Each fall, the Darr College of Agriculture’s signature fundraising event brings together alumni, industry partners and supporters.  

Now in its 13th year, the annual Ag Celebration continues to generate funds that support and advance Missouri State University students’ success.  

This year’s event took place on Nov. 8 at the Darr Agricultural Center.  

Investing in future ag leaders

Ag Celebration was created to raise money for scholarships that support agriculture students. Some of the raised funds are used to amend other endowed scholarship awards, further boosting support to the students. 

“These funds supplement the many scholarships we offer by bringing each award up to a minimum of $1,000,” said Carrie Crews, event committee member and the college’s administrative specialist. “The funds also make it possible to award additional scholarships to students who may not meet traditional academic requirements but are equally deserving.” 

More than 200 people attended this year’s event, which raised a total of $33,425. Sponsors including Phelps County Bank, Bass Pro Shops, FCS Financial and many others also donated.  

A memorable night

Guests enjoyed a dinner featuring Mo State beef and wine, as well as other local products.   

“Being able to feed the people in the room with our products is a testimony of our hard work and dedication to agriculture,” Crews said. 

The evening also featured an auction led by a Mo State alumnus and opportunities for guests to connect and network.    

The work behind the scenes

A dedicated committee of 12 alumni, supported by Crews as the college representative and faculty member Dr. Gary Webb, work together each year to organize the event.  

The committee started planning this year’s fundraiser almost a year ahead. They chose the date in November and worked on the budget and scholarship selections in February. In May, they contacted major sponsors, and by July, they were planning the logistics and the auction. From September to October, members met every two weeks to finalize the menu, beverages, decorations and print materials. 

“Behind the scenes, it takes the whole committee, myself, students and faculty to keep everything running,” Crews said. “Student interns led our social media efforts and helped us reach a wider audience this year.”  

“In addition, associate professor Dr. Christine Sudbrock helped to manage the scholarship awards in collaboration with a college committee, contributing to the event’s success.”  

Looking ahead

As the annual Ag Celebration continues to grow, so does its vision for the future. The committee aims to create more opportunities to keep graduates connected and involved.  

This includes forming an executive alumni chapter and launching the Darr Difference Day, a special event that will bring students, alumni, faculty and industry partners together to work on projects at the Darr Agricultural Center.  

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