FROM THE ISB PRESIDENT
Ashley Butkus
ISB President, 2025–2026 |
Happy Summer, everyone!
I hope you all had another great school year, and if you have graduated, congrats! The Annual International Meeting is approaching quickly, and if you would like to be the person writing these newsletters, you can be! AIM is where ISB elections take place, student competitions occur, and memories that last a lifetime are made.
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If you still aren’t quite sure what ISB is, let me tell you. ISB, or International Student Branch, is a group of students from across the nation that works together to promote undergraduate engagement and programming in ASABE. We host virtual events throughout the year, run the ISB Instagram, and create the AIMGO card, a spin on Bingo that allows you to explore AIM and the city.
Events for undergraduates at by ISB at AIM include the ISB Social, Sunday from 6:00-7:00 pm, the Guide to Professional Licensure Lunch and Learn, co-hosted by YPC Tuesday from 12:15-1:45 pm, and the ISB Business Meeting and Professional Development Session Tuesday from 3:00 to 4:30 pm.
The ISB business meeting is where we will elect officers for the upcoming year. Candidates will deliver brief speeches, followed by a vote by all members present. Your voice matters, and we hope to see you there.
Finally, ISB is proud to announce our T-Shirt Design winner, Padam Paudel from Clemson University. Be sure to stop in to the AIM gift shop to see their design in person.
That's all for now. I hope to see you all at AIM!
Ashley Butkus, President
ASABE International Student Branch |
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Opportunity for Undergraduates!
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And our Young Professionals Community reminds you of these opportunities at AIM—
all are welcome!
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Illini Pullers Take 2026 Quarter-Scale Trophy
 The University of Illinois has claimed the Wehner-Detra Traveling Trophy and the $1,500 first-place prize at the 29th Annual ASABE International Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition, held May 29–31 in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. It was the third time the Illini Pullers have won the competition, the first two championships having come in 2009 and 2010.
The University of Nebraska earned second place and $1,200, followed by Purdue University in third ($900), Kansas State University in fourth ($700), and the University of Missouri in fifth ($500).
Twenty-three university teams from across the United States and Canada competed across three days of design judging, oral presentations, and on-course performance events, with activities split between the McLean County Fairgrounds and the Marriott hotel. |
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Upcoming Competitions
Come support your student peers in these competitions taking place at AIM 2026. Most sessions are open to visitors; check the meeting app to confirm details.
Congratulations to all participants on your hard work, innovation, and initiative. And good luck!
AIM Student Oral/Poster Competition
Takes place throughout AIM; check meeting app for times
ASABE technical communities will recognize outstanding student presentations in both oral and poster categories
ASABE Robotics Student Design Competition
Competition begins Sunday, July 12, 9:00 am, and continues through Monday
Teams of undergraduate and graduate students design and build fully autonomous robots to perform simulated agricultural operations.
Digital Agriculture Hackathon @ASABE
Competition kicks off Sunday, July 12, 8 am, continues Monday and Tuesday, and concludes Wednesday morning.
Join us to ideate, prototype, and explore digital solutions for resilient food and agricultural systems!
Fountain Wars Competition
Competition begins Monday, July 12, 9:30 am, and concludes on Tuesday
Oral presentations take place on Monday and team builds on Tuesday afternoon.
Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition
Team presentations begin Monday, July 13, 11:00 am
Enjoy oral presentations from this year's top finishers.
K.K. Barnes Student Paper Award Competition
Competition begins Monday, July 13, 2:30 pm
Comprises an undergraduate student paper competition and an oral competition.
Boyd-Scott Graduate Research Award
Competition begins Monday, July 13, 4:00 pm
Finalists chosen from the written portion of the competition meet at AIM to present their work in the oral portion. Includes MS and PhD categories.
Gunlogson Environmental Design Competition
Competition begins Tuesday, July 14, 9:30 am
Comprises a written design report and an oral presentation.
AGCO Competition
Competition begins Tuesday, July 14, 11:00 am
The top three entries for the student design competition have been invited to this oral competition. Listen to these outstanding engineering design project presentations.
Bioprocess Startup Competition – ASABE "Shark Tank"
Competition begins Tuesday, July 14, 2:30 pm
This fun and inspiring competition aims to cultivate entrepreneurial thinking and help students translate academic innovation into real-world commercial ventures.
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Launching July 13 at AIM 2026
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AIM Higher!
SO MANY REASONS FOR YOU TO ATTEND THE
2026 ASABE Annual International Meeting
Student Competitions • Technical Sessions
Professional Development • Research Exposure
Lifelong Memories
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Where Conversations Advance Innovation—and Careers
More than 1600 students and professionals have already registered for AIM 2026--we hope you're one of them! Our Annual International Meeting is of the world's largest gatherings of agricultural and biological engineering and technology professionals, and the 2026 event is shaping up to be one of the best in recent years.
Student members enjoy generous registration discounts, as well as technical and social programming shaped to advance careers and strengthen lifelong relationships.
Already registered? Watch for your Inbox for announcement of the meeting app--your program, your map, your whole conference at your fingertips.
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Grow Your Skills, Earn a Trip to AIM 2027 with Our Leadership Program
Congratulations to the 2026 Student Rally Leadership Networking Program (SRLNP) cohort!
This year, the program also extends a warm welcome to the Upper Red River Region. During the Annual International Meeting, the SRLNP joins together emerging leaders from each regional rally to share ideas and experience all AIM has to offer.
Want to learn more? Check out the SRNLP webpage.
| Region |
Student Representative |
Institution |
| CA/NV |
Alex Belles |
Cal Poly- San Luis Obispo |
| Serenity Pico |
University of California- Davis |
| Kiana Mushock |
University of California- Davis |
| Midwest |
Maddie Gibson |
University of Kentucky |
| Allison Lundy |
University of Kentucky |
| Oyouka Slone |
University of Wisconsin- Madison |
| Bergen Schmid |
University of Wisconsin- Madison |
| Southeast |
Olivia Ray |
Auburn |
| Natalie Krimm |
Auburn |
| Jasmine Feld |
Auburn |
| Aubrey Hoffnagle |
Auburn |
| Upper Red River |
Ryne Koerber |
University of Minnesota |
| Raghav Goel |
University of Minnesota |
| Tulsi Pokhrel |
South Dakota State University |
| Solomon Edo |
South Dakota State University |
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MEMBER BENEFITS
Did You Know?
Undergraduate and graduate students aren't just welcome on our technical committees, they're encouraged to join. Your perspective and participation matter. Plus, our tech committees offer great opportunities for you to stay informed on evolving, real-world issues and technologies related to your interests. And they offer a great way to get acquainted with professionals who could turn into colleagues and lifelong friends.
Ready to get started? Follow the link below to browse our list of committee and then just tell us, "I'm Interested!" If you'll be at AIM, feel free to drop in to any committee meeting that meets your interest. Browse the committee schedule now, and then build your itinerary on the meeting app when it drops next week.
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10 Smart Ways to Sharpen Your Decision-Making
 Decision-making is one of the toughest parts of any job, especially when time is short, stakes are high, and there's no clearly right answer.
HBR recently rounded up ten of their favorite tips on the topic, covering everything from staying steady under pressure to leading with clarity when every choice carries risk.
Take a look at what stood out. |
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Award, Competition & Scholarship Directory
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