Donnell Brown,
RA Brown Ranch
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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 Applehans is a nationally recognized cattle market analyst with more than 30 years of experience across all segments of the U.S. beef cattle industry. As a Senior Market Analyst with CattleFax, he delivers clear, data-driven market insights that help producers and industry stakeholders manage risk and make informed marketing decisions.
Raised in Colorado, Troy developed a strong production-based foundation through hands-on involvement in registered and commercial cattle operations, livestock judging, and showing cattle. He holds an associate degree from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a concentration in livestock merchandising from Oklahoma State University. During his college career, he achieved two National Champion
livestock judging titles.
Troy began his career with Cattle Today, providing merchandising support to registered cattle producers and serving as a ringman at more than 2,200 auctions nationwide. He later held leadership roles with the American Gelbvieh Association, owned and operated an Express Personnel Services franchise in Texas, and worked with Future Beef Operations overseeing feeder cattle and calf procurement and quality control.
A member of the CattleFax analyst team since 2003, Troy specializes on cow-calf and stocker operations and analysis in the Southern Plains and feedyard analysis across Colorado, Nebraska and the Corn Belt. He is a highly sought-after speaker throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico and has authored thousands of articles on cattle markets, production, and risk management. He also makes regular appearances on agricultural radio and television programs.
In addition to his analytical work, Troy remains actively involved in bred heifer development, cow-calf and stocker cattle enterprises, and ongoing sales ring work. This hands-on industry involvement strengthens his ability to deliver practical, real-world market insights tailored to the challenges and opportunities facing today’s producers.
Kevin Sparks,
Texas State Senator
Senator Kevin Sparks is a dedicated public servant, conservative businessman, and community leader with deep roots in Midland, Texas. Elected to the Texas State Senate in 2023 for a four-year term, Senator Sparks has been a strong advocate for the priorities that matter most to West Texans. During his productive first two sessions in the 88th and 89th Legislatures, he focused on advancing energy reliability, improving water accessibility, strengthening healthcare systems, reforming foster care, and combating oilfield theft. His work reflects a steadfast commitment to addressing the needs and values of his constituents.
Kevin's passion for energy runs deep, rooted in his nearly 40-year career in the oil and gas industry. After earning a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 1985, he returned to Midland to join Discovery Operating, his family’s business. Starting as a pumper and roustabout, Kevin worked his way up to serve as Chief Executive Officer. His leadership in the energy sector has provided him with firsthand knowledge of one of West Texas's most vital industries, and he brings that expertise to his legislative work.
Equally dedicated to addressing community challenges, Senator Sparks is a strong advocate for foster care reform and the protection of vulnerable children. His efforts prioritize building a stronger, safer system for children and families. On matters of fiscal responsibility, Kevin champions efficient government spending that serves taxpayers without compromising critical services. He also works to enhance the quality and accessibility of health and human services, believing that healthy families are the foundation of strong communities.
For over 30 years, Kevin and his wife, Jill, have been active members of the Midland community. They raised their four children in Midland and now enjoy spending time with their several grandchildren. As members of Stonegate Fellowship, Kevin has served as an elder, and both he and Jill have mentored young couples and led small groups. In his spare time Kevin enjoys hunting, fly fishing and spending time with his family.
John Haskell
Ranch Right, LLC
John has over 20 years of experience helping ranches become more profitable, starting new ranch businesses, and turning around failing ranches. He now shares his winning recipe through consulting services.
While we all know ranching is hard work, knowing how to do the right work is what makes the hard work payoff. He believes time with family and friends is good for the soul. He enjoys his family time with his loving wife and 3 adorable children. They often love to get outdoors and participate in extracurricular activities.
.jpg)
Burke Teichert
Dr. Jason Rowntree
Michigan State, Professor of Ag Science
Jason Rowntree is a professor of Animal Science at Michigan State University where he holds the Charles Stewart Mott Distinguished Professorship for Sustainable Agriculture. Rowntree’s research focuses on identifying the metrics and management that reflect ecological
improvement in grazingland and other agricultural systems. Rowntree has given presentations and conducted research throughout the United States, Australian, Canada, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Africa and New Zealand. Rowntree has led or been a co-investigator on $27.75 million in funding to conduct food system research. Jason is also the co-director of the Center for Regenerative Agriculture at Michigan State University. His work in beef sustainability was featured in the movies Sacred Cow and Roots So Deep. His work has been highlighted in The Washington Post, New York Times, Forbes and many other popular media publications.
Burke was raised on a family ranch in western Wyoming. His father and grandfather were ahead of their time in understanding the importance of low- input, low cost agriculture. After high school, he went to BYU to study Agricultural Economics with an emphasis in AgBusiness. He interrupted school to serve a 2 ½ year mission for his church in Brazil. Upon graduating from BYU, he went to the University of Wyoming to get a M.S. in Agricultural Economics-Farm and Ranch Management.
At UW he was mentored by a very good Ranch Economist that taught him excellent methods for analyzing alternative methods of operating ranches or bringing new practices to them. He also visited 40+ ranches in the state to collect data for his M.S. thesis. Some of those visits turned out to be life-long thought changers. Following graduation, Burke served on the Ag. Economics faculty for one year.
After his time at the University of Wyoming, Burke spent a few years in the Artificial Insemination industry where he was put in touch with some of the best Animal Scientists in America—several of whom became mentors. This was a very valuable addition to the Agricultural Economics formal education.
Burke has since worked in various aspects of farm and ranch management and consulting.​ Burke has managed cattle ranches in a variety of locations and has had managerial oversight of two large farms and a dairy. He has also traveled extensively in the U.S. and in parts of Canada and Central and South America as well as England, Australia and New Zealand either on company business or as a consultant or speaker.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Michael Grauer,​
Art Historian/Historian
of the American West
Michael R. Grauer,
​Art Historian/Historian of the American West
Mr. Grauer holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art history from the University of Kansas; Master of Arts in art history from Southern Methodist University; and Master of Arts in history from West Texas A&M University. Beginning his career at Smithsonian American Art
Museum. He was curator of art and Western heritage at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, at Canyon, Texas. He was McCasland Chair of Cowboy Culture/Curator of Cowboy Collections and Western Art at the National Cowboy Museum.
He has curated over 160 exhibitions on Western art, culture, and history, authored 80 publications, and appeared in ten documentaries in the US and in Germany. He authored Rounded Up in Glory: Frank Reaugh, Texas Renaissance Man in 2016. In September 2021, his book, Making a Hand: The Art of H. D. Bugbee, received the Western Heritage Wrangler Award for Best Western Art Book for 2020.
He taught art history and Western American Studies at West Texas A&M University. He was the University of Kansas Kress Foundation Department of Art History’s distinguished alumnus for 2012. He was inducted into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame at Dodge City, Kansas, as Cowboy Historian for 2021.
He is a member of the Charles M. Russell catalogue raisonne committee, president of the Western Cattle Trail Association, vice-president of the International Chisholm Trail Association, a Santa Fe Trail Association board member, executive committee for Westerners International, and on the national advisory council for the Couse-Sharp Historic Site, Taos, New Mexico.
In 2024 he received the William and Linda Reaves Lifetime Achievement Award from the Center for Advancement and Study of Early Texas Art (CASETA). His recent work includes image editor and essayist for Making the Unknown Known: Women in Early TexaS Art, 1860s–1960s from Texas A&M University Press (2024); essayist for Knowing the West: Visual Legacies of the American West, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (2024); and essayist for The Taos Society of Artists, University of Oklahoma Press (2025).
He founded Michael R. Grauer LLC in 2025 for consultation, guest curation, scholarly research, writing, and presentation services to museums, public institutions, galleries, auction houses and private collections on art, history, and cultures of the American West.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Ananya Ramamoorthy,
Texas 4H
Ananya Ramamoorthy is a Texas 4-H member and student leader with experience in public speaking. She has been involved in youth leadership and advocacy through 4-H and enjoys learning from producers and agricultural professionals. Her “Seeds of Hope” speech focuses on mental health in agriculture and the importance of supporting those who work the land, and is inspired by her grandfather, a farmer who helped shape her interest in agriculture.
Shane Bedwell,
American Hereford Assn.
Shane Bedwell serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Breed Improvement for the
American Hereford Association (AHA). Shane works closely with the AHA’s genetic evaluation as
well as National Reference Sire Program (NRSP). Shane has led the AHA through the successful implementation of their single step genomic evaluation using biometric open language tools software as well as adding dry matter intake and sustained cow fertility to AHA’s suite of traits and economical indices.
Prior to joining the AHA, Shane was a professor and livestock judging coach at Colorado State University for 8 years. He received an associate degree in science from Butler County Community College in 2002 and a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and Industry from Kansas State University in 2004. Shane completed a master’s degree in beef cattle nutrition from the University of Illinois in 2007.
Shane has had the opportunity to judge cattle in 33 states including as well as Shane has been invited to judge International cattle shows in Canada, South America and Australia.
Shane was raised on a cow-calf/stocker ranch near Medicine Lodge, Kansas and helps manage his family’s cow-calf operation, which consists of a rotational cross of Hereford, Angus and Red Angus. Wife Lacey and Children Cealy Rose and Chisum.