Mizzou CAFNR Students Excel in National Contests

By Blake Jackson

Students from the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) demonstrated excellence this spring by earning top placements in national team competitions across multiple agriculture and science fields.

The Mizzou Dairy Products Evaluation Team ranked high at the National Dairy Products Evaluation Contest in Madison, Wisconsin.

The team, made up of undergraduate and graduate students, placed second in cottage cheese and ice cream, third in yogurt, and fourth in milk and all products combined.

In Texas, the Collegiate Soil Judging Team earned fourth place at the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Judging Conference.

The team, with 22 CAFNR students from the School of Natural Resources and the Division of Plant Science and Technology, missed third place by just one point.

At the 2024 Agri-Marketing Conference in Kansas City, the Mizzou National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Team won first place out of 30 teams. Their innovative product, EyeScout—an AI-powered camera to detect pinkeye in cattle—impressed judges with its 99.4% accuracy.

Mizzou’s Collegiate Landscaping Team ranked 15th out of 54 schools at the National Collegiate Landscape Competition hosted by Colorado State University. Instructor Tim Moloney, who coached the team, was appointed to a three-year term on the NCLC Faculty Committee.

CAFNR’s success continued at the Midwest American Society of Plant Biologists Meeting at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Students won second and third place in the poster category and first and second in oral presentations.

At the Midwest American Society of Animal Science Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, the Academic Quadrathlon Team secured its fourth consecutive first-place title. Additionally, two animal science students were recognized for their research presentations.

“This spring’s results show the strength of our hands-on learning and the impact of our students across agricultural fields,” said a CAFNR representative.

Through these competitions, Mizzou students are gaining real-world skills and building valuable industry connections, reinforcing CAFNR’s reputation for producing skilled and knowledgeable graduates.

Photo Credit: university-of-missouri