Kansas Livestock Association
For the first time in its 130-year history, the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) is bringing its annual convention to Manhattan. Hundreds of KLA members from across the state will converge on the Little Apple November 20-22 to hear from industry experts, participate in policy meetings and elect new leadership for the coming year. The KLA Convention & Expo will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn and Manhattan Convention Center.
Cowboy Channel host and rodeo announcer Justin McKee will welcome members to the three-day event during the Cattlemen’s Banquet opening night, which is sponsored by INTRUST Bank, Micro Technologies and Tyson Fresh Meats. Considered by many to be one of the most popular announcers in the pro rodeo circuit, the Kansas native brings a contagious energy wherever he goes. McKee spends most of his time as the main host and producer for “Pro Rodeo Tonight” and various other shows on The Cowboy Channel. He was the “Voice of the Professional Bull Riders” from 2001 until 2010, hosting for several television networks, including NBC, CBS, Fox Sports, Versus and RFD-TV. Apart from television, McKee has announced some of the biggest Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events, including Cheyenne Frontier Days, Pendleton Round-Up, Calgary Stampede and the Ellensburg Rodeo. When he is not hosting, producing or announcing, McKee and his wife, Jeannie, stay busy on their commercial cattle operation near Hico, TX.
CattleFax Chief Executive Officer Randy Blach is back by popular demand. Blach will take the stage during Beef Industry University, where he will provide a market outlook for the coming year. He will discuss how herd expansion, or the lack thereof, will impact beef supplies and cattle prices in 2025. Blach will factor the economy and competing meat supplies into his forecast for domestic beef demand. Feed and energy cost projections also will be shared during his presentation, sponsored by the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas.
Those attending the Consumer Trends forum will take a deep dive into beef demand with Kansas State University ag economist Glynn Tonsor. Drawing on both USDA data and several resources from the Meat Demand Monitor, Tonsor will provide a detailed summary of the current state of beef demand in the U.S. His presentation not only will be informative, but also will set the stage for an active question-and-answer period. The forum is hosted by the Kansas Beef Council and sponsored by the Kansas Soybean Commission.
Buck Wehrbein, a cattle feeder from Nebraska and president-elect of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), will speak Friday morning during the Membership Breakfast. He will discuss the state of the cattle industry and outline the issues NCBA is focusing on now and in the months to come. Over the past 40 years, Wehrbein has managed custom feedyards in Nebraska and Texas while also feeding his own cattle. He has been active in the Nebraska Beef Council, serving on the board of directors as both chairman and treasurer. Wehrbein also was a member of the Beef Promotion Operating Committee and participated in the NCBA Young Cattlemen’s Conference in 1993.
A new event this year will be the Industry Appreciation Reception at the Flint Hills Discovery Center, sponsored by Equity Bank and Kansas Feeds Inc. Members and guests will be able to tour all the exhibits while socializing and enjoying heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages.
KLA will honor members throughout the convention for various achievements. Those who have belonged to KLA for 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90 years will be recognized, as will top KLA membership recruiters, Kansas Livestock Foundation scholarship winners and this year’s graduates of the KLA Young Stockmen’s Academy.
The expo will open Wednesday evening and run through the entirety of the convention. It will provide a great opportunity for attendees to visit with vendors about the latest developments in equipment, technology and services for the livestock industry.
A complete schedule, hotel information, and both online and printable registration forms are available at www.kla.org under Events & Meetings. Those preferring to register over the phone can call KLA at (785) 273-5115. Early bird registration ends November 1 and prices will increase. All livestock producers and industry stakeholders are welcome to attend the KLA Convention & Expo.
KLA works to advance members’ common business interests on legislative, regulatory and industry issues affecting producers at both the state and federal levels. The association’s work is funded through voluntary dues dollars paid by its members.
