Join top professionals in the cattle industry as they bring the up to date information on today's hottest topics. Additional speaker announcements coming soon!

Tyler Ayres

Beyond the Gate: Financial Planning & Investment Strategy for Ranchers Ready to Sell or Transition
Friday, March 27 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Room 203

As a certified financial planner for WP Wealth, Tyler Ayres works with his clients in a variety of ways including assembling cash flow plans for retirement income, investment management, and comprehensive financial planning for all generations. His vast experience has helped him build strong client relationships and discover the excitement of working with families in building their unique financial plan, particularly by making the complex simpler.

A native of Wichita Falls, Tyler attended the University of Texas at Arlington and earned his degree in finance. Outside of the office, Tyler enjoys cheering for the Dallas Cowboys, traveling with family, and spending time with his wife, Heather. He also volunteers with the Junior Achievement of the Chisolm Trail, an organization that teaches children financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

Marshall Ayres Bowen

Protecting the Value of Wildland Amid a High-Tech Boom
Friday, March 27 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Room 202

Marshall Ayres Bowen serves as chief executive officer of the Shield Land Stewardship Group and general counsel to the larger Shield Ranch enterprise.  In his role as chief executive officer, Marshall is responsible for the administration and conservation management of the Shield-Ayres legacy ranches.  In his role as general counsel, he manages legal affairs for the Shield Ranch enterprise and oversees advocacy efforts.

A fourth-generation member of the Shield-Ayres family, Marshall is deeply committed to preserving Shield Ranch for future generations.  He serves as secretary of the Shield Ranch Foundation and the Shield-Ayres Foundation, and as vice chair of the board and policy chair of the Texas Agricultural Land Trust.

Prior to joining Shield Ranch, Marshall was in private practice at Butler Snow LLP in Austin, where his practice focused on appellate law, commercial litigation, and government affairs.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Texas A&M University, a Master of Arts in theology from St. Mary’s University, and a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law.

Outside of work, Marshall enjoys hunting on the Shield Ranches and sharing his love of the outdoors with others.  He lives in central Austin with his wife, Madison, their daughter, Atlee, their son, Weldon, and their yellow lab, Hank.

Matthew Barnes

Direct to Consumer Panel
Friday, March 27 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Matthew is a first-generation rancher and stocker operator. He currently lives in Anton, Texas on the high plains with his wife, Kelli and their 2 year old son, Myers. Matthew is a 2013 graduate of Texas Tech University, and a past Texas FFA State President. Matthew grew up in Alto, Texas deep in the piney woods. He has spent over 15 years in agricultural sales in both range management and row crop agriculture. In addition to working for Envu as a Range and Pasture Specialist in Western Texas and New Mexico, he owns and operates Barnes Cattle and is the co-owner and founder of Rock Iron Cattle Company, a ranch-to-table, consumer direct beef business with a brick and mortar storefront in Pollok, Texas.

Dr. Clay Burson 

Building the Future of Your Cow Herd: Considerations for Optimal Heifer Selection and Development
Saturday, March 28 | 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Dr. Clay Burson joined Zinpro in the fall of 2024. He serves as a beef cattle technical consultant. Dr. Burson provides technical support for Zinpro’s cattle business both domestically internationally. Prior to joining Zinpro, he worked as a consulting nutritionist in the Southwestern United States.

Dr. Burson received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Ruminant Nutrition from Texas Tech Univeristy. His Master’s program focused on the use of growth promoting technologies during the finishing phase. Dr. Burson’s Doctoral research involved the evaluation of confined cow-calf production systems and calf health.

Dr. Drew Cassens

Meat Cutting Demo
Friday, March 27 | 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Dr. Drew Cassens is an assistant professor and AgriLife extension meat specialist in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University. Drew earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science from Texas A&M University and his doctorate in animal and food science from Oklahoma State University.

As an extension meat specialist, Dr. Cassens works with county extension agents, youth and industry personnel by developing educational programs relating to carcass composition, quality and tenderness attributes. His primary focus is the livestock to meat interface working to achieve wholesome, high quality meat products for producers and the consumer. Dr. Cassens also works with AgriLife & A&M faculty to conduct industry applicable research in areas of meat quality, tenderness and retail display.

Professional memberships include the American Meat Science Association and American Society of Animal Science.

Roy Cox

Cow Dog Demo
Friday, March 27 | 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Roy Cox was born and raised in South Wales, Australia. He later moved to the United States to Oklahoma where he began to work for a cutting horse trainer.

While working there, Roy got his first dog, which was half Blue Heeler, half Border Collie. He used this dog to pin the cutting cattle and his dog training began. After working in Oklahoma for six years, Roy moved to North Texas to train horses for EE Ranches.

During this time, Roy also began to import Kelpies from Australia. After working for EE Ranches for six years, Roy bought a place in Thackerville, Oklahoma and began to train dogs full time.

Roy then began the process of starting the Red River Cattle Dog Association where he served as the original president and continues to hold a position on the board of directors. Competing in the competitions held by the Red River Cattle Dog Association, Roy won the award “Reserve Dog of the Year” four times. Roy also competed in the “World Cattle Dog Challenge” in Alturas, California, and won reserve dog two years in a row.

Roy currently lives in Oklahoma where he works dogs and travels to conduct clinics.

Dr. Whitney Crossland

Cow-Calf Nutrition Essentials
Friday, March 27 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. | Room 203

Dr. Whitney L. Crossland, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at Texas Tech University, where she teaches courses in general animal science, principles of nutrition, and ruminant nutrition, and advises undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in beef cattle production and research. Her academic journey began in Denton, Texas, where she grew up engaged in FFA and her family’s Red Angus operation, experiences that ignited her passion for beef cattle management. She earned her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Animal Science, with an emphasis on ruminant nutrition, from Texas A&M University.

Dr. Crossland’s research program centers on beef cattle health and nutrition with a strong applied focus on improving animal performance, welfare, and production efficiency through innovative management and nutritional strategies. Her work spans alternative forage utilization, protein supplementation, targeted feed additives, and modulation of immune responses to bolster resilience in calves and feedlot cattle. She has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles examining topics such as yeast supplementation in feedlot diets, liver health implications of dietary strategies, and the identification of biomarkers associated with cattle health.

Dr. Crossland will share insights from her work in beef cattle nutrition and management in her talk Cow/Calf Nutrition Essentials, offering practical perspectives rooted in both science and the realities of modern beef production.

Kyla Dodson

Unlock Your Legacy Wealth: Empower, Equip & Elevate with Proactive Tax Strategies
Friday, March 27 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Room 204

Kyla J. Dodson, owner of Let’s Talk Land, LLC, blends a lifelong ranching heritage with forward-thinking business acumen and holds an MBA from Texas A&M. As a dynamic speaker, Kyla draws on real-world ranch experience to help audiences navigate change. She inspires ranch families, business leaders, and industry partners to embrace innovative strategies and practical solutions, bridging traditional land values with modern opportunities. Married to John Dodson, a real estate attorney, for over 30 years, and a proud mother of four beautiful children, Kyla empowers others to adapt and thrive, offering tailored insights that turn challenges into growth opportunities.

John Dupnik

Texas Groundwater 101
Saturday, March 28 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Room 202

John T. Dupnik, P.G., serves as the Deputy Executive Administrator for the Office of Water Science and Conservation at the Texas Water Development Board. Since 2018, he has led statewide programs in surface water, groundwater, flood science, innovative water technologies, and conservation. A licensed professional geoscientist, he guides critical data collection, analysis, modeling, and research that support Texas communities in managing drought, floods, and long‑term water supply challenges. Previously, he was General Manager of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District. John holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University and is a frequent speaker on Texas water science, planning, and policy.

Dr. Dee Ellis

Protect the Herd: New World Screwworm Testing Kits
Saturday, March 28 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Dee Ellis is a veterinarian with Texas A&M AgriLife in College Station. Prior to working at Texas A&M, Dr. Ellis worked in a mixed veterinary practice in Gonzales and at the Texas Animal Health Commission. Dr. Ellis is currently involved at Texas A &M with studies on various infectious diseases, helping high school and college students get accepted into veterinary school, and he is also currently working on creating and distributing surveillance kits for the New World Screwworm that livestock producers and veterinarians can use to submit suspicious field samples for quick identification.

Dr. Shannon Ferrell

General Session | Five Steps Forward: Managing the Generational Transfer
Friday, March 27 | 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Ballroom AB

Shannon Ferrell is a Professor in the Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Economics, where he specializes in Agricultural Law.  He grew up on a cattle and wheat operation in Western Oklahoma, and obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Agricultural Economics from OSU before obtaining his Juris Doctorate from the Oklahoma City University School of Law with endorsements in Estate Planning and Business and Financial Services Law.  Shannon spent several years in full-time private practice before joining OSU in 2007.

As an educator and speaker, Shannon helps audiences all over North America understand the fundamental legal elements of farm business management and farm transition planning.  He has delivered presentations and workshops to a cumulative audience of nearly 40,000 across the U.S. and Canada, and has authored over 50 publications, including serving as lead author on the Farm Transition Workbook.  In private practice, he helps farmers and ranchers navigate the family, business, and legal dynamics of farm transitions.

Megan Foote

Direct to Consumer Panel
Friday, March 27 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Megan Foote is the co-owner and CEO of Foote Family Meats, a vertically integrated beef business based in Clovis, New Mexico. She resides in Texico, NM, with her husband, Garrett, and their daughter, Scottie, where they farm and feed stocker cattle. In recent years, they have largely expanded into cow-calf, finishing, and direct-to-consumer beef sales. Megan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Communications from Texas Tech University and previously worked in crisis communications advising Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and universities. Today, she oversees daily operations and marketing for Foote Family Meats, which has grown from a small online beef store into a full-service meat market serving retail and wholesale customers across eastern New Mexico and west Texas.

Parke Greeson

Grazing Management 101
Friday, March 27 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Room 201

Parke Greeson was born and raised in Goliad, Texas, where he developed a deep appreciation for ranching, livestock, and the Western way of life from an early age. He attended Texas Tech University, earning his undergraduate degree in Animal Science, before continuing his education through Texas Christian University’s Ranch Management Program, where he further developed his knowledge of ranch operations, land stewardship, and livestock management.

Following his time at TCU, Parke gained valuable hands-on experience working with several respected horse training and ranching operations, where he refined his skills in horsemanship, livestock management, and ranch business practices.

In 2018, he returned to Goliad to take over management of his family’s ranch, continuing the legacy built by generations before him. Today, he focuses on ranch operations, horsemanship, and maintaining the traditions of working ranch life while looking toward the future of the industry.

Kaylee Greiner

Meat Cutting Demo
Friday, March 27 | 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Kaylee Greiner is the manager of retail and foodservice engagement at Texas Beef Council. Kaylee brings her passion for the beef industry and extensive experience to her role of engaging and educating those contributing to the sales of beef products, ensuring collaboration and advancement within the sector.

With a background rooted in agriculture, Kaylee grew up heavily involved in 4-H where she showed livestock and competed in various leadership events. Her interest in the industry led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s degree in meat science at Texas A&M University, where she also coached the meat judging team to winning their first national championship in 16 years.

Kaylee is actively involved in the American Meat Science Association and resides in Cedar Park.

Dr. Dan Hale

Meat Cutting Demo
Friday, March 27 | 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Dr. Dan Hale received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science from Kansas State University and his doctorate in food, nutrition and institutional sciences from Oklahoma State University. He is currently associate director for ag and natural resources and the Path to the Plate Coordinator for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Before this he served as professor and extension meat specialist for 35 years.

Dr. Hale has worked with the National Consumer Retail Beef Study, the National Market Basket Survey and the Beef Tenderness Survey, which examined supplies of beef offered at the retail meat case and determined what consumers want in meat products. Hale was a certified animal welfare auditor for over 10 years. He was the coordinator of the RanchTV virtual video library which now houses over 1,000 videos on Beef Cattle management. This YouTube site has over 10 million views.

Brent Hamilton

Ask An Ag Lawyer
Saturday, March 28 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Room 201

Brent Hamilton received his bachelor’s degree in petroleum land management from Texas Tech University and returned there for law school after working in the oil and gas industry. He was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1996 and is licensed to practice in all Texas and New Mexico State Courts and the Federal Courts of Texas, Colorado and New Mexico.

Brent has a civil litigation and energy practice that focuses on serving business and landowners’ needs. Brent has years of experience dealing with issues of eminent domain, business and energy transactions in representing business owners, landowners and royalty owners. He is a litigator and has successfully served as lead trial counsel in numerous cases that have been cited by the State and Federal Courts of Appeal, as well as the Texas Supreme Court.

Brent is a member of the Austin and Lubbock County Bar Associations, Texas and New Mexico State Bars, and the American Board of Trial Advocates and has been appointed to serve on committees for the Seventh Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Texas. He has earned Martindale-Hubbell’s “AV” rating, the highest level of professionalism and ethical standards as rated by his peers.

Dudley Hoskins

New World Screwworm: Where We’re At
Saturday, March 28 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Room 202

Dudley Hoskins was nominated by President Trump to serve as the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) on January 20, 2025, and was sworn in on September 30, 2025.

Dudley is a native Texan who most recently served on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry under Chairman John Boozman (AR).

Previously, Dudley worked for the American Horse Council, CropLife America-RISE, and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture before joining USDA in the first Trump administration as a Senior Advisor to then Secretary Perdue.

Dudley earned his undergraduate degree from Tulane University and Juris Doctorate from Texas A&M School of Law.

Anson Howard

Ask An Ag Lawyer
Saturday, March 28 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Room 201

Anson Howard attended Southern Methodist University and later Texas Tech School of Law and now serves as a partner at Uhl Fitzsimons in San Antonio. Anson is a member of the State Bar of Texas (Oil, Gas, & Energy Resources Law Section).

Following Anson’s service as Judge Advocate in the United States Marine Corps, Anson returned to Texas to practice law and take over the operation of his family’s Head of the River Ranch in Tom Green County.

Anson and his wife Meredith live with their son and daughter in San Antonio. Anson’s legal practice focuses on representing landowners for all issues concerning real property. Anson is actively involved in rangeland conservation and education through his ranching operations, as well as service as a director of the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and Texas Wildlife Association.

Garrett Kunz

Grazing Management 101
Friday, March 27 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Room 201

Garrett Kunz is owner and operator of Redeemed Land and Cattle, an operation consisting mostly of leased land in the Texas Hill Country near Fredericksburg. At RLC the focus is on good grazing management to improve soil health. The six soil health principles and four ecosystem processes are invaluable to the operation. In striving to be the best land steward he possibly can, every decision Garrett makes goes back to these principles and processes.

Dr. TR Lansford

Protect the Herd: New World Screwworm Testing Kits
Saturday, March 28 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Dr. TR Lansford earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Texas A&M University and has been involved in regulatory veterinary medicine for most of his career. He has served the state of Texas, gaining regulatory, public health, and veterinary medicine expertise through the Department of State Health Services

(DSHS) Meat Safety Assurance Section as Assistant State Director, the Texas Animal Health Commission as a region director and assistant executive director, as a Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician, and emergency management and industry liaison for over 24 years. Dr. Lansford returned to the TAHC in early 2024 to serve as the assistant state veterinarian and deputy executive director for the agency.

Dr. Lansford, a South Texas native, and his wife, Christy, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent, enjoy spending time with their two sons, Buddy and Byron.

Hunter Lehman

Grazing Management 101
Friday, March 27 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Room 201

Hunter Lehman leads Grazing Lands, a regenerative ranching business operating on all leased land. Grazing Lands seeks to provide ecosystem services through excellent grazing management to the landowners they serve. After a decade managing recreational hunting ranches, Hunter realized that a cow herd under regenerative grazing management was his most effective tool in managing wildlife habitat. This realization led him to Grazing Lands, where he applies regenerative principles and practices daily.

Matt Makens

Opening General Session: Weather Outlook
Friday, March 27 | 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Ballroom AB

Matt Makens has presented thousands of weather forecasts and outlooks to dozens of industries since the 1990s. Matt founded Makens Weather in 2016 and grew quickly by providing actionable, clearly communicated weather and climate information. The primary focus is on long-term seasonal forecasts and short-term weather hazards for the agricultural industry. Makens Weather serves global clients across Australia, Canada, and the United States, including CattleFax and NCBA.

Makens grew up outside Castle Rock, Colorado, on a small acreage where he competed annually at the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo and was a member of the livestock judging team. Matt attended the University of Kansas and graduated with a degree in Atmospheric Science.

He and his wife, Hillary, also serve the beef industry, live in Douglas County, Colorado, where they are raising their two children.

Reagan Marble

Ask An Ag Lawyer
Saturday, March 28 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Room 201

Born and raised on his family’s working cattle ranches in South Texas and Eastern New Mexico, Reagan is no stranger to hard work, long hours, and enjoying the fruits of labor.

It is no coincidence that Reagan’s award-winning practice focuses on representation of large land and mineral owners, including mineral and royalty funds and, high net worth families, non-operating working interest owners, and investors in energy litigation and transactions throughout Texas and New Mexico.

In his energy litigation practice, Reagan’s experience ranges from multimillion-dollar title and oil and gas disputes in the Eagle Ford Shale and Permian Basin to renewable and alternative energy contract disputes along the Gulf Coast.

In his energy transactional practice, Reagan is particularly well known for helping Texas and New Mexico landowners and companies develop, produce, sell, or dispose of their non-traditional natural resources including water (saltwater disposal agreements, freshwater sales contracts, and water joint operating agreements); sand (sand and gravel leases, sand supply contracts, and sand mine purchase and sale agreements); sun (solar leases); wind (wind leases); and carbon (carbon sequestration agreements).

Outside of the office–which is where Reagan prefers to spend most of his time–Reagan is a cattleman, a hunter, and a fisherman.

If you ask Reagan’s wife (Allison) or his sons (Billy and Wiley) what the family motto is they will reply, “To always be kind.” More than anything, Reagan takes pride in being a kind, professional, and ethical advocate in the courtroom and the boardroom.

Dr. Clay Mathis

FAQ’s About Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)
Friday, March 27 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Dr. Clay Mathis is the head of the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University, where he leads faculty and staff in providing teaching, research, and extension programs in the largest and most diverse animal science department in the country. He holds a B.S. in Animal Science and an M.S. in the Physiology of Reproduction from Texas A&M University. He also earned a Ph.D. in Ruminant Nutrition from Kansas State University.

Prior to assuming the role of department head for animal science, Dr. Mathis was the director of the King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management at Texas A&M University-Kingsville from 2010-2023. From 1998 to 2010, he worked as a professor and extension livestock specialist at New Mexico State University.

Dr. Mathis was a charter board member of the United States Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and currently serves as Chair of the NCBA Beef Quality Assurance Advisory Group.

He and his wife, Rhonda, are the proud parents of Morgan, Miles, and Amy Kaye Mathis.

Lee McGlamery

Cattle Market Trends and Forecasts
Friday, March 27 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Room 202

Lee McGlamery spent the early part of his career in the cow/calf and stocking business in central MS, where he grew up.  After college, he worked on ranches in CA and MT before beginning a 25-year career with Willard Sparks’ Sparks Farming and Cattle operations in 1994.  Lee managed feedyard operations, risk management, procurement of grains and feeder cattle, fat cattle sales, and analytics of live animal and carcass performance.  In 2014, he, along with friend and business partner Spencer Prosser, started MP Agrilytics to provide objective, valuable livestock information while focusing on integrity, relationships, data/facts, potential outcomes, and the excellence of work.  MP Agrilytics provides research across all segments of the supply chain, as well as to brokers/traders and hedge funds.

Kaleb McLaurin

Direct to Consumer Panel
Friday, March 27 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Kaleb McLaurin is a sixth-generation Texan from the Piney Woods of East Texas, where he and his family raised beef cattle and hay near the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation.

Upon graduating as Valedictorian from Big Sandy High School, Kaleb deferred his college enrollment to travel across the state as the 2009-2010 Texas FFA State 1st Vice President. Afterward, Kaleb attended Texas A&M University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in agricultural leadership & development and a minor in agricultural economics.

In 2014, Kaleb accepted the position of director of government affairs with Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. Kaleb then served as the executive director of government relations from 2018 until 2022.

Kaleb then joined Texas Beef Council as the senior manager of industry relations, where he is fortunate to work with hardworking cattle producers and industry members daily.

Kaleb currently resides in Dripping Springs, with his wife, Raynie, and two young daughters, Reese Taylor and Kate Delaney.

Dallas Mount

Profitability in Ranching – ID the Profit Drivers and Deadwood in Your Ranching Business
Friday, March 27 | 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Room 204

Dallas is the owner of Ranch Management Consultants (RMC), home of the Ranching for Profit School and the Executive Link program. Dallas has led RMC since 2019 and worked with hundreds of ranchers across the US, Canada, and Australia to position their business for economic profit and ecological health. After working with the University of Wyoming Extension for 18 years, Dallas started teaching the Ranching For Profit School in 2012 and quickly established himself as an elite instructor. Dallas holds BS and MS degrees from Colorado State University and has worked in cow-calf, feedlot, yearling, haying, and grazing operations. Dallas and his wife, Dixie, own and manage a grazing operation near Wheatland, WY. RMC is focused on creating profitable businesses, with healthy land and happy families.

Jenny Pluhar

Grazing Management 101
Friday, March 27 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Room 201

Jenny Pluhar serves as Executive Director of the Texas Grazing Land Coalition.  She  has managed the Taylor Ranches across the Panhandle for nearly thirty years as well.  The Taylor Ranch in Gray County was recognized with the Texas Section Society for Range Management Outstanding Range Management Award in 2020.

The Texas Grazing Land Coalition has twelve regional coalitions across the state.  These groups are ranchers working together tackle challenges and share successes unique to their part of Texas.  Jenny leads a team of three technical assistance specialists who offer ranchers on the ground assistance across the state.  Jenny leads collaborative efforts with USDA-NRCS, partner organizations and industry in getting technical assistance to ranchers as well as a robust outreach program.

Jenny is a lifelong student of all things grazing lands.  She is excited about the future of collaborative partnerships between ranchers and NGO’s and industry and sees massive opportunities on the horizon for the ranchers of Texas.

She and her husband, Darwin, moved to Texas from Montana to attend Texas A&M University for graduate school.  They are involved in the livestock business in several states, recently selling a ranch in Montana.

Nicolas Post

Unlock Your Legacy Wealth: Empower, Equip & Elevate with Proactive Tax Strategies
Friday, March 27 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Room 204

Nicolas Post, Referral Partner Manager and Director of Education at Boa Safra Ag, LLC, is an agricultural education professional who works directly with landowners, ranchers, and industry advisors to identify strategic opportunities within agricultural operations. Known for his ability to translate complex soil science and nutrient data into practical financial insight, Nicolas helps producers better understand how agronomic analysis can impact operational and tax positioning. He frequently speaks at industry events and engages with agricultural communities across the Plains region. At the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Convention, Nicolas will share actionable perspectives tailored to today’s cattle producers navigating changing economic conditions.  Nicolas enjoys life with his beautiful wife and two daughters.

Wayne Reyburn

Unlock Your Legacy Wealth: Empower, Equip & Elevate with Proactive Tax Strategies
Friday, March 27 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Room 204

Wayne Reyburn, Owner, RW Capital, is a Premium Financing Specialist with nearly 20 years in financial services, specializing in advanced life insurance planning. After beginning his career in 2005 with a boutique firm in Boulder, Colorado, he founded RW Capital in 2013 to support advisors with sophisticated insurance strategies, particularly premium financing. Wayne has helped facilitate over $1 billion in permanent life insurance placements and is known for his expertise with affluent clients. He actively serves his community through youth sports leadership and is a devoted husband and father of three student-athletes.

Eddie Reyna

FAQ’s About Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)
Friday, March 27 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Eddie is a native Texan raised in Rio Grande City, Texas. He has a B.S. in Animal Science from Texas A&M University-Kingsville . After earning his degree, he moved to West Texas and worked with Cargill Cattle Feeders in Dalhart and Bovina, where he was a yard foreman, a feed manager, and cattle and yard manager. In 2018, he headed back to Kingsville and became a unit manager for the Norias Division of the King Ranch.  He joined the East Foundation in 2021.

As East Foundation’s Ranch Operations Manager, Eddie Reyna is responsible for executing the Foundation’s priorities across two areas — cattle operations and ranch infrastructure. He oversees the ranch labor force and allocates resources for cattle workings and the maintenance and development of fences, roads, water systems, and right-of-ways.

Dr. Jason Sawyer

FAQ’s About Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)
Friday, March 27 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Jason Sawyer is the Chief Science Officer for East Foundation, where he leads the Science team and integrates research into the Foundation’s ongoing ranching operations to enhance and enable effective decision-making by stewards of working lands.

Jason has over 25 years of experience in research and production management, where he has led and coordinated applied research in both intensive and extensive livestock production systems. His primary interests have been development of strategies to enhance the sustainability of beef production systems, development of valid indicators of sustainable production, and the improvement of ranching systems value.

Previously, Jason served as Professor and Research Scientist at the King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management, where he worked to develop innovative solutions in ranching systems. He has also served in research, teaching, and management roles for Texas A&M University’s Department of Animal Science and McGregor Research Center, and in research and extension roles at New Mexico State University’s Clayton Livestock Research Center. He maintains Adjunct Professor and Graduate faculty appointments with the King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management at Texas A&M University – Kingsville, and with the Animal Science department at Texas A&M University. Jason has also worked as an advisor to allied industry partners, and as managing partner for livestock production operations.

Jason has a B.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Ranch Management from Texas A&M University, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Range Nutrition and Beef Cattle Management, both from New Mexico State University. He has authored or co-authored over 120 peer-reviewed and invited publications, over 250 abstracts, proceedings, and technical reports, and given over 150 presentations at meetings, workshops, and conferences.

Michael Schmoyer

New World Screwworm: Where We’re At
Saturday, March 28 | 10 – 11 a.m. | Room 202

RDML Michael Schmoyer serves as the Associate Administrator for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Director of the New World Screwworm Directorate. In this role, RDML Schmoyer leads national efforts to protect U.S. agriculture, the economy, and public health from the threat of New World Screwworm.

He is a career officer in the U.S. Public Health Service and has spent decades working at the intersection of public health and national security. Before joining USDA, RDML Schmoyer held several senior leadership positions across the federal government. He served as a Presidential Scholar and Chair at the National Intelligence University, where he focused on counterintelligence, biotechnology, and biological threats. He also served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at Health and Human Services (HHS), leading work related to biosecurity, counterterrorism, and emerging biological threats.

Earlier in his career, RDML Schmoyer helped establish the first Workforce Protection Program at the Executive Office of the President that combined a variety of national security-related capabilities to provide for enhanced national security responses. He also supported the HHS Secretary as the Department’s Senior Intelligence Official and completed a detail to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where he helped guide national strategies on health security.

His global health experience includes overseeing U.S. Government coordination during the 2014–2015 Ebola outbreak, including deployments to Liberia, and serving at the Center for Disease Control in leadership roles in Central America, Panama, and Central Asia. He also served as the first Senior Advisor to U.S. Southern Command on global health security and interagency coordination.

RDML Schmoyer brings a long track record of leadership, interagency collaboration, and innovative approaches to protecting national health and security.

Jim Scott

Transmission Line Development: Rights, Routes & Ranch Impacts
Friday, March 27 | 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Room 202

Jim Scott is a landscape architect and environmental designer with 40+ years of experience in large-scale energy infrastructure, land development, and natural resources planning. He served as the first Texas Geographic Information Officer and was the Director of the Texas Natural Resources Information System. In his free time, he is building AI-powered geographic intelligence systems.

Dr. Jason Smith

FAQ’s About Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)
Friday, March 27 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Jason Smith, Ph.D. is an associate professor and Extension beef cattle specialist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Amarillo. He is a native of northern Virginia, where he developed a passion for beef cattle at an early age.

Although he feels that his formal training in beef cattle nutrition and production management were pivotal, Smith feels that his first-hand experiences learned the hard way through developing and maintaining a small commercial cowherd with his family continue to play a pivotal role in his education.  As an Extension Beef Cattle Specialist for the Department of Animal Science and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, located in Amarillo, his efforts are focused toward developing and supporting educational programs that benefit beef cattle producers and other industry stakeholders.  Jason also works to conduct applied and demonstrational research in beef cattle nutrition in order to link fundamental discovery to application in the field, and answer production-relevant questions that would otherwise remain unanswered.

Smith’s professional memberships include the American Society of Animal Science, the Southern Section Extension Committee for the American Society of Animal Science, the Plains Nutrition Council, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Marty Smith

Keynote Session: A Voice Shaped by Agriculture
Saturday, March 28 | 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Ballroom AB

Marty Smith is one of ESPN’s most popular and recognized reporters and hosts who currently covers a variety of sports, including college football, basketball, golf, motorsports, and others. Smith’s features and reporting are often seen on ESPN platforms, including SportsCenter and ESPN.com.

Smith co-hosts the popular show Marty and McGee on SEC Network and ESPN Radio, alongside co-host Ryan McGee. The duo hit the road each Saturday during college football season, following SEC Nation to various campuses across the Southeastern Conference. Smith also guest-hosted SEC Nation during Fall 2019.

Smith, who joined ESPN in 2006, launched his own show Marty Smith’s America in August 2017. Some of sport’s biggest names, including Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Major Golf champion Rory McIlroy, and Oklahoma City’s Paul George, sat down with Smith during the tenure of his show, in addition to stars outside of sports, including music artist Sam Hunt. Smith traveled the world for various features, including his trip to Rome with Coach Jim Harbaugh and the University of Michigan football team, where he spent a week following the team as they saw the sights of Italy.

From 2007-2014, Smith was ESPN’s lead NASCAR reporter for both SportsCenter and the former NASCAR Now program. In addition to reporting for SportsCenter and writing news and features for ESPN.com, Smith also contributed to ESPN’s NASCAR event television coverage, which ended at the conclusion of the 2014 season, with numerous unique features and extensive, in-depth, and revealing interviews with nearly every top driver in the sport.

Prior to joining ESPN, Smith was a senior writer for NASCAR.com, an analyst and host on the former SPEED Channel, and a NASCAR analyst on Fox Sports Net. A Radford University graduate, Smith covered sports for daily newspapers in Roanoke and Lynchburg, Va., before joining NASCAR.com.

Garrett Stribling

FAQ’s About Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)
Friday, March 27 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Garrett Stribling is the Ranch Business Manager for the East Foundation—responsible for leading the business enterprise of the ranch. With a focus on efficiency and productivity, he develops and implements strategies focused on herd improvement, managerial accounting, marketing, and finance. Prior to joining East Foundation, he spent three years as Manager of Cattle Operations for 44 Farms in Cameron, Texas.

Garrett has a B.S. in Animal Science from Texas A&M University and a M.S. in Ranch Management from the King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family as well as hunting and fishing. Garrett lives on the San Antonio Viejo Ranch with his wife, Emily, and their children—Addie, Cheyanne, and Levi.

Brett Stuart

Annual Membership Meeting | General Session: What’s Next in the Cattle and Beef Markets?
Saturday, March 28 | 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Ballroom AB

Brett grew up on a family ranch in Utah and Wyoming, running cows. He has worked in the cattle/beef industry in Nebraska, Florida, Oklahoma, and Colorado for companies including AgReserves, Inc., Cattle-Fax, and the U.S. Meat Export Federation. For the past 20 years, he has been running Global AgriTrends, a business he co-founded in 2006. His work there has taken him to six continents, where he has researched the global meat and livestock markets. He now advises companies worldwide on global agricultural trends, with an emphasis on Asia. Brett received an accounting degree from Utah State University and an agribusiness MBA degree from the University of Nebraska. He and his wife, Amanda, live on a small farm near Preston, Idaho, with their kids.

Elle Terhaar

Preg-checking: Set up for Success
Saturday, March 28 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Elle Terhaar grew up on a ranch in the mountains of Colorado. During her teenage years and college summers, she gained valuable experience working with a mobile large animal veterinarian. Elle attended Dordt College in northwest Iowa and has been with ReproScan Technologies since her graduation. Her role has grown from sales and marketing to her current role as CEO.

At ReproScan, Elle has partnered with bovine and mixed-animal practitioners to enhance their practices through ultrasound technology. Additionally, she serves as a RACE-approved instructor for advanced bovine reproductive ultrasound courses. Currently residing in Winterset, Iowa, Elle and her family operate Thunderhead Charolais, which offers private-treaty Charolais bulls.

Cody Trimble

Basics of Cattle Selection
Saturday, March 28 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Live Demonstration Arena

Cody Trimble grew up raising and showing livestock in the Texas Panhandle. He attended Blinn College and Texas A&M, where he was part of national contest-winning teams. Prior to joining TSCRA in October as the Director of Youth, Cody spent nine years in Glasscock County as the Ag & Natural Resources Agent. Cody has judged cattle shows across Texas and the US and coached nationally competitive youth livestock judging teams.

Mike Turner

Grazing Management 101
Friday, March 27 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Room 201

Mike Turner, Blue Ranch manager and former soil conservation with USDA/NRCS, came on the operations as ranch manager in 2015 with over 20 years in the ranching business, and five years’ experience with NRCS working on one of one on one with producers sharing ideas and trying new techniques, such as “High Density Low Frequency Rotational Grazing Operations”. He accepted the position as manager of Blue Ranch because he felt it would be a great opportunity for him to apply his practical and scientific range management techniques, as well as a good place to raise his family with his wife, Shani, and son Ethan.

He and the McCloys, owners of The Blue Ranch in Moore County, have worked closely with organizations as diverse as Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, USDA-NRCS, Texas GLC, and Holistic Management International (HMI) to host or speak at 12 educational events over the last 10 years.

Their participation exemplifies how proper livestock and resource stewardship can simultaneously enhance profitability and environmental quality in all sectors of their vertically integrated operation.

They have generously provided their time and access to their ranch to host field trips for West Texas A&M Range and Livestock Production classes, Texas Tech Range and Ranch Management classes, Clarendon Junior College’s Ranch and Feedlot Operations classes, and hosted range evaluation contests, and allowed high school FFA Range Evaluation teams to train on parts of the ranch.

Michael Vance

Grazing Management 101
Friday, March 27 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Room 201

Michael grew up on a small cattle and farming operation in Mississippi.  He graduated from Mississippi State University with a B.S. in Animal Science and a minor in Ag Economics.  Following undergraduate work, Michael moved to Oklahoma to further his ranching experience while also obtaining an MBA from Oklahoma State University.

After graduate work, Michael began building his own cattle operation while also managing land holdings for other investors.  Eventually, he managed a portfolio of up to 70,000 acres across 5 states.  Without inheriting any land or ranching assets, Michael found it most important to grow his own ranching operations through strategic partnerships.  These partnerships include capital partners as well as landowners that believe in regenerative grazing principles.

Southern Reds, LLC., the Vance’s current cattle enterprise, has grown into a 1200 head seedstock operation in North and East Texas.  His operations span across 9000 acres, managed with the help of his wife and 3 young sons.   His focus is raising genetics that excel with only forage and without added inputs that decrease environmental and financial efficiency.

Southern Reds currently has customers in 13 states who use their genetics to improve their own regenerative farming and ranching operations.  They were recently awarded as the “Seedstock Producer of the Year” by the Grassfed Exchange, which is a “gathering of regenerative ranchers, dairymen, and sustainable food supporters from across the world”.  Michael considers himself to be an ecosystem manager more than a rancher, as their management decisions revolve around managing for wildlife and improving habitat for all native species. In addition to these roles, Michael provides grazing, wildlife, and cattle enterprise consulting for other ranches and private equity groups across the U.S.

Bill Weston

Beyond the Gate: Financial Planning & Investment Strategy for Ranchers Ready to Sell or Transition
Friday, March 27 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Room 203

Bill Weston is a partner at WPWealth, where he manages his practice and helps clients optimize their investment, insurance, tax, retirement and estate plans. He also heads the investments committee and leads the firm’s quarterly market updates.

Bill’s investment approach is rooted in a thorough analysis of market trends and a commitment to risk management. He emphasizes a diversified portfolio tailored to each client’s unique financial goals and risk tolerance. By staying informed on global economic developments and leveraging a mix of asset classes, Bill aims to maximize returns while mitigating potential risks.

Bill earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Bill serves on the University of Texas at Austin Economic Alumni Committee and is a member of Leadership Fort Worth’s Class of 2024. He resides in Fort Worth with his wife and three children and enjoys staying active with family activities.

Caitlin Word

Rooted in Profit: The Business Case for Better Grazing
Saturday, March 28 | 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Room 203

Caitlin Word serves as a regenerative ranching consultant at Noble Research Institute. Raised on large cow-calf operations in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, Word earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from West Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition from New Mexico State University. In 2018, Caitlin began her career at Noble as a grazing livestock consultant, supporting ranchers in managing land and livestock profitably through regenerative principles. She later worked with Ranch Management Consultants, teaching the Ranching for Profit School, before returning to Noble to advance its regenerative mission through strategic partnerships. Across all her work, Word is passionate about helping producers thrive through profitable business practices and regenerative management—for the benefit of people, land, and livestock.

At Noble, Caitlin’s focus is on helping producers build profitable, regenerative businesses by increasing forage utilization, managing ranch costs, and grounding decisions in practical business principles.