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

Session Information Coming Soon 

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.