The Story Starts Here:
The History and Impact of
Science and Agricultural Journalism
at the University of Missouri
In-Depth Q&A
The book is just the tip of the iceberg. This section further explores alumni stories and the impact that the program left on their life before and after graduation. In-Depth Q&A further explores the value AgJ had on the students and the industry alike.
Leroy Van Dyke John Harvey Joe Van Trump
Jerry Litton Michael Hood Bill Eftink
Hank Ernst Lowell Newsom Steve Barr
Frank Holdmeyer Danita Allen Wood
Leroy Van Dyke, 1952 Alumnus
Before country music legend Leroy Van Dyke rose to fame with the song “Auctioneer”, he was an agricultural journalist working for the Drover’s Journal and the Corn Belt Farm Dailies. And before that? Yes, you guessed correct. Van Dyke was a student in the University of Missouri’s agricultural journalism program.
While Van Dyke’s career has not be solely based in the agricultural journalism industry, the 1952 graduate explained that being a dual-major in animal husbandry and agricultural journalism is what helped launch him into a successful music career.
After graduation in 1957, alumnus John Harvey went on to work for companies such as DuPont, the United States Department of Agriculture and Successful Farming. He was awarded a lifetime achievement award in 2011 from the American Agriculture Editor’s Association and when you hear his story you’ll know why.
During his first two years of college, Harvey followed in his family’s footsteps of attending Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Missouri. However, combining his interest in journalism with his knowledge of agriculture, Harvey said the lightbulb went on as soon as he heard of agricultural journalism at the University of Missouri. He transferred to the University of Missouri joining the agricultural journalism program in 1955.
John Harvey, 1957 Alumnus
Joe Van Trump, 1958 Alumnus
Throughout his schooling, Joe Van Trump was nationally recognized as the face of agricultural journalism at the University of Missouri in a November 1957 issue of Harvester World. The national publication explained to readers the importance the program had on the agricultural industry, walking them through Van Trump’s studies and hands-on journalism training.
When Dick Lee approached Van Trump with the offer to be featured in Harvester World, it was as if Lee already knew Van Trump was going to make a large impact on the industry. And that he did. The humble 1958 alumnus directed and executed advertising and marketing plans for companies such as Shell, DuPont and UniRoyal.
Jerry Litton, 1961 Alumnus
After Jerry Litton graduated from the agricultural journalism program in 1961, he used his journalistic abilities to create and produce The Bull-O-Gram magazine containing news on his family’s Charolais cattle operation. Not only did this strategic move greatly boost his family's ranch, but his sheer talent for public speaking, communications and leadership led him to become a household name across the state of Missouri.
Writing all his own speeches, in 1972, Litton won Missouri’s Sixth Congressional District seat, where he advocated for the cattle industry, the middle class, rural communities and restoring trust in the government. With the help of his Congressional Club in 1974, he produced the show “Dialogue with Litton,” where he had guests ranging from a Missouri senator to the future U.S. President Jimmy Carter. And many say he was well on his way to winning presidency until his life was cut short at the age of 39.
Michael Hood, 1963 Alumnus
When speaking with Michael Hood, he is not only honored to be an alumnus, but he’s also proud of the many graduates who came out of the program before and after him in 1963. Throughout his career, he’s had opportunities to connect with countless alumni, and you can tell he really cares about their journalistic growth and positive impact on the industry.
In addition to working alongside alumni such as John Harvey, Danita Allen Wood and Rich Krumme, Hood has had quite an accomplished career himself. He started out working for Missouri Farmer magazine, went on to work for Successful Farming for 25 years, and then traveled the United States photographing tractors for Classic Tractor calendars. In 1976, Hood won an Oscar in Agriculture for all of his hard work and dedication in magazine journalism.
Bill Eftink, 1968 Alumnus
Bill Eftink was a first-generation college student who transferred to MU and its agricultural journalism program in 1966. As a transfer student, Eftink was able to shed light on the possibility of earning an agricultural journalism degree through the journalism school or through the agriculture school, before the J-School phased out the AgJ track. He was also one of the first interviewees to speak about the agricultural journalism club that was established prior to today’s Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow organization.
From working his way up at Successful Farming for 20 years to establishing his own public relations business Eftink Ink, Eftink has left quite a positive impression on the world of agricultural journalism. And his favorite part of being in the industry? Well he said like the program, he has to divide his favorite part into two: one into what he loves most about agriculture and two what he loves most about journalism.
Hank Ernst, 1968 Alumnus
With the help of Dick Lee and Delmar Hatesohl, Ernst was on a path to a long, prosperous career in the agricultural journalism field. Ernst has worked for Missouri Ruralist, The Boone Daily News and Kansas Farmer, working his way up from reporter to editor along the way.
One of his favorite things about the industry is the knowledge he’s gained from interviewees along the way.
“I recall interviewing one couple, asking more questions than needed to tell their story,” Ernst explained. “The farm wife wondered why I asked so many questions. Her husband said, ‘He got his story already. Now he’s asking questions for his own benefit.’”
Lowell Newsom, 1969 Alumnus
While Lowell Newsom did not go immediately into an agricultural journalism field, his career path has led back to his agricultural roots. Newsom had a fruitful career with IBM for 35 years after graduating from the program in 1969. He then moved back home to mid-Missouri where he is now a featured columnist for the Chariton County Journal.
Newsom is a testament of how vital agricultural journalism through MU is and was, no matter if you go directly into the industry or not. As he explained, the skill set he gained while going through the program nonetheless helped him have a very successful career and he’s enjoying being back in the newspaper field today.
Steve Barr, 1972 Alumnus
If you have heard of Osborn and Barr, then chances are you have heard of Steve Barr who is co-owner of the marketing communications agency. Before beginning his successful career within the industry, Barr was one of the founding members of ACT and he was also receiving university-wide recognition as he was the first student journalist to sell a story to Farm Journal magazine.
CAFNR recognized Barr as Alumnus of the Year in 2009 and fellow AgJ alumnus Don Borgman said Barr’s “contributions to agriculture put him in the company of our most outstanding ag alumni.”
Frank Holdmeyer,
1972 Alumnus
Before Frank Holdmeyer became editor of Wallaces Farmer, he was an agricultural journalism student at MU. And before graduation in 1972, Holdmeyer was also one of the founding members of Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. He served as the organization’s first national president.
Holdmeyer’s creativity shined through opportunities such as the ag journalism club’s pipe smoking contest, which raised great awareness for the program, to creating a business card for future employers that past adviser Dr. Hatesohl still praises all these years later.
Danita Allen Wood, 1977 Alumna
With the help of her studies, Danita Allen Wood was able to gain a variety of journalism and agriculturally based courses that aided her throughout her impressive career. With each internship, class or job in the industry she was able to build onto her skill set. And in 1999, she and her husband re-established Missouri Life, which has been named Magazine of the Year by the International Regional Magazine Association six times since then.
“I never took very seriously anyone who tried to say I couldn’t do what they could do,” Wood said. “Because us girls on our farm did everything that all my classmate guys did. It was a very confidence-building childhood that I had.”