KCA Completes 19th Annual Convention and Trade Show

The Kansas Cattlemen’s Association hosted the 19th Annual KCA Convention and Trade Show on October 27th and 28th at the Meridian Center in Newton, KS. Attendees at convention traveled over 1,500 miles to take part in the two-day event. Events included a BQA Certification, various presentations, a beef packer forum, social, auction, banquet, and a country music performance by Rusty Rierson sponsored by Lallemand Animal Nutrition and Gary & Annette Schreiber.

The convention began on Friday, October 27th with Beef Quality Assurance Certification with Dr. Dan Thomson sponsored by Farm Credit Associations of Kansas. Scott Stebner with the Kansas Beef Council presented “Reaching the Modern, Mobile, and Millennial Consumer. His presentation defined generational differences in how information is consumed. Stebner attempted to answer how best to reach the youngest generations to whom radios and magazines are from the olden days and cell phones and tablets have always existed.

During the Friday evening KCA BBQ, David and Ginny Pfrang of Nemaha county were presented with the 2017 KCA Legacy Award. Lieutenant Governor Dr. Jeff Colyer addressed members during the meal, discussing the status of the state and his future plans for Kansas.

The convention opened Saturday, October 28th with a welcome by Newton Mayor, Barth Hague. Mayor Hague discussed the history of Newton, explaining the effects the cattle drive of the past had in the formation of his community along the Chisholm Trail. Following the welcome ceremony, Bob Baker, an economic policy consultant specializing in agriculture economic research, discussed world economic pressures and opportunities facing agriculture.

Lance Sharp with Copeland Insurance Agency provided details on the new Safe Auto Affinity Program. The program provides KCA members, that have Safe Auto Farm and Ranch Coverage, the possible opportunity to save money with annual dividends paid back on their premiums.

Dr. Tom Noffsinger returned to the convention with an updated presentation covering low stress livestock handling methods geared toward proper stockmanship.

Finally, the Packer Representative Forum included large packer, regulation, and independent processing sectors for answering questions and dispelling myths of the meat processing industry. The panel was made up of Rick Jones, Greg Davis, and Bruce Carselowey.

The KCA Trade Show took place over the two day convention. Twenty-eight exhibitors from nine different states displayed products and services ranging from cattle equipment to legal services. For a full list of exhibitors and sponsors, visit www.kansascattlemen.com.

Ruma-Lic Liquid Feed sponsored a social hour with open bar and hors d’oeuvres on Saturday evening. Following the social hour was the Annual KCA Benefit Auction. Members and other participants contributed over 50 items including custom Demand USA-Beef cutting boards, Hay Monster feeders, a steak dinner, toolbox, a side of beef, a VetGun, and also a Certified Black Angus Heifer. In all, the auction raised nearly $15,000 to help support KCA and the KCA and GoBob Pipe and Steel Scholarship Program.