2008 ICA/NASULGC

I was able to attend the 2008 ICA/NASULGC Conference thanks to the invitation by the Dean of CAFNR, Dr. Vaughn. It was a great experience getting to meet and talk with other students and Deans from agriculture and life science colleges and universities from across the nation and the world. It was exciting listening to presentations and the current status of these colleges and their possible futures. I was able to think critically about situations I hadn't thought of before and hear the perspective of other states and countries at the same time. 

I have created a blog for the conference and hopefully I will be able to put down some information and pictures. Schools is hectic right now so no promises but I am trying to set some short term obtainable goals to track all of the good times I am having- especially in the midst of projects, homework and tests! 

This is AgEd 2220's 1st post ever!

Switzerland!!!!!

 While I studied abroad in Prague, I knew that I would have a four day weekend to go somewhere. I bought a plane ticket and, for the first time in my life, flew internationaly with no set agenda and all by myself. I had the time of my life! Switzerland is my favorite country that I have ever been to and I can't wait to return. Here I am Jungfraujoch, known as the top of Europe because it has the highest altitude where anyone can stand. I know I was moving my camera fast when I shot this video but if you look carefully you can see that I am ABOVE the clouds!!! If you ever get the opportunity to go to Switzerland- DO IT!!! You won't regret it. 

Dickinson Scholars

     University of Missouri- Columbia, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources had their annual Dickinson Scholars Program. I was one of seventeen college sophomores and juniors who attended the six day conference held January 6-11  in Kansas City. Participants were selected through an application process. 

     The program is funded by Dickinson Financial and Bank Midwest in honor of the late Mr. Dickinson. Mr. Dickinson was a MU alum from Chillicothe, Missouri. In the 80s Mr. Dickinson had to sell back his farm because he wasn't able to make his loan payments. He took a huge risk and bought a handful of small banks that he combined to create a huge banking system in Missouri and surrounding states. Mr. Dickinson became wealthy when he contracted with the U.S. government to have his banks at military bases. After Gary Dickinson was involved in a fatal car accident on his way to work in Kansas City one foggy morning, his wife Ann became a chairman of Dickinson Financial. Ann Dickinson, a proud MU alum, wanted to honor her late husband. Mrs. Dickinson funded the new Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity house at MU- Gary himself had been a member of the fraternity, as well as the Dickinson Student Success Center at CAFNR and the Dickinson Scholars Program which is in its twelfth year. 

     The following posts are an overview of the events that took place during the six day conference, which started Sunday January 11th with a five star dinner the the New Theatre Restaurant, which I was unable to attend due to car troubles. Over the next few days participants toured agribusinesses in Kansas City as well as heard speakers ranging from entrepreneurs to a reporter carrying on the 80-year-old family business.