19
University of Missouri Extension Maries County 2014 Annual Report WE ARE WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Equal Opportunity/ADA Institution
University
of Missouri
Extension
Maries
County
2014
Annual
Report
WE ARE WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Equal Opportunity/ADA Institution
2
Mission
Our distinct land-grant mission is to improve lives, communities and economies by producing relevant, reliable and responsive
educational strategies that enhance access to the resources and research of the University of Missouri.
Dear Members of the County Commission and Maries County Citizens,
This year was celebrated with the 100th Anniversary of Extension all across the nation. We are pleased to highlight
programs of distinction in this centennial year. Thank you for your support which has made it possible for University of
Missouri Extension to provide educational programs for the citizens of Maries County. University of Missouri Extension
provides research-based resources and programs to address high-priority issues, and is a direct link to the four campuses of the
University of Missouri System. In 2014, more than one million Missourians statewide turned to University of Missouri
Extension for help in improving their farms, businesses, families and communities.
The success of University of Missouri Extension in Maries County depends upon the dedication and support of
members of the County Extension Council, the Maries County Commission and all the volunteers who assist with our programs.
The council assists staff with planning and implementing programs by communicating the interests and concerns of local
citizens. We partner in the state to maximize and apply our resources where the greatest impact can be made.
The Maries County Extension faculty, staff, and county extension council members look forward to a continued team
effort in 2015 to better our communities and our lives. Extension looks forward to celebrating another 100 years in the U.S. and
in Maries County.
Richard Huse Carrie Kinsey Pat Snodgrass
Chair, 2014 Secretary County Program
Maries County Extension Council Maries County Extension Council Director
2014 Maries County Council
The county council is the link between
University of Missouri Extension and the
people of the state. Established and directed by Missouri state law, the council
assists the staff in educational program
development and implementation, personnel and fiscal management and
membership. County councils are
comprised of elected and appointed members who serve two-year terms. The
Maries County council members and the
districts they represent are:
Elected:
Drew Busch, vice chair
Glenn Dressendofer
Lynn Davis
Erica Smith
Bill Patton
Carrie Kinsey, secretary
Julie Long
Gene Gillispie, treasurer
Les Volmert
Christy Moman
David Long
Vic Stratman
Appointed:
Wayne Robertson, MFA
Ed Fagre, County Commission
Richard Huse, City of Belle, chair
2014 Maries County Budget
Revenues:
County Commission $11,000
Short Course/Tour 413
Resale/Ed. Service/Gifts 255
Postage Reimbursement 1,300
Miscellaneous 294
Carryover 4,257
Program Income 980
$18,499
Expenditures:
Secretarial Salaries/Benefits $ 11,779
Telephone 0
Supplies 579
Printing/PO Box/Advertising 135
Postage 190
Council Expense/Election 229
Insurance/Bonds 200
Resale 144
Capital Purchases/Maintenance 258
Mileage 2,494
Other-Century Farm 630
Soil Tests 190
$16,828
Maries County Staff
Administrative Staff: Donna Backues
Vivian Honse
Pat Snodgrass
County Program Director
Housing and Environmental Design Specialist
Dawn Hicks
Food Nutrition Education Program Associate
Also serving Maries County:
Ted Cunningham/Heather Smith Livestock Specialist
Sarah Hultine-Massengale Community Development Specialist
Elaine Anderson
4-H Youth Specialist
Will McClain
Agronomy Specialist
Chris Thompson
Business Development Specialist
Patricia Barrett
Ag Business Specialist
Chantae Alfred
Family Financial Education Specialist
Kathy Mecham
Horticulture Specialist
Lynda Zimmerman
Nutrition and Health Education Specialist
State Fair Farm Family
Drew and Tasha Busch
Maries County Extension Courthouse, 4th and Main Street, P.O. Box 116, Vienna, MO 65582
573-422-3359 573-442-3269 FAX
http://extension.missouri.edu/maries
“Equal opportunity is and shall be provided to all participants in Extension programs and activities, and for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated
ability and competence without discrimination on the basis of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or status as a Vietnam-era veteran. This policy
shall not be interpreted in such a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or military organization associated with the armed forces of the United States of America.”
3
Thomas (Tom) Raymond Henry Kloeppel
April 5, 1945—November 9, 2014 Advisory Committee Member/University of MO
Wurdack Farms Research Center
Past Board Member-MFA
Veteran/US Army Reserve
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Leslie (Les) Ferdinand Volmert
September 9, 1926—December 27, 2014 Advisory committee Member/University of MO
Wurdack Farms Research Center
Maries County Extension Council member and officer
Past Maries County and MO Cattlemen’s Association Board Member
Missouri Century Farm
WWII Veteran
The Drew and Tasha Busch family from Belle, MO at the 2014 State Fair Farm Family event. Pictured
with Drew and Tasha Busch are their children Grace, Molly and Victoria with Dr. Michael Ouart, Vice
Provost for Extension, University of Missouri; Mark Wolfe, Director, Missouri State Fair; Hanna Keene,
2014 Missouri State Fair Queen; Sherry Jones, Missouri State Fair Commission; and Lowell Mohler,
Missouri State Fair Commission.
In Memory of Our Extension Friends
State Fair Farm Family
4
5
Agriculture in Maries County and the long-standing tradition of the family farm was celebrated in Octo-
ber. The Maries County Extension Council and the Sate of Missouri bestowed the Century Farm status
on seven Maries County farm families.
The extension council hosted the dinner meeting at the Vichy Firehouse. There was a good crowd of
people there to participate in the ceremonies. The event was chaired by Maries County Extension
Council President Richard Huse. Also present was Maries County Presiding Commissioner Ray
Schwartze. Local Extension Program Director Pat Snodgrass and State Rep. Tom Hurst were present
and gave remarks.
Hurst said he was honored to be present. He lives on a Century Farm near St. Thomas and hopes agri-
culture will stay alive and that his children can celebrate another century on their farm. Hurst said he
sees now at auctions where farmers sell out because they can’t match the price of the land and the land
many times is bought for hunting. “The family farm is the root of agriculture in the world,” he said,
adding it is the number one individual business in Missouri.
Ray and June Schwartze Farm—This farm was established in1886 by
Ray Schwartze’s great-grandfather. Acreage was added in1970. The farm
in the old days raised corn, wheat and oats. Schwartze said now he raises
hay and cattle. He plans to pass the farm to his children and they have told
him they plan on keeping it.
Lawrence and Sylvester Koerber Farm— the Lawrence and Sylvester
Koerber farm was established in 1892 by Henry and Elizabeth Koerber.
The farm is 160 acres of land. Sylvester went to WWII and after returning
home he and Lawrence began raising hogs and cattle. Lawrence died in
1999. The brothers donated money to the Visitation Knights of Columbus
and that is how the hall in Vienna got started.
William Wyss Farm— The Lawrence and William Wyss Farm located
on Highway 28 West in Maries County was originally purchased by the
Wyss family on October 27, 1880. John Wyss paid $35 for the 160 acres.
These days hay and milo are grown on the farm. Wood is harvested for
firewood, and fishing and hunting are enjoyed. The only livestock are
chickens, horses, and a few goats. William’s three children Jared, Taylor,
and Morgan love the property and appreciate the history and hard work
that have kept it in the family. They are determined it will stay this way
for generations to come. Three generations still live on this farm. One of Lawrence’s stories from boy-
hood was growing and picking cucumbers. They had a 4 acre field that they worked every day
during the growing season. He remembers keeping a salt shaker in his pocket while working the patch.
Every other day, the cucumbers were hauled the ten miles to Dixon by team and wagon. There, they
were placed in salt brine for shipping to a pickling plant. Lawrence grew up working the land with
horses and mules. The first tractor they had was in the 1940’s. He served in the army during WWII,
and then returned home. Crops and livestock were raised for personal use and for selling or trading. An
old hen could be traded in town for a pound of coffee and a gallon of kerosene. A nice sum of money
was selling 100 guineas for $25.
Missouri Century Farm Program
6
Pelikan Family Farm—The Pelikan farm was established in 1904 by
Ellen Pelikan, a great-grandmother to current owner Anna M. Pe-
likan. Anna Pelikan remembers making garden, canning and selling a
pig or a cow to buy things. She said the farm was her father’s favor-
ite place.
Schweer Family Farm—The Schwer Family Century Farm is located
five miles from Belle, near
Summerfield. Fritz Schweer came to the United States from Germany
and settled here. He started the Schweer Farm in 1908. Jim and Jeff
Schweer are the fourth generation of Schweers and they hope that
some of their children, the fifth generation, will continue the farming
tradition. There are at least three generations living on this farm.
Spring Valley Farm—Spring Valley Farm, currently owned by Di-
ana James, was established in 1910. Richard James, Jr was born
there in 1923 and is now 91 years old and still lives on the farm. The
barn on the farm was built in 1930 by his father and his uncle . It is
all pine lumber from Licking MO. The lumber cost three cents per
foot delivered. Irish Creek runs through the farm with several springs
feeding it and that is why his dad named the farm Spring Valley. The
house was built in 1896 by Tom McGee out of logs. The floor joists
are poles from the woods and the foundation was built out of rocks.
The house is still in good shape after 118 years.
Stratman Family Farm— The original land was acquired from the
United States of America to Henderson Vandergriff in 1820. Then it
was sold to Frank and Margaret Stratman on September 8, 1914.
This is the date the Stratman family recognizes for the Century Farm
status. One of Joe’s children was George A. who with his wife, Nina,
took over the farm in 1963. They purchased additional land. The
couple raised cattle, pigs, wheat, corn, soybeans, alfalfa, red clover
and timothy hay. In 1967, George received a plaque for having the
3rd largest corn production in Maries County, and the farm continues
to have high yields to this day. Today the farm is in a generational trust and remains a working farm
with cattle, corn and hay production.
Century Farms have been recognized in Missouri since 1976. The program is sponsored by MU Exten-
sion, the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, and the Missouri Farm Bureau.
Applications for the program will be available through the Maries County Extension Center or on the
Extension website at extension.missouri.edu.
7
Overall, the University of Missouri’s Business Development Programs (BDP) served 19,514
people and their businesses state-wide. The total impact for all businesses assisted by the BDP
was:
2,674 new jobs
1,616 retained jobs
238 new businesses
$207,464,049 of increased sales
$349,593,123 in awarded government contracts
$204,377,649 in loans and investments received
$8,965,684 in research proposals submitted
$3,814,347 in research awards received
$5,425,922 in export awards received
2,674 clients/companies receiving assistance or counseling
16,840 participants attending training events and conferences
The state and regional business development faculty contributing to these successes work with
businesses in all counties across the state.
Maries County businesses were awarded $1,900,127 in government contracts and received
$421,000 in loans and investments. Four individuals or businesses received counseling and 46
county residents attended a training event. The Small Business and Technology Development
Center at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla is the primary service
center for Maries County.
The Business Development Program delivery network includes business development
specialists headquartered at University of Missouri Extension centers; centers located on the
University of Missouri campuses at Columbia, Kansas City, St. Louis and Rolla; and centers at
most of the state universities across Missouri. The programs delivered through this network
include:
Missouri Small Business & Technology Development Centers – Funded by the U.S. Small
Business Administration, this award is matched on the local level by state university hosts
and private sector partners. Services include individualized business counseling and a wide
variety of educational opportunities.
Technology development and commercialization - Specialists in this area work with
university faculty and other innovators to win awards in support of the commercialization of
technology.
Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (MO PTAC) – Specialists in this
program help guide businesses in selling products and services to federal, state and local
government.
Business Development Programs Small business, jobs and government drive the economy
Business Development Specialist
Chris Thompson
8
Number of
Maries
County
Learners
What Did They Learn? How Participants Benefit How Does This Work Make Maries
County and Missouri Better?
County
Government Day
Back to-School
Fair
Over thirty Vienna High
School students participated in
an event to learn about the
history of Maries County and
their county government.
They learned who the elected
officials are and what their role
is in government.
Over 230 children and 155
adults participated in Back-to-
School Fairs in Vienna and
Belle. They learned of Exten-
sion’s resources in Nutrition,
Healthy Homes and
Strengthening Families.
Over thirty Vienna High
School students participated
in an event to learn about the
history of Maries County and
their county government.
They learned who the elected
officials are and what their
role is in government.
The Vienna High School
teacher with the students said
it is important for these kids
to understand they can be
productive in society when
they know how their
government works.
They received school supplies
and learned of educational
resources to help them succeed.
They learned of agencies and
organizations which serve them
in many ways, as many were
low-income families.
Sheriff Heitman affirms these pro-
grams make a difference to the youth
who participate and help deter them
from crime.
Maries County businesses support
this program as it leads to youth who
will be involved in government and
will encourage voting in county state
and national elections.
County Government Day participants
from Vienna with Mr. Hurt, VHS
teacher and Richard and Barbara
Huse with the Maries County
Extension Council
Strong families support
community and school structures.
Extension resources and information
strengthen the community in many
ways. Better informed families
contribute to the community.
Marketing Extension Programs County Program Director
Housing and Environmental Design Specialist
Pat Snodgrass
9
Program What Did They Learn? How Participants Benefit How Does This Work Make Maries
County and Missouri Better?
Women In
Agriculture Event
Soil and Water
Board
Marketing
Extension
Programs
Over 200 women attended the
Maries, Osage and Gasconade
County Women in Agriculture
Event at White Mule Winery in
Rosebud.
The women learned of agri-
businesses in our area, learned
of Extension programs,
resources and Healthy Homes
information and learned of
other agencies and their re-
sources to help them in their
daily lives.
Extension partners with this
agency to encourage best man-
agement practices for Maries
County producers.
Twenty or more news releases
educated Maries county
citizens of University of MO
programs and resources. The
Maries County Bank also
marketed Extension programs
with their newspaper ads.
Readers also learned of the
100th Anniversary of Extension
across the nation.
The motivational speakers
encouraged rural women to
seek and enhance partnerships
and try something new to add
financial stability to their
operations.
Producers receive cost share
funding for practices that will
improve and enhance their
farming operation, reduce
erosion, and maintain the
environment and water supply
and gain valuable information
from Natural Resources Con-
servation Service and
University of MO Extension.
Maries County citizens
increased their knowledge of
timely topics and programs
offered to help them in their
homes, farms and businesses.
The Maries County Extension
Council identified needed
programs in the county to
educate and inform.
Women networking together will
enhance community development and
the agri-businesses will add to the
local economy. Women will take
advantage of the resources and wealth
of information to help people, busi-
nesses and communities develop
skills, solve problems and build a
better future.
University of MO Extension Faculty
and Staff with Extension resources at
the Women in Agriculture event.
Pictured are Pat Snodgrass, Maries
County Program Director and
Housing Specialist; Virginia
Buschmeyer, Gasconade County
Extension Administrative Assistant
and Planning committee member:
Brenda Humphrey, 4-H Specialist in
Gasconade County and Emily Crowe,
Extension Nutrition and Health
Education Specialist in Gasconade
County
Land values are increased as a result
of these programs, farmers are able to
realize a profit in their agriculture
operations and Agri-businesses in the
county are supported because of these
efforts. Producers adopt
environmentally safe practices which
enhance wild life, forests, grazing
systems and maintain a safe water
supply.
Extension is seen as a trusted and
valued community resource with the
public informed of opportunities to
enhance their personal and economic
well being.
10
Who are the
learners?
What School
District/Agencies
are served?
What Did They Learn? What Action Did
They Take?
How Does This Make
Maries County and
Missouri Better?
Family Nutrition
Education
Program (FNEP)
provides
information on
nutrition, food
safety, and
physical activity
for lifelong health
and fitness. In
Maries County,
3,911 youth and
722 adults
participated in
FNEP.
Programming
occurred in the
following schools
and agencies:
Belle and Vienna
Elementary
Schools
Belle and Vienna
Middle Schools
Belle High School
Maries County
Head Start
Senior Center
Food Pantry's
Food Power Ad-
venture at Vienna
and Belle Elemen-
tary Schools
Healthy Ever After
Health Fairs
Back to School
Fairs
Maces
Supermarket
Nutrition Program
Associate Dawn Hicks
goes into schools and
interacts with community
members to help them
make healthier choices
and build healthy habits.
Activities include
cooking, taste-testing
healthy foods and
practicing skills that lead
to good health.
Adults learned about
nutrition, safe food
preparation and food
safety, physical activity
and food resource
management.
Evaluation data collected
across the entire state re-
flects the positive impacts
that occur in every county
with FNEP. The
following was reported by
2,508 teachers after FNEP
classes:
98% reported one or
more changes
52% have
participated in FNEP
for three or more
years
The Family Nutrition
Education Program brought
$8,872,444.71 in federal
funds to the state of
Missouri. These funds
were used to provide nutri-
tion education to food
stamp recipients and food
stamp eligible citizens of
Maries County.
Participants in FNEP in
Maries County who
practice healthy eating and
activity behaviors are more
likely to enjoy a high
quality of life as an adult
and into old age. A healthy
labor force is critical to
attracting and keeping jobs
in Missouri. In addition,
this important
programming effort serves
to reduce health care costs
over the participant’s
lifetime, saving taxpayers
money in reduced public
healthcare benefits and in-
surance premiums.
Nutrition Program Associate
Dawn Hicks
Family Nutrition Education Program Reaching low-income children and families with nutrition
education
Belle and Vienna elementary students
participate in Food Power Adventure. This
was sponsored by University of MO
Extension. and the St. Louis Dairy Council.
Students from Vienna and Belle Elementary Schools traveled
the path from the farmer’s field to the playing field when the
University of Missouri Extension’s Food Power Adventure
came to town in February 2014.
The students travel from a pizza farm to learn where farmers
grow ingredients like tomatoes and wheat. A packaging
labeling area allows students to inspect milk cartons for
nutrition facts. Then stopping at a cafeteria to select healthy
foods, students then make their way through the digestive
system. Here they learn how their bodies change the food
they eat into energy. Students get to use this energy in the
muscle and bone stations.
11
Number of
Maries
County
Learners
What Did They Learn? How Participants Benefit How Does This Work Make Maries
County and Missouri Better?
192 4-H
members
enrolled in 4
Clubs 33 Trained
4-H
volunteers
Maries County 4-H serves youth
through organized clubs, school
enrichment groups, camps, and
more. The youth of Maries Coun-
ty have demonstrated learning
through the following activities: County, Regional, State and
National 4-H Events: • Teen Conference 4-H Summer Camp—17
participants • 4-H Congress • State Shooting Sports Contest • State Fashion Revue • Mo Youth Livestock Training &
Judging Workshop & Contest • Missouri Equine Tour • Move Across Missouri • State 4-H Horse Judging Missouri State Fair—6
participants with small exhibits
• 4-H Global Exchange • Belle and Maries County Fair • Recognition Day—over 200
participants
Achievement Day—30
participants
Show-Me Quality Assurance
Workshops • Shooting Sports Events—11
participants at state
Learning by doing is the Maries
County 4-H way. With Maries
County 4-H Clubs, youth are
provided with the opportunity
to practice leadership,
citizenship, responsibility, team
work, community service and
other life skills under the
guidance of trained adult
volunteers. One of every five Missourians
between the ages of 5 and 18
participated in a MU Extension
4-H Youth Development
program in 2014. With over 6
million youth in 4-H
Worldwide, we are the largest
positive youth development
program.
Volunteers create, support and
are part of the 4-H community.
Missouri 4-H volunteers
responding to a survey report
they contribute on average 100
hours per year. Valuing their
time at $21 per hour, based on
average Missouri incomes, the
contribution of Maries County
4-H volunteers was worth more
than $266,700 in 2014! More
importantly, these adults serve
as mentors for our youth
helping them transition into
health adulthood, priceless.
4-H Youth are equipped with the
knowledge, skills, attitudes and health
for the 21st century workforce.
Missouri 4-H members spend almost
nine times more of their leisure time
than peers engaged in projects in
science. As a result, 4-H members are
three times more likely to go into
science related careers than similar
peers (Lerner and Lerner, 2008) Studies show that youth in programs
like 4-H are 70% more likely to attend
college and increase their annual
earnings by $2 million dollars over
their lifetime (NACUBO, 2012). If
70% of the Maries members
participating in 4-H events on the MU
Campus go onto earn their Bachelors,
4-H would help young people earn
more of lifetime earnings. Missouri 4-H members, however, also
learn to use these talents to engage in
their communities. Young people in
4-H are engaged in twice as many
leadership roles than their non-4-H
peers. This provides them with the
experience in problem-solving to step
up and lead in a complex, changing
world.
Maries County 4-H Engaging youth as valued members of the community in partnership
with caring volunteers 4-H Youth Specialist
Elaine Anderson
Maries County 4-H’ers at 4-H Camp
12
Program What Did They Learn? How Participants Benefit How Does This Work Make Maries
County and Missouri Better?
Focus on Kids
In 2014,
approximately
sixty five parents
participated in
twelve Focus on
Kids workshops
provided in
Osage and
Gasconade
Counties. Seven
parents in Maries
County
participated.
Quotes from participants
included:
“Very helpful towards
understanding the divorce.”
“Great educator!”
“I think every parent should do
this!”
“Great Job!!!”
At the end of the session
evaluation, the majority of
participants found the class
worthwhile and helpful.
In 1998, the state of Missouri
passed a law that mandated any
person in court for a divorce,
motion to modify a decree, or
custody/paternity with children 18
years of age and under, must
participate in a parenting class.
Focus on Kids is a class that was
developed by the
Human Development and
Family Studies Department at
Mizzou to fulfill this need.
Program was developed not only to
fulfill the mandate but also to reduce
the number of parents that need to re-
turn to court for motions to modify
their original decree. This saves mon-
ey and time for the parents, the courts
and therefore the community. With
increased knowledge parents will also
be more cooperative and therefore re-
duce the stress on their children and
themselves. With reduced stress
children and parents are more
productive in school, work and home.
Human Development and Family Education Human Development Specialist
Kathy Dothage
Nutrition Education
Nutrition and Health Education Specialist
Lynda Zimmerman
Program What Did They Learn? How Participants Benefit How Does This Work Make Maries
County and Missouri Better?
Cooking
Matters at the
Store
During 2014, a
total of 9 adults
attended two
Cooking Matters
at the Store tours
in Vienna and
Belle.
Team Nutrition
for Child Care
Last year, 5 child
care providers
attended the
Team Nutrition
training “Moving
and Learning”
offered in Belle.
In addition, 2
Maries County
Residents
attended Team
Nutrition train-
ings held in Cole
County.
As part of the No Kid Hungry
campaign to end childhood
hunger in America, Share Our
Strength's Cooking Matters at
the Store teaches participants to
shop smarter and use nutrition
information to make healthier
choices.
Moving and Learning is a
2-hour session to help increase
the amount and quality of
planned physical activity for
children in child care settings.
Cooking Matters at the Store tours
provide individuals and families
with hands-on education as they
shop for food, giving them skills
to compare foods for cost and
nutrition. Participants learn how
to identify best buys from all food
groups, balancing price per unit
with nutritional aspects such as
whole grain, high fiber, less pro-
cessing, reduced-fat and low add-
ed sugars.
The Missouri Department of
Health and Senior Services
(DHSS), in partnership with MU
Extension, seek to reduce child-
hood obesity by providing
research-based workshops on
nutrition, wellness and physical
activity for licensed child care
providers. The trainings are
approved towards licensing
requirements.
After attending the Cooking Matters at
the Store tour, 77 percent of the
participants who completed
evaluations reported improved
knowledge, skills or understanding
about saving money or buying
healthier food; all indicated they
planned to use, or already used skills
such as comparing unit pricing, reading
ingredient lists and comparing food
labels to shop healthier and reduce food
costs.
Participant evaluations completed
following the training showed:
100 percent would recommend the
training to someone else.
100 percent indicated their
knowledge, skills or understanding of
the training topic was “a great deal”
after the session, whereas only 20
percent rated themselves at this high
level before attending.
100 percent identified one action they
planned to take as a result of what
was learned, such as set a good exam-
ple and be more active with the kids.
13
Program What Did They Learn? How Participants Benefit How Does This Work Make Maries
County and Missouri Better?
Management
Intensive Grazing
Schools
Forage and Beef
Conference
Missouri
Show-Me-Quality
Assurance/
46 learners in
Belle
Over 100 participants improved
forage and livestock management
skills, in regional grazing schools
held East Central Missouri.
Over 200 producers learned im-
proved Forage and livestock man-
agement skills, Maries County
beef producers participated.
Over 300 youth 4-H and FFA
members learned livestock care
and management skills including
health, nutrition, animal han-
dling, record-keeping, and food
safety.
Participants benefit by improv-
ing on farm management of
their forage resource, extending
the grazing season, improving
forage quality, and decreasing
input costs.
Improved management of live-
stock operations and forage
resource.
Participants improved the care
and management of their live-
stock projects.
Forage production is the key ingredient to
Maries County’s agricultural industry.
Employment of skills learned in these
schools improves production and profits
for county livestock producers, and
conserves soil and water for future
generations.
Enhanced profitability, sustainability and
quality of life for livestock producers and
forage growers.
Improves the care, management and
sustainability of livestock in Missouri.
Ensures a high quality, wholesome food
product for consumers in Missouri and
around the globe.
Agriculture:
Livestock Production and Management Livestock Specialist
Ted Cunningham
Every seat was filled at the Farmers Café for the Winter Beef Meeting
14
Program What Did They Learn? How Participants Benefit How Does This Work Make Maries
County and Missouri Better?
MU Wurdack
Research Center
Field Days
Maries County
Producers
participated
Livestock
Nutrition and
Beef Systems
Management
(one-on-one
consulting and
education)
750 FFA and Vocational Agricul-
ture students learned about
various segments of the
agricultural industry, rural safety
and health issues, career opportu-
nities and technologies related to
agriculture.
Approximately 75 producers
learned about opportunities to
renovate pastures to novel
endophyte fescue, use of artificial
insemination and early pregnancy
detection via ultrasound, hay
sampling and analysis, ag market
outlooks, and use of drones and
imaging technology for improved
farm management.
Over 300 individual contacts for
education on feeding and grazing
of livestock, improved knowledge
of livestock management practic-
es, genetic selection and repro-
duction efficiency.
Youth participants benefit from
having a better understanding
of the various aspects of agri-
culture and science, as well as
an increased awareness of rural
safety issues.
Agriculture producers benefit
from adapting management
techniques demonstrated at the
Research Center and from re-
search derived from the MU
farms and centers across the
state.
Producers utilized least-cost
ration and supplementation
plans, hay and soil testing ser-
vices, implemented grazing and
water system designs, and im-
proved health and productivity
of livestock.
Increased awareness of agriculture and
it’s multitude of opportunities for the next
generation of agricultural leaders and
producers, as well as consumers.
Enhanced profitability, sustainability and
quality of life for livestock producers and
forage growers.
Improves the profitability of ag
producers.
Ted Cunningham, Livestock Specialist visits with Drew Busch during the Winter Beef Meeting in
Maries County
15
Program What Did They Learn? How Participants Benefit How Does This Work Make Maries
County and Missouri Better?
Show Me
Quality
Assurance
Training
Sixty-six learners
participated from
Maries County in
two programs
offered in Belle
and Vienna
Pearls of
Production
Total attendance
for the Pearls of
Production Con-
ference was 55
participants
In Maries
County, three
learners
participated in
the Pearls of
Production
Conference
Participants learned what quality
assurance is and why it is im-
portant to the consumer and
producer.
Participants learned the how
youth market project fit into the
food supply and youth partici-
pant’s part in assuring a safe food
product.
Participants learned what the
basic needs of all animals are and
how to provide for them and
handle them properly.
Participants learned what
biosecurity is and the importance
of maintaining records.
Participants learned the
importance of ethics and how
youth livestock projects develop
those traits.
Participants learned about
relevant topics to female agricul-
turists from female presenters in
the agriculture industry.
Topics included: GMO’s in food,
meat labeling, pharmaceutical
safety, ergonomics for women on
the farm taking care of YOU,
working in a male dominated
industry, a female veterinarian
perspective, and business of live-
stock production.
Breakout sessions with hands-on
activities included Swine, Small
Ruminants, Beef, Forages, and
Farm Business Management.
Youth participants are better
equipped with the knowledge
needed to produce a safe food
product.
Youth participants provide a
positive representation to the
public regarding animal
welfare.
Youth produce a safe, high
quality meat product.
One hundred percent of partici-
pants said they would recom-
mend this conference to others.
Based on the extensive program
exit survey, there was an aver-
age of a 1.2 point increase (on a
scale from 1 to 5) of under-
standing in all areas of focus
for the program.
Feedback such as “women
offer a unique perspective on
agriculture and through
programs like this conference
we can learn and share new
ideas on raising livestock that
can mutually benefit”, “wealth
of information”, “safe, non-
stressful environment to
understand and practice
hands-on techniques”, “well
worth the time”, “best women
in ag conference I have ever
attended”, and “we can come
together to impact our
industry”, were reported.
The public is becoming further and
further removed from the farm and
knowledge of agricultural practices.
Youth livestock exhibitors represent to
people who are not well acquainted with
agriculture where their food originates.
In some cases, providing the only contact
the public has with agriculture through
the fair setting.
This program has allowed the industry to
maintain open markets for show animals
to be processed.
Programs like this are increasingly
relevant in the modern livestock
production market. Women are
increasingly playing larger roles in
livestock production as nearly half of our
country’s women-operated farms are
specialized in livestock production.
When you support University of Missouri
Extension livestock programs for female
producers, women are more empowered
to help on livestock operations and more
able to make research-based decisions on
a day-to-day basis. Women can then
advocate for the agriculture industry as a
more informed member of the industry.
Livestock Education Livestock Specialist
Heather Smith
16
Programs Topic What Did They Learn?
What Action Did
Participants Take or
How Did They Benefit?
How Does This Work
Make Maries County and
Missouri Better?
To remain
competitive and
continue its
growth, agricul-
ture requires the
latest research,
education and
resources.
Forage
Production
Management
Systems
Grazing
Schools
Forage and
Beef
Conference
Winter Beef
Meeting
Plant Protection
Private
Pesticide
Applicator
Training
Pasture
Weed and
Brush
Control
Weed ID
Nutrient
Management
Planning
Proper Soil
Testing and
Understanding
the Soil Test
Report
Farm Visits
Forage Management
Crop Management
Soil Testing and Soil
Fertility Manage-
ment
Pest Management
The agronomic
programs focused on
timely delivery of
forage and crop
management
information and
research to six
counties in EC
Region. This
programming effort
is accomplished
through media such
as radio, newspaper,
newsletters, meetings
and answering
grower questions
through one on one
contact.
Choosing and
applying fertilizers
in an efficient and
environmentally
sound manner
Proper soil testing
And interpreting soil
test reports
Weed control
research
to improve
management
decisions
Weed, insect, and
disease pests that
potentially can
attack crops and
utilized our pest
monitoring program
Pesticide safety
Management of
forage production
systems
Formal surveys of produc-
ers’ attitudes to teaching
in formal meetings as fol-
lows:
Over the past 5 years, the
value of the agronomic
meetings rated a 4.78 on a
scale of 1 to 5 with 5
being excellent and 1 be-
ing poor.
Also, data summarized
over past 5 years indicated
that producers would rec-
ommend this meeting to
other growers rated a 4.81
average on a scale of 1 to
5 with 5 being excellent
and 1 being poor. As
speaker being knowledge-
able, data summarized
was 5 on the same scale.
Agronomic programs vary
with methods of delivery.
The result is an action or a
decision and knowledge is
gained by growers. Also,
growers request what the
research indicates, what
are the advantages and
disadvantages of using a
product, a strategy, or
sometimes how to address
a situation or problem.
Agronomic education
improves quality of life for
the learner, but also
indirectly for those in the
community.
Improving pesticide
application techniques and
reducing use through
techniques such as
Integrated Pest
Management and organic
methods, increases short
and long-term health and
quality of life benefits to
the applicator, neighbors
and consumers of
agricultural products.
Wurdack Farms Research
Center provides the latest
research to help producers
remain competitive and
provide an economic driver
for east central Missouri.
As world population
continues to increase, the
need for food production
continues to grow. It is
critical to continue to
increase crop yields while
maintaining the
competitiveness to increase
food production in an
environmentally
responsible manner.
Agronomy Specialist
Will McClain
Agronomic Programs Teaching programs in crop and forage production, plant pathology, entomology, weed
science and soils
Grazing School participants learning to use
grazing sticks and no-till drill at Wurdack Farms
17
MTI
The Missouri Training Institute provides continuing education programs in business, custom-designed
training programs, and business consulting services for business and industry, public and nonprofit or-
ganizations, and educational institutions. Training programs cover human resource management, super-
vision, management, leadership, team building, effective decision-making, dealing with generational
differences and business writing. The institute’s consulting services cover human resources, strategic
planning, board development and board retreats. In FY 2014, 14,174 people from all 114 Missouri coun-
ties enrolled in the institute’s 510 programs. Two people from Maries County participated in this.
MU Conference Office
The MU Conference Office provides high-quality, professional, full-service meeting management for a
variety of noncredit educational programs, such as conferences, workshops, seminars and sympo-
sia. Whether a meeting is hosted on campus, in out-state Missouri or anywhere in the world, the office’s
professional staff provides assistance to create the best learning environment for participants. In
FY2014, the conference office registered 13,484 Missourians for MU Extension conferences. Partici-
pants attended conferences for teacher education in math, science and writing; agricultural lending; plant
science; and therapeutic recreation. Thirteen Maries County citizens received these services.
FRTI
MU Extension’s Fire and Rescue Training Institute (FRTI) is charged with providing compre-
hensive continuing professional education and training to Missouri’s fire-service and emergen-
cy response personnel. The institute has a direct effect on the well-being and protection of Mis-
souri’s 24,000 firefighters and the 5.9 million citizens they serve. In addition to preparing them
to fight fires, courses prepare firefighters for medical emergencies, hazardous materials response and
disaster preparedness and mitigation. In FY 2014, FRTI trained firefighters representing 113 of Mis-
souri’s 114 counties for a total enrollment of 13,958 fire and emergency responders equating to almost
170,000 student instructional hours of training. Twenty two firefighters received training in 2014
from University of Missouri.
LETI
The MU Extension Law Enforcement Training Institute brings state-of-the-art, certified, professional
training to law enforcement officers as well as continuing professional education to a wide spectrum of
other criminal justice and public safety practitioners. Established in 1948, the institute has been the
state’s recognized leader for more than 60 years in providing vital training and education services for
Missouri’s 20,000 in-service and 3,000 police recruits annually. In FY2014 LETI conducted 75 pro-
grams with almost 64,000 contact hours of instruction. There were almost 800 students from 69 Mis-
souri counties and over 500 from around the United States. Four Maries County law enforcement
officers received training from University of Missouri in 2014.
Continuing Education/University of Missouri Working to improve our communities
18
Office of University Relations
309 University Hall • Columbia, MO 65211 • 573-882-2726 www.umsystem.edu/ums/ur/
Page 1 of 2 1/28/2015
Universi ty of Missouri System CO L UM B I A | K ANSAS CI T Y | RO L L A | S T . L O UI S
Impact on Maries County, Missouri The County at a Glance
Population: 9,018
UM Students: 57
UM Alumni: 217
UM Employees: 49
UM Salary & Retirement Income: $1,795,916
UM State Tax Revenue: $55,831
UM Federal Tax Revenue: $260,584
UM Students from the County in
2014
57 students
33 - MU
2 - UMKC
21 - Missouri S&T
1 - UMSL
47 - Undergraduates
10 - Graduates
49 - Full-time students
8 - Part-time students
UM Employees and Retirees
Residing in the County in 2014
49 people employed by UM
4 - MU
41 - Missouri S&T
4 - UM Health Care
37 UM Retirees and Beneficiaries
UM Alumni Residing in the
County in 2014
217 alumni
143 - MU
7 - UMKC
55 - Missouri S&T
12 - UMSL
101 Selected School Alumni
3 - Medicine
5 - Nursing
5 - Health Professions
1 - Dentistry
1 - Optometry
5 - Veterinary Medicine
29 - Agriculture
43 - Engineering
9 - Law
UM Alumni Teaching K-12 in the
County in 2014
18 teachers
20% of all county teachers
UM Services Received in the
County in 2014
781 patients seen at UM Health
Care, with $313,549 of
uncompensated care.
14,535 contacts with MU
Extension through MU Extension
events held in district counties.
UM Construction Projects
involving Vendors located in the
County in 2014
1 vendor involved with 2 projects,
for $28 thousand.
2015
UM Footprint in the County Maries County MU Extension Center
19
