2025 Missouri Ag Hall of Fame Inductee

Dave Baker’s vision for collaboration has earned him a place in the Missouri Ag Hall of Fame. As MU Extension State Agricultural Safety Specialist for over 20 years, he built a top U.S. agricultural safety program, authoring over 100 publications. He taught Agricultural Safety & Occupational Health for 27 years and later served as Assistant Dean, Program Director for Agricultural and Natural Resources Extension (1994–2015), and Director of Commercial Agriculture (2013–2015). His investment in an innovative pasture-based dairy and heifer replacement programs generated $75-121 million and over 1,000 jobs for Missouri. Nationally, Baker fostered ties with Congress, government, and agricultural groups and co-founded the Extension Disaster Education Network. Following his retirement from the University of Missouri, Baker served five years with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, leading special projects for directors Richard Fordyce and Chris Chinn.