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KLA Announces 20th YSA Class

This marks the 20th year for the KLA Young Stockmen’s Academy (YSA). Since it began in 2006, the program consistently has drawn young men and women from across the state who have a keen interest in the Kansas livestock industry. The 2026 class is no different.

Like the nearly 380 alumni who have gone before them, this year’s class will be exposed to the importance of KLA’s voice in the legislative process, producers’ responsibility as agricultural advocates, the need for progressive livestock operations and how other industry segments, including animal health suppliers and agribusinesses, fit into the food chain. They also will participate in KLA’s policy-making process.

Merck Animal Health again is sponsoring the program, which includes four sessions throughout the year. The first session for the 2026 YSA class will be February 16-17 in Topeka.

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CEO’s of the Industry | John Prestage – Prestage Farms

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Leadership, Legacy & the Future of Pork and Poultry

CEO’s of the Industry, Jim Eadie sits down with John Prestage, CEO of Prestage Farms, one of the largest family-owned pork and poultry companies in the United States.

From its beginnings under founder Bill Prestage to its evolution into a multi-state, vertically integrated protein company, this conversation explores what it takes to scale responsibly while staying rooted in family values.

John shares how Prestage Farms balances growth, culture, and innovation across both pork and poultry, and how leadership transitions within a family business can strengthen — not dilute — a company’s mission.