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CAFNR Connections December 2006: Vol. 1, No. 4

Happy Holidays!

I extend a huge thank you to each of you for helping us to make an outstanding impression on employers who leave our College looking for students who are nearly as good as the ones they just met, on prospective students and their parents who can't believe that MU has such dedicated alumni and friends, on me and my colleagues as we see the amount of time and care you invest. Most important, you are making a lasting impression on students:

David Dowell, a freshman plant science major from Paris, Mo., recently attended a professional meeting in St. Louis with Doug Mertens, NK Brand Seeds: "It was a valuable, enlightening experience. I never dreamed about the networking that goes on in the professional world. This [experience] opened my eyes and increased my understanding of how everything works. You can grasp something when you see it in action."
Becky Schneider, a freshman agrucultural education major from Owensville, Mo., is interested in teaching and agriculture. She contacted Diane Olson, Missouri Farm Bureau, and received some good advice. Becky looks forward to working with agriculture in the classroom as a Sigma Alpha member and just mailed her Farm Bureau internship application! Becky's advice, "Take the initiative to make the connection!"

Although it would be impossible to share—or even accurately track—the impression you make on students, it's easy to agree that you are making a positive difference. Following is a report for fall career programming. Every program involved one or more CAFNR mentors!

Resumes 101

(September 6th) Dallas Ford, CAFNR Connections mentor and owner of executive search firm Alpha Scouts, presented a 30-minute program on "the good, the bad and the ugly" of resume writing. Andy Traub represented our corporate partner, Bartlett and Company.

Publicity was led by Alpha Gamma Rho and resulted in 73 students attending.

Following Dallas's presentation, students had the opportunity to have their resumes reviewed by CAFNR Connections mentors/professionals including Kent Haden, Ph.D., MFA, Inc; Sarah Gehring, Missouri Department of Agriculture; Dana Henke, USDA-Farm Service Agency; Andy Traub, Bartlett and Company; Candace Bias, Missouri Division of Natural Resources; Ronald Lemonds, Edward Jones; Tim Getty, Aramark; Cathy Herren, MU Alumni Association, and Dallas, of course!

As evidenced by our evaluations, we were successful. Ninety-six percent of those attending reported greater confidence in their ability to write a professional resume. All attendees reported a greater understanding of the purposes of a resume.

Extreme Makeover

College to Career CAFNR Style. (Tuesday, September 12) With presenters Brenda Edgerton, Ann Taylor Loft, and Bill Penkethman, Suit Yourself, 63 students learned the importance of what you wear in making positive first—and subsequent--impressions. Seniors Jacob Bachman, Alpha Gamma Sigma, and Ashley Nelson, Sigma Alpha, modeled.

Lisa Strek (alumnus and Connections mentor) and Catherine Becker represented our employer partner, Monsanto. They provided excellent tips and observations from the corporate world—including the effects of bad dress choices Many thanks to our Monsanto friends for the refreshments and the tips!

Thanks also to local service providers—Sports Clips, Clip Joint South and the Clinique Counter!

Mocktails with Mentors

Networking Know-How. (September 21) After a short program by our own etiquette guru, Chef Leslie Jett, covering the art of introductions, requesting/receiving business cards, and follow-up strategies, sixteen students practiced their networking skills by meeting Connections mentors Doug Mertens, NK Brand Seeds; Tim Getty, Aramark; Gina Riekhof, Gilmore and Bell, P.C.; Jaime Steiner, Central Bancompany; Jennifer Bloss, Cole Co. R-I School District; and Dawn Shellabarger, Central Bancompany.

CAFNR Career Day 2006

(September 28) Nearly 70 employers and around 400 students attended the CAFNR Career Fair, making this the largest fair in recent history. All but one employer evaluation indicated "very satisfactory" when asked to rate the quality of the candidates!

Family Weekend

(September 30) Several mentors joined the CAFNR family to enjoy a pancake breakfast and dedication ceremony for MO-Ag Plaza in honor of MU Family Weekend. Cathy Herren and Erica Coble, John Deere, talked to CAFNR students, parents and alumni about the Connections career mentoring program.

State and Federal Job Search

(November 8). Mentors Dan Engemann, Missouri Department of Agriculture and Dana Henke, USDA-Farm Service Agency joined colleagues Rebecca Solum, Missouri Department of Conservation and Aubry Ash, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Services to present a program to eleven students interested in employment with state and federal agencies. This program was co-sponsored the School of Natural Resources Student Council.

Dining Like a Diploma

(November 9) Ask Dawn Shellabarger about talking on the cell phone during dinner or Whitney Trosper (Prudential, KC) about attracting the attention of the wait staff. Dawn and Whitney, along with Cathy Herren, Ginger Berry (MO-Ag Industries), Kyle Search (Central Bancompany) and Jenne Powell (Longhorn), helped Chef Jett instruct just over 40 students on the fine art of dining—and especially dining in an employment situation. Thanks to the mentors for being such great sports—even Ginger, who was asked to react outrageously when she found a bug (fake and sterilized) in her salad.

Our dinner was again generously sponsored by the Missouri Beef Industry Council.

As we look forward to 2007, we send you warm wishes for a healthy and truly happy season!

Stephanie and Crew
Career Services