University of Nebraska Lincoln, Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center
Brian Vander Ley grew up on a small, diversified farm in South Dakota. He completed his undergraduate studies at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa and went on to attend Iowa State University to earn both his DVM and PhD degrees. Dr. Vander Ley also completed an internship with the Iowa State University Food Animal Medicine and Surgery Service and served as an emergency food animal clinician. Following his PhD, Dr. Vander Ley worked at the University of Missouri as an ambulatory food animal clinician. He taught field-based food animal medicine and surgery to veterinary students while serving clients with a wide array of livestock species. He also conducted research aimed at mitigating bovine respiratory disease. 

Dr. Vander Ley works as a veterinary epidemiologist conducting research aimed at improving livestock health and well-being, serves as a veterinary extension specialist, and teaches veterinary and graduate students. Dr. Vander Ley lives near Sutton, NE with his wife, Katie, and three children, Gerrit, Gavin, and Johanna.

Justin Buchanan has worked as a Geneticist for the J. R. Simplot Company based in Grand View, Idaho since 2016. Simplot Livestock is a vertically integrated beef producer spanning multiple cow- calf operations, two feedlots, and maintains partnership in CS Beef Packers in Kuna, Idaho. Justin is primarily responsible for managing genetic evaluation and genetic improvement programs across Simplot resources. Working for a family-owned global food company that puts a high value on innovation, he also enjoys the opportunity to contribute to novel phenotype development that will accelerate genetic progress. Justin received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. (Animal Breeding and Genetics) from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. Prior to joining Simplot, he completed a post-doc at the University of California, Davis.

Scott Speidel is an associate professor of beef cattle breeding and genetics in the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University. Dr. Speidel, a native of southern California, received his undergraduate degree in animal sciences from California State University–Fresno, where he spent much of his time working with swine and dairy programs. In 2001, he completed his MS in animal sciences at the University of Arizona, specializing in dairy molecular genetics. He received his PhD in breeding and genetics from Colorado State University in 2011. 

Dr. Speidel’s research interests include the development of models for genetic evaluation of efficiency and adaptability traits in beef cattle.

Mark Enns grew up working on the family’s fourth- generation wheat and cattle operation in northwest Oklahoma. Those early experiences stimulated his interest in livestock and agriculture and led him to undergraduate degrees from Tabor College, and masters and doctorate degrees in animal breeding and genetics from Colorado State University (CSU). After completing his education, he worked two years in New Zealand for Landcorp Farming Ltd, the largest ranching company in the country. At Landcorp, he developed genetic improvement programs for beef cattle, deer, sheep, and goats. After his time in New Zealand, he spent four years at the University of Arizona and then joined the Department of Animal Sciences at CSU in 2001. As a professor at CSU he teaches courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level in animal breeding and genetics, and in livestock production systems. He was recently awarded the John E. Rouse Chair in Animal Breeding and Genetics. His primary research focus is on beef cow adaptability/longevity, sustainability, and genetic improvement in susceptibility to bovine respiratory disease and pulmonary hypertension (e.g. high mountain disease and bovine congestive heart failure). He has special interest in using multi-trait selection and genetic improvement to better profitability of beef production.

Dr. Enns serves the beef industry through activities with the CSU Center for Genetic Evaluation of Livestock — a center that calculates EPD and performs foundational genetic evaluation research for breed associations and producer groups both nationally and internationally. In addition, he serves on the board of directors for the Beef Improvement Federation as the western region secretary.

Professor and Clinical Instructor
Dr. Tim Holt graduated Veterinary School in 1988 from Colorado State University. Directly after graduating, he joined a mixed animal practice in the rural mountains of Colorado at 8,000 feet elevation in the town of Gunnison. Dr. Holt remained in this practice for the next 18 years treating any animal that came through the door. Since 1980, Dr. Holt has been measuring pulmonary arterial pressures (PAP) in the western US, and has traveled abroad doing research in the area of bovine high mountain disease and pulmonary hypertension. He has now carried out over 462,000 PAP measurements and continues to utilize this tool in evaluating the heritability of pulmonary hypertension in cattle assisting in sire selection and the development of resistant herds. In 2005, Dr. Holt moved from Gunnison to Fort Collins and joined the faculty at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Currently, he teaches at CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine  in the Livestock Medicine and Surgery Department where he incorporates the taking of PAP measurements into his teaching. Dr. Holt, in collaboration with others, continues to explore and research the many mysteries of pulmonary hypertension in cattle. One of Dr. Holt's most recent endeavors is studying and evaluating the increase in feedlot cardiac death, and potential tie between bovine high mountain disease and acute cardiac failure.

Billy Schmitz has been an employee of Five Rivers Cattle Feeding for more than 17 years. He spent the first 5 years as the Assistant General Manager of Kuner Feedlot in Kersey, CO and the past 12 years as Head Analyst. Billy received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from the University of Wyoming in 1997 and his master’s degree in agricultural economics from Colorado State University in 2005. He currently serves as Marketing Chair for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and has participated in numerous marketing committees for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Billy, his wife Mollie, daughter Carlie and son Bo currently reside in Johnstown, Colorado. In his spare time, Billy enjoys golfing, skiing, reading and spending time with the family.

Steve Wooten owns and operates Beatty Canyon Ranch in the Purgatoire River Canyons

of southeast Colorado, alongside his wife of 47 years, Joy. The ranch was originally purchased by Wooten’s great grandfather in 1929. They began utilizing rotational grazing practices 30 years ago, with a primary focus on maximizing rest periods after grazing. The Red Angus cow herd is managed with efficiency and low operating costs in mind, with a focus on strong females that can perform on range with minimal supplementation while producing steers that grade upper choice. The operation has diversified in the last 25 years to include big game hunting.

Wooten has a diverse history in ranching, conservation, science, and land management. He is the immediate past chair of the US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, and has served in a variety of positions for beef cattle associations, natural resources organizations, and community organizations. The Beatty Ranch and Wooten have been recognized by a number of organizations for their efforts in conservation and business, from the Palmer Land Trust to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Dr. Sara Place is an expert in livestock systems sustainability with over a decade of experience in academia, industry associations, and private industry. Most recently, Sara has been the Chief Sustainability Officer at Elanco Animal Health where she provided technical expertise on sustainability issues to customers and supported Elanco’s Healthy Purpose. Prior to Elanco, she was the senior director for sustainable beef production research at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and an assistant professor in sustainable beef cattle systems at Oklahoma State University. She received her PhD in Animal Biology from the University of California, Davis, and a BS in Animal Science from Cornell University. Sara is a native of upstate NY where she grew up on a dairy farm.

John is partner and regional managing director with AbacusBio Ltd., an international agri-science and technology firm with a core capability in breeding and genetics. With the company, John has a core focus on genetics and data analytics as well as leading operations and client services in North America. Originally from Ireland where he grew up on a dairy and beef operation, John completed his PhD in statistical genetics at University College Dublin and subsequently moved across to the University of Alberta in 2011. Up until joining AbacusBio in their UK office in 2018, John enjoyed roles with the U of A (where he is still an adjunct professor), Beefbooster Inc. and the Canadian Beef Breeds Council. Dr. Crowley’s current work, across animals and plants, focuses on delivering analytics, breeding program development and evaluation, technology evaluation, and decision tool development. In his spare time, John continues to explore Canada with his family, enjoys playing soccer and golf, and is an active player and committee member with the Edmonton Wolfe Tones (Gaelic Athletic Association; GAA) Club.

Scott Howard was born and raised in southern Wisconsin on an Angus seedstock operation. He attended Colorado State completing a Masters and Ph.D. with focus on beef quality, growth and development, and carcass yield – specializing in value-added opportunities for calf-fed Holstein steers. Following graduation, Dr. Howard began a career with Cargill, working in Research and Development with focus on ground beef formulations and carcass utilization. This led to a role managing beef supply chain and scheduling for primary harvest facilities in North America. For the past year, Dr. Howard has worked for Meyer Natural Foods as the Director of Operations, focused on the production of steaks, grinds, and growth of branded programs. Dr. Howard maintains a small herd of Angus cattle and enjoys spending time with family and friends within the beef industry.