Stories

G.B. Thompson, far right in the back row, served as the University of Missouri Livestock Judging team coach for 10 years. Photo courtesy of George Jesse.

May 6, 2020

Reflections: G.B. Thompson

When I was in grade school in Pettis County (Quisenberry Grade School), there was a World Book Encyclopedia with a chapter on animals in it. I practically wore that chapter in the book out I read it so often. I had a passion for animals incredibly early. I just loved to be around livestock. I grew up on a dairy farm, where we also raised hogs and sheep. I got involved in 4-H at a young age and was part of the 4-H livestock judging team right away. J.U. Morris was our county Extension agent and coached the livestock judging…
Tawnie DeJong, pictured on far left, served as an assistant livestock judging coach at Michigan State University during the 2018-19 academic year and was the head coach during the Fall 2019 season. Photo courtesy of Tawnie DeJong.

May 6, 2020

A Dream Job

Since she was a toddler, Tawnie DeJong has been studying what separates a superior specimen of livestock from one just a little less impressive. Tawnie DeJong Livestock judging has been a mainstay in DeJong’s life since she began judging cattle in 4-H. She continued to judge through FFA in high school and joined the livestock judging team at South Dakota State University (SDSU) during her junior year. DeJong has gained a deeper passion for judging recently, too, as she finishes her master’s degree at Michigan State University (MSU). DeJong has served as an assistant and head livestock judging coach at…
A lot has changed in the 56 years that Eldon Cole has served as a University of Missouri Extension specialist, but one thing has remained incredibly consistent – Cole’s desire to build relationships with the Missourians he continually serves.

May 6, 2020

A Consistent Presence

A lot has changed in the 56 years that Eldon Cole has served as a University of Missouri Extension specialist, but one thing has remained incredibly consistent – Cole’s desire to build relationships with the Missourians he continually serves. While it’s hard to imagine MU Extension in Lawrence County without Cole, his career path nearly looked much different. As a child, Cole was planning on running the family farm in Potosi, Mo. There was a major roadblock in that plan, though – his dad sold the farm while Cole was still in grade school. Cole earned his bachelor’s degree in…
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…
Clay Haynes and Truman

May 6, 2020

Clay Haynes Named Honorary Member of the CAFNR Alumni Association

Clay Haynes, Engineering Manager for Black & Veatch, has been named a 2020 honorary member of the CAFNR Alumni Association. Haynes is the husband of Dana Brown Haynes, retired CAFNR Director of Alumni Relations. Over the years, Haynes helped with many of the CAFNR Alumni Association’s events and activities, including the CAFNR Week Bonfire, Tiger Classic Golf Tournament and Steak Fry, Alumni Gathering at the Missouri State Fair, out-state alumni events, and the CAFNR Unlimited Banquet and Auctions, where he helped with auction item transport and assembly (including numerous pedal tractors and a windmill!), in addition to clean up and…
David Janish

May 6, 2020

David Janish Named Honorary Member of the CAFNR Alumni Association

David Janish, CEO of FCS Financial, has been named a 2020 Honorary Member of the CAFNR Alumni Association. Since taking this position in 2013, Janish has immersed himself in the agriculture, civic and Mizzou communities. He is a member of the CAFNR Foundation board and has served on the investments and marketing committees. He is part of the CAFNR Vice Chancellor and Dean’s leadership cabinet and the Food, Beverage and Forest Products Manufacturing Initiative, a Grand Idea in the college’s strategic plan. Janish informs the college what skills and experiences his industry is seeking as CAFNR evaluates how to adapt…
In November, Everett Forkner will join the giants of the livestock industry as the 2020 inductee to the Saddle & Sirloin portrait gallery. Forker (middle) is pictured here with CAFNR Vice Chancellor and Dean Christopher Daubert (left) and Division of Animal Sciences Director Bill Lamberson.

May 5, 2020

Livestock Legacy

As a student in the then-College of Agriculture at the University of Missouri in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, Everett Forkner was able to attend an international competition in Chicago as part of the Mizzou livestock judging team. There he saw the Saddle & Sirloin portrait gallery for the first time. Forkner is pictured here with his family. Photo courtesy Everett Forkner. “I was really impressed,” Forkner said of seeing the great line of portraits. “Never in my wildest imagination would I have ever thought that my portrait could be hung with that group of people.” In November, Forkner…
Four CAFNR students were selected as recipients of the MU Award for Academic Distinction.

May 5, 2020

An Academic Honor

Propelled by two of MU’s values, discovery and excellence, four CAFNR students have received the 2020 University of Missouri Award for Academic Distinction. Undergraduate students who excel at contributing to MU’s academic atmosphere are recognized with the award. CAFNR seniors Cole Diggins, Kody Jones, Paxton Kostos and Stephanie Scott were among the 15 students selected for the campus-wide honor. Criteria for the award includes evidence of extraordinary intellectual curiosity, actively seeking knowledge beyond the classroom and striving to share that knowledge with others for a broader impact. Cole Diggins – Soil, Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences As a member…
Kate Geppert

May 5, 2020

Kate Geppert Receives True Tiger Volunteer Award From CAFNR Alumni Association

Kate Geppert, a 1989 graduate of CAFNR with a BS in Ag Journalism, has received the 2020 True Tiger Volunteer Award from the CAFNR Alumni Association. Geppert has served as President of the Association’s Board of Directors, and has chaired and co-chaired the CAFNR Unlimited banquet and fundraising auctions. For 15 years, she has helped develop, design and write the Unlimited sale catalog. She also has been involved in the dairy program at Mizzou, serving as a dairy judging coach and volunteer with the Dairy Hall of Honors. Geppert is a past President of the National Holstein Women’s Scholarship Board…
Laura Hertel

May 5, 2020

Laura Hertel Honored with Haynes Distinguished Service Award from the CAFNR Alumni Association

Laura Hertel, Senior Coordinator of Student Services, School of Natural Resources, has been honored with the 2020 Dana Brown Haynes Distinguished Service Award from the CAFNR Alumni Association. Hertel, who earned her bachelor’s in Communications and Elementary Education from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, has been part of the School of Natural Resources at the University of Missouri since 1992, currently serving as Senior Coordinator of Student Services. She also instructs a course on College Success in SNR. She established the Natural Resources Alumni Organization, coordinates the annual Trivia in the Wild Scholarship Fundraiser and established the annual new student breakfast.