Stories

Justin Sykes, a senior parks, recreation, sport and tourism major, has been interning with the softball team for two years and was recently hired as its first director of player development, a position he will officially begin when he earns his degree in August. Photo courtesy of Justin Sykes.

March 29, 2023

Bleeding Black and Gold

Justin Sykes grew up donning the black and gold at numerous University of Missouri athletic events. Soon, Sykes will be sporting Mizzou colors as an official staff member of the softball team. Sykes has been interning with the softball team for two years and was recently hired as its first director of player development, a position he will officially begin when he earns his degree in August. “It’s very exciting, obviously,” said Sykes, a senior parks, recreation, sport and tourism (PRST) major from Kearney, Mo. “I’ve always loved statistics and analytics, so to be able to dive into those numbers…
Team with award

March 27, 2023

Mizzou Academic Quadrathlon Team Takes Top Honors

The University of Missouri Academic Quadrathlon team took home first place during the 2023 American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Midwest Academic Quadrathlon competition. The event took place during the Midwest Section annual meeting, which was held in mid-March in Madison, Wis. The Quadrathlon competition consists of a laboratory practicum, written exam, oral presentation and quiz bowl. The team will now represent MU at the National American Society of Animal Science in July. The team includes: Catriona Chew, senior, animal sciences Caleigh Grote, senior, animal sciences Alexia Sweiger, senior, animal sciences Aliyah Luntsford, senior, animal sciences…

March 25, 2023

2023 AFA Institute Selections Include Several CAFNR Students

Several CAFNR students were recently chosen as 2023 Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Animal Institute and Food Institute selections. AFA experiences connect students to a diverse community of peers and professionals who are passionate about food and agriculture. The goal of the experiences is to challenge the way students think about themselves, their potential career and the agriculture industry. 2023 AFA Animal Institute Selections: Addison Anna Brisbane, sophomore, agriculture Caitlyn Kleffner, junior, animal sciences Emily Popa, sophomore, animal sciences Aleece Thornhill, junior animal sciences Tanner Tipton, junior, animal sciences 2023 AFA Food Institute Selections: Halley Blades, senior, food science and…
Shari Freyermuth is an academic advisor for students in the biochemistry degree program.

March 25, 2023

CAFNR Advisor Spotlight: Shari Freyermuth

Shari Freyermuth is an academic advisor for students in the biochemistry degree program. How rewarding is it to work with students in the biochemistry degree program? I love working with biochemistry students. They are driven to do well and they want to make a difference both now and in their future careers. I’m amazed at how much studying, activities and work many of them can pack into one day! How do you assist those students throughout their academic journey? I work with students to make sure their schedules work, and we often plan ahead for all four years. They…

March 22, 2023

Blooms Like it Hot. But, Also, Cold?

Rebecca North, assistant professor of water quality in CAFNR’s School of Natural Resources, learned and lived by a paradigm commonly accepted among limnologists around the world — “blooms like it hot” – meaning that water temperatures must be warm for algae blooms to develop. But, a recently published study co-authored by North could dismantle this long-held belief. “You only take on big ideas – when you seek to take down paradigms – when you have collaborators from all over the world,” North said of the study team that consisted of researchers from multiple countries including the U.S., Canada and Germany.
Sarah is posing for a photo in front of a tree in the woods.

March 20, 2023

Q&A with Sarah Kenyon

What do you do in your current role with the University of Missouri? I am a field specialist in agronomy serving six counties in the southwest region. Based in West Plains, Missouri, I conduct educational programs for producers in forage production and management. I also participate with local farmer cooperators with on-farm demonstrations concerning grazing management, weed control and fertility management. How long have you worked in this position? I started in November 2009, so I have been in this role for over 13 years. What is your favorite part about the work you do? I enjoy working with farmers…
two blond, pre-school-aged girls sit beside a pond with fishing poles. They are wearing denim dresses and pink muck boots.

March 20, 2023

MU Announces New Institute of Fisheries, Wetlands and Aquatic Systems

Through a partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation (MCHF), the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources made a joint announcement featuring the launch of its new Institute of Fisheries, Wetlands and Aquatic Systems today. “Clean water and healthy aquatic systems are vital for our global future,” said Mun Choi, University of Missouri president. “This Institute will be a crucial resource for citizens, government entities and private industries committed to this mission in the years to come, and MU is proud to be a driving force in that mission…
A woman stands outside next to her cattle operation. The sky is great and it looks windy.

March 17, 2023

Annie’s Project empowered Marion County farmer Amy Lehenbauer

Annie’s Project, a program offered by University of Missouri Extension for two decades, gave Amy Lehenbauer the confidence she needed to become active in the family farm. Lehenbauer is one of more than 19,000 women across the nation who completed the program during the past 20 years, says MU Extension agriculture business specialist Karisha Devlin. The program celebrates two decades of helping women in agriculture gain skills in leadership, business and estate planning, self-defense and self-care. “Annie’s Project educates and empowers women in agriculture and encourages them in whatever role they choose to have in their farming operations,” says Devlin.

March 13, 2023

Mid-Career Research Development Program Accepts Hospitality Management Faculty

Pei Liu, associate professor of hospitality management, was accepted into Mizzou’s Mid-Career Research Development Fellows Program for a two-year term beginning fall 2023. This is a partnership program between the Office of the Provost and the Office of Research, Innovation, and Impact. It is designed to provide research development opportunities to post-tenure/mid-career faculty prior to promotion to full professor. Selected faculty participate in workshops and career-building events that focus on research support including topics of balancing service commitments, engaging in collaborative work, understanding promotion criteria, and other topics of concern to mid-career faculty.

March 13, 2023

Hospitality Management Professor Receives Fullbright Award

Dae-Young Kim, professor of hospitality management, was selected by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board as an award recipient for 2023-24. Kim is a Fulbright U.S. Senior Scholar for the upcoming academic year. He will use his scholarship to teach and conduct research on sustainable tourism in Las Palmas, Spain, for five months. The Fullbright program provides awards to approximately 8,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals each year from the United States and 160 countries. Fulbright is unique in its binationalism and noted for its merit-based selection process and academic prestige. Fulbright alumni from the United States and around the…