The George Washington Carver Fellowship for Graduate Studies helps support under-represented scholars in MS and PhD degree programs in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) at the University of Missouri (MU). The assistantship honors George Washington Carver, a native Missourian, who gained international recognition in the early 20th century for his teaching and research in agriculture. For…
Animal sciences ⋅ Page 1
Senior Spotlight: Maria Kemerling
Kemerling will graduate with a degree in animal sciences
Maria Kemerling began cheering in 2010 – and knew she was going to love being on the sidelines as a Mizzou cheerleader when she first stepped on the University of Missouri campus as a freshman in 2017. Now, as Kemerling heads toward graduation, she has numerous game-day experiences at Faurot Field and Mizzou Arena under her belt, as well as…
Reflections: David Patterson
Patterson recounts his journey of beef and genetic research and serving producers through Extension
Bill Lamberson asked me to think back over my years at Mizzou as I transition from “active faculty” to “retiree” status, and share thoughts as to what motivated my efforts during my years in academia. My interest in animal agriculture began with experiences I had growing up on a diversified farming and ranching operation in south central Montana and through…
Reflections: G.B. Thompson
Dr. Thompson shares memories of livestock judging, both as a participant and coach
When I was in grade school in Pettis County (Quisenberry Grade School), there was a World Book Encyclopedia with a chapter on animals in it. I practically wore that chapter in the book out I read it so often. I had a passion for animals incredibly early. I just loved to be around livestock. I grew up on a dairy…
Excellence in Evaluation
Three CAFNR students finish fifth in the undergraduate division at recent Animal Welfare Evaluation Contest
Three University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) students took home fifth place in the undergraduate division at the recent Animal Welfare Evaluation Contest at Colorado State University. The annual event featured 22 undergraduate teams and 95 undergraduate students. Junior Chloe Momphard (Troy, Mo.) tied for fifth place. Senior Jewel Gant (Schaumburg, Ill.) and junior Elyse…
‘The Pinnacle of My Career’
Peter Sutovsky named 2019 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Growing up in Slovakia, a young Peter Sutovsky would often hold his own science-based lectures in front of his elementary classmates. Those lectures would generally focus on insects, as Sutovsky had a big interest in entomology. “I would bring in my insect collection and explain how the organs of a male beetle were different than the organs of a female…
Udder Joy
Animal Sciences graduate has a passion for cattle
Last winter, students, faculty, staff and journalists all walked out of classrooms and office buildings to look at the cow walking through Francis Quadrangle. The cow, named Amelia, was being led by then senior Massimo Montalbano, dressed in a cap and gown. If it were up to him, the Animal Sciences major would never have been there in the first…
After Hours: (Teach You How To) Sing the Blues
Animal Sciences assistant professor uses music to teach history
Not long ago, Columbia was segregated. Reminders can be found throughout the city. From a plaque on the side of the Missouri Theater describing their former segregated policies beneath the words “Lest We Forget. Never Again!” in bold letters, to Eliot Battle Elementary, named after a man who helped to integrate Columbia public schools. Reminders of this American past can…
Breeding a Better Bee
CAFNR researchers comb the honey bee genome for resilience against damaging parasite
The honey bee is as busy as ever. From almonds to zucchini, honey bees pollinate more than 90 agricultural crops in the United States — worth more than $15 billion annually. In 2017, the apiculture industry provided pollination services valued at nearly $320 million, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. In addition, the bees also produced almost 150…
Improving Heifer Development
Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program celebrates 20 years
The Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program has enrolled more than 135,000 heifers on more than 850 farms during its 20 years of existence. The program, developed and spearheaded by David Patterson, a professor of reproductive physiology in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), celebrated its 20th anniversary during the Missouri Cattle Industry Convention and…