News
Woods Supports Hands-On Agricultural Research at the University of Missouri
At Woods, we believe the future of agriculture depends on the next generation of leaders and innovators. That’s why we’re proud to support students at the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, helping provide opportunities for hands-on learning, field research, and real-world experience. Through this partnership, students like Kaitlyn Blakemore and Mary Davison are gaining valuable experience while contributing to research that could benefit producers for years to come.
Both students work alongside Dr. Tim Reinbott, Director of Field Operations, balancing classroom instruction with fieldwork that ranges from maintaining research plots and collecting data to supporting the university’s tomato festival and conducting soil health studies. Their work gives them the opportunity to apply what they’re learning in the classroom while developing practical skills that will serve them throughout their careers.
For Davison, a junior studying agriculture with a minor in political science, that hands-on experience has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her education. Currently, she is involved in a cover crop termination study examining how different cover crop management strategies impact soil health and crop yield. The project includes extensive soil sampling and analysis, along with evaluating crop performance in corn and soybean rotations.
Blakemore, a junior studying environmental science with an emphasis in land and soil, is conducting research focused on soil aggregate stability and water movement through the soil. In addition to her research responsibilities, she helps maintain research plots and supports a variety of agricultural projects throughout the growing season.
She credits the university’s hands-on approach for helping students discover their interests and build practical knowledge early in their education. “The Department of Ag is so great about getting you hands-on,” Blakemore said. “They don’t want you to just sit in a classroom and be bored all day. They want you to get out and start doing things early on.”
Our support helps fund student research positions, allowing students to spend more time in the field gaining experience and supporting important agricultural research efforts. According to Blakemore, that support has a meaningful impact. “This work is hard, intensive labor, and we’re very thankful,” she said. “He [Dr. Reinbolt] really appreciates all the work that the students do, and he never lets us go unnoticed.”
“Having hands-on opportunities by the students is critical for their education,” said Dr. Reinbott. “Working in the summer and through the school year for a program offers them opportunities to learn and get that valuable experience that completes their education and sets them on a path for a successful career. Having financial support from Woods has enabled two students, Mary Davison and Kaitlyn Blakemore, to get that valuable experience that will positively impact their careers.”
At Woods, we’ve spent 80 years supporting the people who work the land. Investing in students like Kaitlyn and Mary is another way we’re helping strengthen the future of agriculture. Their curiosity, work ethic, and commitment to learning reflect the values that continue to move our industry forward, and we’re proud to play a role in their journey.
