Front row (left to right) – Kit Farran, staff; Madeline Drake, staff; Genayla Warnken, Manhattan; Alexandria Kester, Hoyt; Madison Seyb, Johnson; Maddy Krueger, Bennington; Ashley Peters, Lehigh; Josie Kueser, Ellsworth; Reygan Schrock, Brookville; Erin Livingston, Ottawa; Ariana Vogel, Galesburg; Macie Weigand, staff; Sharon Breiner, staff.
Back Row – Carson Corwin, staff; Claire Janssen, Amber, OK; Clay Guttery, Alton; Isom Marston, Canton; Abe Noll, Winchester; Dustin Denton, Blue Rapids; Cameron Madsen, Kansas City; Will Meinhardt, Onaga; Anna Doyon, Wichita; Joe Schohr, Oroville, CA; Walker Koons, Meade; Brady Hoffman, Derby.
View more photos, here.
K-STATE ANIMAL SCIENCES LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (KASLA)
Students from across the country gathered on the Kansas State University campus to take part in the 14th annual K-State Animal Sciences Leadership Academy (KASLA) June 5-8. During their time at KASLA, students were given tours of farms and operations near Manhattan and engaged in hands-on labs and interactive leadership development sessions. The program included two days of livestock industry tours throughout northeast Kansas with stops including: Kansas Artificial Breeding Services Unit (KABSU), K-State Sheep and Meat Goat Center, K-State Purebred Beef Unit, O.H. Kruse Feed Innovation Center, Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas Livestock Association, Hildebrand Farms Dairy, Bichelmeyer Meats, and the American Royal. Tours concluded at Dave and Buster’s in Kansas City with an ASI alumni panel of Austin DeZeeuw, Jara Settles, and Taylor Belle Matheny. Workshops were also provided by Dr. Greiger, Dani Stock, and Macie Weigand in reproduction and the Staley School of Leadership. Students worked on their leadership development with ASI Mentors Nissa Olson & Weston Schrader, and enjoyed Call Hall ice cream with Emily Grund, #KSUASI Recruitment & Marketing Assistant.
For their final project, the students were divided into groups during the week to focus on current issues affecting the livestock industry. #KSUASI faculty mentors assisted each group. Using information they learned throughout the academy, each group was asked to present their topic as part of the closing reception on Saturday. Family, friends and members of the K-State community gathered for the reception to honor the graduates and hear their thoughts on these important livestock issues. The event was sponsored by the Livestock and Meat Industry Council (LMIC) and coordinated by KSU ASI. Special thanks to LMIC members Dr. Justin and Mary Janssen for remarks; and Dr. Mark and Kimberley Young and Dr. Mike Day for serving as judges for the final presentations.
The program relied on four talented student counselors — we thank Carson Corwin, Maddie Drake, Kit Farran, and Macie Weigand for their outstanding work. Special thanks to the group’s faculty mentors Dr. Billy Brown, Dr. Maci Mueller, Dr. Travis O’Quinn, and Dr. Logan Thompson for investing in our students. Thank you to department tour hosts Dr. Payton Dahmer, Dr. Jason Warner, Shane Werk, Nicole Goodenow, and Dr. Katelyn Gaffield & the Swine Team Graduate Students. Thank you also Angie Denton and Emily Grund for help with photography and communications. Additional support for the program was provided by Katie Smith, Lexie Hayes, Lauren Thompson, Peyton Piepho, Janeen Dieball, Becky Ayers, Tim Carson, Barbara McMurray, Stacey Chard, Kati Baxter, Lauren Eyster, and many others. — Thank You, Sharon Breiner, KASLA Director (See Photo Gallery)
A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Beef Improvement Federation Roy Wallace Scholarship. This prestigious award was given to recent K-State Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI) graduate Audrey Tarochione, from London Mills, Illinois. She received the scholarship from Brian House of Select Sires Inc. during the awards ceremony on June 10.
were announced, showcasing the talents of graduate students in the field. Kansas State University had strong representation in the competition. Graduate students Dani Stock and Will Shaffer secured second and third place, winning $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. Additionally, graduate student Matthew Kinghorn was a finalist, demonstrating the high caliber of K-State’s program and its students.
KSU ASI graduate student Elizabeth Dressler placed second in the USDS Travel Award Poster Competition.
ASI Alumnus, Kevin Schultz from Haviland, Kansas, the past president of the BIF, was recognized for this dedication as 2023-24 BIF President.
