AgEBB-MU CAFNR Extension

Green Horizons

Volume 24, Number 1
Winter 2020

Community

Land of the Osages Research Center:
Opportunity and Partnership at the Center for Agroforestry

By Hannah Hemmelgarn | Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri

Doug Allen, pictured right, was a tremendous friend and supporter of the Center for Agroforestry. On his passing, he bequeathed his farm and an endowment to support the farm to the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry. This farm, now officially named the Land of the Osages Research Center, is the first new MU research center farm in over 30 years.

Doug's wishes for the farm to be a point of connection between the Center for Agroforestry and the people Native to this land is guiding the direction of this special place. On Tuesday, October 29th, MU and the Center for Agroforestry, with delegates from the Osage Nation including Chief Standing Bear and several members of the Osage Congress and Traditional Cultural Advisors, came together at the Land of the Osages Research Center to formally recognize this important new relationship.

The event featured an opening ceremony that paid tribute to the Center's partnership with the Osage Nation, including prayers from Osage singers, insightful and inspiring words from Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, Osage Speaker Joe Tillman, Osage Traditional Cultural Advisors Chairman Norman Akers, MU Chancellor Alexander Cartwright, CAFNR Dean Chris Daubert, and UMCA Director Sarah Lovell. Christopher Daubert, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources shared that "CAFNR is so proud to be opening the Land of the Osages Research Center... [the donor] wished to build a partnership between the Osage Nation and agroforestry, which is something CAFNR is thrilled to continue". Despite below freezing temperatures, nearly 200 people including representation from MU, the nearby community, supporters of the Center for Agroforestry, and the Osage Nation attended the morning grand opening ceremonies, a warm hearty lunch, and an afternoon field day, abbreviated due to weather.

"This is such an exciting day, and we're so thankful for Doug's willingness to pave the way for this center to become a reality" said Sarah Lovell, co-superintendent of the research center with Dusty Walter, and director of the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry. "His gift will allow us to further our already strong agroforestry programs and research, as well as build collaborations with the Osage Nation." Lovell is also the current H.E. Garrett Endowed Chair Professor, established by Doug Allen in 2006. Future plans for the 550 acre Ozark farm include demonstration trials, internship opportunities and workshops with relevance to Osage partners and rural Missouri communities.