Three Rivers College, CMU to partner in agribusiness studies, rodeo team

Three Rivers College will be entering a partnership with Central Methodist University which will allow agribusiness students to complete their four-year degree in Poplar Bluff.

TRC President Dr. Wesley Payne, along with CMU Provost Dr. Rita Gulstad, made the announcement during the Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday afternoon.

“As always we are looking for new ways to partner with our sister colleges to make things better for our students,” Payne said.

This agreement will also allow rodeo team members enrolled with CMU the opportunity for a four-year rodeo experience with the launching of their own team.

The idea began about three months ago when Payne called Gulstad with “a crazy idea” to consider.

“In addition this allows the rodeo program an opportunity to mutually recruit students so they can have a four-year rodeo experience and be locked in from the beginning with a place to go,” Payne added.

Gulstad reported several students had expressed a commitment and interest in the new rodeo team.

CMU hired Amanda Phipps, who will begin Monday, as the team’s first head coach.

Phipps, an accomplished barrel racer herself in Georgia, has experience working with the Three Rivers team and is passionate about the opportunity with Central Methodist.

“I’m excited for the opportunity and grateful,” she said. “And I’m looking forward to building the team.”

Phipps will manage all aspects of the program, from recruitment to practices and competition, and even fundraising.

The CMU rodeo team will be based in Poplar Bluff and will conduct practices and training at the arena at Three Rivers Farm.

“Since we already have the college farm it made it feasible for CMU to begin a rodeo team and share that space,” he said. “By partnering together it makes a lot more things possible.”

Central Methodist will compete in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, Ozark Region.

Libla Family Sports Complex opens Feb. 2

A ribbon cutting will be held at the Libla Family Sports Complex at 3 p.m. February 2 followed by an alumni reunion at 5 p.m. with the Raiders and Lady Raiders basketball teams in action.

“It’s going to be a great event and a lot of fun,” Payne said. “And you will get a chance to see what the new arena looks like.”

During his president’s report, Payne said construction on the sports complex has increased in its intensity.

Crews have been working on the roofing structures to ensure it’s sealed, completing the finish on the basketball court, scheduled an occupancy inspection and grinding and finishing the floors in the FEMA building.

All will be completed prior to the grand opening on February 2, Payne said.

“Will it be 100 percent complete, every ‘I’ dotted and ‘T’ crossed on February 2? No, but it will not be a fundamental issue that prevents us from occupying the building or from having a great event,” Payne added.

The one noticeable item that may not be fully complete, he said, is full remediation of the concrete floors.

“You can’t simultaneously grind concrete and finish a basketball court,” Payne said. “Dust is your enemy when you are staining and sealing wood and grinding concrete creates a little bit of dust to say the least.”

New TRC Logo

Students and the area will begin to notice a new logo for TRC showing up after a vote by all instructors and staff of the college.

“It passed with significant support and we will move forward with the new look,” Payne said.

Athletic insurance bid

Gallagher Student Health & Special Risk of Quincy, Mass., was awarded the athletic team insurance bid at $86,014.

While resulting in a $1,925 annual increase, the company offered the best comparative pricing, based on a zero deductible for a 12-month period.

Gallagher Student Health & Special Risk’s bid totaled $86,014 with $80,406 for the basic sports accident policy through Caitlin Insurance Company and $5,608 for the catastrophic policy through National Union Fire Insurance Company.

Upcoming events

The next gallery exhibit titled “The Power of Nature to Transform” by Rose Anne Barbour Huck began last week.

The exhibit will run through Feb. 22 at the Tinnin Gallery.

The National Russian Ballet will be performing “Cinderella” at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center. The performance is sponsored by Kissinger & Kirkman Investment Centre.

Tickets are $15 and more information can be found online at www.trcc.edu/tinnin .

The 28th annual Jazz Festival will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 7 for jazz bands and 7 p.m. Feb. 9 for All-District jazz band at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center.

This is a cooperative effort by the entire music department where professionals will give pointers to high school bands, the college band and students, Payne said.

The second partnership between the Rodgers Theatre and Patrons of the Arts will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 with the production of Dailey & Vincent.

The event will take place at the Rodgers Theatre. Tickets can be purchased online at www.trcc.edu/tinnin for $30.

“We look forward to this event and future partnerships with the Rodgers Theatre,” Payne said. “We share a common goal to bring high-value entertainment and cultural events to our area.”

Next meeting

The next TRC Board of Trustees meeting will be at noon Feb. 20 in the board room at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center.