FEATURED SPEAKERS FOR THE 2012 K-STATE SHEEP & GOAT CONFERENCE
BOB BUCHHOLZ
Owner Buchholz Ranches
Eldorado, Texas
Bob Buchholz grew up in a ranching family with roots in the Texas Hill
Country as far back as the 1850s. He grew up on the Nagel Ranch in Hays
County. He received his bachelor’s degree from Tarleton University and
then completed the Texas Christian University (TCU) Ranch Management
Program. To help pay for his education, Bob and his older brother, David,
broke and trained horses for the public. In 1977, Bob and his brother
started leasing property to run Angora goats and Angus cattle. Looking for
a solution to the ever-increasing predator problem, Bob and David were among the first in Texas to use and breed
Great Pyrenees guard dogs to protect sheep and goats. With these dogs, they were able to expand their operations in
the Hill Country and South Texas. Bob and his wife, Mary, with the help of their sons, continue their ranching
heritage. The family leases other land in Crockett, Val Verde, Sutton and Erath Counties where commercial meat
goats are the centerpiece of their operation along with cattle. Using rotational grazing, prescribed burning, trapping
and livestock protection dogs to improve the land overall are essential components of Bob and Mary's ranching
operation. In 2008, Bob received the Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers Association (TSGRA) Young Ranchers Award.
He has served on the Eldorado Divide Soil and Water Conservation Board, as a TSGRA director, is a past president
of the Edwards Plateau Prescribed Burn Association, is the Chairman of the TSGRA Meat Goat Committee, and is
the current president of the Schleicher County Predator Association.
STEVE BURTON
Asst. VP of Consumer Research, Smith’s Food and Drug Centers
Kroger Company; Salt Lake City, Utah
Steve Burton is a graduate of Utah State University with an interest in all
agricultural issues but a degree in political analysis. He began his career in
1976 predicting the outcomes of state and local political contests and
consulting with a variety of public and private entities in market and opinion
research. Since 1985 he has been Assistant Vice President of Consumer
Research at Smith's Food and Drug Centers in Salt Lake City a part of the
Kroger Company. Mr. Burton has completed thousands of market research
studies in all areas of the grocery industry including image assessment, new
product and concept testing, advertising analysis and employee attitude research. He routinely consults with many
for and not for profit groups on the application of strategic and long range planning in the development of
organizations. He and his family run a small meat goat and club lamb operation in central Utah. Burton is
constantly seeking to improve the breeds and marketability of the products he produces. He serves as a member of
the founding Board of Directors of the American Goat Federation and is active in numerous other local and regional
groups designed to promote both the sheep and goat segments of agriculture.
FRANK CRADDOCK, PH.D.
Professor, Extension Sheep & Goat Specialist
Texas A&M University; San Angelo, Texas
Frank Craddock is professor and Extension sheep and goat specialist stationed at the
Texas A&M Research and Extension Center in San Angelo. He is also a member of the
animal nutrition section in the Department of Animal Science. He received his bachelor's
degree and doctorate from Texas A&M University and his master's from the University
of Wyoming. Craddock provides joint leadership for Extension educational programs in
sheep and goat production and management, and works with commodity groups, trade
organizations and industry support groups. He has been a featured speaker on sheep and
goat programs throughout the United States along with Canada, England and Mexico.
BRIAN FARIS, PH.D.
Assistant Professor, Extension Sheep & Meat Goat Specialist
Kansas State University; Manhattan, Kansas
Brian Faris is an assistant professor and the Extension sheep and meat goat specialist
at Kansas State University. He received his bachelor’s from Texas A&M
University, master’s from Angelo State University, and a doctorate from New
Mexico State University. He teaches Sheep & Meat Goat Science, Wool Grading
and Evaluation, and coaches the KSU Wool Judging Team. He is the faculty
coordinator for the K-State Sheep & Meat Goat Center and supervisor of the K-State
Youth Livestock Program. His extension duties involve conducting educational
programs for sheep and meat goat producers throughout Kansas. Faris has also
conducted sheep and goat programs throughout the United States. He served as a
founding Board member for the American Goat Federation and was President of the
American Boer Goat Association. His primary interests are reproductive techniques,
grazing management, and applied sheep and goat production/management practices.
PRESTON FARIS
Preston’s Perspective Agri-Resource Consulting Service
Sonora, Texas
Preston Faris retired from the Texas Agricultural Extension Service in 2003 where
he had served as a county agricultural extension agent for 31 years. He was reared
on a working cattle, sheep and goat operation in Bandera County, Texas. He
received his bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University. He has served as the
principal instructor for Judges Training Schools with the American Boer Goat
Association and American Dorper Sheep Breeders Society. He also was an
instructor for the Total Ranch Management School and Wildlife Intensive
Leadership Development School with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.
Preston has evaluated Angora goats, Boer goats, market goats, breeding sheep and
market lambs and/or has conducted educational programs in 24 US states as well
as Canada, Mexico, and Australia. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and working with
youth in animal agriculture.
BRYCE GERLACH, MS
Doctoral Student in Meat Science
Kansas State University; Manhattan, Kansas
Bryce Gerlach grew up on a family farm outside of the southeast Nebraska
town of Wilber. Bryce developed his passion for agriculture through 4-H and
FFA, showing cattle and hogs. His college career began at Southeast
Community College in Beatrice, Nebraska where he competed on the
livestock judging team. He then transferred to the University of Nebraska –
Lincoln (UNL) where he obtained a degree in Animal Science with an
emphasis in Meat Science. At UNL, Bryce competed on the meat and
livestock judging teams, worked in the Meat Laboratory, and was a member
of Block & Bridle. Bryce completed his M.S. degree in Animal Science at Kansas State University (KSU)
researching the effects of injection methods on abscess development in swine and lighting types’ effect on meat
color. Bryce is currently working toward his Ph.D. at KSU researching the implementation of moderate exercise in
feedlot cattle and its affect on meat quality. Throughout his time at KSU, Bryce has been very active as a coach of
the meat judging and meat animal evaluation teams. He is currently serving as the President of the KSU Meat
Science Association and Midwest Director for the American Meat Science Association Student Board.
NOAH GODDARD
Owner of Goddard Farm, LLC – Grade A Goat Dairy and Cheese Plant, LLC
Lecompton, Kansas
Noah Goddard and his wife, Sue, own a small 15 acre farm in rural northwest Douglas
County Kansas where they have bred and raised purebred Nubian dairy goats since
1989. He maintains a CAE-Free herd and has a strict vaccination program established.
Excess breeding stock are sold nationally and internationally. They recently built a new
dairy barn and cheese-making facility and were issued their Grade A Dairy and
Manufacturing license on May 12, 2010. As a result, Grade A pasteurized fluid milk,
drinkable yogurt, and milk products, including Feta, Chevre, and Mozzarella cheeses are
sold to supermarkets, speciality food stores, upscale restaurants and directly from the
farm. Noah has a passion for the dairy goat industry. He and Sue provide consulting for
those seeking information on starting a Grade A goat dairy and cheese making facility.
DAN HALE, PH.D.
Professor & Extension Meat Specialist
Texas A&M University; College Station, Texas
Dan Hale is a professor and Extension meat specialist and a member of the meat science
section in the Department of Animal Science. He received his bachelor's and master's
degrees from Kansas State University and a doctorate in food, nutrition and institutional
sciences from Oklahoma State University. Hale interprets and extends information on
diet/health, food safety, livestock growth and meat science to consumers, youth, health
professionals, retailers, food service managers, packers, processors and livestock
producers. He also performs industry applied meat science research, and he is a member of
the faculty of food science and technology.
MEREDYTH JONES, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Clinical Assistant Professor, Agricultural Practices
Kansas State University; Manhattan, Kansas
Meredyth Jones received her DVM from Oklahoma State University in 2002. She
entered private mixed-animal practice at the Midway Veterinary Clinic in Brandenburg,
Kentucky. She then completed a residency in Large Animal Internal MedicineEmphasis Food Animal and received an MS degree in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences
at Oklahoma State University in 2006. Dr. Jones joined the faculty at Kansas State
University College of Veterinary Medicine in July of 2006 as a Clinical Assistant
Professor of Agricultural Practices. Dr. Jones serves on the Advisory Board of the MidAmerica Alpaca Foundation, provides 20-30 hours of veterinary and producer
continuing education per year and has authored journal articles and book chapters in the areas of beef cattle
production, small ruminant medicine and surgery and ruminant hematology.
SHELIE LAFLIN, DVM, ABVP
Clinical Associate Professor, Agricultural Practices
Kansas State University; Manhattan, Kansas
Shelie Laflin graduated from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine
in 2000. After graduating, she completed an internship in Food Animal Medicine at
Colorado State University. Since then she has taught as a clinical instructor in Food
Animal Medicine and Surgery at Kansas State University and has expanded her duties in
clinical teaching. Her primary interests are small ruminant production and individual
medicine plus beef cattle individual and preventative medicine. Dr. Laflin teaches food
animal rotations involving field service calls to clients in the area for procedures such as
palpation, ultrasounding for pregnancy, cesarean sections, castration, dehorning and vaccinations. Her other interests
include small ruminant and beef cattle production.
KREG LEYMASTER, PH.D.
Research Geneticist
USDA Meat Animal Research Center; Clay Center, NE
Kreg Leymaster grew up on a dairy and grain farm near Cedar Falls,
Iowa. He earned a B.S. degree from Iowa State University, a M.S.
degree from the University of Kentucky, and a Ph.D. degree from The
Ohio State University. He joined USDA, ARS at the U.S. Meat Animal
Research Center in 1978 and has led sheep and swine genetic research.
Dr. Leymaster uses quantitative and genomic methods in large-scale
experiments to estimate genetic effects on key traits. His sheep research
has focused on evaluation, development, and use of dam and sire breeds
in terminal crossbreeding systems, estimation of genetic parameters,
investigation of causative mutations affecting muscle development, and
genetic resistance to disease. His research with swine has emphasized
selection for increased ovulation rate and uterine capacity and estimation of breed, heterosis, and recombination
effects.
JUSTIN LUTHER, PH.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Wisconsin-River Falls; River Falls, WI
Justin Luther was born and raised on a Suffolk sheep enterprise in central
Wisconsin. He received his B.S. degree in Agricultural Education from the
University of Wisconsin – River Falls in 2000, and then went on to receive his
M.S. degree in Sheep Reproduction from North Dakota State University in 2003.
Thereafter Justin and his family moved to the Rowett Research Institute in
Aberdeen, Scotland for three years where he studied nutrition and pregnancy in
ewe lambs for his Ph.D. degree. From 2006 to 2009, Justin served as the State
Sheep Specialist for North Dakota. While at NDSU his research and extension
efforts focused on improving artificial insemination techniques and developing
strategies for maximizing embryonic survival in range ewes. During Fall 2009,
Justin joined the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at UWRF with great
enthusiasm. He currently teaches courses in Reproductive Physiology, Livestock
Evaluation and Introduction to Animal Science. Justin also owns and operates a
small-scale artificial insemination business for sheep and deer producers.
JUSTIN WAGGONER, PH.D.
Extension Beef Systems Specialist
Kansas State University; Garden City, Kansas
Justin Waggoner was hired as the Beef Systems Specialist at Kansas State
University’s Southwest Area Extension Office in Garden City. Waggoner was raised
on his family’s farm in central, Kansas and obtained his Bachelor’s (2000) and
Master’s (2001) degrees in Animal Science from Kansas State University. He
completed his Doctorate in Ruminant Nutrition at New Mexico State University in
2007 where his work evaluated the impacts of morbidity on performance and
profitability in feedlot cattle and nutrient utilization in stressed cattle.