Profile: A look into the royal lives of the 2007 CAFNR Week King and Queen
by Kaity Kerwin, posted March 21, 2008
And your 2007 CAFNR Week King and Queen are: James Tvrdy and Tyne Morgan! This was announced at Skit Night on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007. The two were then were belted (yes, belted, not crowned) with matching belt buckles and sashes in front of many CAFNR students in Jesse Auditorium.
In fact, Tvrdy and Morgan may only “reign” over the College for that one week, but many people who know them would say their royal attitude shines all year.
King James Tvrdy
Tvrdy is an agribusiness management major who will be graduating in May of this year. He will also graduate with an international agriculture minor, which he earned through a combination of course work and international experiences, including a summer in Prague, a semester in Costa Rica, and a conference in Taiwan.
He has been an active leader in the College and the University. Tvrdy is a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and has served as a CAFNR Ambassador. In addition, he served on the MU Homecoming Steering Committee his sophomore year, served as director his junior year, and was selected as royalty his senior year.
Work experience is something he has taken advantage of through internships. Working for Monsanto in Mankato, Minn., and Farmergy, a start-up company in St. Louis, have been the experiences that have helped him the most.
Jan Dauve, associate professor of agricultural economics currently has the benefit of Tvrdy as a teacher’s assistant for one of his economics classes.
“He has been willing to do a variety of activities including ones that get him out of his comfort zone,” Dauve said. “He is naturally curious and intellectually and socially brave. This allows James to put together a network that helps him identify opportunities and then be able to act on them.”
That characteristic of bravery colors much of Tvrdy’s life.
“One of my favorite things working with James is that curiosity and his tendency to not set boundaries on what he can or should do with his life. That pioneering, or entrepreneurial, spirit is what sets him apart,” Dauve said.
Another of Tvrdy’s many accomplishments includes being selected as the 2008 CAFNR Week King.
“My favorite night was skit night,” Tvrdy said. “I missed out on the crowning ceremony for Homecoming Royalty events, but Barnwarming was really fun as well.”
He was happy to have reigned with his queen, Tyne, who had some things to say about him.
“James is so much fun, so it was a great chance to share it with him because we got to do everything together that week,” Morgan said. “James was a great representative of Sigma Alpha because he stands for a lot of what we do.”
Tvrdy isn’t sure exactly what he’ll be doing after graduation.
“I’ve been asked that question a lot!” Tvrdy said.
As of right now, he is looking for jobs in the Washington, D.C., area, but he’s not sure if it will be on Capitol Hill or off. He doesn’t want to get too attached to a job though, because he has put in his application to join the Peace Corps, and is starting to get into the interview process.
He does have some words of wisdom for younger students in the College.
“Live it up, because you only have four years, and you need to be involved and explore as many things as you can,” Tvrdy said.
“Also, think long-term, and take advantage of study abroad and internships because those will really help you decide what you want out of life. Missing a summer or semester isn’t bad, so do that internship. You will get more out of committing to significant experiences like internships and study abroad rather than staying inside your comfort zone.”
Queen Tyne Morgan
Tyne Morgan is also graduating in May, but as an agricultural journalism major with an emphasis in broadcast journalism.
Throughout college, Morgan also has been very involved. She is an alumna of Sigma Alpha Professional Agriculture Sorority, has served as a CAFNR Ambassador, and has participated in Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow.
Gary Grigsby, assistant professor, Missouri School of Journalism, broadcast news sequence, has had many opportunities to work with Morgan.
“Once earlier this semester I had the opportunity to work with her in the field on an ag story at KOMU-TV,” Grigsby recalls. “If nothing else, Tyne is well-prepared. When the day began, she was ready to go. She had all her sources lined up for interviews and knew what she wanted and needed to do to get the story done on deadline that day. Her questions to sources were insightful and well thought out. She knew what video she needed to tell her story and planned it out accordingly.”
She has also sought out experiences to enhance her broadcast skills. These include reporting for KOMU on all agriculture-related stories, reporting for KBIA, the National Public Radio affiliate in Columbia, and participating in the Monsanto Ag Journalism Fellowship Program in 2007, where she blogged from the Commodity Classic in Tampa, Fl.
“When she is in the KOMU-TV newsroom, other students come to her for advice on how to approach their stories, who to interview, etc. And I mean a lot of other students,” Grigsby said. “She is the go-to person. That says a lot about her integrity and willingness to help as well.”
Morgan enjoyed her reign as CAFNR Week Queen, where she attended events and represented the College.
“I went out with a bang for my last CAFNR Week,” Morgan said. “Most of my classes are in the J-School, so I don’t have much time that I spend in CAFNR. It was nice to actually get to catch up with a lot of those students.”
CAFNR Week King, Tvrdy, had compliments to return to her.
“Tyne is a fun person, and I enjoyed sharing the experience with her. She represents both the College and the University of Missouri well. I know she’ll be successful in the future, and I’m glad I got this chance to know her better.”
This wasn’t Tyne’s first Queen title. She was selected as the State Fair Queen in August 2006 — in fact, that was her first pageant.
Morgan isn’t sure what to think about her approaching graduation.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet, but I think I am ready to start that new chapter of my life,” Morgan said.
This “new chapter” includes a job at Monsanto. Morgan will be working for Monsanto’s Public Affairs Division from the headquarters in St. Louis, and she will work in corn, soybeans, cotton, and more.
Morgan’s advice for younger students differs somewhat from Tvrdy’s.
“Stay involved, but don’t get in over your head. Just don’t do so much that you don’t get to experience college because of all the meetings.”
Tvrdy and Morgan will be invited back to crown (or belt) the 2008 CAFNR Week King and Queen in September.
