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A monthly publication about conservation in Missouri. Started in 1938, the printed magazine is free to residents of Missouri.
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) congratulated 20 new conservation agents upon their graduation from MDC’s 2025 Conservation Agent Training Academy in September. Since then, these new conservation agents have been gaining experience in the field training program. Now, the new agents are looking forward to becoming familiar with their assigned counties.
Missouri’s Northeast Region welcomes three new agents to the area:
Agent Jacie Hopfinger -- Putnam County
Putnam County’s new conservation agent, Jacie Hopfinger, comes from Nashville, IL. She grew up going camping with her family and getting up early in the morning to go fishing at the local county lake with her dad. She was raised around law enforcement with both of her parents working for the local police department, and Agent Hopfinger knew from a young age that she wanted a career in law enforcement. This led her to graduate in December of 2023 with her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
“I am very excited to work in Putnam County and look forward to interacting and meeting everyone within the community.” says Agent Hopfinger. “I am eager to become a part of my community and to help anyone with questions or concerns regarding Missouri’s fish, forest, and wildlife resources.”
Agent Hopfinger can be reached by email at jacie.hopfinger@mdc.mo.gov or by phone at 573-673-0024.
Agent Andrea Kachuba -- Sullivan County
Sullivan County welcomes Conservation Agent Andrea Kachuba to the area. Originally from Montgomery County, Mo., Agent Kachuba grew up outdoors hunting and fishing, utilizing the state’s resources. Kachuba has always wanted to be a conservation agent.
“From a very young age I knew I wanted to be in law enforcement. It wasn’t until I was in the fourth grade that I met an agent at Whetstone Conservation Area in Callaway County while I was fishing. He talked about how he was able to be outside all day and make people smile, and that is when I knew I wanted to be a conservation agent!”
Agent Kachuba graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in December of 2023 with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in criminology and a minor in emergency disaster management. Agent Kachuba can be reached by email at andrea.kachuba@mdc.mo.gov or by phone at 573-673-7588.
Agent Justin Shearman -- Scotland and Schuyler Counties
Agent Justin Shearman, originally from Washington in Franklin County, Mo., has been assigned to serve Schuyler and Scotland Counties. Before joining MDC, Shearman served in the United States Marine Corps from 2015 to 2020 as a V-22 Osprey airframes mechanic. His time in the Marines instilled a strong sense of discipline, teamwork, and service, qualities he now carries into his conservation career. As a conservation agent, Shearman will enforce the Wildlife Code of Missouri, investigate resource violations, assist landowners with habitat and wildlife management, and promote outdoor education and safety throughout the two-county area.
“The Conservation Agent Training Academy provided me with an excellent foundation for the challenges of this job,” Shearman said. “I’m proud to serve the people of Schuyler and Scotland Counties and to help protect the natural resources that make this region such a special part of Missouri.”
Agent Shearman can be reached by email at justin.shearman@mdc.mo.gov or by phone at 660-651-0522.
These new agents join nearly 200 existing MDC agents in serving and protecting Missouri’s fish, forest, and wildlife. To find a list of conservation agents by county, go to https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4ok.
