Kansas Crop Improvement Association, 2000 Kimball Ave, Manhattan, KS 66502, US

Through the latter part of the century, KLA continued to strive toward a better business atmosphere for ranchers and feeders. In 1975, KLA pushed a bill through the Kansas legislature calling for prompt payment on fed cattle by packers. The organization led the charge for similar federal legislation the following year despite opposition from the packing industry. KLA fought regulation of the trucking industry in 1978 because the changes would have been unrealistic for hauling livestock. In 1986, Kansas voters approved a constitutional amendment crafted by KLA and other farm groups calling for use-value appraisal on ag land and exempting farm machinery and livestock from the property tax rolls. This helped keep the state's business climate on a level playing field with other states and is considered to be the biggest tax victory in KLA's history. The organization celebrated its centennial in 1994, with special activities taking place throughout the year. A book was written to commemorate the group's 100th year in existence by Jim Hoy, a native of the Flint Hills who is on the faculty at Emporia State University. KLA is one of the nation's most respected state cattlemen's organizations. The leadership of KLA was instrumental in recommending and implementing the merger between the National Cattlemen's Association and National Livestock and Meat Board. Through creation of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association in 1995, the industry streamlined operations at the national level, mirroring a unified organizational structure that has served KLA well for more than 100 years. Today, KLA represents the state's multi-billion dollar cattle industry at both the state and federal levels. KLA members are involved in all segments of the livestock industry including cow-calf, feedlot, swine, dairy and sheep. Dues paid by the membership fund legislative, educational and communications activities. KLA Leadership Following are the 2008-2009 KLA Officers. To contact either the president or president elect, e-mail kla@kla.org. Please designate the KLA officer to which you would like the message addressed. Mark Smith has a stocker cattle program, feeds cattle and farms in Wallace and Greeley counties. His cattle business is dictated by market conditions. He owns a cow-calf herd and, in the past, has purchased cull cows to breed, calve and sell. Smith has a growing yard to start cattle for summer pasture and winter grazing. The farming business produces corn and wheat. His family earned the National Cattlemen's Beef Association ( NCBA ) Environmental Stewardship Award in 1994 for the enhancement of natural resources. He has been presented many regional awards for grassland and soil conservation and preserving wildlife habitat. Smith's leadership capabilities are well-documented. He has represented Greeley County on the KLA Board of Directors, is a past vice chairman of the KLA Natural Resources Committee and was chairman of the KLA Stockgrowers Council in 2007. Smith served the past year as KLA president elect. He represents KLA on the NCBA Board of Directors. Smith also is active in his community. He has served on the Greeley County School Board and as a past local 4-H beef leader. Smith serves on the Fort Wallace Memorial Association Board of Directors. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1976 with a degree in social science. Smith also earned a degree from Kemper Military College in Boonville, MO. Smith and his wife, Cindy, have two adult daughters. Angie works in the healthcare industry and is married to Edward Robson, who is employed in the Smith family's grain storage business. Valarie Smith is a Western State College of Colorado graduate and currently is pursuing a master's degree in art therapy. Ken Grecian and his wife, Barb, own and manage a grain and cow-calf business in Graham County. They background calves at home from the Angus-based herd and retain part interest when the cattle are sent to a commercial feedyard. The cattle