Brett Stuart, Global AgriTrends

Brett Stuart is a founding partner of Global AgriTrends, a Denver based firm founded in 2006, focused on research, analysis and forecasting of the global agriculture sector. The work of the firm specializes in coverage of the global meat and poultry sectors. The firm also conducts research around the globe and provides market analysis to a wide variety of clients from multi-national meat companies to pharmaceuticals to exporting firms and trade associations.

Patrick Linnell, CattleFax

Born and raised in eastern Oregon, Patrick Linnell grew up with a commercial and registered Red Angus background. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and agricultural business from Colorado State University, where he was a member of both the meats and livestock judging teams and was involved in other clubs and activities. In fall 2017, Patrick earned a master’s degree in agricultural economics from CSU. His research focused on price forecasting and fed cattle markets.

Patrick joined CattleFax as an analyst in January 2018 and currently serves as the Director of Cattle Market Research and Analysis. His primary responsibilities include fundamental research and analysis within the cattle markets, as well as helping producers navigate markets and manage risk within their operations. Patrick is responsible for serving CattleFax members in the western region and writes frequently for CattleFax publications.

Patrick and his wife, Jordy, live in Castle Rock, Colorado with their two Corgis. They frequent the ski slopes in the winter and enjoy helping with the family operation in Oregon whenever possible. Patrick also helps coach the local 4-H livestock judging team.

Colin Woodall, NCBA Chief Executive Officer

Colin Woodall is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and leads the country’s oldest and largest national trade association for cattle producers in being the trusted voice and definitive leader of the beef industry.

Originally from Big Spring, Texas, Colin graduated from Texas A&M and then worked as a grain elevator manager and merchandiser for Cargill at several locations in western Kansas and the Oklahoma panhandle. After venturing to Washington, Colin took a job with U.S. Senator John Cornyn from Texas.  He has been with NCBA since 2004 and served as the association’s Chief Lobbyist in Washington, D.C., for a decade.  He is a founding member of the Government Relations Leadership Forum, a life member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, member of the Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets Association, the Agribusiness Club of Washington, D.C., the Washington Agricultural Roundtable, and is a past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Agriculture Council of America. He also volunteers as a junior commercial steer show judge at the San Antonio Livestock Exposition.

Kaitlynn Glover, Public Lands Council Executive Director

Kaitlynn Glover serves as the Executive Director of the Public Lands Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Natural Resources. Prior to joining PLC in 2020, Kaitlynn served as a policy advisor on agriculture, natural resources, and Tribal policy issues in the United States Senate.

Before moving to Washington, Kaitlynn spent several years working for Teagasc, the agriculture semi-state authority in Ireland. During that time, she received a Masters of Agriscience in Innovation Support from University College Dublin in Dublin, Ireland.

Originally from Wyoming, Kaitlynn has a diverse background in agriculture policy and production, and strong ties to grazers, recreationalists, and many other users of public land resources. She is an alumna of the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture where she studied agriculture communications, international agriculture economics, and farm and ranch management.

Stephen Koontz, Colorado State University Professor in the Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics

Stephen Koontz is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at Colorado State University. He works in the areas of commodity marketing, risk management, market price analysis, and agribusiness industrial organization. His interests are in commercial agriculture production and marketing and the functioning agribusinesses. His responsibilities at Colorado State University include outreach, teaching, and research.

Brian Bledsoe, Meteorologist KKTV 11 News, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Brian grew up on a ranch 45 miles Southeast of Limon, where his family still farms and ranches. Weather is extremely important when it comes to his family's way of life, and that is something he learned at a very early age. Brian cites that as the most influential reason for him wanting to become a Meteorologist.

He obtained his Meteorology degree at the University of Northern Colorado and has been in broadcasting for the past 20+ years. Brian’s journey has taken him to KGWN-TV in Cheyenne, Wyoming, KMEG-TV in Sioux City, Iowa, KDLT-TV in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and then CBS 58 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has been blessed to work at KKTV since late 2005 and is grateful to have the opportunity to work with great people.

Aside from tv, he runs his own private forecasting business and does seasonal and long-range weather consulting for various interests across the country. Brian and his family hope to keep calling Southern Colorado home for many years to come.