K-State Specialists to Present at 5 States Beef Conference

BEAVER, Okla. — The 5 States Beef Conference will return this fall with two sessions featuring beef industry updates from university specialists across the region, including two Kansas State University researchers.

The conference begins Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Beaver County Fair Building in Beaver, Oklahoma, and continues Wednesday, Oct. 15, at Frank Phillips College Rahll Campus in Dalhart, Texas. The program is designed for cow-calf, stocker, and feedlot operators and will cover timely issues affecting beef production in the High Plains.

Kansas State University will be represented by Emma Briggs, K-State assistant professor and beef systems extension specialist, and Logan Thompson, K-State assistant professor and sustainable livestock feeding specialist.

Briggs grew up on her family’s commercial cow-calf operation in Northern California and brings experience in genetics and ruminant nutrition to her work at K-State. She conducts practical research with a cow herd and feedlot at Hays to help producers improve efficiency and adaptability.

“The 5 States Beef Conference gives us a chance to share practical research with producers and to hear firsthand about the challenges they’re facing,” Briggs said.

Thompson was raised on a registered horned Hereford ranch in central Texas and specializes in measuring greenhouse gas emissions in grazing systems. His research examines how management decisions influence soil-plant-animal interactions and nutrient utilization across production systems.

“I’m excited to bring research that looks at both sustainability and profitability,” Thompson said. “These conversations are about making science work on the ground for ranchers.”

Other presenters include Jason Smith, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension; Paul Beck and Jonathon Cammock, Oklahoma State University; Tim Steffens and Tommy Perkins, West Texas A&M University; Merri Beth Day, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension; and Mozart Fonseca, New Mexico State University.

Topics on the agenda range from grazing efficiency and genetic technologies to cow-herd expansion economics, grazing management in western rangelands, and the economics of dairy-beef crosses.

A beef dinner and conference proceedings will be provided at both locations. The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association will serve the meal in Beaver.

Conference details:

• Beaver, OK — Tuesday, Oct. 14
  Beaver County Fair Building
  Registration: 2 p.m. | Program: 2:30–7:30 p.m.
  RSVP by Oct. 7 to Loren Sizelove at 580-625-3464 or Britt Hicks at 580-338-7300.

• Dalhart, TX — Wednesday, Oct. 15
  Frank Phillips College Rahll Campus
  Registration: 9:30 a.m. | Program: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
  RSVP by Oct. 9 to Laura Taylor at 806-244-4434.

The 5 States Beef Conference has become a signature event for producers across Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico. Organizers encourage producers to make plans now to attend and bring their questions for the speakers.