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Inside CAFNR
CAFNR Office of Academic Programs Newsletter // August 2020
Message from the Senior Associate Dean and Director of Academic Programs
 (click to read)

Welcome to the first issue of the CAFNR Office of Academic Programs’ “LATitude” monthly newsletter. “LAT” stands for Learning, Advising and Teaching. So, even by the name, you can see that this newsletter will share with you everything our office does to recruit, support and educate our wonderful CAFNR students and assist our excellent CAFNR advisors and teaching faculty. Our team is excited to showcase the entire CAFNR Experience and how we help our students be academically successful and career ready – in addition to sharing our students’ successes.

And know that we are always here to support you – never hesitate to let us know how we can assist you in your teaching, advising and student support efforts! Enjoy!!

Bryan Garton
Senior Associate Dean
Director of Academic Programs

Feature Story
Focused on a Safe and Comfortable Return (click to read)
Focused on a Safe and Comfortable Return »

Trowbridge renovations, other venues open up socially-distanced classroom space for CAFNR students

Are You Career Ready?
 (click to read)

When CAFNR Career Services pivoted from a fall in-person career fair to a virtual one, CAFNR saw an opportunity to help the Columbia community through a donation of 200 hand sanitizers. Purchased to be a small thank-you gift to employers who recruit at the career fair, CAFNR Career Services wouldn’t need the sanitizers in the new virtual format. JoNetta Weaver from Meals on Wheels (pictured center) picked up the donation from Jasmine Lopez, CAFNR Academic Programs Office, and Matt Arri, CAFNR Career Services. Volunteer drivers for Meals on Wheels will use the sanitizers while delivering meals to people with limited mobility.

CAFNR Career Services is also continuing its mission to help students find fulfilling internships, full-time jobs, and pursue professional and graduate school. Much of those services will be offered online. One of the biggest changes this fall is the CAFNR/A&S Career Fair, which will be offered online on Sept. 16, and is open to all Mizzou students. Visit cafnr.missouri.edu/cafnr-career-services/ for details.

Where Will You Go?

Congratulations to Dr. Robert Sites for earning the inaugural MU Study Abroad Teaching Excellence Award for our CAFNR Thailand Study Abroad program! Check out this article for more details about Dr. Sites’ award.

New opportunities are being developed for CAFNR students to “Go Global!” this year. Students can enroll in an online AFNR 2191 (International Agriculture and Natural Resources) course the second eight weeks of the fall semester. The course will focus on European countries where CAFNR offers programs and is a great way for students to get prepared for a future study abroad adventure. In addition, virtual study abroad internships/courses in Austria, Costa Rica, Italy, and more will be opening for the Spring 2021 semester. Check out our website (cafnr.missouri.edu/study-abroad/) this fall for more details!

R.I.S.E. Initiative
Showcasing a Competitive Spirit (click to read)
Showcasing a Competitive Spirit »

Mizzou Academic Quadrathlon team finishes tied for first at national competition

Degree Spotlight: Agribusiness Management

Our Agribusiness Management degree equips students with the necessary quantitative, analytical and critical thinking skills to help them succeed as a leader and decision-maker in the global agrifood system. Our faculty teach business, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing and management concepts in the context of production agriculture and the global food system. While stressing conceptual understanding, the program immerses students in opportunities to apply their skills and experience to real-world problem-solving.

Regan Ragsdale, Agribusiness Management (click to read)
Regan Ragsdale, Agribusiness Management

Why did you decide to come to the University of Missouri and major in agribusiness management? What do you enjoy about the program itself? The field of study?

Attending the University of Missouri and studying in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources was always a no-brainer in my eyes. The diverse campus, phenomenal staff and opportunities to grow I saw as a senior in high school have far exceeded my expectations. My corn and cattle roots have left me incredibly passionate about the agriculture industry. Therefore, choosing agribusiness management as a major has been a phenomenal choice. Having interest in policy, sales, marketing and entrepreneurship while staying in the agriculture field left me with the best choice in major, agribusiness management. The program has allowed me to customize my classes to fit the things I am interested in. I know that with Agribusiness Management on my diploma, I will have countless options in and out of the agriculture field. This has proved true in the diverse internships I’ve had in the policy arena and with a powerhouse agriculture company. Agribusiness management has and continues to be the best choice for me.

How have you used resources in the CAFNR Academic Programs Office (student services, career services, advising, study abroad)? What was your experience like?  

The CAFNR Office of Academic Programs has an outstanding amount of resources in one convenient spot. When preparing for the CAFNR career fair, I have found this office to be incredibly valuable. From having my resume reviewed to doing a mock interview, the faculty and staff have gone out of their way to help me succeed. In addition, if I ever have a question about advising, my major or just help with my program, the academic programs office is very willing to give tangible information that leaves me feeling confident and reassured. The CAFNR Office of Academic Programs was also a huge help in navigating where I wanted to study abroad. Although I didn’t have the chance to go to Germany because of COVID-19, I know that the office will help me in every step of the way when I decide which study abroad to do as an upperclassman. I look forward to continuing to take full advantage of the CAFNR Office of Academic Programs as I embark on my junior year at Mizzou.

CAFNR’s R.I.S.E. initiative encourages students to have a variety of extracurricular experiences during their time at Mizzou (Research, International, Service Learning, Experiential Learning). What parts of the RISE initiative have you taken advantage of so far, and which do you plan to? What have you enjoyed about these experiences?

CAFNR’s R.I.S.E. initiative is a program that makes the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources so unique. Students are highly encouraged to gain tangible, valuable skills outside of the classroom in many different facets. Fortunately, for the past two summers I have had an internship that increased the “E” piece of RISE for me, Experiential Learning. As a public policy intern for Missouri Corn in Jefferson City, Missouri, I gained hands-on learning experience. From talking to farmers about policies that affect them to networking with leaders in the Missouri agriculture industry, I took away from this internship many valuable skills that I will use someday in my future career. This past summer, I worked for Bayer Crop Science with the DEKALB Asgrow brands as a row crop sales intern. Working for 10 weeks in southwest Minnesota as an intern for this company taught me skills in interpersonal communication, marketing and helped me clarify the path I want to go now within my future career. I am thankful for CAFNR’s R.I.S.E. initiative which pushed me out of my comfort zone to reach new heights outside of the classroom.

What has been your favorite activity or experience of being a CAFNR student?

As a CAFNR student who has seen first-hand the huge benefits of the college, I would recommend anyone from any background to study in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. The wide array of majors, outstanding faculty and staff, and students within the college make it the best of the best at the University of Missouri. One of the best ways that showcase this is during CAFNR Week. This is a week full of camaraderie, learning and celebrating our college. From getting caked in mud at the annual Mud Volleyball tournament to stopping by the Dairy Club tent to grab a grilled cheese and learn about the dairy industry, the students in the college are eager to celebrate CAFNR. I find this week is only a small snapshot of the incredible network of CAFNR students, faculty and staff that we have on and off Mizzou’s campus. Proud is the only word I can think of to describe when I walk into a CAFNR class. I am and will continue to be a proud Tiger studying in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.

Student Recruitment
CAFNR is expecting about a 3 percent increase in new students this fall!

The CAFNR recruitment team has big plans for Fall 2020. They will be kicking off the semester with degree spotlight videos, virtual student panels, live chats and weekly CAFNR Overviews utilizing Admissions’ new online engagement platform called Conduit. With help from CAFNR faculty and students, they will be able to engage with prospective students and their families while they chart the new territories.

Student Success

Summer Welcome in Review:

  • 591 students advised during summer and August welcome (5% increase from 2019)
  • In 2019, undeclared CAFNR increased from four to 11 students, following a national trend of students “exploring” into their first year
  • Twenty percent of CAFNR students are honors admitted
  • If divisions or degree programs have an interest in specific data, please contact Megan McCauley (mccauleym@missouri.edu) for support

Fall Welcome:

  • All day Friday, Aug. 21, in Trowbridge Event Center
  • Degree programs will welcome their new students at this event
  • CAFNR Office of Academic Programs will have Buck’s Ice Cream, padfolios and other goodies to welcome new students
  • Look for more details from Megan McCauley and Tara O’Brien
Applause
 (click to read)
  • Several members of the Mizzou National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) team (pictured above) earned awards and scholarships via an online version of the NAMA Student Marketing Competition and Conference in late spring.
  • Thanks to the 19 incredible advisors across all divisions who advised all of the new students virtually for Summer Welcome!