KLA Members Gain Leadership Experience

Seventeen members from 10 Kansas counties were in the capital city this week to participate in the KLA Leadership Conference. The three-day educational event exposed attendees to services provided by KLA and NCBA, the legislative process, industry advocacy and various aspects of beef marketing.

While at the Capitol, the group attended a Kansas Senate Ag Committee meeting during which new Kansas Ag Secretary Dale Rodman gave a presentation on the objectives of the Kansas Department of Agriculture for the coming year. He said rural development would be a primary focus. Members also had the chance to visit with their individual legislators about issues affecting their business interests.

As a part of the conference, attendees took part in an interactive advocacy training session led by KLA staff and WIBW-Topeka farm broadcasters Kelly Lenz and Greg Akagi. Participants were given an overview of the importance of being an industry advocate and the various social media outlets available to help them tell a positive story to consumers. Debbie Lyons-Blythe, a producer and beef advocate from White City, shared with the group how she has implemented advocacy into her daily routine through the use of a blog, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Lyons-Blythe has reached thousands of consumers across the U.S. with her positive messages.

Attendees also saw firsthand how beef is distributed and marketed to consumers, with a tour of U.S. Foodservice and Texas Roadhouse. According to Trent Allison, kitchen manager at the Topeka location, the more than 340 Texas Roadhouse restaurants across the U.S. sell a combined total of 40 million pounds of beef per year.

A more detailed account from the KLA Leadership Conference will appear in the March Kansas Stockman.

For more information visit www.kla.org

1. Wis. lawmakers question challenges to large wells
2. Traders evening up positions ahead of the weekend Friday
3. Bio-Vet and Keller break ground on new facility
4. NOAA: Get ready for a busy hurricane season
5. More raw milk problems for Alaska cow-share farm
6. Dairy Focus: Reducing shrink with feed yard management

1. Commentary: Milk faces branding dilemma
2. 4 rules for growing a business or industry
3. Chocolate milk a top post-workout food
4. Seven jobs more dangerous than farming
5. What do dairy exports mean for Minnesota?
6. Salma Hayek: Milk part of 'perfect' breakfast

1. Seven jobs more dangerous than farming
2. White House urges Senate to cut crop insurance in farm bill
3. Class III futures close out quietly last week
4. 4 rules for growing a business or industry
5. Drop in U.S. underground water levels has accelerated
6. Ongoing wave of Calif. metal theft prompts further legislation