Youth in Agriculture

Center welcomes more than 2,000 area students

Written by · Photography by Kyle Spradley · September 19, 2014

On Sept. 11, 2014 the Southwest Research Center hosted more than 2,100 students from 49 schools across southern Missouri during the annual Agriculture Education Day.

The educational event at the center in Mount Vernon operated by the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) at the University of Missouri has become an annual event as a chance to get youth interested in agriculture and aware of the possibilities out there in natural resources.

More than 40 guest speakers welcomed students to stops located across the center. Speakers included MU experts, Missouri Department of Conservation biologists, researchers, MU and Lincoln University extension specialists and area industry professionals.

Presentations included information on livestock production, wildlife habitat restoration, nut and fruit production, forestry, weather, gardening and what opportunities are available after high school. Other talks included awareness of where their food comes from, drinking water contaminants, electrical safety, native edibles and the benefits of insects in the landscape.

A favorite of many featured a demonstration of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) by Hundley-Whaley Research Center Superintendent Bruce Burdick.

“Everyone was really amazed by this new technology,” added Burdick. “It’s incredible to see what the future holds for these new tools in agriculture. I think it will lead to a lot more jobs and opportunities for our youth in the future.”

“Our biggest goal in agriculture right now should be education,” stressed David Cope, new superintendent of Southwest Research Center. “We need to get people out to our farms and see where their food comes come. And if we are able to increase the profile of the Southwest Research Center, then we might be able to influence more kids to go to college or be involved in agriculture.”

Visit the center’s new website at http://southwest.cafnr.org for more information about the latest research and upcoming events from the Southwest Research Center. Additional information can be found through the new CAFNR app, available free for Apple devices. Download today at http://app.cafnr.org/.

Southwest Research Center is one of CAFNR’s Agricultural Research Centers located throughout Missouri that host educational workshops. Visit http://cafnr.org/events/ for more events located across the Show-Me State.

More photos can found on CAFNR’s Flickr Page.

Jill Scheidt, MU Agronomy Extension Specialist, played a game of Ag Jeopardy with students from Sarcoxie High School. Jill Scheidt, MU Agronomy Extension Specialist, played a game of Ag Jeopardy with students from Sarcoxie High School.
MU Graduate Student Andrew Curtis shared with students from Miller High School the new Thermail Aid smartphone application from CAFNR. The app is used to detect heat stress in livestock. He shared tools used to help monitor livestock and other heat-monitoring devices used.MU Graduate Student Andrew Curtis shared with students from Miller High School the new Thermail Aid smartphone application from CAFNR. The app is used to detect heat stress in livestock. He shared tools used to help monitor livestock and other heat-monitoring devices used.
MU Graduate Student Andrew Curtis shared with students from Miller High School the new Thermail Aid smartphone application from CAFNR. The app is used to detect heat stress in livestock. He shared tools used to help monitor livestock and other heat-monitoring devices used.MU Graduate Student Andrew Curtis shared with students from Miller High School the new Thermal Aid smartphone application from CAFNR. The app is used to detect heat stress in livestock. He shared tools used to help monitor livestock and other heat-monitoring devices used.
Rick Rath, Missouri Department of Conservation biologist, talks with students from Neosho High School about quail habitat and how MDC is using certain management practices to increase bird populations.Rick Rath, Missouri Department of Conservation biologist, talks with students from Neosho High School about quail habitat and how MDC is using certain management practices to increase bird populations.
Pat Guinan, MU state climatologist, spoke to students from Diamond High School about the weather monitoring station at the Southwest Research Center. The station gives real-time weather updates such as soil and air temperature and daily records of rainfall.Pat Guinan, MU state climatologist, spoke to students from Diamond High School about the weather monitoring station at the Southwest Research Center. The station gives real-time weather updates such as soil and air temperature and daily records of rainfall.
Dusty Walter, superintendent of Wurdack Research Center, spoke to students from Southwest High School about the importance of fire and how it can be used in land management strategies. He demonstrated how quickly a fire can spread, but how certain tools and practices can easily contain a controlled burn.Dusty Walter, superintendent of Wurdack Research Center, spoke to students from Southwest High School about the importance of fire and how it can be used in land management strategies. He demonstrated how quickly a fire can spread, but how certain tools and practices can easily contain a controlled burn.
Dusty Walter, superintendent of Wurdack Research Center, spoke to students from Southwest High School about the importance of fire and how it can be used in land management strategies. He demonstrated how quickly a fire can spread, but how certain tools and practices can easily contain a controlled burn.Dusty Walter, superintendent of Wurdack Research Center, spoke to students from Southwest High School about the importance of fire and how it can be used in land management strategies. He demonstrated how quickly a fire can spread, but how certain tools and practices can easily contain a controlled burn.
The Southwest Research Center hosted its annual Agriculture Education Day on Sept. 11, 2014. The center near Mount Vernon operated by the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) welcomed more than 2,100 students from nearly 50 area schools.The Southwest Research Center hosted its annual Agriculture Education Day on Sept. 11, 2014. The center near Mount Vernon operated by the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) welcomed more than 2,100 students from nearly 50 area schools.
Charli Campbell, sophomore at Neosho High School, reaches into the cow.Charli Campbell, sophomore at Neosho High School, reaches into the cow.
Eldon Cole, MU Extension livestock specialist, spoke to students about how EPDs can be used to be evaluate cattle for production and breeding.Eldon Cole, MU Extension livestock specialist, spoke to students about how EPDs can be used to be evaluate cattle for production and breeding.

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Kelly McGowan, MU Extension horticulture specialist, spoke to students about tips for blue ribbon vegetables and how a simple home garden can provide a lot.Kelly McGowan, MU Extension horticulture specialist, spoke to students about tips for blue ribbon vegetables and how a simple home garden can provide a lot.
Andy Thomas, MU horticulture specialist, shared samples of fruits grown at the Southwest Research Center with students from Joplin and Republic high schools. He explained how the fruits are grown and the origins of several Missouri native crops.Andy Thomas, MU horticulture specialist, shared samples of fruits grown at the Southwest Research Center with students from Joplin and Republic high schools. He explained how the fruits are grown and the origins of several Missouri native crops.
Patrick Byers, MU horticulture Extension specialist, spoke to students from Joplin High School about how food prices at the grocery store effect local farmers. He stressed the importance of buying some local goods as it gives more to the farmer.Patrick Byers, MU horticulture Extension specialist, spoke to students from Joplin High School about how food prices at the grocery store effect local farmers. He stressed the importance of buying some local goods as it gives more to the farmer.
Nathan Witt, USDA-NRCS resource conservationist, spoke to students from Walnut Grove High School about the use of electric fences to help contain livestock on the farm. He demonstrated volt meters that allow farmers to read the capacity of their live lines. Using small voltage levels, he let students feel the shock of the line and see how very little voltage can provide a simple shock to keep animals inside their fields and not hurt them.Nathan Witt, USDA-NRCS resource conservationist, spoke to students from Walnut Grove High School about the use of electric fences to help contain livestock on the farm. He demonstrated volt meters that allow farmers to read the capacity of their live lines. Using small voltage levels, he let students feel the shock of the line and see how very little voltage can provide a simple shock to keep animals inside their fields and not hurt them.
Diana Sheridan, USDA-NRCS resource conservationist, spoke to students from Fordland High School about the importance of bees and other beneficial insects in the landscape. She stressed the need for native plants to help bring in pollinators.Diana Sheridan, USDA-NRCS resource conservationist, spoke to students from Fordland High School about the importance of bees and other beneficial insects in the landscape. She stressed the need for native plants to help bring in pollinators.
Bob Schultheis, MU natural resource engineering specialist, spoke to students from Marion C. Early High School about contaminents that could be in their drinking water. Inside several glass jars he had water samples that had various levels of gasoline, sulphur and other chemicals. He had students smell each jar — some of which had no scent — but were contaminated with some trace of gasoline.Bob Schultheis, MU natural resource engineering specialist, spoke to students from Marion C. Early High School about contaminents that could be in their drinking water. Inside several glass jars he had water samples that had various levels of gasoline, sulphur and other chemicals. He had students smell each jar — some of which had no scent — but were contaminated with some trace of gasoline.
Ted Probert, MU Dairy Extension Specialist, spoke to students from Southwest High School about accelerated calf feeding programs. Ted Probert, MU Dairy Extension Specialist, spoke to students from Southwest High School about accelerated calf feeding programs.
Bruce Burdick, superintendent of Hundley-Whaley Research Center in Albany, shared with students from Exeter High School the latest technology in UAVs. Besides showcasing the new gadgets, he explained how they can be used in agriculture such as crop scouting and livestock watch.Bruce Burdick, superintendent of Hundley-Whaley Research Center in Albany, shared with students from Exeter High School the latest technology in UAVs. Besides showcasing the new gadgets, he explained how they can be used in agriculture such as crop scouting and livestock watch.
Tim Reinbott, superintendent of Bradford Research Center, spoke to students from Neosho High School about tomatoes and peppers. His center in Columbia operated by CAFNR grows hundreds of varieties of vegetables and shared samples of the tomatoes and even some students braved to try the hot peppers.Tim Reinbott, superintendent of Bradford Research Center, spoke to students from Neosho High School about tomatoes and peppers. His center in Columbia operated by CAFNR grows hundreds of varieties of vegetables and shared samples of the tomatoes and even some students braved to try the hot peppers.
Stacey Dohle, senior communicaitons manager from the Midwest Dairy Association, spoke to students from Liberal High School about being an advocate for agriculture on social media. She stressed the importance of being the voice for agriculture and sharing your family's farm stories.Stacey Dohle, senior communications manager from the Midwest Dairy Association, spoke to students from Liberal High School about being an advocate for agriculture on social media. She stressed the importance of being the voice for agriculture and sharing your family’s farm stories.