Pictured are (front row, L to R) Kyler Berning, Leoti; Camryn Ricker, Ford; Jamie Schaake, Garden City; Jenna Goetzmann, Manhattan; Jenna Hlavaty, Cimarron; Jordan Koons, Buffalo, OK; Jenna Fitzsimmons, Cunningham; Cassandra Wolff, Caldwell; Paige Adams, Hutchinson; Elizabeth Lutz, Nickerson; Hayden Guetterman, Bucyrus; (back row, L to R) Hunter Hope, Jetmore; Luke Schneider, Saint John; Clayton Wharton, Syracuse; Caleb Volkman, Hugoton; Luke Higgason, Larned; Daniel Walsh, Manhattan; Walker Clawson, Meade; Wyatt Woods, Cimarron; and Madelyn Stackley, El Dorado.
For more information contact: Rachel Waggie or Ryan Higbie (785) 273-5115
(TOPEKA) – The 2025 Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Young Stockmen’s Academy (YSA) met in the Kansas City area May 5-7 for their second seminar of the year. Class members from across the state spent three days learning more about the beef and dairy industries and connecting with consumers.
Merck Animal Health, the exclusive YSA sponsor, hosted the class at their Lawrence and Lenexa facilities. Staff provided an overview of the animal health industry, discussed research on animal health products and gave a tour of one of their labs. The class also was able to see the company’s virtual fencing system and one of their animal health monitoring systems in action during a ranch visit.
Bichelmeyer Meats, Dairy Farmers of America, Golden Belt Beef and National Beef Leathers welcomed the group for tours of their facilities and spoke on how their respective businesses operate to serve their customers and members. The class also spent time at two Hy-Vee grocery store locations preparing and serving Kansas City strip steak samples while engaging with consumers about beef. Kansas Beef Council Director of Nutrition Abby Heidari visited with YSA about connecting with consumers before the group interacted with shoppers. Additionally, class members visited Whole Foods Market where they learned more about marketing protein to niche audiences.
Members of the 2025 YSA class are Paige Adams, Hutchinson; Kyler Berning, Leoti; Walker Clawson, Meade; Jenna Fitzsimmons, Cunningham; Jenna Goetzmann, Manhattan; Hayden Guetterman, Bucyrus; Luke Higgason, Larned; Jenna Hlavaty, Cimarron; Hunter Hope, Jetmore; Jordan Koons, Buffalo, OK; Elizabeth Lutz, Nickerson; Camryn Ricker, Ford; Jamie Schaake, Garden City; Luke Schneider, Saint John; Madelyn Stackley, El Dorado; Caleb Volkman, Hugoton; Daniel Walsh, Manhattan; Clayton Wharton, Syracuse; Cassandra Wolff, Caldwell; and Wyatt Woods, Cimarron.
YSA will meet for their third gathering, a tour of central and western Kansas beef and dairy operations, in mid-September.
KLA is a trade organization representing the business interests of members at both the state and federal levels. Voluntary dues dollars paid by producers are used for programs that benefit KLA members in the areas of legislative representation, regulatory assistance, legal troubleshooting, communications and the advancement of youth.
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