Sarah McCord is a senior at the Darr College of Agriculture. She was born and raised in California, Mo, where she found her appreciation for agriculture. She is currently majoring in Agriculture Education with a minor in Agriculture Business.

McCord is a highly involved student through student organizations on campus. She is a member of the Forestry Club, Delta Tau Alpha, and Collegiate Farm Bureau. These organizations have helped McCord gain leadership skills, grow her professional network, and receive numerous scholarships. Outside the doors of Karls, she is a member within Gamma Phi Beta, a Panhellic campus sorority. She takes advantage of her involvement outside of agriculture to share with others about the industry she is passionate about. “Though most of the members in my sorority are not agriculture majors, I have been able to share agriculture with so many of my sisters by simply telling them about my major and the COAG. I think several members have gained more insight into what agriculture is through my involvement in our chapter”.

While balancing the life of course work and organization involvement, McCord has intertwined working on campus into her busy schedule. During the second semester of her freshman year, McCord was selected to be a University Ambassador. This job offered her the chance to serve the Office of Admissions as a tour guide, which consisted of presenting daily tours of campus to prospective students and their families. There were several locations you could spot McCord during her working hours. Places such as Office of Admissions’ Welcome Desks, Campus Visit Desk, Welcome Center Front Desk, and Carrington Hall Front Desk were the main locations where she worked as an ambassador. When asked about her experience as a student worker, her response was, “I love working on campus because of the people I get to interact with, the flexibility, and location. I would recommend an on-campus job to any student!”.

When it comes to internships, McCord is no stranger to this experience. She has worked for Missouri Farmer’s Care for 18 months with their program called Agriculture Education on the Move (AEOTM). This opportunity provided her with the role as being an educator. This allows McCord to enter the classroom and teach a series of ten agriculture focused lessons. She has been able to complete this internship while working to receive her degree at Missouri State University. “This semester I am teaching second graders in Springfield and love every minute of sharing agriculture with these students!”

McCord recently accepted a virtual internship with the U.S. Forest Service. This is overlooked by the United States Department of Agriculture through the Virtual Student Federal Service program. This role includes the duties of updating resources, campaigns, and curriculum for the organization. McCord is looking forward to both opportunities for the upcoming semester. “Internships have been a great way for me to utilize my collegiate education and I cannot wait to see what the Forest Service and AEOTM have in store for me this semester!”