KLA Leadership

The trail of success

     The Kansas Livestock Association is a trade association representing 5,600 members on legislative and regulatory issues. KLA was formed in 1894 when a group of more than 100 Flint Hills ranchers met in Emporia to discuss cattle theft problems and unreasonable railroad freight rates.
     The association fought and won many battles through the early years. Issues addressed included a state indemnity for ranchers who lost animals due to hoof-and-mouth disease in 1915, alleged market manipulation by packers in 1916, the Texas Fever lawsuit against the federal government in 1926 and a beef boycott by Boston restaurant owners in 1928. KLA officers also traveled to Washington, D.C. to obtain an exemption for farm labor from the military draft in 1917.
     Through the latter part of the century, KLA continued to strive toward a better business atmosphere for ranchers and feeders. In 1975, KLA pushed a bill through the Kansas legislature calling for prompt payment on fed cattle by packers. The organization led the charge for similar federal legislation the following year despite opposition from the packing industry. KLA fought regulation of the trucking industry in 1978 because the changes would have been unrealistic for hauling livestock. In 1986, Kansas voters approved a constitutional amendment crafted by KLA and other farm groups calling for use-value appraisal on ag land and exempting farm machinery and livestock from the property tax rolls. This helped keep the state’s business climate on a level playing field with other states and is considered to be the biggest tax victory in KLA’s history.
     The organization celebrated its centennial in 1994, with special activities taking place throughout the year. A book was written to commemorate the group’s 100th year in existence by Jim Hoy, a native of the Flint Hills who is on the faculty at Emporia State University. 
     KLA is one of the nation’s most respected state cattlemen’s organizations. The leadership of KLA was instrumental in recommending and implementing the merger between the National Cattlemen’s Association and National Livestock and Meat Board. Through creation of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in 1995, the industry streamlined operations at the national level, mirroring a unified organizational structure that has served KLA well for more than 100 years.
     Today, KLA represents the state’s multi-billion dollar cattle industry at both the state and federal levels. KLA members are involved in all segments of the livestock industry including cow-calf, feedlot, swine, dairy and sheep. Dues paid by the membership fund legislative, educational and communications activities.

KLA Leadership

Following are the 2008-2009 KLA Officers. To contact either the president or president elect, e-mail kla@kla.org. Please designate the KLA officer to which you would like the message addressed.



KLA President 
Todd Allen, Wichita
     

     Todd Allen is the president of cattle feeding operations for Cargill Beef. He started as a management trainee with Caprock Industries in 1981, worked in several of Caprock’s Texas feedyards through the balance of the 1980s and early 1990s and eventually was promoted to general manager of the Caprock cattle feeding facility near Leoti in 1992. Allen managed Caprock at Leoti for 13 years before accepting his current position.
     He has served as KLA Cattle Feeders Council chairman and on the KLA Executive Committee. He currently is a member of the KLA Animal Identification Working Group and has served on the Kansas Beef Council Executive Committee for 14 years. Allen represents KLA on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Board of Directors and is a member of the NCBA Executive Committee.
     Allen belongs to the Salem United Methodist Church in Wichita and is a past 4-H project leader.
     He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Central Missouri at Warrensburg in 1981. His bachelor of science degree is in ag business.
     Allen and his wife, Kathy, have five children. Todd, Jr. and his wife, Amy, own and operate a business in Kansas City. Krystal is a financial controller for M&M Co-op in  Yuma, CO. She and her husband, Josh Ballah, live in Eckley, CO, and are parents to Allen’s only grandchild, Kylee. Another daughter, Katy, works for the Cerner Corporation in Kansas City. Son David is a lineman for Wheatland Electric in Tribune. Youngest daughter Kimberly is a seventh grader, 4-H member and equestrian.

KLA President Elect 
Mark Smith, Sharon Springs

     

     Mark Smith has a stocker cattle program, feeds cattle and farms. His cattle programs are dictated by market conditions. He owns a cow-calf herd and, in the past, has purchased cull cows to breed, calve and sell. Smith has a growing yard used to start cattle for summer pasture and winter grazing. The farming business produces corn and wheat.
     His family earned the NCBA Environmental Stewardship Award in 1994 for outstanding care and enhancement of natural resources. He has been presented many regional awards for grassland and soil conservation and preserving wildlife habitat.
     Smith’s leadership capabilities are well-documented. He has represented Greeley County on the KLA Board of Directors, is a past vice chairman of the KLA Natural Resources Committee and was chairman of the KLA Stockgrowers Council in 2007. Smith currently serves on the KLA Executive Committee and the NCBA Board of Directors. He is a 1981 graduate of the KLA Young Stockmen’s Leadership Conference.
     Smith is active in his community. He has served on the Greeley County school board and as a past local 4-H beef leader. Smith serves on the boards of directors for the Fort Wallace Memorial Association and the Northwest Kansas Technical College .
     He graduated from Kansas State University in 1976 with a degree in social science. Smith also earned a degree from the Kemper Military College in Boonville, MO.
     Smith and wife, Cindy, have two adult daughters. Angie works in the healthcare industry and is married to Edward Robson, who is employed in the Smith family’s grain storage business. Valarie Smith is a Western State College of Colorado graduate and enjoys international travel, writing and musical performance.