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Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center hosts 2026 Career Exploration and Public Field Day

Attendees to hear from specialists about research on beef, forage and horticultural crop production.

Written by Alex Naughton

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Numerous students attended the Southwest Research Center Career Exploration Day in September. The event allows high school students to get a glimpse of the possible careers in agriculture and natural resources. Photo courtesy of David Cope.

The University of Missouri’s Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center (SW-REEC) will host its annual Career Exploration and Public Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 17.

The event will bring FFA students, agricultural producers and members of the public to the research farm — located just a few miles southwest of Mt. Vernon, Missouri — to learn about career opportunities in the Missouri agricultural industry and the research conducted at the REEC.

“Field Day is so important because it shows the diversity of southwest Missouri agriculture. Diversification is the strength of the area,” SW-REEC Director Jay Chism said. “We have a strong economy and a strong agricultural industry down here. Field Day gives people a chance to see that. It’s also a great opportunity for people to hear directly from researchers about what they want to share. That interaction is a big part of what these events are for.”

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., attendees will have the opportunity to hear from researchers, extension specialists, regional faculty, vendors and sponsors about a range of agricultural topics. Participants can explore 50 different stops with presentations, while representatives from the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ degree programs showcase their fields of study in the REEC’s Education Center.

Wagon tours will begin at 11 a.m. Presentations are expected to last about 15 minutes each.

Food will be available for purchase from several local organizations, including Schreiber Foods — who is also bringing volunteers to help run the Field Day — and the Southwest Missouri Cattleman’s Association. The Cattleman’s Association will cook and sell steak sandwiches, with proceeds going back to the REEC.

The SW-REEC, part of the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, was established in 1959 and serves 22 counties in southwest Missouri. There, researchers focus their work on topics relevant to local producers, including beef genetics, nutrition and management systems, horticultural and alternative crop research and forage systems.