Stories

May 2, 2021

Al Kennett Honored With True Tiger Volunteer Award From CAFNR Alumni Association

Al Kennett, New London, Mo., has received the 2021 True Tiger Award, given each spring by the CAFNR Alumni Association.

May 2, 2021

Stacey Follis Honored With Past President Award from CAFNR Alumni Association

Stacey Follis has been honored with the 2021 Past President Award from the CAFNR Alumni Association. Follis graduated from Mizzou’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources with a BS in General Agriculture and a minor in Animal Science in 1998, and an MS in Animal Science-Reproductive Physiology in 2000. She is in veterinary medicine research and development for Zoetis. While at Mizzou, Follis was involved in Ag Ambassadors, Student Council, Independent Aggies and Block and Bridle. Follis has served on the St. Francois County Extension Council and is president of the Parkland Area Tigers chapter of the Mizzou Alumni…

May 2, 2021

Carol Swaim Receives Haynes Distinguished Service Award from the CAFNR Alumni Association

Carol Swaim, administrative assistant, Agricultural Education and Leadership program, has been named the recipient of the 2021 Dana Brown Haynes Distinguished Service Award, given by the CAFNR Alumni Association each spring. Swaim has been part of the Agricultural Education and Leadership team for 16 years, and at Mizzou for 27 years. She is a three-time recipient of the CAFNR Staff Advisory Council’s Above and Beyond award (2009, 2013 and 2018). In 2015 she received an Honorary State FFA Degree – the highest degree presented by the Missouri FFA Association to individuals for their dedication to furthering agricultural education and FFA.

April 29, 2021

Bissonnette Receives Faces of the Future Award from American Phytopathological Society

Kaitlyn Bissonnette, assistant Extension professor, plant sciences, has been awarded the Schroth Faces of the Future award from the American Phytopathological Society for her work in applied nematology and Extension nematology. This award is given to forward-thinking scientists within 10 years of earning their PhD who are perceived to be future leaders in the field. Bissonnette coordinates a regional applied nematology project exploring the impacts of soybean cyst nematode (SCN) seed treatments on SCN reproduction and soybean yield across more than 12 US states and one Canadian province. This includes research at four MU research stations. In addition to building…

April 6, 2021

CAFNR Announces Dissertation Research Improvement Grantees

The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Office of Research recently announced its inaugural award winners of the CAFNR Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (C-DRIG). Each grant is worth up to $2,000 to support or partially support dissertation research projects proposed by doctoral students in the College. Proposals were evaluated by the CAFNR Research Council, an advisory body that advises the CAFNR Office of Research and is made up of representatives from each division in the College. Student: Pawan Basnet (Plant, Insect and Microbial Sciences) Advisor: Andrew Scaboo (Assistant Professor, Division of Plant Sciences) Development…

March 16, 2021

Pengyin Chen Honored with American Soybean Association Pinnacle Award

Pengyin Chen, who holds the David M. Haggard Endowed Professorship in Soybean Breeding at the Fisher Delta Research Center, recently received the American Soybean Association’s (ASA) Pinnacle Award, the ASA’s highest honor. Chen was honored during the ASA Awards Program virtual broadcast on Tuesday, March 16. The Pinnacle Award provides industry-wide recognition of individuals who have demonstrated lifetime contribution and exemplary long-time leadership within the soybean family and industry. Chen joined the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) in 2016. He does a variety of research at the Fisher Delta Research Center, located…

Jan. 31, 2021

Cheryl Recker Receives CAFNR Above & Beyond Award

Cheryl Recker, senior research and lab technician at Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center, was the January 2021 recipient of the Above and Beyond Award from CAFNR Staff Advisory Council. This award recognizes staff who have gone the extra mile in their jobs. She was nominated by Sarah Lovell, associate professor, School of Natural Resources.

Jan. 26, 2021

Roberts, Spencer Named Society for the Study of Reproduction Distinguished Fellows

Two University of Missouri faculty were among 15 individuals recently named Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) Distinguished Fellows. R. Michael Roberts, Chancellor’s Professor with appointments in animal sciences and biochemistry, and Thomas Spencer, Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Animal Sciences, were both honored. This is the inaugural year of the program. From the SSR press release about the Distinguished Fellowship honor: The SSR Distinguished Fellowship is one of the highest professional scientific honors awarded for outstanding contributions to the scientific discipline of reproductive biology. The SSR Distinguished Fellowship recognizes the impact of active SSR members and their outstanding contributions…

Dec. 15, 2020

CAFNR Office of Research Recognizes Drivers of Distinction

The CAFNR Office of Research recently recognized 10 faculty members as Drivers of Distinction. The honor was given to the faculty members, listed below, who had the highest total shared credit research expenditures over the past 10 years (2011-20). David Diamond – director, Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership (School of Natural Resources) Felix Fritschi – C. Alice Donaldson Professor in Bioenergy Crop Physiology and Genetics (Division of Plant Sciences) Shibu Jose – associate dean, CAFNR Office of Research; professor (School of Natural Resources) Henry Nguyen – professor (Division of Plant Sciences) Craig Paukert – cooperative professor (School of Natural Resources) Randy…

Dec. 13, 2020

Seth Meyer Named USDA Chief Economist

Seth Meyer, associate director of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) and research professor, Division of Applied Social Sciences (DASS), has been named the USDA’s Chief Economist. Meyer plans to take an extended research leave from DASS to serve in this new role, which he will begin in January 2021. The Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) is the focal point for economic and policy-related research and analysis for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. OCE aims to inform public and private decision makers by providing unbiased information and data-driven analyses of current and emerging issues impacting agriculture, according…