Wendy Beard serves as a Biological Science Program Specialist within the Institute of Bioenergy, Climate and Environment, providing assistance for several programs including Rapid Response to Extreme Weather, Soils and Water and others. Before coming to NIFA, Wendy spent six years with a large agricultural cooperative in central Missouri; as a livestock products and forage sales representative, partnering with mainly beef cattle producers to increase efficiency and profitability of their operations.
Prior to her agriculture cooperative experience, Wendy was with University of Missouri Extension for 13 years as a Livestock Extension Specialist and County Program Director. Wendy covered five counties for livestock and grazing programming and worked with the local Extension council and commissioners in the county she was based in. Wendy earned her Bachelor of Science degree from University of Missouri in Columbia and her Masters of Science at Colorado State, both degrees in the Animal Sciences.