Vice Chancellor and Dean Daubert leads international food science and technology event.

As the summer wraps up, I look back on an exciting couple of months for both me personally, as well as for our college!

I was honored to represent food science, CAFNR and Mizzou at IFT FIRST 2025 in July! This annual event in Chicago is the largest global food science and innovation expo, bringing together professionals from across the food industry, including those in academia and industry. I have enjoyed serving as President of the Institute of Food Technologists this past year, and was thrilled to bring my family along this year to be part of the events! My year of service is up in September; it has certainly gone fast. Read more about the kick-off day of IFT FIRST.

Mizzou Day at the Missouri State Fair was fun and lively – loved seeing all the black and gold. Showcasing what we do, and seeing the part so many of our faculty, staff and students play in the events, is always enjoyable! Congratulations to agricultural education student Bailey Schneider, who was named Missouri State Fair Queen on opening day. Thanks to everyone who helped keep the CAFNR booth and Mizzou Central running this year – especially coordinators Kathleen Matz and Matt Fleming.

Field Day season at our Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station (MOAES) Research, Extension and Education Centers (REECs) is in full swing, translating innovation from Mizzou fields to Missouri farms to help producers stay informed and ahead:

• The Crop and Pest Management Field Day at Bradford Research Farm (part of the Central Missouri REEC) kicked off Field Day season July 10.
• The Northern Missouri REEC hosted their Field Day at Lee Greenley Jr. Memorial Research Farm on July 31 in Novelty, Missouri.
• The Fisher Delta REEC’s Ag Expo was up next Aug. 6, in Portageville, Missouri.
• Still to come are:
  • The Southwest REEC’s Field Day and Career Expo Sept. 18.
  • Events across the Central Missouri REEC, including the Tomato Fest at Jefferson Farm & Garden – celebrating its 20th anniversary Sept. 4; CAFNR Showcase at South Farm on Oct. 4; and the Missouri Chestnut Roast Festival Oct. 18, at the Horticulture & Agroforestry Research Farm in New Franklin, Missouri.
  • In addition, the Extension and Education Centers (EECs) across the state host Field Days including at Graves-Chapple Aug. 26, Hundley-Whaley Farm, Field and Family Day on Sept. 3, and Wurdack Producer Field Day Oct. 1.

The MOAES is truly Mizzou’s powerhouse for agriculture research!

Since our last newsletter at the end of June I have:

• Met with Missouri Farmers Care Executive Committee
• Met with Missouri Corn Growers Association Executive Director Bradley Schad
• Met with Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn
• Attended Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council Summer meeting in Camdenton, MO
• Met with Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins and Administration Officer Davin Althoff
• Met with state representatives
• Met with President Mun Choi
• Met with Provost Matt Martens
• Met with Vice Chancellor for Research Tom Spencer
• Met with Vice Chancellor of Extension Chad Higgins
• Met with Arts & Science Dean Cooper Drury
• Met with Veterinary Medicine Dean Sri Sreevatsan

Still yet to come this month I will:

• Attend Mizzou’s New Faculty Reception and Orientation
• Travel to Pretoria, South Africa, for the South African Association for Food Science and Technology Biennial Congress

Looking forward to welcoming our students back in the coming days. Let’s make it a great semester!

CAFNR Proud,

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

A photo gallery of CAFNR happenings.

Lindley is the senior manager of donor relations in CAFNR Advancement.

CAFNR and MU Extension help kick off Mizzou’s campaign

Get ready to ROAR! Mizzou is kicking off our next campaign and we’re excited to welcome you to experience CAFNR and MU Extension as we demonstrate the incredible programs that help us serve Missouri and deliver Mizzou!

• When: Friday, September 5, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Where: Carnahan Quadrangle (south of Jesse Hall) and Jefferson Farm and Garden Extension and Education Center, 4800 E New Haven Rd, Columbia, MO 65201
• What: Join us for tours, demonstrations and interactive presentations from CAFNR and MU Extension programs including:

Carnahan Quadrangle

• Torq N’ Tigers
• The Mobile Meat Science Lab
• Missouri 4-H STEM programs
• Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Jefferson Farm and Garden Extension and Education Center

• Digital Agriculture Research and Extension Center Drone Demonstration
• Missouri 4-H agriculture programs
• AgrAbility highlighting Ergonomic and Accessible Tools
• Heart of Missouri Master Gardener Chapter featuring their All-America Display Garden
• Boonslick Master Gardener Chapter featuring their Children’s Learning Garden
• Heroes to Hives including a Slovenian honey tasting
• MU Fire and Rescue Training Institute highlighting the Virtual Reality Enhanced Fire and Rescue Training Simulator
• Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention
• Missouri Afterschool Network’s STEM Mobile Lab
• MU Extension Family Nutrition Education Program cooking demonstrations

Free parking will be available at Jefferson Farm as well as shuttle transportation from central campus. This event is open to the public and there is no need to pre-register.

This month we recognize the following faculty and staff members for their years of service to Mizzou!

• Morgan Davis, assistant professor, School of Natural Resources, celebrated five years of service June 1.
• Kelly Nelson, professor and state extension specialist, agronomy, Division of Plant Science and Technology/Northern Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center, celebrated 25 years of service June 1.
• Pavel Somavat, assistant professor, Division of Food, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, celebrated five years of service June 1.
• Joanna Whittier, assistant research professor, School of Natural Resources, celebrated 15 years of service June 7.
• Dan Downing, extension specialist, water quality, Division of Plant Science and Technology, celebrated 40 years of service June 10.
• Jefferson de Oliveira Barizon, senior research specialist, Division of Plant Science and Technology, celebrated five years of service June 22.
• Sarah Grubaugh, business support specialist II, Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center, celebrated 40 years of service June 24.
• Cinda Mason, office support assistant IV, Division of Animal Sciences, celebrated 25 years of service June 25.
• David Braun, professor and director of the Interdisciplinary Plant Group, Division of Plant Science and Technology, celebrated 15 years of service July 1.
• Michelle Brimecombe, assistant teaching professor, School of Natural Resources, celebrated five years of service July 1.
• Jon Simonsen, professor and program director, agricultural education and leadership, Division of Applied Social Sciences, celebrated 15 years of service July 1.
• Heng Ye, senior research scientist, Division of Plant Science and Technology, celebrated 10 years of service July 6.
• Stephen Anderson, Albrecht Distinguished Professor of Soil and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Resources, celebrated 40 years of service July 15.
• Gregory Portwood, farm worker III, Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center, celebrated five years of service July 27.