2025 Speakers

Justin Waggoner

Dr. Justin Waggoner has served as a Professor and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist at the Kansas State University, Southwest Research and Extension Center in Garden City, KS since 2007. A native of central Kansas, Justin was raised on diverse livestock operation (hogs, cattle, horses) and began working in the cattle feeding industry at the age of 17. He earned both his B.S. (2000; Animal Science) and M.S. (2001; Equine Nutrition) degrees from Kansas State University. He then returned to central Kansas and was employed in the cattle feeding industry for 2 years before making the decision to pursue a Ph.D. at New Mexico State University with an emphasis in ruminant nutrition (2007).

Justin practices a “Boots on Ground” approach to beef cattle Extension and works directly with beef producers across all segments of the industry from small seedstock producers to commercial cattle feeders.

 

Brett Koehn

My name is Brett Koehn, and I am originally from Montezuma, KS. I attended college at Fort Hays State University for Biology (Natural Resources). During college I worked for The Nature Conservancy at Smoky Valley Ranch in Southern Logan Co. KS where I learned firsthand how proper, high-level grazing is done in Western Kansas. After graduating from Fort Hays State, I took a job with Pheasants Forever as a Farm Bill Biologist stationed in Jetmore, KS. As a Farm Bill Biologist, I cover nine counties in Western Kansas (Hodgeman, Ness, Lane, Scott, Finney, Kearny, Wichita, Greeley and Hamilton). I assist local landowners with the execution of wildlife and rangeland related projects as well as assisting local NRCS and FSA offices with Farm Bill related practices.

 

Mark Gardiner

President, Gardiner Angus Ranch                                                                                                   2000-Present

In early 2000, Mark assumed management of the day-to-day ranch operations from his father, Henry.

U.S. Premium Beef                                                                                                                               2005-Present

Chairman of the Board

Formed in 1996, U.S. Premium Beef LLC (USPB) is a marketing company which provides U.S. beef producers an opportunity to retain ownership of the beef they produce from the ranch to retail. USPB unitholders and associates market finished beef through National Beef Packing Co., LLC (NBPC), one of the nation’s largest beef processors. As a minority partner in NBPC, USPB unitholders share in the financial results of National Beef. This provides a direct economic incentive to produce the highest quality beef available to consumers. Since 1998, USPB has enabled market access to more than 19 million head of cattle, returned $2.7 billion in processing ownership distributions and paid more than $735 million in grid premiums.

 

Brandon Robinson

Coming Soon!