Faculty Spotlight: Rick Funston Tuesday, February 1, 2022
About Me
Grew up on a farm ranch in central ND, have previously worked as extension educator, nutritionist for a feed company, taught and coached rodeo team at Chadron State College and was beef extension specialist for MT State located at Miles City, currently professor and Reproductive Physiologist at the University of Nebraska located at West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte. Received BS from North Dakota State University, MS from Montana State University, PhD from the University of Wyoming, and completed a Post Doc at Colorado State University in Reproductive Biotechnology. Position is extension and research appointment. Research focus on heifer development, fetal programming effects on postnatal calf performance including carcass characteristics and reproduction and beef systems research. In the extension capacity, provide leadership and subject matter expertise for educational programs in cow-calf production management for the West Central District and statewide expertise in beef reproductive management programs.
What is your position in the department?
Beef Reproductive Physiologist.
How long have you worked in the department?
19 years.
What do you enjoying outside of work?
Horseback riding and going to the gym. Being outdoors.
What is something most people don't know about you?
Have rodeoed since high school, competed in college, amateur, and some professional rodeos, have been to several state and regional finals including several NE State Finals. Primarily competed in bareback riding, but rode some bulls in high school and bulldogged some.