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 Spring of 2020, he began working at Sheridan Ranches, a division of Ag Reserves, in Sheridan, Wyoming. He quickly transitioned from a seasonal employee to full-time and was responsible for his own herd of cows and pasture rotation. “I was able to be tutored by great mentors and coworkers. My knowledge grew exponentially while working at Sheridan Ranches,” states Killpack. Prior to relocating to begin his master’s program, Killpack also worked as a seasonal employee for Sunlight Ranches on the Ceded Strip unit in Hardin, Montana.
Killpack was introduced to the Institute through his brother and KRIRM alumnus, Kord Killpack ’21. “I was able to see first-hand the growth and skills Kord attained while at the Institute and I gained an appreciation for what the program had to offer,” states Killpack. “I decided if ranch management was the career I was going to pursue, the Institute would be the place for me to attain the skills I needed to be successful in the industry.”
In the next two years, Killpack aspires to gain a deeper understanding of all aspects of the beef industry to broaden his horizon and understand the nuance of each sector and how they integrate together. He is also looking forward to learning the business-side of ranching, assessing the position of a ranch to inform decisions that drive the ranch toward profitability. Looking ahead, Killpack desires to be a capable ranch manager that creates a positive work environment for employees while running a profitable, progressive operation.
Killpack has been married for six years to his wife, Emilee, who grew up in the ranching industry in southwestern Wyoming. They have one daughter Steele (2) who loves interacting with all the animals on the ranch.
Killpack holds the Joe Marlin Hilliard Endowed Fellowship as a graduate student at KRIRM.