Record-breaking Ag Unlimited Banquet means more support for CAFNR students
by Kaity Kerwin, posted Feb. 13, 2008
The annual Ag Unlimited Banquet and Auction was held Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia. With approximately 570 sponsors, alumni, students and guests in attendance, the banquet was a huge success according to Dana Brown-Haynes College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) director of alumni relations.
The evening began with a silent auction at 5:30, followed by a meal at 6:30 and a live auction and buyer’s choice raffle at 8.
“Mizzou – The Real Deal,” a knock-off of NBC’s “Deal or No Deal,” was unveiled as the banquet’s new event.
Golden Girls and members of the MU football team held eight briefcases all holding prizes each valued at at least $250. Some of the cases held gas cards, golf clubs and digital cameras. The grand prize was a Sony 46-inch LCD HDTV. People got to choose a case, but had no idea what was in the case they selected.
Grand prize went to CAFNR Vice Chancellor and Dean, Tom Payne.
The banquet was hosted by the MU Ag Alumni Association and was organized by a board of directors including around thirty members and chairperson Tony Francis.
"The true success of the event is testimony to the mission of our Ag Alumni Association and the hard work of the board of directors that put forth an invaluable amount of effort to ensure the success of Ag Unlimited,” Francis said. “Alumni, friends and supporters across our state are so very generous in their contributions to the event and then again even more so on the evening of the event. There is really something special about the CAFNR spirit in the air the night of Ag Unlimited.”
Because of that “spirit in the air,” nearly $50,000 was raised, which sets a record for the most money ever raised at the event. This money first goes to scholarships and then goes toward instructional improvements in the College.
Twenty-two CAFNR students were recognized for receiving $1,500 scholarships for the 2007-2008 academic year, and, with the record-setting amounts of money, the same number and size of scholarships will be given for the 2008-2009 year.
“Getting this scholarship for three years has helped me pay for my education and has kept me from having to worry about working as much so I am able to be a student and be active in student organizations,” said senior agricultural journalism major, Katie Allen.
First-time recipient and sophomore Whitney Wallace was also very honored.
“It’s really encouraging to be so supported because everybody has such great Mizzou spirit, and I hope I have the chance to come back as an alum to socialize and help raise money for the scholarship,” Wallace said.
The event requires a great deal of work from many people. Behind-the-scenes work by the board of directors, students and other coordinators pulled everything together for a profitable evening of events.
“The event could not be possible without the donors, friends of the College, and alumni who donate items, purchase items, and attend the event,” Brown-Haynes said.
The event's success leaves students and alumni looking forward to future Ag Unlimited Banquets.
