other ag clubs already, and they are more specific to (the students’) majors,” Busdieker said. He is excited about a new PAS chapter at Northwest University, however.
As a state officer, I was able to see that MOPAS has a lot to offer students, no matter what kind of college they attend. PAS is career-oriented, and it encourages students to build their networks by providing opportunities. PAS’ best asset, however, is the students who participate. I am very proud to have been a part of this organization.
