The Department of Agriculture at Missouri State University is dedicated to meeting the needs of the agricultural community of southwest Missouri and beyond by providing quality education, research and service. By the nature of the people and industries served, the Departmental mission integrates the goals of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences to develop students' capacities for lifelong learning in an increasingly technological world and the themes of public affairs, business and economic development, professional education and health care from the University mission.

The Department is committed to excellence in teaching, preparing students with professional expertise leading to successful careers in numerous agricultural areas in private business, government agencies, educational institutions, wildlife conservation and management and graduate study. It supports experiential learning through internships, laboratory and field experiences, undergraduate research, cooperative education and outreach education programs. Experiences in and beyond the classroom enhance the students' qualitative and analytical abilities required for critical thinking and informed decision making.

The Department of Agriculture is committed to continuing its support of the local, state, national and international service activities of its faculty, staff and students. The Department seeks to advance the knowledge of agriculture by assisting individuals, businesses and government agencies in problem-solving, serving as information sources for health and environmental issues, assuming roles in professional organizations, and linking with elementary and secondary schools for agricultural education programs.

The Department of Agriculture is committed to research and scholarly activities as essential components of the educational process. Research programs provide opportunities for discovery and innovation and the interpretation, application and dissemination of new knowledge, plus the development of methodology to improve inquiry, teaching and professional practice. Faculty-student interactions provide meaningful research experiences for undergraduate students in many areas of agriculture. Cultivation of interdisciplinary, inter-university and cooperative external organization research efforts also enhance research opportunities and scope for the Department of Agriculture.

The present Department of Agriculture consists of 15 faculty and over 400 students majoring in Agricultural Business, Agricultural Communications, Agricultural Education, Agronomy, Animal Science, General Agriculture, Horticulture, Pre-Professional in Veterinary Medicine and Wildlife Conservation and Management. While each major serves a specific clientele and is useful in communicating to potential students of career opportunities, all majors are interrelated and interdependent in course offerings. Often the lines differentiating the degrees are blurred because the true intent of each of the programs is to develop educated persons to meet societal needs.

These eight degree programs had their origin in the first agricultural course offerings at Missouri State University in 1906. While the Federal "Land Grant Act of 1862" mandated a college structure at the University in Columbia, the southwest Missouri region demanded offerings at Missouri State University. Dramatic changes have occurred since 1906 in the food, fiber and renewable resources industry of agriculture. During the early 1900's, the agricultural industry was primarily small self- sufficient farmers. Today, the industry depends upon another 16% to 18% of the work force, which is the largest segment in America, to provide inputs to the producers and to market, process and transport the products to the consumer.

To provide a vibrant program at Missouri State University, these changes in the food, fiber and natural resources industry have required continuous input from employers, former students, and faculty gleaning ideas from across the nation. The demand resulted in the formation of the Department in 1947 and development of new programs and modifications of programs in the ensuing years that have evolved to the eight degree programs.

Recognizing that the Department of Agriculture's existence has been due to responding to the needs of the public involved with the food, fiber and natural resources industry, we have been operating for over a decade with the following mission:

To prepare students with professional expertise leading to successful careers in business, government agencies and educational institutions while experiencing fulfilled lives and meeting mature responsibilities in a constantly changing society; and to be a source of agricultural knowledge that is obtained through study and research that may be utilized for the improvement of the quality of the citizens of the United States.

Based on this mission statement, five strengths of the program have been identified and are described below.

1. Missouri State University Department of Agriculture is uniquely located in the center of businesses, governmental agencies and production units in the food and renewable resources industry.
2. Missouri State University Department of Agriculture has many supporters who actively participate in the program through six advisory committees and financial support. In fiscal year 1992, 296 gifts of $57,000 and in fiscal year 1993, 247 gifts of $213,308 were received. Approximately 40 scholarships are presented to Agriculture students each year through private and external support.
3. Missouri State University Department of Agriculture has a committed and dedicated faculty who focus on its first priority of providing the highest quality of undergraduate experience that includes a commitment to career and personal development extending beyond graduation. This commitment reaches into high schools by establishing learning experiences that have developed into national events: e.g., Soils Judging, Horticulture Judging, Agribusiness Management Contest, Horse Judging, etc.
4. Missouri State University Department of Agriculture has an innovative faculty which participates on the national, state and local levels in a variety of ways. It has resulted in many innovative programs being initiated in the Department (e.g., Internships, Capstone Courses, Freshmen Orientation Course, Agricultural Industry Studies, etc.). The Delta Tau Alpha Honorary Society, now national in scope, began at Missouri State University and has facilitated obtaining leadership experience for hundreds of college students.
5. Missouri State University Department of Agriculture has a diverse faculty who have an interdisciplinary philosophy.

With the 16 faculty having terminal degrees in 11 distinct professional disciplines, there is a critical mass of distinct expertise and diversity of thought. The operation as one Department and the constant interaction of the faculty have provided a unique interdisciplinary and holistic approach to teaching and program development. This is the model that is being highlighted on the national scene today.

Grand opening ceremonies on September 12, 1998 marked the official opening of the newly renovated Karls Hall which houses the Agriculture Department.  With a $4.9 million renovation and 10,000-square-foot addition to Karl Hall, the Department of Agriculture has the potential to improve the quality of instruction that will be required for well prepared graduates to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. This addition will also accommodate growth of the Department to service approximately 700 students in a quality manner.