Stories

One of the more unique CAFNR study abroad opportunities is a summer program in Austria, which allows students to tailor an internship experience to their interest area. The first half of the program, which is offered through Salzburg College, prepares students for the international working environment they will eventually experience during their internship. CAFNR had four students participate in the Austria study abroad program last year – from left to right, Armana Gusewelle, Grayson Alexander, Matt Donzelli and Ellen Phillips. Photo courtesy of Salzburg College.

Feb. 15, 2023

An Exciting Global Partnership

The program served as the second study abroad experience for Phillips, a senior agriculture major. Along with her time at Salzburg College, Phillips spent five weeks living and serving as a farmhand on a diversified livestock farm in a rural town. Photo courtesy of Ellen Phillips. Students interested in study abroad have numerous opportunities to gain international experience through a variety of MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) programs. CAFNR hosts experiences throughout the year and across the globe. One of the more unique opportunities is a summer program in Austria, which allows students to tailor an…
When Kaija Caldwell first arrived at the University of Missouri she wasn’t sure where her interest in animals was going to take her. Caldwell left Mizzou in 2020 with an animal sciences degree and the equine science and management certificate. She had also found a passion for horses. Photo courtesy of Kaija Caldwell.

Feb. 13, 2023

Turning a Passion into a Career

“Horses are my career.” When Kaija Caldwell first arrived at the University of Missouri she wasn’t sure where her interest in animals was going to take her. Caldwell left Mizzou in 2020 with an animal sciences degree and the equine science and management certificate. She had also found a passion for horses. Photo courtesy of Kaija Caldwell. Kaija Caldwell said the words still feel surreal coming out of her mouth. When Caldwell first arrived at the University of Missouri she wasn’t sure where her interest in animals was going to take her. She certainly wasn’t expecting to fall in love…
As part of ensuring student success, the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) offers its students numerous opportunities to connect in meaningful ways with industry professionals. Those interactions come through a variety of programs, from CAFNR-sponsored experiences to degree-specific trips. For example, the Biochemistry Industry Tour included multiple meetings with professionals across the St. Louis area.

Feb. 13, 2023

Endless Educational Opportunities

As part of ensuring student success, the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) offers its students numerous opportunities to connect in meaningful ways with industry professionals. Those interactions come through a variety of programs, from CAFNR-sponsored experiences to degree-specific trips. Recently, CAFNR students met with a variety of professionals through the Agribusiness Career Connections Program, Dickinson Scholars Program and Biochemistry Industry Tour. The Agribusiness Career Connection program is designed to connect CAFNR undergraduates to various agribusinesses located throughout the Midwest. Students hear from businesses and organizations, with a focus on possible internships or future job opportunities. The…
Portrait of Vice Chancellor and Dean Christopher R. Daubert

Feb. 10, 2023

Q and A with Christopher Daubert

As he celebrated his five-year anniversary as dean of the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Christopher Daubert reflected on the college’s biggest accomplishments since 2017 and discusses top priorities moving forward. Q: How does CAFNR research support Missouri’s agriculture industry? A: CAFNR researchers are making discoveries and producing knowledge that help improve the production of Missouri commodities: beef, swine, corn, soybean and poultry. They have paved the way for genetic testing of cattle that can look for the presence of specific adaptions, such as heat resistance. They found zinc is a key regulator of sperm functions during the sperm…
A white man in kaki pants and a white polot-style shirt with a white and grey ball cap stands next to a large piece of farm equipment with an electrocution bar mounted on front.

Feb. 9, 2023

Three CAFNR Researchers Honored by WSSA

Three CAFNR researchers — Haylee Schreier, senior research associate; Mandy Bish, extension specialist; and Kevin Bradley, professor — were recently honored by the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) for their outstanding contributions to the field of weed science. The trio was presented with the Outstanding Paper award during the organization’s 2023 annual meeting. The award-winning paper is The Impact of Electrocution Treatments on Weed Control and Weed Seed Viability in Soybean. It was published in Weed Technology in July.
A collage of two headshots -- David Braun and Deborah Finke

Feb. 8, 2023

CAFNR Faculty Selected to Participate in LEAD21 Program

David Braun, director of the Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG) and professor, plant science & technology and biological sciences; and Deborah Finke, professor and director of undergraduate studies, plant science and technology; were selected as participants in the 19th class of the LEAD21 program, a leadership program aimed at developing leaders in land-grant institutions and their strategic partners who link research, academics and extension for leadership roles at colleges and universities across the nation. LEAD21 provides an immersive professional development program for academic leaders from the land-grant system. Working in regular small groups meetings combined with three week-long immersive sessions, the…
portrait of TaylorAnn Washburn

Feb. 7, 2023

Get to Know TaylorAnn Washburn

What are your job duties/job responsibilities in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources? I am the program manager for the newly formed Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF). In this role, I manage relationships with our collaborators at other land-grant universities, oversee all communications and public relations efforts for the center to gain visibility, and generally keep all our projects on track! I also offer communications and PR assistance to the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI). How long have you worked in CAFNR? I joined CAFNR in May 2022 – just a little over…
Three people stand in front of a wall of live plants. From left to right they are Scott Peck, a white man with glasses and grey hair wearing a black cardigan over a button-up; Antje Heese, a white woman with long, red hair wearing a black jacket; and David Mendoza, a Latino man with dark hair and glasses wearing a black sweater.

Feb. 1, 2023

The Joy of Collaboration

One year ago, a team of plant scientists and biochemists from Mizzou was among faculty awarded the first-ever CAFNR Joy of Discovery Seed Grant funding. Today, that team has parlayed that funding into a $1.25 million National Science Foundation grant that could lead to a deeper understanding of how plant immunity impacts the plant nutrient systems than ever before. The Joy of Discovery program, through the CAFNR Office of Research, aims to provide faculty with funding for interdisciplinary research that will produce preliminary data to make faculty projects more competitive to major funding sources. It provides up to $20,000 for…
A man in glasses and a long-sleeved, pale pink button-up shirt

Feb. 1, 2023

CAFNR Plant Scientist Named AAAS Fellow

In recognition of nearly two decades of work creating rice varieties resistant to certain types of bacteria, Bing Yang, professor of plant sciences, was named as a 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science fellow. “There is so much diversity within the Society, and it is an honor to be among them,” Yang said. “The recognition of my work and my group inspires me to work harder – to do a better job.” The recognition from AAAS did not come without a long list of accomplishments, however. Fueling his work along the way was Yang’s desire to make an…
Memphis Bancroft is in the accelerated master’s program within the food science and nutrition degree program, which allows student’s to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in just five years. Bancroft is a senior, which means she is close to finishing her undergraduate degree while getting a jumpstart on her master’s degree.

Jan. 30, 2023

Finding the Perfect Degree

When Memphis Bancroft made the decision to pursue a food science and nutrition degree at the University of Missouri she didn’t realize the real-world application of what she was studying would be so immediate. When Bancroft chose the degree program her mother was on a very restrictive diet due to a colon cancer diagnosis. “With the effects of surgery we had to find food that fit the bill and wouldn’t cause more issues,” Bancroft said. “Her diet was really tough – she really couldn’t have much fiber, protein or dairy. I was taking what I was learning in the classroom…