President Choi's Blog

Growing Missouri agriculture

Aug. 24, 2022


A photo of Pres. Choi and others breaking ground on a new machine shed during the Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center field day.
Breaking ground on a new machine shed during the Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center field day.

In the northwest corner of Missouri – near the border with Nebraska and Iowa – the Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center is at the forefront of promoting local agriculture.

At the center’s 33rd annual field day this week, we broke ground on a long-awaited machine shed. The project was recently funded thanks to the Missouri General Assembly and their strong support for Missouri agriculture and MU Extension. Curator Todd Graves, elected officials, university leaders and community members joined the celebration.

A photo of Rep. Allen Andrews and Sen. Dan Hegeman joining Curator Graves, President Choi and other leaders at a field day kickoff fish fry.
Rep. Allen Andrews and Sen. Dan Hegeman (center) join Curator Graves, President Choi and other leaders at a field day kickoff fish fry.

The center, established in 1988, collaborates between extension and local agribusiness covering a 50-mile radius and four states. Originally formed to promote no-till farming, the center is key to helping extension double the value of Missouri agriculture by 2030.

On Friday, I head to another corner of Missouri to attend the T.E. “Jake” Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center field day in the Bootheel.

— Mun