Wurz grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado surrounded by agriculture but not directly involved in the industry. “I always have a hard time answering what made me interested in the cattle business,” states Wurz. “I often joke that it boils down to ‘I like cows.’” He decided to further lean into his interest earning a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science …
Carson King
Raised in Dillon, Montana on a cow-calf stocker operation, King has been involved in ranching his entire life. Every summer he and his brothers worked on the ranch alongside their father. “The ranch facilitated a place to learn and grow in an environment that was challenging. As the ranch strived for perfection in a sustainable way, we were able to …
Mason Dahl
Dahl is a proud, seventh-generation American cattleman. He was born into the ranching lifestyle; “My dad did turn-around business for ranching and developed a three-year, three-phase program to accomplish that. As a result, my childhood and teenage years were spent in various parts of Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Utah and Oregon.” From a young age he was exposed to different operation …
Paul Quin
Quin was born and raised in the horse country of Pilot Point, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Rangeland Ecology and Management with a minor in Soil and Forage Sciences. Throughout college he had developed a strong passion for learning and understanding the ecology of grassland environments which ultimately led him to …
Seb Killpack
Raised in southeastern Idaho, Killpack grew up working with his parents and neighbors at local small farms and ranches and competing in roping events. While pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering Technology at BYU-Idaho, Killpack worked multiple jobs for local ranches gaining experience in the cow-calf and feedlot sectors as well as farming. After earning his degree in the …
Nate Edwards
Edwards was raised in Oologah, Oklahoma. His passion for ranching began working with family on his grandparents’ cow-calf operation. While earning his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science with a minor in Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University, he had the opportunity to work outside the classroom on a cow-calf operation and feedlot/bull test station further expanding his knowledge and …
Case Study: Identification of Federal and State Assistance Programs with Potential Utility for Ranchers
INTRODUCTION Many of the historical southern Texas Panhandle ranches were established in the late 1800’s. With a long-standing commitment to western heritage, they embody ranching traditions, with a focus on raising high quality cattle and working ranch horses. The host ranch of this case study consists of native rangeland with no cultivated ground. Important landowner considerations include natural resource management …
Class of 2023 Shares Lessons Learned and Insights Gained
With exposure to diverse operations across the country, networking with professionals, and classroom learning, KRIRM students embrace the opportunity to learn more about current challenges facing the industry. As the graduating class of 2023 prepares to return to the workforce, they share some of the biggest challenges they have noticed and potential solutions going forward. The class of 2023 includes …
Class of 2023 – Driven to Make a Difference
The Class of 2023 is ready to apply their knowledge and experience to serve the ranching industry. By Emily StriblingWinter 2023 Newsletter In May 2023, the next class of KRIRM graduates will earn their Master of Science in Ranch Management. The class of 2023 includes Bradley Donner, recipient of the Lee and Ramona Bass Endowed Fellowship; Caroline Wild, recipient of …
Sam Newell
Newell was raised on his family’s farm in Nephi, Utah and immediately managed a ranch in northeastern Utah post high school graduation in 2012 until setting off for college at Utah State Univeristy, a few years later. In between college semesters, Newell and his wife, Lauren, worked on ranches in Nebraska, South Dakota, Florida and Colorado. Upon graduation in 2018 …
Chase Crandall
Raised on the family ranch, Crandall Farms in Springville, Utah, Crandall has been involved in the ranching industry his entire life. Upon graduation from Utah State University in 2014 with a degree in mechanical engineering, Crandall worked as a product engineer for Powder River Livestock Equipment until returning to the ranch in 2018. Since his return, Crandall has been managing …
Nathan Clackum
Clackum is an accomplished ranch manager with over 25 years of experience in animal agriculture. His roles have ranged from beef herdsman at his alma mater, Berry College in Mount Berry, Georgia, to his most recent position as ranch manager for Rollins Ranch White in Rydal, Georgia. Clackum, self-described as “a lifelong learner who is self-motivated, analytical and a research …