Donnell Brown,
RA Brown Ranch
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Donnell Brown and his wife Kelli are the fifth generation to own and manage the R.A. Brown Ranch in Throckmorton, TX, a family business since 1895. They raise registered Angus, Red Angus and SimAngus cattle and sell 800 bulls as well as registered & commercial females in their annual auctions in March & October.Their mission statement says, “We are continually striving to improve the sustainability and efficiency of converting God’s forage into safe, nutritious and great tasting beef, to better feed His people.” The R.A. Brown Ranch has been honored with many awards including the Cattle Business of the Century Award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
They use sound science and technology to best produce superior genetics that fit the needs of commercial cattlemen. The strength of their program is shown by the decades of loyal repeat customers, as well as having numerous bulls in major AI studs marketing semen around the world.
Donnell has served in a Strategic Planning capacity for four different breed associations as well as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. In 2017 he served as President of the Beef Improvement Federation. Donnell and his wife Kelli both served as National FFA Presidents. Kelli also served as President of the Red Angus Association of America. They are blessed with 2 sons: Tucker and Lanham that have joined them back in their family ranching business. Together they are living their dream of raising cows, kids and Quarter Horses.
Dr. Ryan Rathmann,
Texas Tech University
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Ryan Rathmann, Ph.D.
Ryan is an Associate Professor in Beef Cattle Biology and holder of the John W. and Doris Jones Endowed Professorship in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX.
Ryan has a BS in Animal Science and MS in Reproductive Physiology from Texas A&M and a PhD in Ruminant Nutrition. Ryan teaches courses in livestock and carcass evaluation, cow/calf management, animal breeding and genetics, and artificial insemination. He conducts diversified, applied research including cull cow reconditioning, confined and semi-confined cow-calf system management, and beef cow sustainability. Ryan is the all-time winningest coach in collegiate history having coached nine
National Champion Collegiate Livestock Judging Teams (3 @ Texas A&M and 6 @ TTU) and five National Champion Meat Animal Evaluation Teams. Ryan operates RK Cattle a registered Red Angus seedstock operation. He judges livestock shows extensively across the United States and abroad. Ryan is married
to Kayla Kohls Rathmann and they have two daughters named Kinlee (16) and Karlee (13).
Troy Applehans,
Cattle Fax​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Troy is the CattleFax Cow/Calf and Stocker Market Analyst Specialist responsible for feeder cattle and cow/calf regions of the Southern Plains region as well as Southeastern states of the U.S. He also covers feedyards in the Mid-West, Colorado & Western Nebraska regions. Troy is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in Animal Science and a strong cow/calf and seedstock cattle background. Previously, he was employed by Cargill Animal Nutrition, Future Beef Operations as a member of the cattle procurement team and the American Gelbvieh Association as a regional manager. He also served as Director of Field Services/Advertising coordinator for Cattle Today, Inc. for many years. Cattle-Fax is a member-owned organization whose objective is to help member cattlemen make more profitable marketing and management decisions. Cattle-Fax supplies its members, in all segments of cattle production and feeding throughout the United States, with timely market information, analyses and educational programs to assist them in making better bottom-line decisions. The information, including data provided by members, is developed by Cattle-Fax's staff of market analysts and researchers. Cattle-Fax information is available to members through a weekly printed report, in conversations with analysts on toll-free lines, and on video screens and personal computers.
Matt Makens,
Atmospheric Scientist
Matt Makens has presented thousands of weather forecasts and outlooks to dozens of industries since the 1990s. With a specific focus, Matt formed Makens Weather, LLC in 2016 and grew quickly by providing actionable weather and climate information, clearly communicated. The primary focus is on long-term seasonal forecasts and short-term weather hazards for the agricultural industry. Makens Weather serves global clients from Australia to Canada and throughout the United States; notably CattleFax and NCBA.
Makens grew up outside of Castle Rock, Colorado, on a small acreage where he competed annually in the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo and was a livestock judging team member. Matt attended The University of Kansas - degreed in Atmospheric Science.
He and his wife Hillary, also serving the beef industry, live in Douglas County, Colorado, where they are raising their two children.
Colin Woodall,
NCBA
Colin Woodall is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and leads the country’s oldest and largest national trade association for cattle producers in being the trusted leader and definitive voice of the U.S. cattle and beef industry.
Originally from Big Spring, Texas, Colin graduated from Texas A&M and then worked as a grain elevator manager and merchandiser for Cargill at several locations in western Kansas and the Oklahoma panhandle. After venturing to Washington, Colin worked policy and state project issues for U.S. Senator John Cornyn from Texas. He has been with NCBA since 2004 and served as the association’s chief lobbyist in Washington, D.C. Colin serves on the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee providing counsel to USDA and USTR. He is a founding member of the Government Relations Leadership Forum, a life member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, member of the Western Stock Show Association, member of the Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets Association, an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association, past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Agriculture Council of America, and has been a member of the Agribusiness Club of Washington, D.C., the Washington Agricultural Roundtable, and the Washington Intergovernmental Professional Group. He also volunteers as a junior commercial steer show judge at the San Antonio Livestock Exposition.
Lee Leachman,
Leachman Cattle of CO
Lee Leachman is the CEO of Leachman Cattle of Colorado. Leachman Cattle markets over 2,000 bulls per year and is currently one of the five largest seedstock breeders in the US. Lee graduated from Harvard University with an Honors BA in Economics in 1988. Lee also completed graduate level work in animal breeding at Colorado State University.
After college, Lee joined his father Jim and brother Seth at Leachman Cattle Company, in Billings, MT. Together, the family built the company into the largest beef seedstock company in North America. Lee then moved to Colorado in 2003 and formed Leachman Cattle of Colorado. The company immediately began large scale collection of feed intake and conversion data in 2004. In 2005, Dallas Horton asked Lee the critical question, “Which of our sale bulls will make the most money in my commercial operation?” This started the company’s pursuit of indexes that predicted profitability. Today, the company offers three innovative indexes:
• $Ranch – the predictor of a bull’s daughter profitability assuming calves are sold at weaning.
• $Feedlot – the predictor of a bull’s offspring profitability in the feedlot and on the rail. This index is being used to project the value of feeder calves at market.
• $Profit – the predictor of profit from conception to harvest.
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Leachman Cattle of Colorado now markets Angus, Red Angus, Stabilizer, and Charolais bulls produced from a pool of 12,000 females in over 45 cooperator herds. Selection objectives are largely based on the company’s proprietary indexes. The company’s flagship sale is held in March each year in Fort Collins, CO.
In addition to marketing seed stock, the company also has a semen marketing division, a custom semen collection division (Rocky Mountain Sire Services), and a data services department ($Profit Share) that provides EPD and index calculation to other seed stock and commercial producers. The Leachman database currently includes over 1.2 million animals and annually receives data on over 30,000 calves from over 100 herds in five countries. Leachman has a strategic relationship with Zoetis to enhance the accuracy of the Leachman genetic selection program through the use of genomics while also enabling commercial ranchers to make better replacement heifer decisions using Zoetis’ Inherit DNA product.
Lee has been active in the industry through groups including the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, various breed associations, and the Beef Improvement Federation where he is a past President. He also serves on the board of directors for the Beef Improvement Company in York, UK. Lee frequently speaks to cattlemen both in United States and internationally.
Lee and his wife, Lisa, reside in Fort Collins, Colorado. They enjoy spending time with their son, Graham and his wife, Jenn. Lee and Lisa enjoy traveling and are active in their church community through small groups and marriage ministry.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dan Owolabi - Wooster, Ohio
Dan Owolabi is the CEO of Branches, a ministry dedicated to supporting high-impact entrepreneurs, executives, and business owners around the world. A sought-after keynote speaker, Dan has over 20 years of experience helping leaders develop genuine, effective influence. A former college athlete, educator, and church planter, he has worked with leaders in over twenty-five countries and five continents, helping them clarify their identity and leverage their influence to serve others.
Dan's latest book "Authentic Leadership,” became an Amazon #1 New Release. He holds a graduate degree from Ashland University centering on American Leadership and is completing a doctorate in Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary. Dan is a teaching pastor at Grace Church in Wooster, Ohio where he lives with his wife & two daughters.
Ben Weinheimer,
TCFA
Ben Weinheimer is president & CEO of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA), headquartered in Amarillo, Texas. He was named to that position in 2022, serving previously as vice president and as regulatory manager.
As president and CEO, Weinheimer is responsible
for day-to-day operations of the Association, including supervising implementation of policy at the state and federal legislative and regulatory levels, as well as the association’s programs and services offered to members in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
Weinheimer is active in several industry-related and civic organizations and currently serves as Chairman of the Panhandle Regional Water Planning Group, member of the Llano Estacado Regional Water Planning Group, board member of the West Texas A&M University Foundation, past chairman of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, past president of the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership Alumni Association, past president of the Texas Section of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, member of the Texas Association of Community Colleges Business Advisory Council, and member of the Texas A&M University – Veterinarian, Education, Research and Outreach Advisory Council.
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Weinheimer grew up on a diversified crop and livestock operation in the Texas Panhandle. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural engineering and is a licensed professional engineer in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
Ben and wife, Jennifer, reside in Amarillo, Texas. They are proud parents of three children and five grandchildren.
Robby Kirkland,
Kirkland Feedyard &
TCFA
Robby Kirkland, the Vice President and General Manager of Kirkland Feedyard in Vega, TX, is deeply rooted in both his community and his family's cattle and farming operation started by his parents, Perry and Melanie Kirkland. After graduation, he embarked on his academic journey at Texas Tech University, where he cultivated not only his knowledge but also a lifelong connection. It was during this time at Texas Tech that Robby met his wife, Amy, marking the beginning of a partnership that has endured and thrived ever since.
After graduating with a degree in Animal Business in 1994, Robby returned to Vega, eager to begin his career in the family business. Simultaneously, he embarked on another significant chapter of his life, marrying Amy in the same year. Their union has been blessed with three children: Calleigh(25) and her husband Cooper, Carson(23), and Cydney(16), who bring joy and fulfillment to their lives. He is exceptionally proud to have two of them as Texas Tech graduates. He is also very proud to be a 2024 Distinguished Alumni for the Texas Tech College of Agriculture. Robby's dedication extends beyond his family and business. He is an active member of his church and community, embodying the spirit of service and engagement.
His commitment to the beef industry is evident through his involvement in various capacities, including his current role as Chairman of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
At Kirkland Feedyard, a 29,000 head family-owned and operated cattle feeding operation nestled in the Texas panhandle, Robby's leadership ensures a steadfast commitment to excellence. The feedyard, with its blend of customer-owned and company-owned cattle, offers a comprehensive suite of services, including cattle and feed financing, risk management, and marketing programs. Robby's passion for beef drives the spirit of Kirkland Feedyard, where every customer receives personalized attention and access to value-added programs tailored to meet the evolving needs of the industry. Through his tireless efforts, Robby continues to promote not just beef but also the enduring values of hard work, dedication, and community that define his life and work.
Amy Kirkland,
Kirkland Feedyard &
Texas Beef Council
Amy Kirkland is the Technology Director for Vega ISD. She holds a degree in Biology and a Master of Education from West Texas A&M University. She married her husband, Robby, in 1995, and they reside in Vega, Texas. Together, they have three children: Calleigh (25), Carson (23), and Cydney (16). Their daughter Calleigh is married to Cooper Rogers.
Amy became actively involved in advocating for the beef industry after realizing her children couldn't fully explain what their dad did at the feedyard. Recognizing that if her own family struggled to explain it, the general public likely knew even less, she took to social media to promote transparency in beef production and highlight the nutritional benefits of beef in a healthy diet.
Her passion for agriculture led her to serve on the Industry Relations Committee of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA), where she served as chairwoman for three years. She is currently serving her third year as a Board Member for the Texas Beef Council and was recently appointed to Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board.
As someone whose family is rooted in agriculture, she is honored to help bridge the gap between producers and consumers, sharing the vital role beef plays in both rural communities and balanced diets.
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John Stika,
Certified Angus Beef
As president of the Certified Angus Beef ® brand, John Stika leads a team dedicated to earning the trust of consumers around the world by consistently delivering the best beef experience possible. Through a vision focused on connecting people from pasture to plate, John and a passionate team work to grow demand for the branded beef and increase the value of registered Angus cattle, enhancing the lives and businesses of farming and ranching families and all who touch the brand along the way to the consumer.
John’s love for Angus cattle, quality beef and the entire community of people involved from gate to plate is rooted in his experiences growing up on his family’s small farm in central Kansas. His passion grew as he obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science and meat science, respectively, at Kansas State University, and then his doctorate in meat science from the University of Kentucky. Celebrating more than 22 years with Certified Angus Beef, John joined the team as assistant director of feeder-packer relations in 1999, and then director of supply development and packing. Moving on to vice president of business development, he led efforts to collaborate with domestic and international distributors, grocery stores and restaurants to grow their beef sales before becoming president in 2006.
