Roy Blunt currently serves as Missouri’s U.S. Senator. Senator Blunt has served in office since 2010 and continues to make an impact on both, rural and urban citizens within the Show-Me state. This past week, Senator Blunt visited Missouri State University’s award-winning Fruit Experiment Station, located on the Mountain Grove campus. Accompanying Senator Blunt was Ms. Sonya Anderson, Mr. Will Wheeler, Mr. Charlie Dickinson, Missouri State University President, Clif Smart, and Missouri State University Provost, Frank Einhellig.
Dr. Del Vecchio, Dean of the Darr College of Agriculture, assisted alongside Senator Blunt during his visit. When asked how significant it is to have Senator Blunt personally visit the facility, Dr. Del Vecchio stated, “Senator Blunt’s visit to the Mtn. Grove Campus provided a great opportunity to show the senator how significant the Mtn. Grove Campus and the State Fruit Experiment Station is to the region and nationally. Senator Blunt witnessed first-hand how the research conducted by MSU College of Agriculture scientists is at the forefront of grape genomics and biotechnology. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with Senator Roy Blunt and company.”
During the visit, Senator Blunt visited the state-of-the-art classroom, research labs, the winery and distillery, and the storefront area, where all products produced on sight can be purchased. This includes the award-winning wines and spirits, honey, jelly, jams, juice, and syrups.
Dr. Chin-Feng Hwang, professor of Environmental Plant Science and Natural Resources, was also able to attend during Senator Blunt’s visit. Dr. Hwang was very delighted to have Senator Blunt visit the on-sight campus facility. “We were honored that Senator Roy Blunt took time to visit our research campus in Mountain Grove. His history of support as a driving force for the USDA/NIFA Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program is very much recognized.”
Dr. Chin-Feng Hwang continued to share about the importance of the programs to the college. “I was personally awarded this grant several times and thus able to build up both grape and black walnut breeding programs. These programs allow our students to learn marker-assisted selection techniques in plant breeding here at Missouri State University. Otherwise, they would have to attend out-of-state colleges for the same education.”
Senator Blunt has made a significant impact within the students at the Darr College of Agriculture during his time in office. Dr. Chin-Feng Hwang stated, “Senator Blunt also has been a pioneer in the Agriculture Student Exchange program. After more than twenty years, the student exchange between Darr College of Agriculture and National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan is still going strong. We appreciate his attention to the progress we have made and encouragement for our continued research”