Abby Loesing, an agricultural education major, was named Outstanding Sophomore at CAFNR’s 2023 Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony, held Tuesday, April 11. 

 Loesing is a CAFNR Ambassador and member of Sigma Alpha. She is also part of the Agriculture Education Society, where she serves as part of the executive team.  

 Loesing spent her first semester at Mizzou working for Tiger Garden, Mizzou’s student-run floral shop. She was an events associate where she planned, coordinated and assisted with delivery, set up and pick up of event pieces.  

 This year, Loesing is serving as a research assistant for Rebecca Mott, an assistant teaching professor in the Division of Applied Social Sciences. Loesing is working with the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center, which is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture. She assists in analyzing data and is conducting a content analysis of resources created by the 12 states involved in the project. This summer, she will intern with the Missouri Corn Growers Association, an experience that was made possible by Loesing attending CAFNR’s Career Fair. 

 “I first met Abby when she came to learn more about the agricultural education program here at Mizzou last spring,” Mott said. “I was immediately impressed by her maturity, her communication skills and her academic record. I was thrilled when I learned that Abby would be attending MU in the fall. It has been a pleasure to watch her find her home at Mizzou. I look forward to watching Abby take advantage of other RISE experiences in the upcoming years. She is off to a fantastic start, and I know there will be more to come!”