Each year, three University of Missouri students are selected to serve as Homecoming tri-directors. It’s a role that takes dedication, passion and talent, as each tri-director oversees events related to service, tradition and celebration.
Two CAFNR students are at the helm of the 2026 Homecoming celebrations as tri-directors: Blake Ford, a senior studying agricultural systems technology, and Owen Reynolds, a junior studying agribusiness management.
“The fact that two of us, out of the three, are CAFNR students just shows that CAFNR is putting the best foot forward in all they do,” Ford said.
The head and the heart of Homecoming
Each tri-director oversees three of the nine Homecoming committees made up of steering committee members. Ford oversees the parade committee, traditions committee and special events.
“My favorite part about leading the Homecoming effort is just being able to see the Mizzou community come together,” Ford said.
Reynolds oversees the service committee, public relations committee and campus decorations committee. One of his major responsibilities was leading Tiger Food Fight, a campus-wide food drive benefitting the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri and Tiger Pantry.
“I was on service committee last year as a steering committee member, so this has been very full circle,” Reynolds said. “It’s been really fun to step out of that role and into the person who gets to oversee it all and delegate tasks.”
Mizzou students donated thousands of canned goods during the event on Sept.18. Reynolds’ job was to ensure the cans were properly sorted, organized and packed.
“Learning how to properly delegate, explain and communicate has pushed me to grow my communication ability and the ability to direct in a fast-paced environment like this,” Reynolds said.
Cultivating the skills to succeed
Before assuming the role of tri-director, Reynolds credits his academic experience in CAFNR with preparing him to take on such a high level of responsibility.
“I’ve been very well prepared throughout my courses to be able to take my interpersonal skills and then apply them,” he said. “I’ve taken that here and it’s pushed me to grow and be able to do things like this in a quick timeline and execute.”
Reynolds is grateful to be a part of an academic sector that emphasizes student success through applying communications skills.
“Being under the Division of Applied Social Sciences with my ag business degree and my financial planning certificate, it’s been so nice to be in an area where I’m encouraged to grow in my social ability,” he said. “Communication is what has been key to running this committee and key to Homecoming overall.”
Although Ford’s course of study in agricultural systems technology vastly differs from Reynolds’ business and finance track, he also credits CAFNR with giving him the foundational tools to succeed as a tri-director.
“One of the big things that was stressed to me my freshman year in some of the intro classes I took in CAFNR was time management.” Ford said. “Those skills have translated over to this – preparing me to manage my class load, workflow as well as doing Homecoming activities.”
From the classroom to the community
The success of CAFNR students is often highlighted far beyond the classroom, especially in their involvement with Homecoming.
“CAFNR has been super involved in Homecoming preparations,” Reynolds said. “We have quite a few CAFNR students on this year’s steering committee.”
The presence of CAFNR students in organizations and efforts across campus is one of the reasons Ford takes pride in being a member of the College.
“CAFNR has always been such a big deal here at the university,” he said. “We’re all very well-connected, very supportive of each other.”
Whether it’s academic, social or both, Reynolds believes involvement is key to making the most of the Mizzou experience.
“Always find a way to get involved,” he said. “Involvement to me has been such a huge, huge part of my collegiate career and allowed me to grow in ways I would have never foreseen.”