Kansas Angus Association board members met on February 10 in Hutchinson for the first board meeting of the year. Pictured from left are: Clinton Laflin, Cash Schilling, Stephanie Dickerson, Trey Hinkson, Elizabeth Perkins, Beth Krehbiel, Ben Gleason and Josh Laflin. Several others joined the meeting via Zoom.
Kansas Junior Angus Preview Show is June 6-7
Kansas Junior Angus Association members are planning their annual summer Preview Show. The Preview Show will be June 6-7 on the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. The contests and annual meeting are on Saturday and the show on Sunday. Cattle classes will include owned and bred and owned females, cow/calf pairs, bred and owned bulls ,registered Angus steers commercial predominately black Angus crossbred steers and a Genotype & Phenotype (PGS) show.
Juniors may also compete in showmanship, sales talk, herdsman’s quiz, and public speaking contests Two showmanship representatives to the 2025 National Junior Showmanship Contest in Tulsa, Oklahoma as well as members of the KJAA team sales and fitting NJAS teams will be chosen through contest participation.
The two-day event will feature the KJAA annual meeting, officer elections and awards presentations. The Kansas Angus Auxiliary will conduct their summer meeting and award scholarships in conjunction with the Preview Show.
►Ownership/transfer deadline is May 15. Show entry deadline is June 1, late entries are not accepted. The rue and schedule of events is online at www.kansasangus.org/kjaa . Entries will be processed through the Showman.app.
Interested in a Leadership Role in Ks Angus Assn.? District 4 Director position open
There is currently a vacancy on the Kansas Angus Association Board of Directors for District 4 Director. District 4 represents the north central region of the state and includes the counties : Washington, Republic, Jewell, Smith, Phillips, Clay, Cloud, Mitchell, Osborne, Rooks, Ottawa, and Lincoln.
Interested members should contact Anne at kansasangus@wbsnet.org or KAA president Cash Schilling at (785) 332-4215.
Kansas to Host National Angus Tour in October
The National Angus Convention and American Angus Association Annual Meeting will be in Kansas City, Missouri November 1-2, 2025.
As part of pre– convention tours and activities the Kansas Angus Association will host a the National Angus Tour on Friday , October 31 . Approximately 200 attendees are expected, buses will depart from the Kansas City Downtown Marriot . To attend the tour participants must register when they register for the Convention.
Plans are being made to center the tour around the Manhattan area. Confirmed stop locations are Downey Ranch , Wamego and Kansas State University, Stanley Stout Center for lunch . The stop at the Stout Center will also extend an opportunity for Kansas Angus Association members to display cattle as part of the tour.
At this point, we are seeking a third tour stop. If you would like to have your farm or ranch considered as a stop please contact Anne Lampe at kansasangus@wbsnet.org , (620) 874-4273.
Later this spring, more details on members displaying registered Angus cattle during the KSU/Stout Center stop will be available thorough our Kansas Angus Update E-List and at www.KansasAngus.org
Kansas Angus News
Please send mailing address updates/corrections to Anne at kansasangus@wbsnet.org or by text to 620-874-4273
The President's Pen
As I sit here and write this, it is a balmy -3 out . I am so looking forward to spring and green grass.
Bull sale season is firing up and once again high-end Angus genetics are in high demand. The cattle market is at an all-time high with many factors looking like this to continue for a while.
We all know markets are secular, but the one thing that remains the same is good genetics are always in demand. Look around the state of Kansas you will not find a shortage of great Angus cattle to choose from.
What makes for great genetics? That's for you to decide and what works for you. I'm glad we are in an industry that we all don't have to do the same thing and we can find our own way to be successful.
Cash Schilling
2025 Kansas Angus Association President 785-332-4215
Notes & News from
Anne Family, a group of persons united .
In recent years, the term “family” has been used to go beyond the traditional meaning of family. We often hear the phrases work family, school family and over the past few years the American Angus Association has used the tagline Angus Family .
In January, during the annual Kansas Angus Banquet I looked around the room and saw the faces of our Kansas Angus Family, I realized that we are truly a family that share a bond of not only Angus cattle but of values, goals, determination and mutual respect.
The banquet brings together generations of Angus enthusiasts. Those that have “been there” for years openly welcome new members to the family. The Kansas Angus Family celebrates, encourages and supports each generation through recognition, shared goals and fundraising while we come together to learn, plan, promote Angus cattle and make a place for the next generation of Angus producers.
We have been a “family” for 73 years, I am confident that our Kansas Angus Family will continue to grow and succeed for generations to come.
“The bond that links a family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.” Richard Bach
Until Next Time,
Anne S. Lampe, Kansas Angus Association Manager,; Kansas Angus News Editor Kanasasangus@wbsnet.org, 620-874-4273
1. Ks Angus Association News ▪ 1
Pen, Editors Notes, KAA Info ▪ 2
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President : Cash Schilling, Goodland
Vice President : Stephanie Dickerson, Paradise
Secretary/Mgr: Anne Lampe, Scott City (620) 874-4273
Treasurer: Elizabeth Perkins, Ellsworth
Past President: Lynne Hinrichsen, Westmoreland
District Directors Term Expires
Annual Meeting, Banquet 12 Futurity Junior Show Champions 13 Gardiner -Honorary Member 14-15
Business 4
6
Angus Auxiliary 10
& Events ▪ 10
Cover photo by Anne Lampe
Angus Business
Technology in the Angus Breed
By Levi Landers, Director of Field & Member Services
The electronic world we live in is something most of us would have never dreamed of, or at least me.
I have been accused from time to time of being old-fashioned as I take notes with pen and paper and still prefer to write checks to pay bills. Recently, I have conformed to the times and have even quit carrying a Rand McNally map in the car and do most banking online now.
The American Angus Association membership is a very diverse group, and as an Association we strive to conform to all preferences that our membership needs whether that is electronic or paper.
Electronic storage of registration certificates is a service that the Association provides that grows every year. There are several options once you select this preference on what you can do with certificates in a convenient manner.
Members and affiliate members can simply update their current settings online through their AAA Login account: Click on MY HERD > scroll over Registration Certificates > click on Registration Certificate Storage Preference.
From here you can check the box to set your default to electronically store your registration certificates on any future registrations and transfers into your account.
For registration certificates you currently have, simply drop them in the mail to us, and we can convert them to electronic storage for you, free of charge.
When members are submitting registrations, they will either be printed or electronically stored according to current settings. When submitting registrations online through your AAA Login account, each registration application will give you the option to “Store Electronically: Yes or No.”
If you select “Yes,” you will not receive a printed registration certificate. This animal will be available online for corrections and transfers. If you select “No,” you will receive a printed registration certificate on that animal in the mail.
Any member or affiliate member can create their own online portal with the American Angus Association by going to www.angusonline.org and submitting the required information. This service is provided as a member benefit at no charge.
Electronically stored certificates
Electronically stored certificates are eligible for online transfer and online corrections through AAA Login. Remember, once an animal is transferred to another breeder, the certificate is either printed or electronically stored depending on the settings your buyer has selected.
Also, producers can request electronically stored certificates to be printed and mailed at any time at no additional cost. Note if a paper certificate is printed, it will be mailed to the seller according to the Association’s policy, unless otherwise directed by the seller.
As members of the American Angus Association, I would encourage you to talk to your commercial customers on the benefits of having their own Login profile within the portal system. Again, this is free service and great customer service. As the expected progeny differences (EPDs) and $Values are updated every Friday, your customers can view their updated EPD profiles and make breeding decisions based on the needs of their operation. Also, when an affiliate member has their own profile and would like to participate in any of the services provided by the American Angus Association such as AngusLinkSM and AngusVerifiedSM it makes the entire process seamless.
Paperless billing is another option that any member or affiliate member can access through Login. In July 2024 the American Angus Association implemented
an ACH option. This allows for direct payment from a personal or business banking account that gives the members new options, where in the past all they could do was mail a check or use a credit card.
AGI White Paper Looks at Future of Phenotyping, Commercial Data
By Sarah Kocher, Communications Specialist Angus Genetics Inc. releases white paper on next-gen phenotyping to drive commercial profitability.
A new white paper, released by Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI®) on Jan. 28 with support from the Angus Foundation, discusses the future of phenotyping and expansion of data collection into the commercial sector. Written by Troy Rowan, assistant professor of beef cattle genomics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the paper examines industry research and results from Imagine: AGI’s Beef Genetics Forum, which took place Sept. 25-26, 2024. The event was attended by professionals from academic, research, allied industry and ranching backgrounds.
One of the major themes of the paper is the numerous technological developments poised to affect phenotype collection. Examples include computer-vision technology and wearable sensors.
“By using these technologies to measure traits on continuous scales rather than the categorical scales we currently use for traits like hair shedding or foot angle, we can increase precision of phenotype measurements and consequently increase the quality of EPDs (expected progeny differences) over time,” Rowan says. Rowan also discusses in the paper the types of data most important and economically viable for the industry to pursue.
“We should work on developing genetic selection tools that capture all elements of commercial profitability, continuing to improve yield and the eating experience of our end product while also making our cowherd more efficient, adapted and productive,” Rowan says.
Advancing terminal and maternal traits, health and other challenging areas of production require data integration and more advanced tools, he says in the paper.
André Garcia, senior geneticist with AGI, says AGI is uniquely positioned to help facilitate these conversations, and the white paper will help to advance discussions.
“We have a lot of discussion about the importance of commercial data, but the underlying question is how to make collection an easier process,” Garcia says. “It will take a coordinated effort to tackle these issues, on all fronts really the technology development and application, costs, data sharing, use of the data, etc.” Garcia says the Imagine genetics forum was the perfect catalyst to spark these discussions because of the involvement of breeders, researchers and others in the industry. “We want something the whole supply chain can benefit from and contribute to,” Garcia says. “For this, it’s valuable to gather everyone, share and listen. Then we can move forward and work together to make progress.”
With 80% of the U.S. cow herd being Angus-influenced, according to the 2023 Industry Insights survey conducted by CattleFax, there’s no question the breed and users of Angus genetics will influence next steps. “Angus has a long history of leading genetic improvement programs from some of the first EPD calculations, to the integration of genomics, to single-step evaluations,” Rowan says.
“Moving forward, they are well-positioned to be leaders in the adoption of new phenotyping technologies and innovative data structures.”
The complete white paper is available online at www.angus.org To join the industry conversation about next-gen phenotyping and driving commercial profitability, respond and tag Angus Genetics Inc. on LinkedIn.
1,200
Join us Friday evening, April 4, for dinner followed by “There’s no secret sauce in elite cow-calf production!”
Ag economist and beef industry consultant Nevil Speer will moderate a panel discussion with four diversified cow-calf producers, Whitney Hall, Hall Ranch, Loco, Okla.; Sylvia Sellard, Sellard Farms, Bucklin, Kan.; Marisa Kleysteuber, K Ranch & Triangle H, Garden City, Kan.; and Paige Nelson, fifth generation rancher and leading ag journalist, Rigby, Idaho. These operations rely on birth to harvest performance and focus on multi-trait excellence in both sire selection and heifer retention.
Saturday, april 5, 2025 • 9 aM
Henry & nan Gardiner MarketinG Center • near aSHland, kanSaS
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Beacon represents all we have strived to replicate for generations in our pursuit of multi-trait excellence. Calving ease, early growth, moderate stature, maternal excellence and end-product merit. It’s all there in one impressive phenotypic package.
Lot 1 GAR Beacon (20871969)
Kansas Junior Angus Association
Greetings Kansas Junior Members!
I hope everyone is getting along well through calving and sale season preparations!
My term as the Kansas Junior Angus Association President ends in June, and I would like to thank everyone who has been a part of my junior career. I would not be where I am today without the opportunities and experiences I’ve gained through the junior associations and the Angus breed!
Once again, I would like to remind everyone to attend the Summer Preview Show June 7-8 in Hutchinson! The entry deadline is June 1st. KJAA Officer, Director, and Advisor positions are due June 1st. I encourage all junior members ages 12+ to apply for an office and take advantage of the opportunity to develop friendships and expand your skill sets.
I look forward to seeing everyone at upcoming Angus events!
For Ks Scholarship application deadlines see page 10– Kansas Angus Auxiliary
2024-25 Ks Jr Angus Association Board of Directors term Aug 1, 2024 to Aug 1, 2025
Officers
President- Kelsey Theis-Leavenworth
President Elect- Austin Woodrow- Emporia
Vice President-Lyle Perrier- Eureka
2nd Vice President- Addie Haverkamp- Bern
Secretary-Jackson McCurry-Colwich
Treasurer-Cohen Navinsky Easton
Reporter-Kaelyn Schilling Goodland
Historian-Sullivan Haverkamp-Bern
Co-Membership Director-Molly Hill Baldwin Co-Membership Director- Cheyenne Brunker -Ottawa
Directors
District 1 Director– Addie Burns
District 2 Director– Ruby Hill
District 3 Director-Hannah Perrier
District 4 Director- Brekyn Zier
District 5 Director-Ruby Shaver
District 6 Director– Aubree McCurry
District 8 Director-Avery Mullen
Director at Large– Creed Caldwell Past President-Jayce Dickerson-Paradise
Advisors–3 year term
Mark and Brenna Wulfkuhle- wulfkulheb@gmail.com (3rd year/2025)
Neal and Marya Haverkamp- neal@namahavalleycattle.com (2nd year/2026)
Cash and Amanda Schilling-schillinglandandcattle@gmail,com ( 1st year/2027)
Anne Lampe-620-874- 4273 cell, kansasangus@wbsnet.org www.kansasangus.org/KJAA
Representatives Elected
During the winter meeting of the KJAA on January 25, Lyle Perrier, Eureka was elected by the membership of the KJAA to be a candidate for election to the National Jr. Angus Association Board of Directors (NJAA) .
Eliza Rosenhagen, Cheney and Cohen Navinsky, Easton were selected to represent Kansas as voting delegates. Elections and the annual meeting of the NJAA will take place in July during the National Junior Angus Show in Tulsa, OK.
Kansas Jr Angus Preview Show
June 7-8, 2025, Kansas State Fairgrounds, Hutchinson, KS
• Junior Show– Entry Deadline June 1, Showman.app
• KJAA Annual Meeting & Officer Elections
• Application for Officers and Advisors are due June 1.
• Contests– Quiz, Sales Talk, Exempt Speaking, Public Speaking
• Ks National Jr Angus Showmanship Contest representative selection
• Fun for all
National Jr Angus Show– Tulsa, Oklahoma June 28- July 5, 2025
May 15
• Cattle ownership/transfer process date deadline no exceptions , Any animals that require DNA will need to CLEAR on or before the ownership date. This includes ET calves, so please plan accordingly.
• NJAS Early entry deadline
• May 31 late entry deadline– additional fees apply
NEW at NJAS- NJAA Showmanship Contest for junior and intermediates will take place Monday, June 30th starting at 9:00 a.m. The contest is available to the following age divisions, as of January 1 of the current year:
Junior A (8-10)
Junior B (11-13)
Intermediate A (14-15)
Intermediate B (16-17)
Rules for the NJAA Showmanship Contest can be found at the NJAA Website under contests. Exhibitors competing in showmanship must sign up for the contest prior to the entry deadline.
Contests: There are many contests for NJAA members to participate in both in person at NJAS and Virtual! A few changes to note:
• Creative Writing deadline is March 25th
• Career Development deadline is April 1st, and the contest will take place April 15th, virtually.
• Cook Off, Photography, and Graphic Design deadlines are May 15th
XX Auctioneering and Prepared Public Speaking have been removed as contests from the National Junior Angus Show.
For complete info www.angus.org/njaa
HARMS PLAINVIEW RANCH
Calving season is here, which means selecting your next herdsires is on the horizon. Make your choice at HPR… where the dams, granddams and greatgranddams of every bull we offer are raised and maintained on our ranch. We combine the latest science and technology available with real-world, hands-on stockmanship and experience… progressive and practical. Purchase your bulls where the females and our customers always come first.
Hello from the Auxiliary
With spring upon us, summer will not be far behind. Many of you take your family vacations during this time and are lucky enough to have them revolve around Angus events. For some, the only “vacation” you have ever had includes a trailer with Angus cattle in tow!
We want to say thank you again to those that supported the Auxiliary efforts during the banquet. The funds raised will directly impact the juniors as we award scholarships and provide support to the juniors in the coming events.
If you are a high school senior, the application deadline for the Auxiliary scholarship is April 1. The top male and female from the state can be sent on to compete for additional scholarship funds with the American Angus Auxiliary Scholarship.
As a reminder, there is a new scholarship also due April 1 (KAAux Angus Foundation Endowment Scholarship). The Auxiliary ifs offering a scholarship for anyone above the freshman level in college, whether that is a trade school, junior college, university, or any degreed program such as nursing or vo
For any juniors that have been active in educational and leadership activities between May 15, 2024, and May 15, 2025, apply for the Challenge Award. This prestigious award can only be received once during a junior’s career. If you have been active in the Angus showring during this same time, consider applying for the Premier Exhibitor Award. This award can be earned multiple times during a junior’s career. The awards are evaluated on a points system and due May 25.
For mor information on the awards above, visit the Kansas Angus Auxiliary website for more information or contact any Auxiliary officer. If you would like to help support juniors through the Auxiliary, don’t hesitate to reach out! It takes a village, and we are fortune to have one of the best!
Esther Tarpoff
Kansas Angus Auxiliary President esthertarpoff@gmail.com, 620-636-0245
Dates to Remember:
April 1 – Auxiliary Scholarship Applications due for high school seniors graduating in spring 2025
April 1 – Auxiliary Endowment Scholarship Application due for college students (trade school, junior college, university, other degreed programs such as nursing or vo-tech)
May 25 – Challenge Award Application due May 25 – Premier Exhibitor Award Application due For more info and application links visit www.kansasangus.org/auxiliary
• 6/7-8/2025-Ks Jr Angus Preview Show-Hutchinson, KSShow/Meeting *****************************************************************
• 9/13.2025– Kansas State Fair Open Angus Show, Hutchinson
• 10/31 11/1-2,/2025-National Angus Convention-Kansas City, MO-Convention/Meeting/Tour
KANSAS ANGUS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS*
Send your sale date or updates to kansasangus@wbsnet.org. Listing is free to members Length of calendar in each issue is at discretion of the Editor . Dates subject to change please check with sale host. All events are sales unless otherwise noted. KAA members submit your PRIVATE TREATY SALE info at www.kansasangus.org .*More sales will be added as information is received. Association members please submit your sale date.
NEW Members your sale can be added after joining. All listings are sales unless otherwise noted.
Kansas Angus Family gathered for the 73rd Annual Meeting, Banquet &
Futurity Junior Show
It was a celebration weekend for the Kansas Angus family in Hutchinson as the Kansas Angus Association (KAA), Kansas Angus Auxiliary and the Kansas Junior Angus Association (KJAA) gathered together to host its annual meeting, banquet and Kansas Angus Futurity Junior Show on January 25-26.
Members gathered to conduct the business of the association during the 73rd annual meeting of the Kansas Angus Association. Clay Schilling, Goodland was elected the 2025 president. The Auxiliary hosted their annual hospitality room on Saturday providing snacks and warm drinks for meeting attendees and exhibitors.
Over 160 KAA members, juniors, and guests attended the annual banquet in the 1861 Clun on the Kansas State Fairgrounds as we celebrated the past year’s accomplishments of the Association and planned for the new year.
Mark Gardiner, Ashland was inducted as the association’s newest honorary member. Eliza Rosenhagen, Cheney was crowned Miss Kansas Angus. Addie Burns, Valley Falls and Molly Hill, Baldwin were selected as Ambassadors. Dane Haverkamp, Bern received the Kansas Angus Association Young Angus Producer Scholarship and Jensen Woodworth, Enterprise was presented with the Kenneth and Lorene Moore Memorial Scholarship.
Sixty-six entries in the Kansas Angus Futurity Junior Show were evaluated by judge Brandon Bratcher, Elizabeth, Ind., prior to Dakota Sith Allen, Ottawa claiming the Edmund Theis Memorial Supreme Champion Award buckle after first winning champion bred and owned heifer with BLC Proven Queen 2356 a March 2023 daughter of KR Casino 6243.
Dakota Smith Allen, Ottawa was presented the Edmund Theis Memorial Supreme Champion Award buckle by the Theis Family.
, Enterprise, right, received the Kenneth and Lorene Moore Memorial scholarship. Pictured presenting the award is Ashley Navinsky, Kansas Angus Auxiliary scholarship chairperson, left.
Dane Haverkamp, Bern, center, received the Kansas Angus Association Young Angus Producer scholarship. Pictured presenting the award are Cash Schilling, Kansas Angus Association president, left; and Lynne Hinrichsen, Kansas Angus Association immediate past president, right.
Selected as 2025 Kansas Angus Ambassadors are Molly Hill, Baldwin City, and Addison Burns, Valley Falls.
Mark Gardiner, Ashland, right, was presented with the 2024 Kansas Angus Association Honorary Member award Also pictured presenting the award are committee members Jerry Theis, left, and Gordon Stucky, center. The award is dedicated to those that have contributed to the improvement of Angus cattle and the livestock industry in the state of Kansas.
Eliza Rosenhagen, Cheney, left, was crowned Miss Kansas Angus Also pictured is Kaelyn Schilling, Goodland, 2024 Miss Kansas Angus, right.
Lynne Hinrichsen, Westmoreland was present a gift of appreciation for her service to the KAA as its 2024 President. Presenting is Cash Schilling 2025 President.
Intermediate: showmanship Kaelyn Schilling, 1st ; Jackson McCurry,2nd ; Emeri Deters 3rd, Tyle Black, 4th; Elsie Stutzman, 5th.
Novice
Lead
by
doing.
Help others. Leave it better than you found it.
MARK GARDINER: 2024 KANSAS ANGUS ASSOCIATION HONORARY MEMBER AWARD
end of his career. In fact, those around him will argue the opposite! Describing himself as an introvert, Mark always suggests there are others more deserving. But in reality, this native Kansas son has made a tremendous impact on the beef industry in America.
In his mid-30s, Gardiner and a small cadre of K-State alums and friends began discussing serious industry problems— declining market share, lack of beef quality and consistency and overall consumer dissatisfaction. After considerable due diligence and collaboration with industry thought leaders, the unique concept of U.S. Premium Beef was launched in 1996. Retired U.S. Premium Beef CEO, Steve Hunt recalled, “In the very early stages of putting together U.S. Premium Beef, one of the challenges we had was to establish a brain trust, really a leadership trust. We needed to not only create a vision and a mission, but we needed to execute a plan. One name began to surface in all our discussions. That name was Mark Gardiner.”
U.S. Premium Beef was a bold plan to vertically integrate beef production through partnering with a packer. This new business model required all members to commit to delivering one head per share owned to the packer/partner. USPB cattle would be priced on a negotiated grid formula, rewarding higher quality beef. Also, the owner of the cattle (feedyard or producer) received a “report card” on the performance of the cattle. From 1997 through 2024, USPB members have received more than $2.7 billion in dividends and premiums. Mark Gardiner has served as founding member and chairman of the U.S. Premium Beef board of directors since 1997. As a customer service, Gardiner Angus Ranch customers retaining ownership have access to GAR USPB delivery rights. Through 2024, GAR customers have marketed 146,000 head through USPB earning an average premium of $103.89 per head above the base price, totaling more than $15 million.
original essay discussing their future goals. The finalists are interviewed by a panel of faculty and industry thought leaders, including Mark. The Henry C. Gardiner Scholarship has awarded more than $280,000 in scholarship money to 60 students at KState University. Kansas Angus Honorary Award winner in 2022 and retired K-State professor of animal science Dr. Dave Nichols made the following remarks, “These scholarships are the largest we give in the department of animal science. If you look at the students that have won the scholarships, they are the who’s-who of students that have gone on to make industry contributions.”
Steve Hunt, U.S. Premium Beef, CEO (retired) Dr. Dave Nichols, Professor Emeritus, K-State
Mark & Eva Gardiner
Callahan Grund, 2017-2018 Henry C. Gardiner Scholarship winner and current executive director, U.S. CattleTrace offered his thoughts, “My relationship with Mark started during my scholarship interview and has continued to our current relationship as my mentor and fellow seedstock breeder. He’s been very instrumental in our efforts at U.S. CattleTrace, really being that industry thought leader and someone that has the foresight to do what’s right and looking out for his fellow beef producers.”
The Henry C. Gardiner Lecture Series at K-State, also funded in 2012, has hosted world class innovators and educators. Each year, a committee of across-campus faculty and influencers select individuals that are shaping the modern world, through agriculture and technology, and confronting conventional thought. Mark is an active participant in the selection process each year challenging his colleagues to think differently. As the lecture series has gained prominence, it is one of the most well attended lecture events at Kansas State University, encompassing multiple disciplines, industry sectors and the public.
Mark and brother, Greg, are equally committed to the Gardiner Angus Ranch structured internship program. Since 2012, 75 students from universities across the U.S., Great Britain and Australia have completed the roughly four-month internships. Students can choose spring or fall internships. Once on the ranch, the students become a member of the GAR team responsible for day-to-day operations. Interns gain experience in ultrasound, synchronization, cattle handling, herd health, horsemanship, reproduction, data collection and basic animal husbandry. Interns travel with Mark and are introduced to an invaluable network of industry professionals.
Marissa Fisher, fall GAR 2015 intern, now the beef operations manager, beef barn and feedlot, UC Davis, Department of Animal Science, Davis, Calif., offered her congratulations and thoughts, “I drove to Ashland, Kansas, on my twenty-first birthday and met Mark Gardiner. I had the absolute time of my life for the next four months. This internship, genuinely and in the sincerest way, changed my life. I was very shy but knew I wanted a future in the beef industry. The way Mark and the entire Gardiner family opened doors for me, helping me find out who I am, what I’m passionate about and how to apply that to my life; there’s no way I would be where I am today without the Gardiner internship.“
said, “Mark is a hard worker and a very busy man. But he’s also a family man and a very spiritually faithful man. He’s a forward thinker, always looking to the future. As I’ve watched what he’s done the past more than 30 years, it’s obvious he builds GAR for the commercial world. He surrounds himself with industry experts. He listens and is willing to learn from others that know what they are doing in an industry. I think that’s unique. He’s setting people up so that Gardiner Angus Ranch can continue in the future.”
Someone once said the best example is by doing. Generations of the Gardiner family have practiced leading by doing. In March 2017, the Starbuck Wildfire that ravaged Gardiner Angus Ranch as well as 85% of Clark County, was a true test of community service and leadership. Dr. Randall Spare, Ashland Veterinary Center, and one of Mark‘s closest friends and confidants offered his thoughts, “Leadership is easy during the good times. When times are difficult, it‘s the most challenging. He led our community through the disasterous fire and he did it with grace, even when he had lost so much. His vision has enabled many, many people to be successful in the beef business. One thing I most appreciate is Mark wants everyone to succeed.“
Throughout Mark’s leadership at Gardiner Angus Ranch, all customers are treated equally. From the largest customer to the smallest, whether selling a pot load of bulls or a bull loaded in the back of a bumper pull trailer, each customer receives equal time and consideration. There are no disclaimers on the Gardiner Guarantee due to size of operation. His patience to explain the value of a simple trait or encourage a producer to consider options that may provide more opportunity is never dictated by size or economic strata.
Free delivery is offered on all cattle sold at the ranch. Unlike the Amazon delivery truck, no one expects Jeff Bezos to pull up to the ranch gate. Many GAR customers are not surprised in the least to see Mark Gardiner driving up to the loading chute with a trailer load of cattle. He will tell you delivering customer cattle is a great opportunity to learn more about what the customer needs and expects to be successful. Commitment to customer service isn’t simply an act of homage displayed in a board room. Customer service is built into the fabric at GAR.
Spring 2019 GAR intern, Adalaide Kline, now beef production program director, Colby Community College, Colby, Kansas, shared her experience, “ When I was an intern, I didn‘t know for sure if I wanted to be in the beef industry. But, through my internship, and through Mark and the Gardiner family‘s mentorship, I realized I wanted to be in the beef industry. I would not be where I am today without his guidance and friendship.“
Throughout many years, Mark found time to help Kansas Angus juniors. Always a fierce competitor, Mark has committed his time and energy in working with many KJAA teams to compete at the highest levels in quiz bowl competitions, sales teams and speech contests, during and after the years his three sons, Cole, Ransom and Quanah, competed. One of our Kansas junior Angus members and 2023-2024 Henry C. Gardiner Scholarship recipient, Ava Perrier, remembers Mark‘s influence, “ Mark was inspirational as a coach and very intentional. He was an amazing coach and willing to work with us even though he didn‘t have skin in the game. It‘s been amazing getting to spend time learning from him.“
Dr. Kirk Gray, Cross Country Genetics, Manhattan, Kan., lead embryologist at Gardiner Angus Ranch for more than three decades
Mark Gardiner is a husband, father, grandfather, friend, colleague, visionary leader, and is curious, ambitious, generous individual passionate about his family, rural America and the beef cattle industry. Kendal Kay, president of Stockgrowers State Bank, summarizes it best, “Mark has had such an impact on the cattle industry, in our nation, here in the state of Kansas, and even more than that, the impact he has had on our community. He is a true leader. I am so grateful for our relationship. The things I have seen him do, as a banker and a friend, have made me a better banker.“
Mark is a frequent presenter at many industry events. Regardless of his audience, he is quick to offer the basic tenets for Gardiner Angus Ranch practiced every day.
“If our customers make money, we make money.” And lastly, he sums it up best during a recent interview, “If I have one message, it‘s to pay it forward. Someone gave me a chance. Let’s pay it forward so others have a chance.”
“From the early beginning, Mark and I have worked together. Any situation we‘ve ever been in, I can look up and know what I feel and I know what he feels. From the beginning of our journey, he‘s been my best friend. That‘s the unique relationship we share.“
—Greg Gardiner
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