Meghan Anderson is employed by Aurora Cooperative Elevator Company as the company’s Beef Cattle Specialist. She works with cow/calf and backgrounding operations, helping them with nutrition and management needs. Meghan is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, where she competed on the equestrian team and earned her B.S. double majoring in animal science and agricultural communications. Meghan also works alongside …

Kathy Tokach is the co-owner of Tokach Angus Ranch in St. Anthony, North Dakota. She is a member of several agricultural organizations, including serving as North Dakota CattleWomen’s 2nd Vice President, District 5 CattleWomen President, and Morton County Farm Bureau Board of Director Secretary. She has served on committees for the 5th Annual “Beefin’ It Up Run/Walk”, North Dakota Stockmen’s …

Originally from Washington state, Sarah grew up on a diversified grain and cattle operation near Pullman. Her family is still farming dry land wheat, barley, peas and garbanzo beans. They continue to run a commercial, mixed breed, cow-calf herd. She earned her master’s degree from Kansas State University and her bachelor’s degree from Washington State University in animal science and …

Wyatt serves as the Executive Vice President of the Idaho Cattle Association, a position he has held since 2010.  Prior to joining the Idaho Cattle Association, he managed a commercial cow-calf and stocker operation in Concho, Arizona.  He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in agricultural industry management from the University of Idaho. In addition to representing Idaho’s cattle industry in governmental …

Keith Nantz was raised in Northeast Oregon in the small town of Imbler. Known for its diverse crops, good people, and majestic mountains, it will always be home. The year after graduating high school, Keith served as the State FFA Vice President traveling the state and country in what was the beginning of his leadership development and involvement in the …

Lacey Maier from New Salem, North Dakota, grew up on a cow-calf operation. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science with an Ag Business minor from North Dakota State University (NDSU) in 2010. During her time at NDSU, Lacey was also involved in the Feedlot Management Internship Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Since graduating from NDSU, Lacey …

Laurie Johnson and her husband, Brandon, of Johnson Cattle run 50 cows and background those calves until sale time in December. With the goal of F1 baldies in mind, the Johnsons run Angus cows with a Hereford bull. They also run a lamb to finish operation with 50 ewes who are mostly Dorset and Rambouillet. On the side, Laurie has …

Clayton was raised on a commercial Angus cow-calf ranch near Ellsworth, Kansas. Upon graduation from Kansas State University, he worked for Reeve Cattle Company, Inc. of Garden City, Kansas. Reeve Cattle Company is a diversified family operation consisting of a feedyard, ethanol plant, and farming operation. Clayton was also employed by Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) in the supply development …

Dusty Hahn is a fifth generation cattle rancher from Townsend, Montana, which is located near the headwaters of the Missouri River in southwestern Montana. After attending college at Montana State University in Bozeman and earning a degree in agricultural operations technology, he returned to the family ranch where he works with his father, brother, cousin, uncle, and grandmother to ensure …

Cody Fry from Armstrong, Texas, manages the historic Armstrong Ranch in deep south Texas that encompasses 43,000 acres. He was raised in Bellville, Texas, and graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science in 1997. Cody completed his master’s in 1999 from Texas A&M in animal science with an emphasis in beef cattle breeding. He …

Malorie Bankhead grew up on her family’s cow-calf ranch in Livermore, California, heavily involved in the local 4-H and FFA groups. She graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communication and an emphasis in animal science. In 2009, Malorie served as the California Beef Ambassador, and in 2010 she served as a …

Shad D. Nelson received his Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of California, Riverside. He was appointed to the faculty at Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 2001 and holds the rank of Professor and Research Scientist in the Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness and Environmental Sciences and TAMUK Citrus Center, respectively. He currently holds the position of Dean for the Dick …