Dr. Kristin Hales was raised on a farm in the Texas panhandle. She received a B.S. and M.S. in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University and a Ph.D. in Animal Science from Texas Tech University.  She began her career as a postdoctoral research associate at the USDA, ARS, Conservation and Production Research Laboratory.  In 2011, she was hired as a research animal scientist at the USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC).  Kristin built a feedlot research program at U.S. MARC where she conducted a variety of research to improve efficiency and sustainability of beef cattle production collaborating with meat scientists, geneticists, microbiologists, and agricultural engineers.  Kristin currently holds the Thornton Distinguished Chair within the department of Animal and Food Science at Texas Tech University where she conducts research on beef cattle nutrition and management, antimicrobial resistance, and energetics.  She has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Animal Science and is currently associate editor for Applied Animal Science.  Kristin and her husband Chris reside in Lubbock.  

Dr. Abe Turgeon was born and raised on his family farm in Chamberlain, South Dakota.  Abe received his B.S. degree in Animal Science from Kansas State University in 1979, his M.S. degree in 1981 and Ph.D. in 1984 from the University of Nebraska, both in Ruminant Nutrition.  Abe joined ADM Feeds in Quincy, IL in 1984 as Manager of Beef Cattle Nutrition and Research in 1984, before joining Koers Consulting Service in 1986.  In 1992, Abe became co-owner of Koers-Turgeon Consulting Service, before starting Turgeon Consulting Service, LLC in 2019.  Abe is currently an independent consultant focusing on nutrition, health, management and research and serves feedlot and ranch clients in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Maine, Oregon, Washington and California.  Abe sits on advisory boards for pharmaceutical companies, corporations, universities, and consulting boards.  Abe and his wife Ericka reside in Amarillo, TX and have two sons, Travis and Aaron, and a grandson named Nathan.  

Dr. Lee-Anne Walter was raised on a grain and cow-calf operation in south-east Saskatchewan.  Lee-Anne received her B.S. in Agriculture in 2007 and M.S. in Animal Science in 2010 from the University of Saskatchewan and her Ph.D. from West Texas A&M University in 2015.  Lee-Anne worked for Merck Animal Health in Alberta for two and a half years prior to starting her Ph.D.  After completing her Ph.D., Lee-Anne worked for Elanco Animal Health as a nutrition technical consultant for four years before rejoining Merck Animal Health in the fall of 2019 as a technical service nutritionist.  Lee-Anne’s current responsibilities include post-approval research trials, data analytics for feedyard customers and consultants, product sales and marketing support, and scientific training.  Lee-Anne is a member of the American Society of Animal Science, the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, and the Plains Nutrition Council. Lee-Anne and her family reside in Lubbock.

Dr. Casey Lee Maxwell was born and raised on a commercial cow-calf operation in Stinnett, TX.  Casey received a B.S. degree in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University in 2007.  In 2010, Casey received a M.S. in Animal Science from West Texas A&M University and completed a Ph.D. in Animal Science at Oklahoma State University in May 2014.  

Casey recently started with Cactus Feeders as Operations Analyst.  Casey was with Elanco Animal Health for 5 years.  His initial role was as a Technical Consultant responsible for technical support of Elanco’s entire feedlot portfolio.  Casey was integrally involved in post approval research relative to liver abscess in beef and Holstein cattle.  For the past year, Casey had led the Feedyard Technical Team within Elanco’s food animal business.  Casey is a member of the American Society of Animal Science, the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, and the Plains Nutrition Council.  Casey and his wife Marsh live in Canyon Texas and have two sons, Mason and Myles.  

Dr. Jason Smith was raised on a small commercial cow/calf and hay operation in northern Virginia.  He earned a B.S. in Animal and Veterinary Science and M.S. in Ruminant Nutrition and Feed Manufacturing from West Virginia University before earning his Ph.D. in Beef Cattle Nutrition from Virginia Tech.  Smith spent 4 years as an Assistant Professor and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist for the University of Tennessee before transitioning into his current role as an Associate Professor in the Texas A&M University Department of Animal Science and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in Amarillo, TX.  His primary responsibilities include Extension educational programming and applied research focused toward beef cattle producers and industry stakeholders in the Texas Panhandle and Rolling Plains.  Smith also provided interim oversight of the joint Texas A&M AgriLife Research/USDA-ARS Research Feedyard and Metabolism Laboratory in Bushland, TX from September 2020 through January 2022.  Jason, his wife Anna, their daughter Taylor, and son Carson reside in Canyon, TX.