TFrom the Director
Dr. Rick Machen, PhD Executive Director; Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Endowed Chair
Invest in Education
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin
he King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management offers more than a two-year Master of Science degree in Ranch Management. While the graduate program was the primary focus when the Institute was formed in 2003, outreach education was added the very next year.
Outreach education spawned from the original idea of recruiting industry experts to enlighten the graduate students on current topics. Immediately recognizing a potential benefit to ranch owners/managers and affiliated industry professionals, Institute leadership opened these learning opportunities to the public. These events are a service to the industry and afford graduate school quality education without enrolling in college.
In 2008, Texas Farm Credit came alongside the Institute and partnered in the offering of a ranch management certificate; earned after completing over 60 hours of instruction in a variety of ranch business and natural resource management subjects. Participants can receive the Texas Farm Credit Certificate in Advanced Ranch Management by attending four KRIRM lectureships and two annual symposia within a three-year period. To date, 268 certificates have been awarded to individuals from 29 states and 3 countries.
For over 20 years, ranch owners and managers have attended our outreach education events. Others seeking to broaden their knowledge of natural resource stewardship, beef cattle production, and the business of ranching have benefitted as well – lenders, government agency personnel, Extension educators, realtors, and affiliated industry professionals alike.
A potentially underserved outreach education audience are ranch employees, the men and women working daily from horseback or a pickup, doing the daily chores involved in a ranch business. Lectureships and symposium offer an excellent continuing education opportunity for these hard-working employees.
Newsletter readers would agree – the business of ranching and animal protein production is ever changing. Consequently, those who manage the business best are lifelong learners. Consider these benefits of continued education:
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Education deepens the understanding of stewardship and production, two primary components of a ranch business.
Deeper understanding of the business increases management capability and professional worth.
Continued on page 8
700 University Blvd., MSC 137 Kingsville, TX 78363
361-593-5401
361-593-5404 fax
krirm@tamuk.edu
krirm.tamuk.edu
Rick Machen, PhD, Executive Director; Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Endowed Chair Emily Stribling, Editor
MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
Chair: John Alexander, Jr.,
King Ranch, Inc.
James Clement, III, Beggs Cattle Company
Caroline Alexander Forgason, Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. & Helen C. Kleberg Foundation
Heath Grigg, King Ranch, Inc.
Jeff Hildebrand, Hilcorp Energy Company
Shelby Horn, Abell Livestock Co.
Rick Machen, PhD, King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management
Jim McAdams, McAdams Cattle Co.
Shad Nelson, PhD, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Clint Richardson, AgReserves, Inc.
Jason Van Tassell, Wilson Cattle Co.
Neal Wilkins, PhD, East Foundation
Photo by Rick Machen, PhD
2 | Invest in Education
There's no time like the present − investing in education for both ranch managers and employees.
4 | Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: KRIRM Alum Tyson Johnson '14 Johnson has leveraged the knowledge of industry mentors to forge his own path; now he embraces his role in passing wisdom to the next generation.
6 | Education & Innovation
We Can’t Control the Weather − But We Can Plan for It: Key Forecast Sources for Cattlemen 9 | Managing the Wildlife Enterprise Lectureship A new offering in the KRIRM lectureship series!
10 | Honoring Stan Bevers - An Industry Leader
Honoring the life and legacy of Stan Bevers through the establishment of the Stan Bevers Memorial Fund to support his professional passion - managerial accounting education. Our Mission
Sustaining our ranching heritage through education, innovation, and outreach.
We are determined to educate leaders who will make a positive difference in ranching and ensure that our hard-earned heritage is not lost.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants:
KRIRM ALUM TYSON JOHNSON
By Kindra Gordon
"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants," wrote Isaac Newton, acknowledging the wisdom gained from those who came before him. For King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management alum Tyson Johnson, this philosophy isn’t just a reflection on the past — it’s a guiding principle that has shaped his career in ranching.
From the vast landscapes of Southern Utah to leadership roles in some of the most respected cattle operations in the country, Johnson has leveraged the knowledge of industry mentors to forge his own path. Now, as a leader in ranch management, he embraces his role in passing wisdom to the next generation, ensuring the legacy of this industry continues.
ROOTS IN RANCHING
Johnson’s foundation in agriculture was set early. Growing up in Southern Utah on a family farming and ranching operation, he was immersed in the rhythms of livestock and land stewardship. His father was one of the first “giants” whom Johnson credits with influencing him as a man with an inquisitive mind, business savvy, and an unconventional approach to problem-solving. Johnson says, “My upbringing provided the best of both worlds, with a farm and ranch perspective alongside business principles.”
“The complexity of ranch stewardship today requires both science and business acumen. The KRIRM program gave me that, and I try to apply it every day.” – Tyson Johnson '14
After earning an agribusiness degree from Arizona State University, Johnson’s journey took him through different facets of the cattle industry: working with cutting horses, stocker cattle, and managing a ranch with his family in Arizona. Seeking greater autonomy, he eventually leased a 200,000-acre ranch in Northern Arizona, refining his ranch management skills over seven years.
“It was a unique situation,” he shares. “The majority of the ranch was public land, managed by a group that could eliminate grazing at any time.” The experience forced him to think strategically, navigate regulatory challenges, and develop a keen sense of adaptability.
Seven years into the lease, Johnson recognized an opportunity to capitalize on the equity he had built up and decided to sell. With the next chapter of his career uncertain, he considered furthering his education. “Society puts a lot of value on education, and rightfully so,” he says. “I felt that going back to school afforded an opportunity to network and pursue new career goals.”
Faced with the decision between law school or a Master’s in Ranch Management from the prestigious King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management (KRIRM), Johnson ultimately chose KRIRM. “I liked the KRIRM’s offering of being science-based with business,” he explains. “It’s a great program to become as well-rounded as possible in agriculture.”
As part of his KRIRM experience, Johnson completed a summer internship in Uruguay, conducting financial analysis of ranch properties for AgReserves. “To be exposed to something that large and at that level was really good for me,” he reflects. “It was the 30,000-foot view of ranch management.”
After earning his Master’s degree in 2014, Johnson spent a decade with AgReserves/Deseret Ranches. His tenure took him from Deseret Cattle and Citrus in Florida to West Texas, and eventually to Oklahoma with Sooner Cattle Co. Each role presented new challenges and learning opportunities. “It was a great experience for me,” he says. “Good people, good systems, and good leadership.”
OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK
Most recently, Johnson transitioned to a Vice President of Operations role for a progressive company with stocker operations in central Nebraska and California. Based in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, Johnson travels for work as needed, and is optimistic for the beef industry’s future outlook.
He explains, “I am excited on multiple levels,” citing recordhigh cattle prices and growing consumer awareness of beef’s nutritional benefits. “There is great opportunity to grow beef’s market share.”
That said, he is also pragmatic about the industry’s challenges. “I was taught that we don’t really solve problems—we must learn how to manage them,” he says, recalling a lesson from his time at Deseret Ranches. Factors like market volatility and input costs are often beyond a ranch manager’s control, but finding innovative ways to create margins is key. “As managers, it’s our job to manage sustainably and find ways to be efficient.”
Johnson’s leadership philosophy embraces the balance of tradition and innovation. He believes in the importance of education, mentorship, and adaptability. “The complexity of ranch stewardship today requires both science and business acumen,” he explains. “The KRIRM program gave me that, and I try to apply it every day.”
Through his experiences, Johnson has come to understand that success in ranching isn’t just about managing cattle and land — it’s about people, relationships, and passing knowledge forward. He remains committed to mentoring the next generation, just as the giants before him guided his path.
To others looking toward their own future, Johnson shares advice that helped guide him: “Start with the goal of where you want to end up and then work backwards of how you want to get there.”
For Johnson, alongside his ranch management goals, family is also a primary focus. Johnson’s wife, Wenda, is a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier in barrel racing, and together they are raising two daughters, ages 16 and 13. As he continues to shape the future of the cattle industry, Johnson remains committed to the values of stewardship, hard work, and family, ensuring that the land and traditions he cherishes will endure for generations to come.
MENTORS AND FULL-CIRCLE MOMENTS
Throughout his ranch management journey, Johnson has continually sought out wisdom from industry leaders. One of his most influential mentors was respected cattleman and ranch manager Paul Genho.
While in high school Johnson went to Florida for a summer to work with his brother, who was working at Deseret Cattle and Citrus during Genho’s tenure. A couple years later while at Arizona State, in search of an summer internship, Johnson reached out to Paul Genho at the King Ranch. Johnson contacted Paul himself and procured a summer internship in Texas—and an opportunity that would shape his future.
“Paul offered to have breakfast in the mornings with any interns who were interested, so I took advantage of that opportunity and ate breakfast with Paul nearly every morning,” Johnson recalls. “One morning in 1999, he told me about his idea to establish the King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management. He wanted to develop individuals to manage large ranches.”
A decade later, during a family vacation in Hawaii, Johnson visited Parker Ranch with his father and brother. While there, he spotted a flyer about KRIRM, coincidentally placed by a KRIRM student (Jason Van Tassel) interning at the ranch. Seeing that flyer triggered a full-circle moment for Johnson as he remembered Genho’s words from years earlier. Johnson tells, seeing that flyer “lit a spark in me.” He soon enrolled in the KRIRM program and as the saying goes, “The rest is history,” Johnson says.
Genho’s mentorship continued to influence Johnson’s educational choices. “Paul told me if you ever decide to go to graduate school, pick the professors, not the school,” he shares. “Because the professors’ network becomes your network.” That advice solidified Johnson’s decision to attend KRIRM, where he found an unparalleled blend of science, business, and industry connections.
Education & Innovation
We
Can’t Control the Weather −
But We Can Plan for It: Key Forecast Sources for Cattlemen
By Matt Makens, Meteorologist; Makens Weather, LLC
Everyone talks about it - multiple times a day in some cases. We feel its impact every moment. It is as old as the Earth itself, yet our scientific understanding of it is still relatively young. Whether we complain about or praise it, it is one of the most talked about aspects of rural life: our operations live or die by it. This article is about helping you find the most reliable weather tools to support long-term decisions — from heifer retention to forage strategy.
In the 1980s and early 90s, I remember deep snows, harsh winters, and devastating hail and flooding in my area. More recently, I recall drought — drought like that of the early 2010s and early 2020s. Of course, these memories are not unique. Most of us have experienced the grip of extended dry periods like the one we now face. Finding the opportunity for heifer retention and signs of rebuilding the herd keeps us glued to the moisture forecasts.
In recent decades, our understanding of patterns, correlations, and causations has strengthened our accuracy with remarkably improved skill. For example...modern five-day forecasts now match the accuracy of one-day forecasts from 1980. Today, three-day hurricane track forecasts are more accurate than 24-hour forecasts 40 years ago1. A seven-day forecast can accurately predict the weather 80 percent of the time, and a five-day forecast can accurately predict the weather approximately 90 percent of the time2
Despite rapid and incredible improvements, we know weather prediction is not a perfect science. As an atmospheric scientist and communicator, I aim to help limit your frustrations with weather information and forecasts through an improved understanding of how to be prepared. To reach this goal, I not only focus on the near-term but also look out as far as possible into the future. For clients like CattleFax, our internal conversations include the weather patterns through the next few months and the next several years. Granted, this is my career, and you may not have a meteorologist on speed dial. Your expertise is caring for the land and livestock, but that does involve some level of weather pattern knowledge.
While we cannot control the weather, we can better prepare for it. Meteorologists like myself continue to use the latest technology and understanding to improve weather forecasts, and in the modern world, non-meteorologists also publish their musings. For producers, it comes down to knowing where to find the most reliable weather outlooks. How can we bridge the gap between your operation and expected weather conditions? That is my hope for today. I want to increase your understanding of where to find more reliable and actionable weather information. A rancher I work with commonly says, “I know I can’t do anything to change it, but my peace of mind and decision-making needs to know as much about the weather as possible. I need to plan my year, not just my week.” Sound familiar?
In all cases, I recommend the National Weather Service for near-term forecasts and hazardous weather alerts. Otherwise, comparing what you see on your phone to that on a local television station may be able to work well enough for shortrange outlooks if you need to plan to cut, dry, and bale in the next week or so, but you cannot make a sound stocking rate decision based on a seven-day forecast you see on television, nor should you rely on that forecast to plan a prescribed burn. So, what are the best sources for ranch management? I recommend blending these three: The National Weather Service’s Climate
1. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER (CPC)
Best for: Long-range seasonal guidance (1 to 13 months)
If you use only one source, make it the Climate Prediction Center (CPC), part of the National Weather Service. The CPC offers seasonal outlooks to 13 months, providing temperature and precipitation probabilities. Their maps display areas with increased chances of above or below-normal precipitation and temperature trends based on computer models blended with historical analogs and expert interpretation.
This information is updated at least monthly, free to access, and relatively easy to interpret. Visit https://www.cpc.ncep. noaa.gov and navigate to the seasonal weather outlooks, or search for "Climate Prediction Center monthly seasonal projections" to stay current. Keep in mind that even these products have limitations and may miss certain regional details or elements specific to ranching, so they should be used as part of a broader approach. Do not just check the forecast − watch for month-to-month changes in outlooks. Those trends can often matter more than a single snapshot.
2. WEBINARS & SYMPOSIA FROM AG-FOCUSED INSTITUTIONS
Best for: Regional insights and practical interpretation
Many organizations offer weather-focused presentations in conjunction with broader ranching or land management education. Whether at in-person symposia like those hosted by the King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management or through online webinars provided by NOAA, USDA, or the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), these events often provide valuable extended-range forecasts specific to ranching regions. Even if you cannot attend in person, many presentations are recorded or available virtually. Search “NIDIS drought webinars” or “NOAA USDA ag
Prediction Center, regional and national agricultural webinars/ conferences, and private-sector forecasters.
If you have read my work or heard me speak before, you know that I like to be transparent and educational. You do not need to be a meteorologist to understand the basics of long-term climate patterns, and having a working knowledge of the major players can help you interpret forecasts more confidently. Chief among these is ENSO — the El Niño Southern Oscillation — which shifts between El Niño, Neutral, and La Niña phases.
weather webinars” for timely updates on drought, precipitation, and temperature outlooks, usually presented by meteorologists with agricultural insight.
3. PRIVATE FORECASTING SERVICES
Best for: Ranch-specific decision-making support
Private weather consulting is another excellent option, especially for operations needing site-specific, actionable information. These services typically offer forecast products tailored to particular sectors — grains, livestock, pasture conditions, and more. They may integrate real-time data, historical cycles, model output, and regional expertise.
You may already have access through membership organizations like CattleFax or NCBA. Others may be provided through animal nutrition companies or regional co-ops. It is worth asking which weather services your current affiliations already use — and whether additional guidance might be available for your ranch’s unique needs.
More complex decisions such as future stocking rate and prescribed burn plans should be determined by blending weather resources as opposed to relying on a standard 7-day forecast.
These shifts influence precipitation and temperature trends across North America, often for months, if not years, at a time.
El Niño years tend to bring wetter conditions to the southern U.S. and drier conditions to parts of the North, while La Niña can enhance drought potential in the South and boost precipitation in the Pacific Northwest. Neutral phases bring more unpredictability but still have traceable drought impacts akin to a La Niña event when combined with other oscillations. Beyond ENSO, consider the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), which can influence regional weather patterns on even longer timelines — sometimes decades.
A foundational understanding of these patterns can help you interpret long-range forecasts with more context, giving your operation a strategic edge. The three sources mentioned above often discuss these factors, so having some knowledge about them can help advance your understanding.
When faced with so many ranch decisions, the best approach weatherwise is to combine these three recommended sources.
Invest in Education Continued...
Understanding the beef production system and its associated management practices and technologies affords improved productivity.
Investing in the education of employees demonstrates their worth to ownership and enhances their loyalty to the brand.
The Texas Farm Credit Certificate of Advanced Ranch Management is a professional addition to an employee’s resume.
The beef industry is experiencing record high prices; assuming unit cost of production has been managed well, the business is profiting nicely. What better time to invest in your employees?
For example, if the CPC, a private-sector forecaster, and a recent NIDIS webinar all suggest below-average precipitation for your area, it is time to act — whether that means planning for supplemental feed or holding off on herd expansion.
At the same time, do not rely solely on any one source. Look for consensus among them and pay attention to outliers. If one forecast is dramatically different from the others, it may not be the most reliable.
Weather is not something we can control — but we can better prepare for it. With just a few trustworthy sources and a foundational understanding of climate drivers, cattlemen can make better-informed decisions that lead to healthier land, more resilient herds, and a stronger bottom line.
1Alley, R.B., K.A. Emanuel and F. Zhang. “Profitable Prophecy: Advances in weather prediction.”
2NASA Space Place team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The majority of our learning opportunities are offered inperson and virtually, so participation does not necessarily involve significant time away from the ranch.
I concur with founding father, diplomat, and successful businessman Benjamin Franklin – investments that enhance knowledge are rewarded with the best interest – improving people.
To view this year’s event schedule and to register for events, please scan the QR code or visit: krirm.tamuk.edu/outreach
Managing the Wildlife Enterprise Lectureship
AUGUST
21-22,
2025 || RIVIERA, TX & ONLINE
Whether it’s a for-profit business or a recreational opportunity for family, friends, and guests, the wildlife enterprise requires management. Facets that warrant attention include: habitat, wildlife, employees, infrastructure, financials, and guest expectations. Managing the diversity, quantity, and quality of wildlife will be left to the biologists. The focus of this new lectureship is managing the business aspects of a wildlife enterprise, because sooner or later, the money always matters.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2025
8:00 AM Welcome & Introductions
8:15 AM Overview of Wildlife Enterprises & Recreational Income
8:45 AM Operational Decisions: Defining Expectations, Goals, & Objectives
10:15 AM Break
10:30 AM Decision Trees for Decision Making: Hunting Enterprise Application
12:00 PM Lunch
12:45 PM Lyssy & Eckel Feeds Presentation
1:30 PM Managing Hunting Leases on Deseret Ranches
2:00 PM Managing Enterprises from Zimbabwe to Texas
2:30 PM Break
2:45 PM Surveys, Population Estimates, Harvest: White-tailed Deer
4:00 PM Surveys, Population Estimates, Harvest: Northern Bobwhites
5:00 PM Adjourn
5:30 PM Dinner & Social
FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2025
8:00 AM Recap Day 1
8:15 AM Assessing Enterprise Value & Marketing
9:45 AM Break
10:00 AM Wildlife Enterprise Legal Considerations
12:00 PM Wrap-up and Adjourn
For a detailed agenda and to register, please scan the QR code above or visit: krirm.tamuk.edu/wildlifeenterprise
Instructors: Abe Woodard, Ph.D., Range & Wildlife Scientist; East Foundation • Justin Feild, Senior Wildlife Manager; Deseret Ranches • Roy Ludick, PH, Property Coordinator; Matador Resources Company • Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, J.D., Agricultural Law Specialist; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
EVENT SPONSORED BY:
Honoring Stan Bevers - An Industry Leader
Faithful. Mentor. Trusted. Committed. Knowledgeable. Dignified. Strategic. Tactful. Gentle. Respectful. Humorous. Never condemning. Consummate professional.
When a long list of descriptors captures the life, person, and profession of an individual, it is reasonable to expect that person was impactful. Such was Stanley J. “Stan” Bevers.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Economics from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, Stan began his career in education as a high school Vocational Ag teacher. After teaching for six years, he packed up his wife Tina and two young daughters, moved to College Station, and completed a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics. Wisely, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension hired Stan and assigned him to the Research and Extension Center at Vernon where he served as an Extension Economist for 27 years, retiring as Professor Emeritus.
Stan was a master at untangling the financial components of a complicated ranch business, identifying and allocating costs and associating revenues to reveal an accurate assessment of financial health. Health that could be monitored via choices from a long list of key performance indicators he developed. His common sense, livestock production savvy, and managerial accounting methodology has and will continue to affect the profitability and sustainability of ranching operations across this country. Though very soft spoken, Stan was like a once well-advertised brokerage firm: when he spoke, people listened.
Stan’s profound impact on the financial well-being of numerous ranching and farming operations across this great country is commendable and unparalleled, especially among
his academic peers. I am not aware of university or instate affiliated faculty who have the level of expertise and breadth of experience Stan had. He leaves a substantial void in our industry.
Stan was a personal friend and professional colleague. We worked together much of our academic careers, he from the economic/financial perspective, I from the production aspect. When he joined the KRIRM team as a Practitioner in Ranch Economics, I was elated, confident of the contributions he would make. He had long believed in our program and supported our graduate students. His influence remains with our program through the managerial accounting workshops and financial components of projects we complete. We frequently reuse some of the quotes for which he is famous.
Ranch clients and those who were blessed to work alongside Stan have inquired of an opportunity to recognize his friendship and contributions to their success. With the permission of Stan’s wife Tina, we have established the Stan Bevers Memorial Fund. Tribute gifts will be used to support his professional passion - managerial accounting education. We will continue to hire accounting professionals to lead managerial accounting workshops for KRIRM students in addition to educating ranchers on the subject through our Managing the Cow/Calf Business lectureship (which Stan was instrumental in developing and teaching).
I welcome comments or questions regarding this opportunity to honor our friend and colleague Stan Bevers.
Rick Machen, PhD Executive Director
How to Make a Gift to the Stan Bevers Memorial Fund
GIFTS BY CHECK MAY BE SENT DIRECTLY TO:
King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management
700 University Blvd., MSC 137 Kingsville, TX 78363
Please make note of the Stan Bevers Memorial Fund in the memo line.
GIFTS BY STOCK OR ACH WIRE TRANSFER:
If you would like to make a gift of stock or by ACH wire transfer, please contact Anne Thurwalker at (361)593-4598 or anne.thurwalker@tamuk.edu
ONLINE GIFTING:
If you would like to make a gift using a credit card, please scan the QR code below or visit: www.javelinagiving.org/bevers.
To view more information and to donate online, please scan the QR code or visit: www.javelinagiving.org/bevers
Need to hire a ranch manager? Hunting for a ranch manager job?
The KRIRM job board is intended to serve the ranching industry through the posting of ranch manager jobs and supervisory level job positions. The job board serves as a resource for those individuals looking for ranch manager jobs, including assistant ranch managers and any other positions with a supervisory responsibility.
If you are in search of an individual to manage a ranch and would like to post a position on this job board, please visit our website: krirm.tamuk.edu/ranch-manager-jobs, click the “Request to Post Ranch Manager Job” button and complete the electronic form. This service is currently being offered free to the ranching industry. All requests will be reviewed by KRIRM staff before the job is posted to the board. Only managerial and supervisory ranch job positions (i.e. overseeing full-time employees) will be considered.
To view current job listings or to post a position, scan the QR code or visit: krirm.tamuk.edu/ranch-manager-jobs
Photo Courtesy of Rollins Ranches
700 University Blvd, MSC 137
Kingsville, TX 78363
Impacts
AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT A COMPLEX SYSTEM
Producing more beef with fewer cattle involves changes in the system— feeding cattle longer, making heavier cattle, and fabricating carcasses differently—all while maintaining an appreciative, yet watchful, eye on the consumer. As the pace of change quickens, keeping track of the entire system is tough.
Catch up on happenings across the system—join cattlemen who are attending the Holt Cat® Symposium on Excellence in Ranch Management, November 6-7, 2025.
Scan the QR code to register and view more information or visit: krirm.tamuk.edu/symposium
