WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE

ROB MILLS

STONEVILLE, MISSISSIPPI

DR. Whitney Desiree Crow sounds like the name of someone who’ll be having a power lunch with George Clooney sometime soon…or sitting with Taylor in a sky box at Arrowhead as they watch Travis do battle.

With the looks to go with her name, Whitney Desiree Crow has found… bugs… to be the pursuit of her life. She says they’re interesting.

That’s why she became DR. Whitney Desiree Crow, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology at Mississippi State University in Starkville. She’ll be one of the featured speakers at the annual National Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference, which will be held January 30-31, 2024, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Red Wolf Convention Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Mississippi State University is an Academic Partner for the event, which is presented by AgWiki & MidAmerica Farmer Grower.

Because of her father’s career, her early childhood involved relocating and attending different schools. As she reached high school, she found an unexpected outlet she could enjoy…the FFA. She would speak, participate in most activities, and occasionally judge livestock. After high school, she decided to move on and move away to college after graduation. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Tennessee at Martin, then moved on to the University of Tennessee.  Whitney says that’s where she found the launching pad for her career orbit.  

“One thing I always wanted to do was teach,” she recollected. The second factor at UT that was a major help to her were the people who took an interest in her work and saw her potential. “Dr. Larry Steckel’s program was the right opportunity at the right time in my life. He gave me the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree in plant science and further my interest in agricultural research.”

The road to becoming the expert she’s considered to be today led her to Mississippi State University, in the city of Starkville, known far better for football than bugs. (Although bugs have a secure home in the Deep South.) She graduated from MSU with her PhD in 2018. Before returning to MSU as an Extension entomologist, she spent a little over a year as a field scientist in the agricultural industry.  As she teaches outside the classroom, she’s reminded of professors she encountered like Dr. Angus Catchot of MSU and Dr. Eric Walker of UT-Martin, who in her view were “insightful and instructive”, the way she hopes to be to her graduate students.

And coming from her podium will be everything you wanted to know about insects but were afraid to ask. According to Dr. Crow, the society of insects that populate our world plays a much bigger part in our lives than we realize. “I’m like most people, I don’t like some bugs. But entomology is fascinating. And my job enables me to get out and work around the state. The work we can do can have a major impact on insect management in Mississippi row crops.”

Like anything that flips your switch, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When it comes to Crowe’s fascination with entomology, the tension that exists in the natural order was one of the things that got her attention. “Insects have the potential to be a major problem. But they can also aid in the situation. In some situations, while one insect causes harm to the crop another helps aid in management.” 

She notes one creature that human’s recoil from, is their ally in the field. “Several insects we encountered on a regular basis are beneficial. Some of these beneficial insects include spiders or ladybugs,” she says, adding that chemicals play a large role in insect pest management. “There are many tactics outside of outside of chemical control that can be used for pest management, however, a well-timed insecticide application provides tremendous benefit,” she concluded. Her research program provides information for Extension programs where information is widely used across Mississippi.

Having allies in any field they work in is something that women look for. A female in the world of ag & academia especially. “You can feel intimidated…at times you’re navigating a mine field. It’s a very male dominated profession. I’ve been blown off at times…but for the most part I’ve been well received,” she said.  In looking back, she credits those who helped her along the way. “My mentors like Dr. Steckel, Dr. Catchot & Dr. Walker have meant a great deal to me. I’ve worked hard to get the respect of my peers, and I’ve learned that you are always going to have challenges to overcome.” When it comes to agriculture as a career path for young women, she says there are plenty of fish in the sea. “For me, having the opportunity to train the next generation of agriculturalists and aiding in pest management for Mississippi producers, are some of the most rewarding aspects of the job.”

Until then the lady who could pass for Julia Sugarbaker’s granddaughter will focus her affection on those loathed rodents most Americans would assault with a can of Raid.  Why? Because they’re interesting…and… for all of us who eat and drink and wear clothing, etc., it matters a lot. ∆

ROB MILLS: MAFG Contributing Writer