Allie Lock, an agribusiness management major with an emphasis in public policy, recently received CAFNR’s Outstanding Senior Award.

Lock, from Carrollton, Mo., has served as president of MU’s chapter of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA), vice president of the Sigma Alpha – Alpha Chi Chapter and the professional development chair for MU Phi Alpha Delta. Lock has been part of a handful of professional publications and served for two years as a research intern with the Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute (FAPRI), one of CAFNR’s Programs of Distinction.

“Whether it be in extracurriculars or throughout her academic career, Allie has continuously excelled in everything that she has put her mind to,” said Annette Kendall, director for the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and assistant teaching professor in the Trulaske College of Business. “Allie’s innovative thinking has had an inspirational impact on the people around her. In the Fall of 2019, she organized and hosted a successful Women in Entrepreneurship event on campus, and as president of the NAMA team, Allie has worked hard to grow membership from the six original members to more than 20 active members, who are highly engaged. These are just two examples of her work that demonstrate her strong leadership skills and ability to engage her peers in outside activities and programs through facilitating hands-on learning opportunities for them.”

Along with her campus involvement, Lock has been an intern with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, The Giddens Group, the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association and the office of Congressman Emanuel Cleaver.

“While working at the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Allie has never been afraid to step up to any task we have given her,” added Mike Deering, executive vice president of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. “Whether it is day-to-day administrative tasks, or attending fundraisers for political candidates we endorse, we know we can trust Allie to represent the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association to the highest degree possible. Throughout my time as executive director of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, we have never had an intern bring in a new program, until Allie. Through her own initiative, she identified the need for more collegiate programs and proposed the first ever Collegiate Cattlemen’s Showdown, a debate style event that focuses on agricultural issues. Allie was put wholly in charge of making this event a reality, and she did so with flying colors.

“After months of hard work, she was not only able to bring this event to life, but she also made it a great success. Due to its popularity, we plan to make this a reoccurring event at our annual convention and trade show and one of the top programs for our collegiate chapters across the state to participate in.”