Student Success

Woodland & Floral Garden, Parents Weekend, fall 1979

July 31, 2020

History in Bloom

Successful efforts by a handful of energetic horticulture students in the late 1970s led to the planning and execution of an ambitious garden project located next to MU’s Agriculture Building. The space was dedicated as the Woodland and Floral Gardens in April 1980. A public celebration to mark the garden’s 40th anniversary and rededicate what remains of the original landscape as the Missouri Woodland Garden was scheduled to be held April 2020, but has been postponed until further notice. Left to right: Kevin Karel and Bill Ruppert, the horticulture students who worked to design and build the Woodland & Floral…
The Mizzou National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) team recently had several members earn awards and scholarships during the 2020 NAMA Student Marketing Competition and Conference. This photo was taken in early March while the Mizzou NAMA team pitched its product to the MoKan NAMA Chapter and networked with the K-State NAMA team. Photo courtesy of the Mizzou NAMA team.

June 30, 2020

Deserved Recognition

While the in-person version of the 2020 National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Student Marketing Competition and Conference was cancelled, several members of the Mizzou NAMA team still earned awards and scholarships via an online version in late spring. The Mizzou NAMA team was one of six teams to win recognition for its written executive summary for the Student Executive Summary Competition. Within that competition, students develop a business proposition with a service description that includes a strategy statement, as well as goals, objectives and assumptions. The team conducts a market analysis, while looking at trends and potential. They also put…
Michaela Thomson (left) and Devesh Kumar were two of four Mizzou ‘39 Award recipients in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.

June 22, 2020

An Outstanding Recognition

Each year, the Mizzou Alumni Association Student Board selects 39 outstanding seniors for its annual Mizzou ‘39 Award. Mizzou ‘39 recipients are chosen for their academic achievement, leadership and service to Mizzou and the community. In the spirit of service that was the cornerstone of the 1839 founding of the University of Missouri, the award is presented each spring. This year, the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources had four students receive the Mizzou ‘39 Award, two within the Department of Biochemistry –  Devesh Kumar and Michaela Thomson. Devesh Kumar As a Columbia native, Kumar knew all that…
CONGRATS to our Mizzou Grads 2020

May 16, 2020

CAFNR Congrats: 20 Words or More for our 2020 Graduates

“You will shape the world in a whole new way with your epic 2020 insights and Tiger resiliency and pride — no matter where you land. ROAR FIERCELY!” — Mary Simon Leuci, BS ’77, faculty/staff “You’ve earned your stripes. Now go forth and embrace them and show them off to the world.” — Madison Byrd, BS Science & Agricultural Journalism ’18 “Stay a life long learner. Seek to learn something from every person and every situation. Learn about yourself, your community, your industry, your family and friends. Ask questions and really listen to the answers.” — Robin Wenneker, BSBA ’91,…

May 14, 2020

CAFNR Outstanding Senior: Natalie Ayers

It was pretty much a given where Natalie Ayers was going to get her degree after she graduated high school. Ayers’ parents both earned degrees from the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). Ayers knew she was going to be a Tiger one day, too, just like her parents. “I had attended countless events on the University of Missouri campus as a child, and there are too many family photos in front of the historic Academic Hall columns to count,” Ayers said. “MU was actually the only university I applied to because my decision to…

May 14, 2020

CAFNR Outstanding Senior: Caleb Quinlan

Growing up on his family’s farm, Caleb Quinlan developed a passion for agriculture and drive for success. That passion and drive only became stronger when Quinlan joined the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) four years ago. Now, celebrating his senior year and nearing graduation, Quinlan is planning on taking that passion and drive into the workforce. “My experience on my family’s farm operation allowed me to develop that initial passion for agriculture and drive for success in my life,” said Quinlan, a plant sciences major. “It also allowed me to understand the value of…

May 13, 2020

CAFNR Outstanding Junior: Jacob Blank

Jacob Blank didn’t realize it at the time, but coming to the University of Missouri would open his eyes in ways he would have never believed. Originally, Blank was attending MU out of necessity – as Mizzou features a strong veterinary school and Blank was interested in obtaining a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM). Once Blank got more involved in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), he felt a new inspiration. “In all honesty, my personal decision to attend Mizzou was truly unbeknown to me until I started participating more frequently in CAFNR,” Blank…

May 12, 2020

CAFNR Outstanding Sophomore: Lauren Quinlan

Hands-on learning opportunities are a key part of the CAFNR Experience. Those opportunities showcase the uniqueness of the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, and include student-run retail, competitive judging teams, research labs and policy centers. For Lauren Quinlan, these types of opportunities are exactly why she chose CAFNR. She has worked with Tiger Garden, the full-service floral shop ran by MU students, for the past year. “Hands-on experience is truly the backbone of CAFNR,” Quinlan said. “I am a very hands-on learner, so I thrive off of the opportunities to apply what I have learned…

May 11, 2020

CAFNR Outstanding Freshman: Kensie Darst

Kensie Darst’s best advice to high school students gearing up for their first semester of college may be common encouragement, but it’s held true for her – don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Darst, from Aurora, Mo., followed her own advice when she made the decision to step foot on the University of Missouri campus this past fall. “Being from a small, rural community in southwest Missouri, it is difficult for many graduating high school seniors to want to attend a college that seems to host more students than our own town’s population,” Darst said. “Making…
Harly Durbin came to the University of Missouri as graduate research assistants in 2016 to work with Jared Decker on a $2 million grant that he earned in 2015. Durbin’s part of the project has been focused on data collection and organization related to hair shedding. Hair shedding is incredibly important for cattle, as removing that coat as the weather warms helps regulate temperature and keeps the cow cooler.

May 6, 2020

Making the Cut

In 2015, Jared Decker, an associate professor in the Division of Animal Sciences and state beef Extension specialist, received a $3 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture focused on matching cattle to their best environments so producers can make educated decisions about which animals are going to be most productive for them. Harly Durbin and Troy Rowan (research highlighted here) came to the University of Missouri as graduate research assistants in 2016 to work with Decker on the grant. Durbin’s part of the project has been focused on data collection and organization related to hair shedding. Hair…