Our Greatest Strength

CLA President Kory Kessinger shares his vision for the future, the livestock industry, and the Association.

I grew up in Akron, Colorado, and still reside north of town at the ranch with my wife Shanan and our two children. Kacyn is in his senior year at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas and our daughter Addicyn is a freshman at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota. Shanan is a 6th generation rancher who grew up on the family ranch in Gunnison, Colorado. We have both lived our entire lives in agriculture and are beyond proud to be able to raise our children in the same way of life as we were raised.

Diversity has been a consistent theme in my life. I grew up on a hog farm. My dad finished hogs for several large hog farms in the 80’s and 90’s. He purchased his first cows in 1990. This was the year I caught a catch-it heifer at the county fair. Dad bought all the remaining heifers that were still available on the ranch from which the catch-it heifers came. That same year, he purchased 35 cows and a section of grass.

This was the beginning of my love for cattle and the cattle industry. When I came home from Colorado State University, we had 400 cows to be calved out. Just a year and a half later, Shanan and I were married, and the two of us were taking care of just over 1,000 cows. I managed the cow herd while my dad took care of a cattle stocker operation he and his partner had started. This was the next step in our diversification strategy.

A few short years later, we purchased Beefco Feeders, a 16,000-head feedlot. I managed the feedyard, and Shanan and I started our own cow herd. The ranch had been transitioned to run stocker cattle. I ran the feedyard and Shanan ran the office, while taking care of our cow herd. This continued until the death of my dad in 2012. My mother and I continued running the feedyard while Shanan and I expanded the cow herd and transitioned away from the stocker herd to a cow-calf operation. My mom sold Beefco Feeders in 2017, and at that point, Shanan and I decided to strictly run cows and operate a small grow yard to wean our calves and background cattle for other feeders. In 2022, Shanan, my sister-in-law Kayedeane and I purchased VY Truckline. It was an opportunity to diversify again while remaining in the cattle industry. We no longer background cattle for other producers, we wean our own calves and sell them as feeder cattle.

CLA brings together a wide range of ag sectors, and I have enjoyed being part of it. I love sitting in a meeting, listening to the hog producers talk with the dairy producers, and hearing the feedlot and cattle producers share their opinions, working together to build consensus on an issue, no matter if the problem impacts one industry more than the rest. Collaborating benefits everyone as we will no doubt continue to face issues that span many sectors of the ag industry. We are working in lockstep to improve agriculture and our way of life. In the short term, some issues may appear only to affect one sector, but they will eventually have rippling effects across the industry. This is why CLA is so important to agriculture in Colorado, from corn and wheat producers to animal protein producers. Colorado is an easy target for activists to use their agendas, and we must diligently work to protect our farming and ranching families. I hope the industries we represent will continue to support CLA. We have an excellent group of leaders on the board, in the membership, and an effective staff, and as President, I will remain challenged to keep the ball rolling.

What are your goals for CLA, and what do you hope to gain during your term as President?

Numerous challenges are ahead as animal agriculture is constantly under attack, despite farmers and ranchers trying to do things correctly. With the support of CLA members, we will rise to the challenge and either join the fight or support those leading the effort to keep activists at bay.

I look forward to interacting with other members of the Board and Association. I hope to gain knowledge from them as I truly enjoy being around people who are more knowledgeable than me.

What do you believe is our organization’s greatest strength, and how will it be helpful to us in the future?

Our greatest strengths are our diversity in animal protein production and our dedicated group of industry representatives. The support and willingness of people to stand up for each other is incredible. We are working to oppose the Denver Slaughter Ban, which is on the ballot this November. There is only one slaughterhouse in Denver, and it processes lamb. Leaders from all sectors of the CLA agree that we should fight against this ban. This effort aims to prevent the spread of beliefs that could negatively impact the beef, dairy, and pork industries. The ban would harm all animal protein production, not just the sheep industry.

What do you see as CLA’s most important role in your business?

CLA serves as our watchdog. We rely on CLA leadership to anticipate and address issues that could impact our group and industry. I cannot attend all meetings to monitor potential issues, but our leadership handles this responsibility.

What was the most difficult day for you on the feedyard/ranch, and what did you learn?

Losing my dad in a farming accident. It is never easy to lose a loved one, especially when you work side by side every day. This was a difficult time but also a time when I had to learn to do it my way to accomplish what we were working for. I also had to learn that it was okay not to do it my dad’s way just because that’s how we’ve always done it. I had to understand and accept that I might see or view things differently, which was okay.

What is your favorite part of the cattle business, and what advice would you give future generations of livestock producers?

I enjoy seeing that our industry’s growth is appreciated, we have improved our product, and people are excited about it. Everybody loves a good steak!

Don’t be afraid to take a path different from the one that looks easiest. A little extra effort and imagination can make a difference in your success.

What made you choose agriculture as your life path?

I didn’t know I had a choice! It was ingrained in me from my youth. My parents gave us many opportunities, and we all went in different directions, but I stayed the course in agriculture and don’t regret my choice.

If you had 5 minutes to talk with someone about their food and where it comes from, what would you want them to know?

I would want them to know the people behind their food. People are the reason our industry is as good as it is. No one is more invested in ensuring animals are cared for than the farmers and ranchers doing it daily, and we continue to produce better products using fewer resources year in and year out.

Kory Kessinger is the 21st President of the Colorado Livestock Association. He began his term at the CLA Annual Meeting in Black Hawk on July 16, 2024, and will serve for two years.