Save the Date – 2025 Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention
December 5-6, 2025
St. Cloud River's Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud, MN
Awards Ceremony
Entertainment
Trade Show & Networking
Educational Speakers
2024 Educational Sessions
Dr. Kayla Williams
American Foods Group
"Right Way, Right Time – Cull Cow Management"
Once out of school, Dr. Williams worked as a private practice veterinarian in Wisconsin, focusing on dairy production medicine. After practicing a few years, Dr. Williams joined the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service as a public health veterinarian.
Currently she is the Food Safety & Inspection Veterinarian with American Foods Group, LLC. In this role, Dr. Williams oversees the animal welfare, drug residue and modernization programs at all American Foods Group establishments.
She is an active member of the Meat Institute Animal Welfare Committee and serves on the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Animal Welfare Committee and Committee on Pharmaceuticals and Biologics. Dr. Williams is also part owner of a deadstock company that specializes in meat production for use in pet food.
Dr. Williams will present during the Cow/calf Meeting Friday morning
Libby Bigler
Colorado Beef Quality Assurance State Coordinator
"Right Way, Right Time – Cull Cow Management"
Libby Bigler works for Colorado State University’s (CSU) Department of Animal Sciences as the Colorado Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Coordinator. She graduated from CSU in 2011 with a B.S. in Animal Sciences and a B.A. in Journalism and Technical Communications.
Prior to joining CSU, Libby worked for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association as part of the membership team and she also spent time in Houston, Texas as the Youth Activities and Communications Director for the American Brahman Breeders Association.
She currently resides in Eaton, Colorado with her husband, Bo, and two daughters.
Libby will present during the Cow/calf Meeting Friday morning.
Sydney Sebulsky
Vice President of Producer Programs and Technical Assistance, AgSpire
"Sustainable Opportunities in the Beef Supply Chain"
Sydney is a dedicated agriculture professional with a passion for sustainable farming practices and creating value for farmers and ranchers. With a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Guelph and an MBA from William & Mary, Sydney brings knowledge from having worked across many different segments within the agriculture industry.
Her career has spanned various roles, from country-level marketing to global strategy, allowing her to gain a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing farmers. Prior to joining AgSpire, Sydney served as the North American Marketing Lead for the Seed Treatment business at BASF, where she led a team focused on developing solutions to improve crop performance and yield.
Sydney is committed to helping farmers and ranchers adopt sustainable practices that enhance productivity and protect the environment.
Sydney will speak during the Feeder Council Meeting Friday afternoon.
Keynote Address
Greg Hanes
CEO, Cattlemen's Beef Board
"Return of Investment on Your Checkoff Dollar"
Hanes was born and raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In addition to a master’s degree in international management with an emphasis in marketing from the Thunderbird School of Management at Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona, Hanes also holds a B.A. in economics from Colorado College. Hanes comes to the CBB from the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) in Denver, Colorado, where he most recently was vice president of international marketing programs, and he led the marketing team through global strategic planning processes.
Hanes also served as the USMEF liaison to the beef industry and worked close with a variety of national and state beef organizations. From 2006 to 2009, he was the director of the USMEF’s Tokyo-based office, where he was responsible for all activities occurring in Japan. During his time as the USMEF Japan director, Hanes lived in Japan for nearly 11 years.
Greg will speak during lunch on Friday.
Keynote Address
Buck Wehrbein
NCBA President-Elect
"NCBA Policy Update"
Buck Wehrbein grew up in eastern Nebraska on a farm raising cattle, hogs and chickens. Wehrbein has managed custom feedlots in Nebraska and Texas since 1984 while feeding his own cattle since 1980.
He worked outside Amarillo on a custom feedlot for many years before moving back to Nebraska. Wehrbein has been active in the beef industry and served as both chairman and treasurer for the Nebraska Beef Council. He also served on the Beef Promotion Operating Committee. He participated in Young Cattlemen’s Conference in 1993.
Wehrbein and his wife Sandy have been married 50 years and have three children (two living), seven grandchildren (six living) and seven great-grandchildren (six living).
Buck will speak during the noon lunch on Friday.
Breakfast Briefing
Ruth Coffey
President, American National CattleWomen
Ruth Coffey and her husband, Chuck, fifth generation ranchers, and their children run the Double C Cattle Company in south central Oklahoma, a commercial cow-calf operation. In 2019, the Coffey's were awarded the Oklahoma Aldo Leopold Conservation Award and in 2020 they were the Region IV recipients of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). ESAP strives to recognize “outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of U.S. cattle producers”. Both Ruth and Chuck have been active in the cattle industry for many years. Prior to this position, Coffey served in the role of ANCW Region IV Director from 2020-2022 and served as a member on the ANCW Membership and Communications Committee. She was also named the ANCW Promoter of the Year in 2020, Oklahoma CattleWoman of the Year in 2019 and served as the OCW President from 2017-2019. Her love for education began in her college years as she obtained a BA in Elementary Education and Art at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. After graduation, Coffey taught Art a few years and returned to Texas A&M to obtain a BS in Range Management. She married Chuck following her schooling and started a custom framing studio in Tishomingo, OK. When the Coffey’s were given the opportunity by her father to live on the family ranch, they raised their children to be working participants on the ranch. After her last child entered school, Coffey would return to teaching middle school art for a total of 15 years. She retired from teaching to focus on her family ranch and now devotes her time to supporting the beef community on a local, state and national level. Coffey enjoys time spent outdoors with her horses, gardening, and grandchildren. She is most looking forward to learning about the ways in which her fellow CattleWomen are leaving their ranching legacies to the next generations and building a working knowledge of different sectors within the U.S. cattle industry.
Ruth will speak Saturday morning during breakfast.
Laura Kieser
Account Manager, Dairyland Laboratories
"Add Value to Your Operation Through Hay Testing"
Laura Kieser is an account manager with Dairyland Laboratories where she helps customers work through their forage testing options and expectations.
Dairyland Labs is an independent feed and forage testing lab. Dairyland Labs is celebrating more than 65 years in business and is recognized as one of the most reliable labs in the industry.
Laura has been involved in the agriculture industry for over 40 years. She grew up on a dairy farm in upstate New York. Laura earned a BS from Cornell University specializing in agriculture, extension and adult education as well as dairy science.
Following that, Laura moved to Minnesota to pursue a MS in ruminant nutrition from the University of Minnesota. She spent a decade as an agriculture extension educator in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Laura will present Saturday morning.
Friday, December 06, 2024
Jared sherlock
Jared Sherlock is an award-winning illusionist and comic magician. His modern magic and clean comedy entertainment is featured at corporate events, theaters, colleges, and fairs nationwide. Audience members joining Jared onstage, high-energy comedy juggling, and a contemporary performance of the infamous bullet-catch using a paintball gun are just a few of the things you might encounter during Jared's show.
