Kansas Livestock Association

What Kansas Livestock Association does

The Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) is a private, member-funded trade association founded in 1894 in Emporia, Kansas, and headquartered at 6031 SW 37th Street in Topeka. It represents more than 5,600 members across every segment of the Kansas livestock industry — cow-calf, stocker, feedlot, dairy, and sheep — providing legislative and regulatory representation at the state and federal levels, communications (Kansas Stockman magazine, KLA News & Market Report, two weekly radio programs, a weekly TV segment, daily website updates), and educational programs including the Young Stockmen's Academy, KLA Leadership Conference, Ranch Management Field Days (co-hosted with Kansas State University), and Beef Quality Assurance certification.

KLA operates through a structured network of wholly-owned affiliates that extend its mission: Kansas Beef Council (formed 1973, beef promotion and consumer education), KLA Environmental Services (2001, regulatory compliance assistance), Ranchland Trust of Kansas (2003, land conservation), Kansas Livestock Foundation (charitable/scholarships awarding $50,000 annually), KLA Risk Management Services (member-only workers' compensation pool for feedyards and dairies), and KLA PAC (political action committee making candidate endorsements). The association was instrumental in the 1995 merger that created the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and continues to influence Kansas policy on water rights, taxation, livestock hauling, and packer payment.

Revenue is generated primarily through voluntary member dues structured by head of cattle owned ($180 base for up to 100 head, plus Fair Share of $0.50/head above 100), with separate NCBA Federation dues, plus income from affiliated services (risk management insurance premiums, environmental services fees, checkoff-funded beef promotion via Kansas Beef Council, and trade-show/convention revenue). Go-to-market is grassroots sales-led, acquiring members via county and area meetings, seminars, ranch field days, the annual convention, the Leadership Conference, the Young Stockmen's Academy, and a Top Hand recruiter-incentive program. The 20-person staff includes two full-time attorneys and division VPs covering communications, legal/government affairs, feedlot, and membership marketing.

Name

Kansas Livestock Association

Legal name

Kansas Livestock Association

Website

https://kla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1894

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) is a 130-year-old, member-funded trade association representing 5,600+ Kansas livestock producers across beef, dairy, and sheep segments through legislative advocacy, communications, and educational programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Topeka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: KLA is funded through voluntary dues paid by its more than 5,500 members. Dues are based on head of cattle owned and range from $180 for up to 100 head to tiered Fair Share amounts for larger operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

KLA is a membership-based nonprofit trade association serving Kansas livestock producers through legislative and regulatory advocacy, industry publications, Beef Quality Assurance certification, scholarships via the Kansas Livestock Foundation, risk management and industry economics resources, leadership development programs, and industry events. The association represents cattle ranchers, cow-calf operators, stockers, feedyard operators, and allied businesses on policy, market, and operational issues affecting the Kansas livestock sector.

Product overview

The Kansas Livestock Association offers a portfolio of member services organized around four core pillars: communications and publications (Kansas Stockman magazine, KLA News & Market Report weekly newsletter, KLA Radio programs), professional development programs (Young Stockmen's Academy, Feedyard Leadership Program, KLA Leadership Conference, Beef Quality Assurance certification), member support services (risk management resources, industry economics data, theft reward program, troubleshooting assistance), and advocacy representation (legislative representation, policy development, KLA PAC political action). The association also operates the KLF Scholarship Program offering multiple scholarship pathways for students in agriculture. These products and services work together to serve the state's multi-billion dollar cattle industry through member dues-funded activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KLA Membership Annual membership in the Kansas Livestock Association providing members with advocacy representation, access to publications, member-only resources, and participation in policy and industry events.
• Kansas Stockman KLA's official publication covering Kansas livestock industry news, policy updates, market information, and member features.
• KLA News & Market Report Periodic newsletter and market report distributed to members with current legislative updates and livestock market data.
• KLA News of the Day Daily news update service distributed to members covering state and federal livestock policy developments.
• Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program Educational certification program for cattle producers covering animal handling, residue avoidance, and production best practices.
• KLA Convention & Expo Annual convention and trade show bringing together KLA members, allied industry partners, and speakers for networking, policy discussion, and industry exhibits.
• KLA Leadership Conference Conference focused on developing leadership skills among KLA members and young producers in the Kansas livestock industry.
• Young Stockmen's Academy Educational program for young producers covering advocacy, association leadership, and beef industry issues.
• Feedyard Leadership Program Specialized leadership development program for feedyard operators and employees in the Kansas cattle feeding sector.
• KLA/K-State Ranch Management Field Day Co-hosted field day with Kansas State University providing hands-on ranch management education to producers.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKLA members can join NCBA which provides national-level trade association and lobbying representation for beef producers. KLA leadership was instrumental in recommending and implementing the merger between the National Cattlemen's Association and National Livestock and Meat Board to create NCBA in 1995, streamlining industry operations nationally.
• Kansas Beef CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormed in 1973 by KLA for the purpose of beef promotion. Conducts consumer education, supports industry research, and promotes beef consumption. KBC Director of Nutrition participates in KLA programs like the Young Stockmen's Academy.
• Ranchland Trust of KansasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization founded by KLA in 2003 with mission to preserve Kansas' ranching heritage and open spaces for future generations through conservation of working landscapes.
• Kansas Livestock FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKLA's charitable arm operating for educational, scientific, and charitable purposes that advance the beef industry. Awards $50,000 in scholarships annually, manages disaster relief donations, and supports youth in agriculture programs.
• KLA Environmental ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormed in 2001 by KLA to help livestock producers comply with growing environmental regulations. Provides environmental compliance assistance as a member benefit.
• KLA Risk Management ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages KLA's member-only worker's compensation program with mission to prevent accidents and save lives. Provides safety director services to feedyard and dairy members.
• Kansas State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts Ranch Management Field Days with KLA. Extension beef veterinarians provide educational content on topics like Asian longhorned tick, animal health, and disease prevention. K-State College of Veterinary Medicine students eligible for KLA AgGrad program.
• Farm Credit Associations of KansasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of KLA Leadership Conference along with Pinion, Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas, and Kansas Livestock Foundation.
• Merck Animal HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive sponsor of the KLA Young Stockmen's Academy (YSA). Hosts YSA class at their facilities for tours of labs and research farms. Also sponsors Cartridges for Cash scholarship program providing $25 per cartridge turned in for recycling.
• PinionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial planning seminar provider for KLA Leadership Conference. Also a sponsor of the biennial event along with Farm Credit Associations of Kansas and other partners.
• Yield Lab Institute (YLI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYLI launched the Global Cattle Innovation Platform (GCIP) designed to accelerate innovation across beef and dairy production systems. KLA CEO Matt Teagarden serves on the external advisory board to shape strategic direction, identify priority innovation opportunities, and select startups for support.
• Beef Quality Assurance ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational program that raises consumer confidence through proper management techniques and commitment to quality. KLA offers Kansas BQA training certification and resources including manuals, assessment guides, and recordkeeping forms.
• U.S. FoodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKLA Leadership Conference participants toured the Topeka U.S. Foods facility to learn about logistics of storing and moving large quantities of retail and hospitality foods including animal proteins.
• Texas RoadhouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKLA Leadership Conference concluded with a visit to Texas Roadhouse to learn about the company's approach to serving high-quality beef at an affordable price point.
• Kansas Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKLA advocates on water issues with DWR (Division of Water Resources) within KDA. Nearly 85% of all water rights in Kansas are agricultural. KLA testified before the Kansas Water Program Task Force to protect producer interests.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Farm Bureau Federation: The largest U.S. general agriculture trade association, providing broad legislative and regulatory representation across crops and livestock. Overlaps with KLA on cattle policy but at much larger scale and broader commodity scope, making it an adjacent incumbent rather than direct cattle-only peer.

Direct peers

• National Cattlemen's Beef Association: The national umbrella trade association for U.S. cattle producers, originally formed through a 1995 merger in which KLA leadership was instrumental. KLA members can join NCBA for federal-level representation, making it the most directly comparable peer by both mission (cattle advocacy) and overlapping member base.
• Texas Cattle Feeders Association: State-level cattle trade association representing the largest cattle-feeding state in the U.S. TCFA offers the same core functions as KLA — legislative advocacy, regulatory representation, member services — for feedyard operators, making it a closely comparable peer in membership model and scope.
• National Farmers Union: National trade association representing family farmers and ranchers across commodities, providing legislative advocacy, member education, and cooperative services. Operates a parallel membership-organization model to KLA and competes for the same livestock-producer mindshare on federal policy.
• Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association: State-level cattle trade association in a neighboring Plains state, offering legislative representation, policy development, and member services to cow-calf and stocker/feeder members. Closely mirrors KLA's grassroots county-association structure.
• Nebraska Cattlemen: State-level trade association representing Nebraska beef producers across cow-calf, stocker, and feedlot segments. Operates with a comparable grassroots policy model and similar member services, and serves a neighboring major cattle state to Kansas.
• Colorado Cattlemen's Association: Colorado's state cattlemen's association, providing legislative advocacy, regulatory representation, and member services for cow-calf, stocker, and feeder operators — directly paralleling KLA's structure and service mix in an adjacent western cattle state.
• Montana Stockgrowers Association: One of the oldest western state cattle associations, providing legislative advocacy, member services, and policy representation for Montana ranching families. Directly comparable to KLA in mission, structure, and historical roots in the open-range ranching tradition.
• Iowa Cattlemen's Association: Iowa's state cattle trade association representing cow-calf, feedlot, and dairy-beef producers. Offers directly parallel services — legislative advocacy, member education, Beef Quality Assurance programming, and youth development — that mirror KLA's portfolio.
• R-CALF USA: Independent national cattle trade association competing for the same producer constituency as KLA/NCBA, with a contrasting policy stance on cattle markets, trade, and packing industry concentration. Represents the principal alternative advocacy home for Kansas producers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/newsfromkla
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kansas-livestock-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kansas Livestock Association