Speakers
We welcome these industry leaders to the Celebration and Field Day Commemorating 150 Years of Angus in the US
1 - 2 pm Educational Presentations
1 - 2 pm Educational Presentations
- 1st Angus Bulls Journey to Victoria & Beyond- Kurt Schaff, American Angus Hall of Fame
- Certified Angus Beef Brand- Kara Lee
- Evolution of the Beef Business in Ks- Rick Pfortmiller, NEOGEN
- Kelli Retallick- Riley, American Angus Association President Angus Genetics, Inc.
Kurt Schaff
American Angus Hall of Fame
Kurt is a third generation Angus breeder in his 30th year with the American Angus Hall of Fame at Smithville, Missouri. He is a native of North Dakota where his great-grandparents homesteaded in 1902 and where his family have produced registered Angus cattle since 1942.
Kurt graduated from North Dakota State University with degrees in animal science and mass communications and was both a member and assistant coach of NDSU livestock judging teams. He won collegiate, FFA and 4-H livestock judging contests, and earned the FFA American Farmer degree.
Kurt manages Angus sales across America and beyond, and his travels include all 50 U.S. states and multiple foreign countries. He is co-author of several Angus books including Angus Legends Volumes I & II.
Kurt and his wife Arlene have a daughter, Erica, and they are members of the American Angus Association and the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Kansas City, where they reside.
American Angus Hall of Fame
Kurt is a third generation Angus breeder in his 30th year with the American Angus Hall of Fame at Smithville, Missouri. He is a native of North Dakota where his great-grandparents homesteaded in 1902 and where his family have produced registered Angus cattle since 1942.
Kurt graduated from North Dakota State University with degrees in animal science and mass communications and was both a member and assistant coach of NDSU livestock judging teams. He won collegiate, FFA and 4-H livestock judging contests, and earned the FFA American Farmer degree.
Kurt manages Angus sales across America and beyond, and his travels include all 50 U.S. states and multiple foreign countries. He is co-author of several Angus books including Angus Legends Volumes I & II.
Kurt and his wife Arlene have a daughter, Erica, and they are members of the American Angus Association and the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Kansas City, where they reside.
Kara Lee
Certified Angus Beef, LLC., Director, Producer Engagement
Kara leads initiatives that provide education for cattlemen who want to improve their bottom line by using the best genetics and management practices. Raised on a commercial Angus operation, Kara serves as a connection point between Certified Angus Beef ® brand partners and the ranch by leading on-farm ranch days.
Certified Angus Beef, LLC., Director, Producer Engagement
Kara leads initiatives that provide education for cattlemen who want to improve their bottom line by using the best genetics and management practices. Raised on a commercial Angus operation, Kara serves as a connection point between Certified Angus Beef ® brand partners and the ranch by leading on-farm ranch days.
Rick Pfortmiller
Neogen Bovine Genomics Territory Manager – KS, NE
Rick grew up on a livestock and grain farm in North-Central Kansas, where he and his wife and family operate the family’s commercial cow-calf operation as the fourth and fifth generation with the sixth generation growing up on it. They also produce milo and wheat and cover crops for extending the grazing season. Rick graduated from Kansas State University with a BS degree in animal science and has an extensive background in genomic applications in the seedstock and commercial cattle sectors. In his spare time, he and his family raise old-line Hampshire pigs for specialty meat markets and utilize Neogen for DNA testing for carcass and meat quality traits.
Neogen Bovine Genomics Territory Manager – KS, NE
Rick grew up on a livestock and grain farm in North-Central Kansas, where he and his wife and family operate the family’s commercial cow-calf operation as the fourth and fifth generation with the sixth generation growing up on it. They also produce milo and wheat and cover crops for extending the grazing season. Rick graduated from Kansas State University with a BS degree in animal science and has an extensive background in genomic applications in the seedstock and commercial cattle sectors. In his spare time, he and his family raise old-line Hampshire pigs for specialty meat markets and utilize Neogen for DNA testing for carcass and meat quality traits.
Kelli Retallick- Riley
President Angus Genetics, Inc., American Angus Association
The Angus breed has always been wise to honor tradition while remaining on the cutting edge. As we look at the next 150 years, we will continue to forage ahead in creating maternal oriented, carcass driven cattle that can be the solution for all facets of the industry. Working together as a membership we will tackle the next frontier whether that be increased productivity, maternal efficiency, or overall health and fitness.
Kelli has long-admired black Angus cows. Her obsession first formed growing up on her family’s cow/calf operation in Southwest Wisconsin where she made her show ring debut at the ripe age of four. Over time her interest in improving these stock stretched beyond the show ring. She switched tactics from improving cattle from the outside in, to the inside out. Equipping breeders with genetic tools to better select and mate their herds is her primary focus today. As the President of AGI, a fully owned subsidiary of the American Angus Association, she can continue to support this great industry. In her role, she drives the mission and guides the research and application of genetic tools for Angus breeders and users of Angus genetics. Retallick-Riley obtained a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master’s degree in Animal Breeding & Genetics at Kansas State University and is working towards a PhD in the same field at KSU.
President Angus Genetics, Inc., American Angus Association
The Angus breed has always been wise to honor tradition while remaining on the cutting edge. As we look at the next 150 years, we will continue to forage ahead in creating maternal oriented, carcass driven cattle that can be the solution for all facets of the industry. Working together as a membership we will tackle the next frontier whether that be increased productivity, maternal efficiency, or overall health and fitness.
Kelli has long-admired black Angus cows. Her obsession first formed growing up on her family’s cow/calf operation in Southwest Wisconsin where she made her show ring debut at the ripe age of four. Over time her interest in improving these stock stretched beyond the show ring. She switched tactics from improving cattle from the outside in, to the inside out. Equipping breeders with genetic tools to better select and mate their herds is her primary focus today. As the President of AGI, a fully owned subsidiary of the American Angus Association, she can continue to support this great industry. In her role, she drives the mission and guides the research and application of genetic tools for Angus breeders and users of Angus genetics. Retallick-Riley obtained a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master’s degree in Animal Breeding & Genetics at Kansas State University and is working towards a PhD in the same field at KSU.