Hi, my name is Jamie Floyd, and I am a freshman this year in CAFNR. I enjoy writing about agriculture and the topics in agriculture that affect my generation. I also enjoy photography and hope to focus on it here at MU.

I’m from a rural town outside of Columbia called Auxvasse. I love spending time outdoors, whether it’s hunting, fishing or working with my cattle. I also enjoy spending time with my family and on my grandparents' farm.

My favorite part about MU and CAFNR is the tradition and the focus on the student’s success.

I am Abby Grimmett, a sophomore agricultural journalism major from rural Monroe County, Mo. I grew up on my family’s Century Farm near Perry, Mo., and graduated from nearby Paris High School. I was very active as a high school student, mainly within the FFA where I was highly recognized in public speaking competitions and performance events.

Now a 19-year-old sophomore, I have continued my involvement here at Mizzou. I serve on the public relations committe of my sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and I work with the College's recruitment office as a CAFNR Ambassador. You can find me daily running about the CAFNR academic programs office as I work for Roy Robinson, director of CAFNR study abroad programs.

I have always enjoyed writing and have also developed an interest in photography. This is my first semester as a staff member of CAFNR Corner Post.

Hello! I am Dalena Hardy, and I am embarking on my second year at Mizzou. I am an agricultural journalism major and am pursuing minors in agricultural economics and political science. I became interested in journalism while working at a radio station and became interested in agriculture during the later years of high school. I hope to use the knowledge gained from my studies to serve abroad in some capacity.

Growing up, I lived in several places, but I consider Kansas City my hometown. When I am not studying or active in University related endeavors, I enjoy hanging out at coffee shops, eating at restaurants, watching films, and spending time with my family.

My name is Kayla Hoover. I’m from a very small town called Halfway. Please don’t try to make a joke about it. I promise I’ve heard them all a thousand times, and yes, it is really halfway between two towns — Bolivar and Buffalo. Although there aren’t many of us, we always found something to do.

I graduated magna cum laude from Halfway High School in 2007. During high school I was actively involved with the FFA, FCCLA, and the varsity softball team. I was chapter vice president and area president for the FFA and competed on many contest teams. The teams I participated on always did well, and I even went to internationals with my soil judging team.

After being involved with agriculture in the FFA, I realized that I wanted to do more with it and help educate people about the thing closest to my heart. I started thinking about what I could do to spread the news about this subject, and I soon realized that agricultural journalism was for me. I knew right away that Mizzou was the place I needed to be because of CAFNR. Now that I’m here, I just hope that I can accomplish my goal and give people the inside scoop on the world of agriculture that I know and love.

I am Becky Legel, a sophomore agricultural journalism major with a strong interest in writing about life and social sciences. I love to read magazines such as SEED, Scientific American, Scientific American Mind, and Psychology Today. Because I am from a suburb of Chicago, I do not know much about rural life, but I am ready to learn and share that information with others.

I love to travel and take photographs of anything that inspires me. I can often be seen taking walks around Columbia with my digital camera in tow.

Fall 2007 will be my first semester reporting for Corner Post.

My name is Alicia Ann LePage, daughter of Thomas H. and Anna Jean LePage. I was raised on a beef cattle and row cropping operation in Russellville, Mo. I currently own a herd of Black Angus and Red Poll cattle. I also own two Pony of Americas.

I am a 2007 graduate of Helias High School. I was a member of the Helias track team, prom committee, and the freshman girls basketball team. I was named to Who’s Who Among American High School Students and awarded the Frederick Douglass & Susan B. Anthony Award in Humanities and Social Sciences.

I am a ten-year member of the Stringtown Corinth 4-H Club, in which I have served as president, vice president, secretary and historian. I am involved in beef, horse, home environment, and country cured hams as my projects. I also participate in the Cole/Osage County Teen Exchange. I have exchanged with Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

I am a member of the Junior National American Angus Association and the Junior National Red Poll Association. I serve as the 2007 Red Poll Queen and National Junior Red Poll vice president.

Hi! I am Katie Maupin, a freshman in agricultural journalism. I am a native of Lonedell, Mo., where I live on a small cow-calf operation with my family. My hobbies include drawing and painting as well as exhibiting and judging livestock.

I entered the agricultural journalism program with plans to specialize in marketing or public relations, and I hope to use my rural background to help educate people who have not been fortunate enough to be exposed to agriculture.

Hello, I am Colby Miller, an 18-year-old freshman from a small town named Helena in the northwest corner of Missouri. It is my first semester writing for the CAFNR Corner Post and my third year writing for a news publication.

I am an outgoing person, and I love to play sports. I played football, baseball and basketball in high school and also participated in several clubs and organizations. I plan to be just as active during my college years. I have a desire to travel to far-off destinations and plan to someday participate in the CAFNR study abroad program.

When I "grow up," I hope to become a skilled and widely known journalist and author.

My name is Jessica Petzel, and I am a 21-year-old junior. I have heard every joke there is about pretzels and, yes, I do answer to Pretzel.

I am double majoring in agricultural journalism and political science.  I am seriously considering law, would love to run a working ranch as a retreat center, and am dancing with the possibility of a journalism career.

I enjoy long walks on the beach, tea, large amounts of coffee, chocolate, diving into a good novel, all types of writing, and horseback riding. Okay, all of that is true except maybe the walks on the beach.

My name is Andrew James Phipps. I was named “Andrew” and “James” because those were the two most popular names for a baby boy at the time I was born, and my parents couldn’t make up their minds.  Nonetheless, everybody has always called me Andy. I am 21 years old. I have spent my entire life, save for the last year, living either on the family farm outside St.Louis or deep in the Ozarks.

I enjoy reading, getting bored and frustrated with what I’m reading, trying to write something better than what I’m reading and then giving up and picking up a new book or two or three to repeat the process with. I am a music geek, beer snob, political junkie, collector of tacky art and hopelessly amateur keyboard player. I’m absolutely terrible at all sports but enjoy following baseball. Somehow, I have been able to remain a fairly nice person and intend on doing so as long as I can manage.

My dream in life is to own a junkyard, so that I can someday finally use one of those hydraulic presses that either flattens a car like a pancake or compresses it into a little cube. For the time being I am an agricultural journalism student here at Mizzou. It is a field of study that I have always considered but never got into until now. Now that I have, it would be an understatement to say that I am happy with it.

Hi, I am Emily Schmidt. Seeking a nationally recognized degree from Mizzou, I transferred to the University of Missouri-Columbia after completing my freshman year of college at Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau. Upon completing my first year of college in southern Missouri, I was interested in a bigger school with a better reputation.

I grew up in the city of Springfield, Ill., so most would see me as out of place in the agricultural journalism program. However, through a series of “mistakes,” I was placed in AgJ, and now I “wouldn’t have it any other way.”

I spend much of my time with sorority events and balance a busy schedule with family and friends. In high school, I ran competitively in both track and cross country.

In 2005, my participation in sports was put to the test when a local PBS station offered me an internship jointly through my high school. When the decision was made, I had quite a year ahead of me. From 2 to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, I was at the station, and from 4 to 7 p.m. practice at the track, on my own. I pushed myself to both limits and received the outstanding senior award from my high school. I know nothing is impossible if you believe.

I’m Kathleen Sprouse, a freshman pursuing agricultural broadcast journalism from Leawood, Kan. Although I grew up in the suburbs, I developed my interest in agriculture by spending time at our family farm in Braymer, Mo., where I spend most weekends. I hope to work as a news anchor, and my dream job would be having my own show on the Travel Channel. 

I have three sisters and two great parents, and we love making fondue together. I love going on family vacations, and my favorite place I have visited is Costa Rica. I love taking pictures and was a yearbook photographer in high school. I am counting down the days until I return to Colorado and go skiing. My friends would describe me as daring, energetic, positive and enthusiastic.

I am excited and nervous to be at Mizzou; however, I can’t wait to get more involved with my major, sorority and meet new people. This is my first semester writing for CAFNR Corner Post.

Hello! I am Becca Stephen, a freshman majoring in agricultural journalism at Mizzou. I am originally from the small town of Stewartsville, Mo. I grew up on a family farm, and am proud of my strong agricultural background. 

I am keeping busy my first year with classes, being the Area 1 State FFA vice president, and Missouri Beef Ambassador. In my down time, I enjoy hanging out with friends, shopping, talking and taking long naps.

My goal is to become a news anchor on a national television network, and I hope to someday interview influential people on 20/20.