Marci Penner has served as executive director of Kansas Sampler Foundation since the formation of the 501c3. She has a unique perspective of Kansas having been to every one of the 627 incorporated cities several times for guidebook research. 

Having a reason to observe, have conversations, and note common issues and differences led to the PowerUp Movement (empowerment of those 21-39 who are rural by choice) and the access to resources and topics for the Big Rural Brainstorm and We Kan! Conference. With the opportunity to do guidebook programs and speak at conferences, Marci enjoys the continual journey around the state. She thrives on matching those seeking guidance with resources and to bringing together Good Thinkers who use collective brilliance to move rural communities forward.
A graduate and double-sport letter-winner at the University of Kansas, Marci received her Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Wisconsin. She spent five years as an elementary guidance counselor in the Philadelphia area. She’s happy to be home on the family farm near Inman where the offices of the Kansas Sampler Foundation are located. Marci is dedicated to helping Kansans see Kansas with new eyes and to keeping our communities alive and thriving.

Kansas Sampler Foundation | Pursuing Everyone's Love for Kansas

978 Arapaho Road

Inman, KS 67546
620.960.0552
[email protected]

Logan Thompson is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of Sustainable Livestock Feeding at Kansas State University.

He grew up on a registered Hereford ranch in central Texas which instilled a passion to improve the sustainability of beef production by developing practical solutions for producers. Logan started his bachelor's degree at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX prior to completing his degree at Texas Tech University in 2015. Following this he earned a Masters in beef sustainability at Oklahoma State University in 2017 and a PhD in ruminant nutrition at Michigan State University in 2021. Prior to joining Kansas State University in August of 2022, he served as a post-doctoral fellow at Colorado State University.

Logan’s predominate research interest is in measuring greenhouse gas emissions in grazing systems and how grazing management impacts ecosystem function. Of particular interest in how the soil-plant-animal interrelationships are manipulated by management decisions. Additionally, his research examines how management decisions influence nutrient utilization within and across production systems. Logan's wife, Rachel, is also a science nerd and is a Senior Scientist in Ingredient Solutions R&D at MGP Ingredients in Atchison, KS.

Past Podcast references:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1995747/episodes/14850913

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1995747/episodes/14176506

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1995747/episodes/12989654

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1995747/episodes/11378191

Links:

Frontiers | Is Climate Neutral possible for the U.S. beef and dairy sectors?

Rich Porter owns and operates Porter Cattle Company, a grazing and backgrounding operation, located north of Emporia, Kansas. He receives around 7,000 head of three-weight, high-risk calves from the southeast annually and grows them to roughly 800 pounds.

Rich holds degrees in chemical engineering, business and law, but for the last five decades, he has been a student of agriculture. His knowledge and ingenuity in the areas of beef production, conservation and management are an inspiration for many.

RIch was recently honored with the Livestock and Meat Industry Council's 2025 Stockman of the Year award during their annual Stockmen's Dinner in Manhattan, KS.

Ed Greiman is General Manager of Upper Iowa Beef, a mid-sized beef processing plant located in Lime Springs, Iowa.

He was born and raised as a typical farm kid in rural Iowa, went to college at Iowa State University, and has had significant experience in nearly all segments of the beef industry supply chain.

NOTE: This episode was recorded in early February 2025, so some of the references to political landscape and economics may sound a bit dated.

Home - Upper Iowa Beef | Upper Iowa Beef

Bill Rishel and his wife, Barb, live near North Platte, Nebraska. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, he has always had a passion for Angus cattle and beef cattle improvement. 

Bill will be honored in November with induction into the Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery, and an in-depth synopsis of Bill's industry accomplishments may be found in this article:

Bill Rishel To Be Honored with 2025 Saddle & Sirloin Portrai

Don Schiefelbein is President of Schiefelbein Farms, a large seedstock operation near Kimball, MN. He is the past-president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the American Angus Association.

In this episode, Don outlines his family's business structure and efforts to sustain their family business for generations. He also shares his hopes and vision for the beef industry leadership in the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

Links:

Grappling with the Family Farm - Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com

schiefelbeinfarms.com

Dale Brisby is the self-proclaimed greatest bull rider who ever lived. You may know him from the popular Dale Brisby YouTube channel, the Rodeo Time YouTube channel, and other social media platforms. He also has a Netflix original series How to Be a Cowboy. In addition to his rodeo apparel line, he’s a bona fide rancher, cowboy, and rodeo rider who proudly lives the life 24/7. Follow the World’s Greatest Bull Rider on Instagram.

Links:

www.rodeotime.com

Bill Bowman works with Method Genetics, LLC, in St. Joseph, MO. Through the years, Bill has worked in a variety of roles within the Angus breed, from the production to association levels.

In this episode, we talk about the early days of multi-trait indexes, the move to genomic-enhanced EPDs, how commercial producers can benefit from the use of indexes; and finally, a few trends that Bill envisions as the beef industry moves into the next decade or two.

https://youtu.be/uEf7iJRWvSU

https://www.methodgenetics.com/

Sam Hands and his family own and operate Triangle H, a diversified cow-calf, farming and feeding operation near Garden City, KS.

Sam and daughter, Marisa Kleysteuber, provide the management and leadership for this progressive, quality-focused beef operation.

In this episode, Sam shares some of his outlooks on employee management, working with the younger generation; plus the lessons he has learned from his time at Kansas State University, the military and just careful observation of what motivates people to do their best.
And, of course, we talk quality beef production, challenges to farming and ranching in southwest Kansas and other production-related issues.

Amy Perrier is a Christian, Physical Therapist, Mother to five children...and a ranch wife. 
In this episode, she discusses the challenges, rewards and learnings that she has gathered over the past two+ decades of trying to balance all of these duties.

We talk spousal communication, generational transitions, Retirement (or lack thereof) and community leadership. 

Like the one I did with Ava last January, we recorded this on Bluetooth in the truck, so get ready for a little road noise and a few pauses as we navigate the byways of south central Missouri while recording our discussion.

It's real, raw and hopefully relatable for a lot of you. 

We pray that you all have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!