Two long-time employees at the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ Fisher Delta Research Center retired recently.

 

Gary Rainwater and Denis McCrate worked in various capacities during their careers at the Center, located in Portageville. Together they represent 58 years of exemplary service.

 

“It was an honor to work with both Gary and Denis,” said Director Trent Haggard. “They were hard-working and passionate about what they did here at the Center. We always strive to hire employees who are as dedicated as both Gary and Denis.”

 

Rainwater began his career at the Fisher Delta Research Center in July 1976. He worked his way from a Farm Worker to a Mechanical Trades Specialist Electrician, ending his service at the Center with more than 40 years of service.

 

“Forty years of service to a single organization is an incredible accomplishment,” Haggard said. “Gary has been asked to fix anything and everything at the Center, but more remarkably he rarely needed to be asked – he knew what needed to be done and when it was needed.”

 

McCrate began as a Farm Worker in November 2000. He served as an Assistant Foreman and Agriculture Associate, before retiring this year after several years as a Senior Agriculture Associate.

 

“It has also been great working with Denis during the past few years,” Haggard said. “He filled several critical roles during his time at the Center and did a tremendous job juggling both our unique research project needs, and our basic farming needs, at the same time for over 17 years. Not to mention, he can also cook a great barbeque lunch or fish fry. We’re very appreciative of his years of service to Mizzou.”

 

Rainwater and McCrate were both honored during the Fisher Delta Research Center field day in August.

 

Attached photos credit: Logan Jackson, University of Missouri

Attached photos cutline: Gary Rainwater (left) and Denis McCrate (middle) were honored by Fisher Delta Research Center Director Trent Haggard during the annual field day in August. McCrate-

Media Support: 

Logan Jackson

Agricultural Research Center News Strategist

College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

University of Missouri

573-882-5919