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College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
Dean’s Monthly Newsletter // October 2022
Month in Review
 (click to read)

It’s been an exciting month on our campus, and not just because of this past weekend’s Homecoming game! Although I did enjoy watching the parade with our alumni, tailgating with legislators and ag leaders, as well as the game.

I feel energized as we celebrated and showcased our research enterprise in CAFNR as part of our first in-person Research Symposium, held Oct. 12 and 13. Thanks to everyone who participated or helped plan this great event. I enjoyed hearing presentations by our talented research faculty and staff, students and post-docs.

On Oct. 11, I was proud to host colleagues to showcase the Show-Me Food, Beverage and Forest Products Manufacturing Institute as part of Extension and Engagement Week. The “Adding Value to Agriculture” panel was moderated by Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, and panelists included myself along with Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins, Missouri State Professor Christi Sudbrock, and CAFNR Alumna and Nestle Purina VP Sheri Smithey. Thank you to Extension for hosting the panel, and for such a great week of programming centered around “All Things Food.”

I appreciated, as always, the opportunity to participate in the World Food Prize activities in Des Moines, including the Borlaug luncheon hosted by the CAFNR International Programs office. The work these fellows are doing to grow food security is inspiring!

Visiting with the family of Henry Kirklin was another highlight of the month. Kirklin is the namesake of a learning laboratory in plant sciences, and earlier this month a number of his descendants came to campus to tour the laboratory for the first time. They are an incredible family tied to an incredible legacy!

We had a record-breaking Career Fair Oct. 3, with the most employers and students ever in attendance. I am so glad that so many of our students took advantage of the opportunity to look for jobs and internships. I thank Matt Arri and his team for their hard work for the successful fair.

The Missouri Chestnut Roast Festival, hosted at the Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Farm of the Central Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center, showcased Missouri agricultural specialty products to nearly 3,000 attendees on Oct. 1. It was a great event, and I appreciate the work the Center for Agroforestry does to promote and educate about the opportunities for growing specialty crops in our state!

I enjoyed attending the IDE Committee’s Podcast Club earlier this month – interesting topic and great discussion. I encourage everyone to attend – and even if you can’t make it to one, you can still listen to the podcast, to learn more about a topic surrounding diversity, inclusion, equity and compassion.

This month I also attended Institute of Food Technologists meetings; traveled with our Advancement team to St. Louis for meetings; participated in the Provost’s Student Success Retreat and a meeting around strategies and tactics to expand undergraduate enrollment, as well as the UM System’s Federal R&D Workshop; attended a board meeting of the Agribusiness Council of Kansas City and a CARET/AHS Planning Committee meeting; visited with Bradley Schad, CEO of the Missouri Corn Growers Association; and celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Lakes of Missouri Volunteer Program. I engaged our CAFNR Administrative Leadership Council (CALC) for a day of meetings. Lastly, I was blown away by the terrific turnout from our staff to my recent open office hours in the Ag Building – 33 staff members participated, a record crowd.

Coming up yet in October, I will attend the CAST Annual Board of Trustees Meeting in Ames, Iowa; a Provost’s Dinner with MU deans; and the CAFNR Policy Committee meeting. I hope you will join our Staff Advisory Council for their annual Fall Lunch with chili, a baked potato bar and fun fall activities! The event will be this Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 135 Ag Engineering Building.

I hope all will join us for the upcoming Litton Lecture with Dr. Rick Rigsby Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Jesse Auditorium, as well as alumna Tyne Morgan’s live taping of the U.S. Farm Report College Roadshow Nov. 3 on Traditions Plaza.

I look forward to sharing my annual state of the college address at Novemberfest! Join me starting at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 in Monsanto Auditorium. See you there!

CAFNR Proud,

Christopher R. Daubert, Ph.D.
CAFNR Vice Chancellor & Dean

@CAFNRDean
CAFNR Dean
@CAFNRDean

I was honored to welcome the Kirklin family to the #Mizzou campus today as they toured the Henry Kirklin Plant Sciences Learning Lab, named after the university’s first Black teacher. Enjoyed discussing his legacy & impact on current — & future — students. https://cafnr.missouri.edu/henry-kirklin/

2:15 PM - Oct 14, 2022
Tiger Roars!

This fall we had a record-breaking Career Fair, with 170 booths sold, more than 300 employee representatives and 1,238 students in attendance (highest attendance ever). Ensuring students are career-ready is a big part of what we are all about here in CAFNR. Mark your calendar for our Spring 2023 Career Fair: Wednesday, March 8, 12-4 p.m., MU Rec Center.

Of Note

Mizzou has created guidelines for print and electronic event invitations. Use this guide when sending a formal invitation. It has content suggestions as well as examples. Reach out to CAFNR Communications with questions, engerm@missouri.edu.

Prevent.Zone is a new training that consists of three effective, evidence-based courses: Hazing Prevention 101, Hazing Prevention Fraternity & Sorority Edition, and Haze. Please encourage students to complete the free hazing prevention training to help keep our campus safe and free of hazing. Prevent.Zone is available and free to all members of the University of Missouri community. Visit mizzou.prevent.zone to log in and learn more.