Missouri

Joni Harper and Karen Funkenbusch, both from MU Extension, attended the American Apitherapy Society Charles Mraz Apitherapy Course & Conference (CMACC): One Health & Honey Bees - the Health Effects of Honeybees on Humans & Animals, held in Las Vegas, NV. The conference offered an opportunity to meet apitherapy professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts while exploring the therapeutic benefits of bee products from around the world. It also featured sessions on the latest research and trends in apitherapy, bee venom therapy, apitherapy and animals, and eco-acoustics.

The Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) team at MU Extension collaborated with Missouri AgrAbility and Heroes to Hives in Missouri to develop a marketing strategy aimed at engaging key audiences through a short video. This video features Navy veteran Kit Smith, who serves as a Missouri AgrAbility Ambassador, sharing his healing journey, the connections he has formed, and his renewed sense of purpose through Heroes to Hives of MO and the Missouri AgrAbility Programs. Watch the video on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tyv_2-GpqtM.

Submitted by Linda Geist and Karen Funkenbusch

Other News

Missouri AgrAbility and MU Extension shared this news story, https://healthsciences.missouri.edu/news/extension-program-helps-veteran-grow-honey-business/, during the Veteran's Day news cycle, featuring Heroes to Hives and other initiatives from MU Extension.The article on Heroes to Hives in Missouri gained considerable attention and was widely circulated across MU's website and various social media platforms, such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. According to our reporting system, it was featured in more than 60 publications, reaching an audience of 301.5k.

MU Extension has released several news updates featuring quotes Karen Funkenbusch from Missouri AgrAbility and other MU Extension specialists on Alpha-gal and the social isolation linked to this emerging disease. You can access these articles at https://extension.missouri.edu/search?s=Alpha+gal. Another article that gained both state and national media attention is "5 ways to say no to stress" available at https://extension.missouri.edu/news/5-ways-to-say-no-to-stress. Other noteworthy articles include https://extension.missouri.edu/news/signs-of-stress-you-should-watch-for and MU's looks at weather effects on farmer health. Additionally, a roadway safety article was repurposed and shared across state and national media outlets during the crop harvest season: https://extension.missouri.edu/news/cellphones-and-rural-roadways-do-not-mix-at-harvest.