Photo caption: Pictured (seated, L to R) are Jayden Rios, Kingman; Jackie Neville, Andale; Grady Woodard, Lyons; Libby Schneider, Logan; Chisum Grund, Wallace; Ty Ruckert, Manhattan; (middle row, L to R) Sam Gleason, Maple Hill; Nicole Frederick, Hutchinson; Ashlynn Remington, Meade; James Fitzsimmons, Cunningham; Tyler Spore, Great Bend; Ethan Bellar, Howard; Kaitlin Houck, Allen; Michaela Bethard, Kismet; (back row, L to R) Coulter Croft, Copeland; Ryan Koons, Buffalo, OK; Drake Dieker, Westphalia; Grant Sardella, Cimarron; Brendan Whipple, Nenzel, NE; and Trenton Turner, Hope.
November 27, 2024
(TOPEKA) – Twenty young Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) members from across the state graduated from the Young Stockmen’s Academy (YSA) November 22 during the annual KLA Convention. Merck Animal Health partnered with KLA to host members in their 20s for a series of four seminars throughout 2024. This class, the eighteenth since the beginning of the program, brings the total number of YSA graduates to 355.
Attending the KLA Convention in Manhattan was the fourth and final session for this year’s class. The three-day event provided participants the opportunity to gain additional industry knowledge and interact with other KLA members from across the state. YSA members got a firsthand look at the inner workings of the association by attending the KLA Chairmen’s Circle meeting. The group also participated in the policy-making process by joining in on committee and council meetings.
During their first session in Topeka in February, attendees participated in advocacy training, were exposed to the legislative process and learned about services provided by KLA and the National Cattemen’s Beef Association. The class met again in the Kansas City area in May, where they learned about beef marketing and agribusiness. The third installment, hosted in September, allowed the group to tour beef and dairy operations representing various segments of each industry throughout central and southwest Kansas.
Members of the 2024 class are Ethan Bellar, Howard; Michaela Bethard, Kismet; Coulter Croft, Copeland; Drake Dieker, Westphalia; James Fitzsimmons, Cunningham; Nicole Frederick, Hutchinson; Sam Gleason, Maple Hill; Chisum Grund, Wallace; Kaitlin Houck, Allen; Ryan Koons, Buffalo, OK; Jackie Neville, Andale; Ashlynn Remington, Meade; Jayden Rios, Garden City; Ty Ruckert, Manhattan; Grant Sardella, Cimarron; Libby Schneider, Logan; Tyler Spore, Great Bend; Trenton Turner, Hope, Brendan Whipple, Nenzel, NE; and Grady Woodard, Lyons.
KLA is a 5,700-member trade organization representing the state’s livestock business on legislative, regulatory and industry issues at both the state and federal levels. The association’s work is funded through voluntary dues dollars paid by its members.
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