Mark Gardiner is CEO of Gardiner Angus Ranch, Ashland, KS.

In this episode, we talk about the many challenges that wildfires have brought to Mark's region. Mark shares ways that they have overcome these challenges and grown stronger as a result.

Kendal Kay is CEO of Stockgrowers State Bank, Ashland, KS, where he has worked for 30 years. He is the former mayor of Ashland and played a key role in the donation and recovery efforts of the Starbuck Fire of 2017, one of the state's largest wildfires in recent history.

I caught up with Kendal while he was en route to visit victims of the yesterday's Ranger Road wildfire that burnt roughly 150,000 acres of Oklahoma and Kansas ranchland.

We talk about current status reports of the many fires in the region, plus what we can do to help victims.

Links:

Ashland Community Foundation Ashland Community Foundation

Kansas Livestock Association (785) 273-5115

Hay donation locations:
Ashland Feed & Seed Ashland Feed & Seed - Homepage

Shaw Feedyard - Ryan Koons, Manager - [email protected] or 620.805.4682

Dr. Tom Carr is Professor Emeritus of the University of Illinois. After Serving on the faculty for 36 years as a Meat Scientist and Professor, he and his wife now make their home in his hometown of Medicine Lodge, KS.

Other podcast episodes referenced:

#22 - Diana Clark

Chandler Keys grew up on a family farm in Maryland. In addition to helping his family raise purebred Angus cattle and grow various grain crops, he was active in 4-H and other agriculture clubs. After earning his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, Chandler held an entry level position with National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). Over the next two decades, Chandler stayed with NCBA and moved up within the organization. He became the Vice President for Government and Industry Relations where he led the 20+ staff in the Washington DC office. Chandler then took his leadership to Swift & Company, later JBS, until he began Keys Group in 2012. Chandler and his family live in Maryland.

Carolyn Perrier is a ranch wife, mother of three and grandmother of nine. She is a servant in her community, a leader for countless organizations through the years, and most importantly... my mom. 

On this episode, we talk about her journey from city to country life and the countless challenges and blessings along the way.

Past episode mentions:

Tom Perrier https://www.buzzsprout.com/1995747/episodes/12299829

Symphony in the Flint Hills https://www.buzzsprout.com/1995747/episodes/12898676

Justin McKee is a professional rodeo announcer, a cattleman, a communicator and a leader. 

Raised in southeast Kansas, he now has a ranch near Hico, TX, and is a commentator on the Cowboy Channel, as well as announcing numerous rodeos across the nation. In addition, he puts on broadcasting clinics and leadership seminars to help others bring out their best.

https://www.justinmckeenow.com

Matt will go over the high-use sires in the Dalebanks 2025 sale offering, plus give an overview of the Perrier family's breeding program and genetic selection philosophies.

Don't miss the 2025 Sale, Saturday, November 22, at the ranch NW of Eureka, KS

Don Close is a senior animal protein analyst for Terrain Ag. He’s enjoying serving in leadership roles in the cattle industry and conducting research on a wide range of topics after overseeing the establishment of Terrain as the team’s first leader. Don’s prior experience includes his work as a senior animal protein analyst at Rabobank, and as a market director for the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, where he worked on all economic and market-sensitive policy issues for cattle feeders in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

In his three decades of professional experience, Don has been a licensed commodity broker, handled risk management and pricing for large cattle operations, managed a grain procurement program, and published market updates and outlooks for cattle and hogs. Don earned his BS in agricultural economics from West Texas A&M.

Terrain | The Sneaky Barrier to Herd Expansion: Big Cows

Rich Blair is a beef producer from Sturgis, SD. The Blair family has grown a cowherd over the last 25 years that is focused on meeting demands for their own ranching operation, their genetics customers, the feeding industry and the beef consumer. In addition to the cowherd, Rich also has a commodity brokerage business, where he provides risk management tools for northern plains producers. 

www.blairbrosangus.com

Jason Kraft is the Founder and CEO of Compass Ag Solutions, a Risk Management firm based in his hometown of Ft. Collins, CO. In addition, his family owns and operates Hilltop Hay and Livestock, a diversified family operation that offers high quality hay, cattle and beef to customers in Colorado’s Front Range. 

We talk market risk, leverage, fed cattle price discovery and asset protection. Throughout his career, Jason has found ways to find solutions to market challenges. Whether it’s his work in commodity markets and risk management, hay and livestock production or their farm to fork beef business, the Kraft family knows how to turn challenges into opportunities. 

Disclaimer - Positioning Agribusiness for Success

Agricultural Risk Management & Trading | Cattle Feeding

Home - Hilltop Hay and Livestock

LRP episode with Joe Kovanda: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1995747/episodes/13495752