MFA scholar Karlin Yaeger was set to follow his career. It led him home.

Karlin Yaeger worked hard in high school to get good grades. And he had a motive. He figured good grades would bring scholarships for college, and college was his key to the larger world. Yaeger, grew up on a farm in rural Howard County, Mo. Earning an MFA scholarship in 1988, he headed toward the University of Missouri and a degree in animal science. His plan was to work in agricultural sales. He figured that plan would lead him away from his hometown, Fayette, population 3,000.

"Back then, at the University of Missouri, the animal science program had three areas of focus. I chose the Ôindustries' route, which students took if they wanted to go into sales," said Yaeger.

It was a popular direction for students of the time. They had seen recent graduates filter into a robust job market in animal health sales, and on the agronomic side, a wide range of crop protectant brands. In fact, it was probably one of the stronger job markets before increased industry consolidation caused a trimming of sales staff in most facets of agricultural sales.

So when the agricultural job fairs came around, Yaeger signed up for a lot of interviews, knowing that most of the jobs he was applying for would be out of state.

"I interviewed with everyone I could, coast to coast. I didn't think sticking around close to home would be an option," he said.

But in doing some work for the Missouri Pork Producers Association's pork expo, Yaeger found himself as a liaison to pork expo exhibitors, many of them animal health companies. That's where he met Chuck McCutcheon, vice president of marketing for Addison Biological Laboratory, which happens to be based in Fayette, Mo.

"At the time, I was aware of Addison, but I really didn't know exactly what they didÑeven having grown up there and attending school across the road from Addison. I knew it was something about managing dog's breath."

McCutcheon invited Yaeger to interview with Addison, which led to a second interview and finally a job.

"Once I found out just what Addison did, I was blown away. I didn't realize they worked on such a national scale, I thought it was more local. I had other job offers, but the appeal of central Missouri won me over," said Yaeger.

A dozen years later, Yaeger is national sales manger for Addison, coordinating the company's Maxi/Guard line, which includes veterinary products for cattle, hogs, horses and companion animals. And that "dog's breath management," is an oral cleaning gel formulated for companion animals. Yaeger is in charge of selling it.

The job takes some travelÑYaeger attends veterinarian tradeshows throughout the country. And traveling puts his opportunity to work in central Missouri in perspective.

"I get to travel through a lot of towns and cities and a little internationally, but I can't find a place I'd rather live than right here in central Missouri," he said.

A look inside Yaeger's office gives clues as to why. You can see his interest in outdoor sportingÑa hunting calendar, fishing pictures. You can see the black and gold mementos of a University of Missouri fan. And you can see his devotion to family with family portraits and children's drawings.

"When you've been out of school this long you see people spend time trying to get back to where they want to live," said Yaeger, who lives with his wife Nancy, son Powell and daughter Sidney halfway between his alma mater MU at Columbia and his hometown of Fayette.

"Being able to be around the family, to visit with my mom and dad when I want to and to have my brother in the same town instead of having to fly in once a year for opening weekend of deer season is a great thing," he said.

Yaeger said that looking back at his college years and the direction he took with the help of scholarships like the one from MFA leads him to one bit of advice for today's students.

"If I could change or expand on one thing, I would network with as many people as you can. Make contacts through friends, family, internships, clubs or faculty members. Just establishing some relationship with people to get your name, face and talent out there means you can ask about opportunities. That makes not only for a positive professional experience, but a life fulfilling one as well."

Heartfelt advice, it would seem. After all, one introduction is what got him back where he wanted to beÑnear home.