By the Kansas Livestock Association

TOPEKA - Brandon Harder of Haven recently attended the 2010 Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Young Stockmen’s Academy (YSA), a program targeted for KLA members in their 20s.

Young producers from across the state met in Topeka for the first of four seminars to be held throughout the year. Resflor Gold from Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health is partnering with KLA to host a group of 20 members for an in-depth look into KLA and the beef business.

During the first session, attendees were exposed to advocacy training, the legislative process and services provided by KLA. As part of an interactive training session led by KLA staff and WIBW-Topeka farm broadcasters Kelly Lenz and Greg Akagi, the group was given an overview of the various media outlets available to help tell the positive beef production story. Jody Donahue, a rancher from Fredonia, showed how she has implemented industry advocacy into her daily routine through the use of a blog, Facebook and Twitter. Attendees visited KLA headquarters and participated in a financial planning seminar, led by Kennedy and Coe, LLC, that focused on debt management and planning for the future of the family business. In addition, the class had the opportunity to visit the Capitol and attended a Senate Agriculture Committee meeting. Attendees also took part in KLA’s legislative meeting, where they and other members determined positions on individual bills under consideration by the Kansas Legislature.

The Kansas Beef Council (KBC) provided information on how checkoff dollars are used to develop and market new products that have helped increase beef demand. KBC staff also explained efforts to educate consumers about the benefits of eating beef.

The 2010 class includes Alex Acheson, Alma; Jason Brown, Dwight; Trista Brown, Satanta; Glen Collinge, Hamilton; Kelly DeDonder, Reading; Rebecca Farha, Yates Center; Brandon Harder, Haven; Drew Hedges, Burden; Dirk Hoagland, Leavenworth; Kory Josefiak, Rozel; Brady Larson, Sharon Springs; Ryan Locke, El Dorado; Trevor Lundberg, Frankfort; Trey Miser, Wichita; Brandon Oleen, Falun; Wrenn Pacheco, Manhattan; Austin Rathbun, Geneseo; D. J. Rezac, Rossville; Tera Rooney, Manhattan; and Rylan Woolfolk, Satanta.

The second installment of the YSA class will be held in July. Members will tour operations representing various segments of the Kansas beef industry. More information about YSA can be found at www.kla.org.

KLA is a trade organization representing the business interests of members at both the state and federal levels. Voluntary dues dollars paid by producers are used for programs that benefit KLA members in the areas of legislative representation, regulatory assistance, legal troubleshooting, communications and the advancement of youth.