When you ask Daniel Wisner, a senior in the William H. Darr School of Agriculture, what his plans are for his future he quickly lists off, “Operating and expanding my family farm, serving as a loan officer at my community bank, starting a few small businesses, getting my pilot’s license, running with the bulls in Spain…oh, and becoming President.” And that’s just to name a few.

That’s quite a “To Do” list, but if there’s a student that can do it, it might just be Daniel.

Raised on his family’s farm, he always knew he wanted to pursue agriculture.  Believing strongly that a key to reaching his potential was a college education, Daniel honed in on Missouri State because of its Darr School of Agriculture’s reputation for great classes, great professors, and great opportunities through student organizations.

Despite already having selected a college and becoming the valedictorian of the largest class to ever graduate from his high school in Osceola, Mo., Daniel’s college plans were still in doubt because of costs.  “It wasn’t until I received a renewable scholarship that I decided I could afford going to Missouri State – my college of choice.”  

This careful financial analysis was apparently an indicator for the direction his agriculture interests would take, as he selected to major in Agricultural Finance and Management.  Daniel notes, “In order to be successful in anything you have to be able to manage finances.  Being able to decide what is possible and, more importantly, profitable for my farm piqued my interest.”

Daniel has made the most of his time in his program.  Beyond classes, Daniel has acquired an internship at St. Clair County State Bank in Osceola, getting real-life experience in financial lending for agricultural interests while still working on his family’s farm and running his own firewood business.  He remains active at his hometown church, and on campus he is involved in Intramural sports, Collegiate Farm Bureau, Collegiate Future Farmers of America, Delta Tau Alpha Agriculture Honor Society, Agronomy Club, and Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity.  In addition, through his involvement, he has participated in Farm Bureau Public Speaking Forums in Oklahoma, Washington D.C., and St. Louis.

All that work and extra effort translated into additional scholarship recognition for Daniel this fall as he received three major awards at the 2010 Agriculture Awards Banquet – the Anson Elliott Citizen Leadership Award in Agriculture, the Agricultural Alumni Award, and the Glenn E. Karls Senior Excellence Award.  All the awards recognize students for their academics, character, citizenship, and leadership.

“These awards are a huge honor and are going to pay for my final semester in college!  I don’t think my work can match the kindness and generosity of those that helped make the awards possible, but I will use the funds to continue to strive for the top and do my best to live up to what they represent.”

As Daniel graduates in May he knows that scholarships have helped make much of his success possible, and knows he will continue to remember the generosity that helped establish those funds as he works his way through his “To Do” list.