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
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
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 Nelson, Ph.D.
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 …
David G. Hewitt, Ph.D.
David received a Bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology from Colorado State University (1987). He studied bear nutrition for his Master’s degree at Washington State University (1989) and ruffed grouse nutrition and ecology at Virginia Tech for his Ph.D. (1994). He lectured at Humboldt State University and held a post-doctoral research position at Utah State University before joining the Caesar Kleberg …
Neal Wilkins, Ph.D.
Neal Wilkins is the President and CEO of the East Foundation, a private operating foundation supporting wildlife conservation and other benefits of ranching and private land stewardship. The Foundation operates 218,000 acres of private ranchland in South Texas, where it achieves its mission through research, education and outreach. Neal has over 25 years of experience leading research and conservation efforts …
Mark Kossler
Mark Kossler is the General Manager of Turner Enterprises Western Ranches in Bozeman, Montana. In this capacity, Kossler oversees the management of 16 ranches in the western U.S. consisting of approximately 1.9 million acres; 51,000 bison; and 250 employees. All ranches raise bison commercially as well as incorporating numerous wildlife and conservation projects into their operations. Kossler graduated from the …
Erik Jacobsen
Erik Jacobsen is Vice-President & General Manager of Cattle Operations for AgReserves, Inc. headquartered at Deseret Ranches in St. Cloud, Florida. Erik began work at AgReserves in 1986 as a cattle foreman on Deseret Ranches of Florida and has been serving as Vice-President & General Manager since 2006. He worked for Smithfield Foods from 1995 to 2006 in various management …
Bob McCan
Bob McCan of Victoria, Texas, oversees the cattle operations and recreational hunting and wildlife operations for his family’s company, McFaddin Enterprises, Ltd. in Victoria, Refugio, and Bee Counties. The ranches are stocked with Victoria cattle, a commercial cross-bred of three-fourths Hereford and one fourth Brahman with a uniform Hereford coloring. McCan was born in Victoria County on October 16, 1957. …
Caroline A. Forgason
Caroline A. Forgason graduated with a BA from University of Texas at Austin Plan II with honors in 1978. She continued her education at Columbia University School of Business where she earned her MBA in 1985. For 12 years, Forgason ranched in the Davis Mountains on the Caldwell Ranch. Forgason has served as a board member for several organizations, including …
Dave DeLaney
Dave DeLaney joined the KRIRM team in April 2022 as the Practitioner in Ranch Management after retiring as the Vice President and General Manager of Livestock and Ranching Operations for King Ranch, Inc. From 1992-2003, Dave worked with Friona Industries, L.P. where he served as General Manager between 1996 and 2003. Between 1984 and 1992, Dave was the Operations and …
Gus T. Canales
Gus T. Canales was born to parents, Gus Canales and Ruth S. Canales. He is the great great great grandson of Sabos Cavazos, owner of the “Espirito Santo” Spanish land grant situated in Cameron and Willacy counties, granted in the year 1781. His heritage also stems from his grandmother, Rafaela Garcia Canales, whose ancestors were granted the “San Antonio de …