Stories

girl with short blonde hair and glasses in a blue and white gingham shirt standing in a field of sunflowers

Nov. 29, 2021

Q&A With Emma Critchfield

Critchfield is a junior in plant sciences.
Through his job with MFA Incorporated, Charlie Ebbesmeyer helps producers improve their crop health and growth. He meets with growers in the offseason to build plans for the upcoming growing season and then makes in-season fertility and chemical recommendations based off of the plans. His goal is to make sure the grower’s crop reaches its full potential. Photo courtesy of Charlie Ebbesmeyer.

Nov. 29, 2021

Plant Sciences Degree Helps CAFNR Alum Connect with Producers

Charlie Ebbesmeyer puts his plant sciences degree to use each day through his job with MFA Incorporated.
Each November, the University of Missouri Equine Teaching Facility, part of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Division of Animal Sciences, offers a select group of horses for sale. All of the proceeds from the sale benefit the MU Equine Program, as well as support student activities at the facility. In preparation for the sale, the program will offer a horse sale preview and silent auction from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6, at the facility (4400 E. New Haven Road) in Columbia, Mo.

Nov. 1, 2021

Supporting Student Activities

female students training a young bay horse, desensitizing it by tossing a blue ball over the horse
As part of the CAFNR Experience, undergraduate students in the College have the opportunity to gain real-world skills through hands-on learning. Those experiences are especially true in the Team and Organizational Leadership course (AG_ED_LD 2260) within the agricultural education degree program. Along with important team-building exercises, students enrolled in the course participate in an important service learning component.

Oct. 26, 2021

Succeeding in a Team Setting

As part of the CAFNR Experience, undergraduate students in the College have the opportunity to gain real-world skills through hands-on learning. Those experiences are especially true in the Team and Organizational Leadership course (AG_ED_LD 2260) within the agricultural education degree program. Along with team-building exercises, students enrolled in the course participate in an important service learning component. Service learning is a key part of the RISE Initiative, part of the CAFNR Strategic Plan, and is defined by campus as experience-based learning that promotes lifelong commitment to social responsibility and public service. “Employers obviously understand the value of having employees…

Oct. 26, 2021

Q&A With Rylee Page

Page is a senior in personal financial planning.
Zach Duncan’s time in CAFNR was highlighted by numerous hands-on learning opportunities, including the Loewenberg Beef Cattle Management Internship during his junior year. That position was focused on cattle herd management, where Duncan and four other CAFNR students handled the day-to-day operations of a Salers herd donated by Bruce Loewenberg. Duncan also had a summer internship in 2017 at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center.Photo courtesy of Zach Duncan.

Oct. 26, 2021

Preparing for the Next Step

Zach Duncan's time in CAFNR helped equip him for graduate school.

Sep. 28, 2021

Q&A With Caitlyn Allen

Why did you decide to come to the University of Missouri and major in parks, recreation and sport? What do you enjoy about the program itself? The field of study? My decision to come to Mizzou was originally because of the journalism school. However, shortly into my freshman year I decided to look into CAFNR’s sport management program to supplement my journalism degree. After taking a couple of classes in the sport management program, I knew this was where I belonged. What I love most about this program is how intent the courses are in teaching you to go out…
Mason Ward’s extraordinary research portfolio has earned him two undergraduate research awards from the Entomological Society of America (ESA). Ward earned the Undergraduate Student Achievement in Entomology award from the Plant-Insect Ecosystem (P-IE) section of the ESA, as well as the BioQuip Products Undergraduate Scholarship from the Systematics, Evolution and Biodiversity (SysEB) section.

Sep. 28, 2021

Taking a Chance

As a freshman, Mason Ward took a chance and applied to the Freshman Research in Plants (FRIPS) Program with the thought that he would give research a try. Ward wasn’t sure if research would be a major part of his collegiate career, but figured by pushing himself he would certainly learn something new. Now, three years later, Ward’s extraordinary research portfolio has earned him two undergraduate research awards from the Entomological Society of America (ESA). Ward earned the Undergraduate Student Achievement in Entomology award from the Plant-Insect Ecosystem (P-IE) section of the ESA, as well as the…
Growing up in a town of less than 300 people, Elizabeth Gunter’s graduating class at DeKalb High School consisted of just 15 students. Coming to the University of Missouri, with enrollment above 30,000 students, was a big change of pace. The MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) made that change much easier. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gunter.

Sep. 28, 2021

Feeling Right at Home

Growing up in a town of less than 300 people, Elizabeth Gunter’s graduating class at DeKalb High School consisted of just 15 students. Coming to the University of Missouri, with enrollment above 30,000 students, was a big change of pace. The MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) made that change much easier. “It was definitely a little intimidating being in a lecture hall with more people in it than my entire town,” Gunter said. “However, through CAFNR I was able to meet so many students who had that same rural background who felt the same way. Having…
CAFNR’s most recent partnership with Agriculture Education on the Move is the College’s biggest yet, and brought more than 50 Missouri high school FFA students to the Mizzou campus for a one-day curriculum training. CAFNR students led the training and are pictured, from left to right: Evan Davidson, Lauren Quinlan, Elizabeth Brooks, Hattie Grisham and Reagan Limbach.

Sep. 16, 2021

Agriculture Education on the Move

Agriculture Education on the Move (AEOTM), a program of Missouri Farmers Care, began in 2011 as a way to bring free, hands-on agriculture education to third and fourth grade students throughout the state. John Tummons, an assistant teaching professor of agricultural education and leadership in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Division of Applied Social Sciences (DASS), has been involved in the program since 2014. Tummons has partnered with the program in a variety of ways, including serving as a curriculum advisor. A total of five CAFNR students led the discussions throughout…