environmental health specialist
(health inspector) for the Arkansas
Department of Health, Brittany
took part in a special food safety
certification class called “Food
Safety Preventative Controls
Alliance” (FSPCA). “This class
broke down how to create a food
safety protocol for manufacturing
companies,” Brittany says.
“Through the class, I learned many
details about the risks of producing
food, how to control those risks
and take action for when they are
not controlled.”
As a health inspector, Brittany
spends the majority of her time
conducting reviews of restaurants,
schools, daycares, grocery stores
and meat markets. She also teaches
the public about food safety, works
with businesses on the processes
of new and safe food for retail and
handles rabies bite investigations.
“Through an FSPCA class
I connected with a food safety
consultant for large manufacturing
companies,” Brittany says. “I
have recently started doing some
freelance work with him to create
food safety plans and protocols.”
Professionally, Brittany is a
member of the Arkansas Society
of Professional Sanitarians,
Medical Reserve Corps, Arkansas
State Employee Association and
Serve Northwest Arkansas. She
also takes online classes at the
University of Arkansas (U of A)
to obtain a master’s degree in food
safety.
Brittany currently lives in
Fayetteville, Arkansas, and is
14 HEARTBEAT | WINTER 2018
engaged to Zak Wilkerson,
who studies law at U of A. She
hopes to complete her master’s in
May 2019 and eventually work
as a food safety consultant for
manufacturing companies in
addition to staying involved in the
cattle industry.
“Throughout my
undergraduate education, I was
thankful to have received the
FCS Financial Scholarship,” she
says. “Along with many other
scholarships, (those monies)
completely paid for my education
at MSU.”
collin gandy — gower
Collin attended North Central
Missouri College in Trenton for
two years before transferring to
NWMSU in Maryville where
he received a bachelor’s degree in
agricultural science.
While in college, Collin
completed an internship with
Monsanto in Camden Point,
Missouri, assisting with research
on seeds and new chemicals.
Collin is currently in Florida
helping with storm clean up from
Hurricane Michael.
rachel groves — barnett
A May 2017 summa cum laude
graduate of MU, Rachel received
a bachelor’s in agricultural
economics with an emphasis
on public policy and a minor in
political science.
While at MU, Rachel served
as a College of Agriculture, Food
and Natural Resources peer career
coach and ambassador. She also
worked from her sophomore
through senior years at the MU
Commercial Agriculture Extension
office under the supervision of
Ray Massey, Joe Horner and Ryan
Milhollin. In addition, Rachel
served as a teaching assistant for
ag econ macroeconomics classes
where she administered exams,
tutored students and completed
office hours.
Rachel was active in
Agribusiness Club, serving as
vice president of programs and