Kristie Larson and Matt Teagarden Elected to Lead Council
(Left - Kristie Larson, Right - Matt Teagarden)
KANSAS CITY, MO-- At its annual meeting on December 11, The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City elevated former Vice Chair Kristie Larson, of The DeBruce Foundation, to serve as Chair of the Council. Larson succeeds Ron Seeber, of the Kansas Grain and Feed Association, who was term-limited.
The membership tapped Matt Teagarden, CEO of the Kansas Livestock Association, to serve as Vice Chair alongside Larson.
Council staff members Erica Venancio and Zach Helder were elevated to officer positions. Venancio, a Council staff leader of nearly two decades, has been elected President. Helder, an agricultural policy expert and former Congressional staff member, was elected Vice President.
In addition, several regional and national agricultural leaders were newly elected to the Council Board of Directors:
Joel Leftwich, Kansas Farm Bureau
Russell Plaschka, Kansas Cooperative Council
Joey Peck, Northstar Wealth Navigation; and
TaylorAnn Washburn, Missouri Farm Bureau
The Council’s new leadership reflects the organization’s tradition as a forum of senior leaders across agriculture, bringing diverse interests together to promote the industry, set a civic agenda, and advise regional officials and business leaders on agricultural issues.
Larson has served on the Council Board of Directors since 2020, and was elected Vice Chair in December 2023. She is the Strategic Relationship Manager at The DeBruce Foundation, and earlier served nearly a decade as Director of Education at the American Royal Association. She holds a B.S. in Agriculture Education from the University of Missouri.
Teagarden has served on the Board since 2019, and has served as CEO of the Kansas Livestock Association since 2015. He has served in successive roles for KLA for nearly 25 years, first joining the staff in 1999. Teagarden holds a degree in agricultural economics from Kansas State University.
The Agricultural Business Council represents over 700 members from the food and agribusiness sector. Agribusiness remains a cornerstone of the Kansas City region, driving 8% of the local workforce and 22% of the gross regional product (GRP).
For more information visit AgBizKC.Com or email zach.helder@agbizkc.com
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