DENVER — Red Angus breeders gathered at the National Red Angus Convention in Denver Sept. 13-15 to elect the 2023-2024 president and four directors. Kyley DeVoe, Justin, Texas, was selected to lead the Red Angus Association of America as president. Elected to their first term on the board of directors were Keith Hickle, Auburn, Washington, Region A director; and Will Andras, Manchester, Illinois, Area 9 - Midwest director. Re-elected to three-year terms were Tony Ballinger, Morgan Mill, Texas, Area 4 - Southwest director; and Rob Hess, Hershey, Pennsylvania, Area 7 - Northeast director.

Ballinger will again serve as first vice president. Hess was elected to serve as second vice president. Jeff Petitt, Sebree, Kentucky, will again serve as treasurer while Kay Klompien, Manhattan, Montana, will again serve as secretary.

DeVoe and his wife, Brenna, along with their daughters, Karlee and Kenedy, live on their family's ranch, 3K Land & Cattle. The seedstock operation was started in the early 1980s by Brenna's parents, Wayne and Judy Kay Ferguson. DeVoe served six years on the national board of directors, serving on the executive committee during his final two years.

Hickle is a first-generation rancher, along with his wife, Brook. He was born and raised on the Enumclaw plateau, which is rich in dairy farming and where he discovered his love of agriculture. The Hickles and their three sons, Clay, Cole and Carson, run 70 registered Red Angus cows with a diversified custom farming, hay and trucking operation.

Andras, and his wife, Kim, along with his parents, Steve and Theresa Andras, own and operate Andras Stock Farm. He is the sixth generation of his family to raise registered cattle on the home farm in Manchester, Illinois. Will and Kim have two daughters, Peri and Peyton. Andras serves on the affiliate promotions committee and has served as chairman of the breed improvement committee. As a sophomore in college, he served as president of the Junior Red Angus Association.

Ballinger and his wife, Allison, have lived on her family's third-generation-owned ranch since they married in 1998. In the late 1990s, they started a commercial Red Angus herd. As they focused more on Red Angus genetics, they started Cross B Cattle Co., a purebred herd and highly Red Angus-influenced commercial herd. Ballinger also has worked in the feed industry since 1997 for MoorMans/ADM. The couple have three children — Lane, Carson and Henley.

Hess owns and operates Bow Creek Farm with his wife, Amy, and children, Levi and Anna. The Hess family purchased their first Red Angus cattle in 2005 with expectations of having a hobby or part-time experience. By 2010, they recognized the potential of creating a local beef brand. The family provides Red Angus beef to The Hotel Hershey, a four-star resort with four onsite restaurants. They've also added an on-farm store, additional restaurant customers and are a vendor at the local farmer’s market.

For more information about the Red Angus Association of America or marketing programs for Red Angus-influenced cattle, visit RedAngus.org.

The Red Angus Association of America serves the beef industry by enhancing and promoting the measurable advantages of Red Angus and Red Angus-influenced cattle. The RAAA provides commercial producers with objectively described cattle by implementing new technologies and using scientifically sound principles that quantify traits of economic importance to beef producers in all segments of the beef industry. For more information, visit www.RedAngus.org.

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Suggested cutline: These Red Angus breeders were elected to lead the Red Angus Association of America through 2023-2024 at the National Red Angus Convention. Seated from left are Kyley DeVoe, Justin, Texas, president; Tony Ballinger, Morgan Mill, Texas, Area IV - Southwest director and first vice president; Rob Hess, Hershey, Pennsylvania, Area VII - Northeast director and second vice president; Kay Klompien, Manhattan, Montana, Area II - Montana director and secretary; and Tom Brink, RAAA CEO. Standing from left are Stephanie Jung, Mina, South Dakota, Area V - Northern Plains director; Aaron Kravig, Karval, Colorado, Area III - Rocky Mountain director; Craig Bieber, Leola, South Dakota; Region B director; Jim Yance, Columbia, Alabama, Area VIII - Southeast director; Keith Hickle, Auburn, Washington, Region A director; Jeff Petitt, Sebree, Kentucky, Region C director and treasurer; George Murdock, Pendleton, Oregon, Area I - West director; and Will Andras, Manchester, Illinois, Area 9 - Midwest director. Not pictured is Jason Anderson, Oberlin, Kansas, Area VI - Great Plains director.