AgJ alums honored at April showcase of excellence
by Megan Graves, posted May 8, 2009
Two agricultural journalism alumni, Charlene Finck and Steve Barr, were honored with awards at a reception for the Celebration of Excellence on April 3, 2009 at Reynolds Alumni Center.
Finck and Barr were awarded two of three distinguished alumni awards. Steve Barr, co-owner of Osborn & Barr, received the Alumnus of the Year award. He said the award was totally unexpected. Osborn & Barr was co-founded by Barr in 1988, and the company has worked its way up to become the leading agricultural and rural marketing company in North America. Osborn & Barr’s clients include Monsanto, United Soybean Board and John Deere. Barr graduated from MU in 1972 with a degree in agricultural journalism and also helped found the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow organization.
“The agricultural journalism degree is a great way to start a career,” said Barr. Barr always knew he wanted to be in journalism, and he said the agricultural journalism program was a practical, great program, especially due to the terrific advisors.
Charlene Finck, another agricultural journalism alumnus, received the Citation of Merit. Finck is editorial vice president of Farm Journal Media, the leading agricultural media company in the U.S. Finck was “surprised, honored and humbled” in receiving the award. Finck credits her success to the outstanding agricultural journalism program.
“The tremendous partnership between the agriculture and journalism schools creates an unrivaled program,” said Finck. She also commended the quality of advising and said had she not gone to school here, she wouldn’t be where she was today. The advising and how CAFNR mentors their students is key to many successes.
“I wouldn’t have gone as far or as fast,” says Finck.
