Celebrating our newest Mizzou Made graduates! More than 500 students earned their degrees from the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources in May.

I hope everyone is enjoying the quieter campus as we move into the summer months.

After celebrating our outstanding graduates at May Commencement (see photos of the celebration!), since the beginning of June I have:

• Met with Director Chris Chinn, Missouri Department of Agriculture
• Had a luncheon with our administrative team
• Visited with Todd McCubbin, senior executive director of the Mizzou Alumni Association
• Met with newly appointed Provost Matt Martens
• Attended the Farm Bureau Commodity Conference in St. Louis, with Chad Higgins, vice chancellor for extension and engagement
• Participated in the MU Engagement and External Relations working group meeting
• Attended an Institute of Food Technologists virtual meeting

The rest of the month includes time with my family! I am looking forward to vacationing with my wife and sons in Acadia National Park. I hope each of you has plans to rest and rejuvenate this summer.

There is a new face in my office – Connie Sievert has joined the CAFNR Vice Chancellor and Dean team as senior executive assistant. She previously worked in the College of Veterinary Medicine as executive assistant to the chair of the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. Please join me in welcoming Connie, and also in thanking Teresa Davis for her wonderful service to our college and congratulating her on her well-deserved retirement!

CAFNR Proud,

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

A photo gallery of CAFNR happenings

Evans is the manager of Buck's Ice Cream Place.

June includes community celebrations for Juneteenth and Pride Month.

Campus will be closed in celebration of Juneteenth, the national commemoration of the ending of slavery in the U.S., on Wednesday, June 19. Columbia festivities include a parade, various community celebrations, a colored troops memorial and a luncheon. Events run Saturday, June 15, through Thursday, June 20. See more event information at the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau website.

Although Mizzou marks Pride Month in April when more students are on campus, nationally Pride Month is celebrated in June. Local events include a pageant, brunches, trivia and a gala; MidMO Pride Fest will be in September, so college students can join in the celebration.

The 7th Annual Butterfly Festival will be held June 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Jefferson Farm and Garden Extension & Education Center.

Hosted by MU Extension and the Heart of Missouri Master Gardeners, the festival offers a fun day of learning about the importance of pollinators. This event is free and open to the public. Comfortable clothes and shoes are encouraged.

Activities include:

• Native Butterfly House Tours
• Barn Animals
• Food Trucks
• Pop-up Youth Farmers Market
• Kids Crafts
• Face Painting
• Pollinator Information

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

• Shibu Jose, associate dean for research and director of Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, CAFNR Office of Research, celebrated 15 years of service May 5.
• Carson Miller, senior research specialist, Division of Plant Science & Technology, celebrated five years of service May 6.
• Donna Thomas, business support specialist, Central Missouri REEC, celebrated 25 years of service May 10.
• Judy Prevo, senior office support assistant, CAFNR International Programs, celebrated 10 years of service May 12.
• Jennifer Bean, associate teaching professor, Division of Food, Nutrition & Exercise Sciences, celebrated 10 years of service May 15.
• James Beaman, senior research maintenance technician, Division of Animal Sciences, celebrated 25 years of service May 17.
• Sera Chiuchiarelli, senior research associate, Division of Applied Social Sciences, celebrated 10 years of service May 19.
• Eric Aldrich, assistant teaching professor, School of Natural Resources, celebrated 20 years of service May 22.