Speakers
A.J. Tarpoff, D.V.M., M.S.
Kansas State University, Associate Professor & Beef Extension Veterinarian
Dr. A.J. Tarpoff serves the beef industry from every aspect of production from pasture to plate. He attended Kansas State University earning his B.S. from the Animal Sciences and Industry department, followed by his D.V.M. and M.S. degrees from the College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation in 2012, he practiced feedlot production medicine in Alberta, Canada. In 2016 he returned to the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry at Kansas State University and currently serves as an Associate Professor and the Beef Extension Veterinarian. He has a 70% extension, 20% research and 10% teaching appointment. He works closely with producers, practicing veterinarians and members of the industry to bring relevant extension education that improves cattle health and productivity of the beef industry.
Bruce Cobb
Certified Angus Beef, Executive Vice President of Production
As executive vice president of production for Certified Angus Beef, Bruce Cobb focuses on ensuring long-term product supply. He leads strategies to provide education and communications for farmers and ranchers to raise high-quality Angus cattle sustainably, using best practices and responsible care. In overseeing the packing division, he and his team play a vital role in passing on the brand’s ranch heritage to every package of beef meeting the brand’s unrivaled quality standards.
Dan Basse
AgResource Company, President
Dan Basse serves as president of AgResource Company, a domestic and international agricultural research firm located in Chicago. A commodity economist since 1979, Dan forecasts domestic and world agricultural price trends and provides information and research to farmers, elevators, soy and corn processors, wheat millers, food companies, trading companies, importers, exporters, and meatpackers. Raised on a dairy/grain farm in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Dan has a keen sense of production agriculture and graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison with a master’s in agriculture economics. In 1988, Dan founded AgResource, a company to serve the market research needs of the world agricultural community, often holding global conferences in Canada, Switzerland, and Brazil.
Glen Dolezal
Cargill Protein, Assistant Vice President of New Technology Applications
Cargill Protein, Assistant Vice President of New Technology Applications
Glen Dolezal, assistant vice president, new technology applications, at Cargill Protein, has worked in many facets of the packing sector. He started his career at Cargill in 1999 in research and development, but has added responsibilities during that nearly 24-year tenure to include sales and grading functions. He oversaw the implementation of the company’s tenderness claim and the move to camera grading. Prior to working in the private sector, Glen spent 16 years in academia at Oklahoma State University. A Texas native, he holds degrees from Texas A&M and Oklahoma State University.
Hugh Aljoe
Noble Research Institute, Director of Ranches, Outreach & Partnerships
Hugh Aljoe serves as the director of ranches, outreach and partnerships for Noble Research Institute. In this role, he oversees the 13,500 acres of Noble ranches as well as outreach and partnership efforts with allied industries and organizations. He also serves as a subject matter expert in the areas of pasture and range stewardship and adaptive grazing management. Since joining the team in 1995, Hugh has spoken on topics related to the intentional management of ranches, proper land stewardship and soil health of grazing lands, and ranch sustainability and regenerative ranching at national, regional and state conferences. He currently serves on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Environmental Stewardship Award Program selection committee, U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef board of directors and the goals and targets tracking working group and outreach working group, and the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture executive committee.
Jesse Fulton
University of Nebraska Panhandle Research & Extension Center, Extension Educator & Director of Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance
Jesse Fulton is originally from the Northeastern corner of the bluegrass state along the Ohio river in Lewis County, KY. After completing his bachelor’s in animal science at Morehead State University, Jesse went on to pursue his master’s in animal science with a focus in meat science at South Dakota State University. Upon completing his master’s, Jesse served as the Director of Producer Education with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association for five years. During his time at NCBA, he managed the National Cattlemen’s College program, the 2016 National Beef Quality Audit, and assisted with the National Beef Quality Assurance and National Stockmanship & Stewardship programs. Since November 2020, Jesse has been serving as a Nebraska Beef Systems Extension Educator and the Director of Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
John Schroeder
Darr Feedlot, General Manager
As the feedlot manager for Darr Feedlot Inc., John Schroeder reports to the feedyard’s Board of Directors and ownership and is charged with handling all operations and employees. He leads an experienced management team to carry out daily activities of cattle feeding, caring for health and maintenance of facilities. John also oversees the teams that lead accounting, banking, legal and regulation issues by planning, updating and executing Darr’s SOP program. He leads the charge in commodity procurement and risk management. The manager needs to communicate with both retained and investment customers to bring them the best services.
Justin Sexten, Ph.D.
Precision Animal Health group at Zoetis, Head of Industry and Network Partnerships
Justin Sexten uses industry experience to guide partnerships at the intersection of technology, software, and genetics. Justin joined Zoetis as part of Performance Livestock Analytics where he led the product development team to ensure practical, innovative solutions for producers. Justin previously served as director of supply development for Certified Angus Beef, where he led the education and research efforts with cattle ranchers, academia and allied industry. Prior to CAB, Justin served as the State Extension Beef Nutrition Specialist at the University of Missouri with a research focus on forage-use efficiency. Raised on a diversified livestock and row-crop farm near Washington Court House, Ohio, Sexten earned his animal science degree from the University of Kentucky and his master’s and doctorate degrees in ruminant nutrition from the University of Illinois.
Kara Lee
Certified Angus Beef, Director of Producer Engagement
As the director of producer engagement for Certified Angus Beef, Kara Lee leads marketing and education initiatives for cattlemen to increase their brand acceptance rates to grow Certified Angus Beef ® brand supply. She teaches licensed distributors, chefs and retail partners about cattle care and what it takes to raise high-quality beef through on-farm and feedyard experiences. Kara works closely with seedstock producers initiating and auditing the Targeting the Brand™ logo use on registered Angus cattle and AngusLink™ feeder calf marketing resources.
Lane Rosenberry
Sysco Lincoln, Premium Protein Specialist
Lane Rosenberry is a native of Lincoln, Nebraska. He spent his early career as a chef working in various restaurants and cuisine types. He spent six years as a corporate chef for Sysco Lincoln. Since 2017, Lane has worked as the Premium Protein Specialist for Sysco Central Plains Region. In this role, Lane assists in the sales of all protein, marketing and product training. He is passionate about the Nebraska beef industry and the production and promotion of the world’s finest beef. His ability to connect with chefs and speak their language has been key in helping his customers succeed in selling high-quality beef.
Lily Edwards-Callaway, Ph.D.
Colorado State University, Associate Professor
Dr. Lily Edwards-Callaway is currently an Associate Professor focusing on livestock behavior and welfare at Colorado State University in the Department of Animal Science. Originally from the Northeast, with a B.A. in French from Amherst College, Dr. Edwards-Callaway had her first exposure to the agriculture industry, on a small scale, during her time at the University of Rhode Island where she received a Master’s in Animal Science. After finishing her studies, Dr. Edwards-Callaway moved to Colorado, receiving her Ph.D. in Livestock Behavior under the advisement of Dr. Temple Grandin at Colorado State University. Since completion of her graduate work, Dr. Edwards-Callaway has held various roles in academia (Assistant Professor, Kansas State University), the packing industry (Director of Animal Welfare, JBS) and cattle production (VP of Operations, Crystal River Meats) primarily focusing on improving animal welfare in the various management systems with a specific focus on end of life decision-making. She is involved in industry groups and associations to promote and progress the beef and dairy industries.
Nevil Speer
Turkey Track Consulting, Industry Consultant
Nevil Speer works as an industry consultant based in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He has experience in both academia and private industry and has worked within the livestock and food industry across multiple fronts. His career includes working with several start-ups along with various service and consultation projects spanning a wide variety of topics. In addition, he has authored several influential industry white papers and currently serves as a regular contributor to Drovers.
Steve Ringle
Certified Angus Beef, Executive Vice President of Business Development
As executive vice president of business development for Certified Angus Beef, Steve Ringle oversees the sales direction of all end user segments of the beef supply chain, including retail, foodservice, manufacturing and international. He focuses on understanding the market and industry dynamics that affect supply and pricing while also discovering business opportunities that create pull-through demand and increase carcass utilization. Additionally, Steve works with our internal teams to identify and capture developing trends.
T.J. and Tifini Olson
Round the Bend Steakhouse, Owners
T.J. Olson is a dad, husband, firefighter, follower of Jesus, beef lover, whiskey drinker and cigar aficionado. When he was 11 years old his dad bought a hole-in-the-wall dive bar and until he was 18, T.J. worked in the restaurant doing every job his parents would let him. He was a dishwasher, salad runner, host, cook, bartender and server – if there was a job to be done, he did it. He met Tifini in the eighth grade. Today she is a is a mom, wife, Jesus fanatic, model, decorator and self-proclaimed sommelier. She’s the “whoa” to her husband T.J.’s “go.” While they’ve had many bumps in their story (as most young relationships do), they are perfect partners in the restaurant business. For 20 years, they have endured sleepless nights, one kid, thousands of pounds of beef and built one of the best steakhouses in the country.