Advisors:

Dr. Charles Gaskins:

Dr. Charles Gaskins has been an advisor of Cougar Cattle Feeders since its inception nine years ago.  He came to WSU in 1976 from Texas Tech University.  Dr. Gaskins was born in Artesia, New Mexico where his dad farmed cotton and alfalfa.  Dr. Gaskins received a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in quantitative genetics and teaches Animal Genetics, Beef Cow-calf Management and Freshman Orientation classes.  His research interests center around computer simulation modeling and genetic improvement of beef cattle.  He has been involved with WSU’s research with Wagyu cattle and has computed and published EPD’s for Wagyu bulls.  

Tom Cummings:

Tom is the manager of the WSU Beef Center and the Cattle Feeding Lab.  He is from Cheney, Washington where he and his wife, Nada, maintain their own small herd of cattle while also working with Tom’s parents who still farm and ranch there.  Both Tom and Nada are graduates of WSU and Tom is excited to be a co-advisor for Cougar Cattle Feeders for the fourth year.

Rachel Lewis – Chairman:

Rachel is the 21-year-old daughter of Floyd and Rae Ann Lewis of Moses Lake Washington.   She is currently a junior studying Agriculture Economics with an Animal Science Minor.  This is Rachel’s third year in Cougar Cattle Feeders.  Rachel’s hobbies include singing, horseback riding and showing cattle.   In the future she plans to continue to work within the agricultural community possibly in the allied industries.  Rachel would like to be employed in a field where she can work with people as well as livestock.  She aspires to be able to continue to breed and raise registered Charolais cattle. 

Alex King – Herdsman:

Alex is a 22-year-old son of Wes and Faye King of Odessa, Washington where he was raised on his family’s cow-calf/stocker operation. Alex is a senior in his second year with Cougar Cattle Feeders who is majoring in Animal Science with emphasis in Production Management.  After he graduates, Alex would like to return home to his family operation or pursue an area in the beef industry.

Riley Mengarelli – Herdsman:

Riley is the 20-year-old son of Kyle and Lisa Shinn of Shinn and Son Inc. located near Toppenish, Washington. This is Riley's first year in Cougar Cattle Feeders and he is a sophomore majoring in Animal Sciences Production Management.  While at WSU, he hopes to get the many skills needed to go back to his family's farm to help run the diversified operation or pursue a career directly related to the beef industry.  He currently has 25 head of Angus cross cows of his own and enjoys anything that has to do with beef cattle or the beef industry.

Kirsten VanZanten – Herdsman:

Kirsten is the 19-year-old duaghter of Bill and JoAnn VanZanten of Ferndale, Washington. She was reaised on a family farm with purebred Limousin seedstock and has shown for 9 years. Kirsten is majoring in Animal Science, with a minor in Business. This is her first year in Cougar Cattle Feeders and her sophomore year at WSU. Upon graduation she plans to pursue a future in the beef industry as a ranch operator/manager, specifically with show cattle, along with owning and operating her own practice.

Tyler Ruzicka – Feedsman:

Tyler is the 22-year-old son of Mike and Colleen Ruzicka of Ritzville, Washington and Jodi Ruzicka of Bellingham, Washington.  This is his second year in Cougar Cattle Feeders and he is currently a senior at Washington State University majoring in Agriculture Technology and Management with Animal Sciences and Economics interests.  He plans on working in the beef and feedlot industries when he graduates.

Christine Blaschko – Feedsman:

Christine is the 19-year-old daughter of joan burlingame and Tom Blaschko.  This is Christine’s second year in Cougar Cattle Feeders and she is currently a junior studying Animal Sciences with a production management option and a minor in Spanish. Once she graduates she hopes to either research biosecurity and biocontainment or work in the animal feed industry.

Tom Cobb – Feedsman:

Tom is the son of Miles and Shelley Cobb of Ephrata, Washington. This is his first year as a Cattle Feeders member. Currently he is a junior Animal Science/Pre-Vet major at WSU. In th future, he plans on operating a large animal veterinarian service and to continue to raise Black Angus cattle in the Columbia Basin area. 

Kirstin Slater – Public Relations:

Kirstin is the 19-year-old daughter of Don and Nancy Slater from Bickleton, Washington. Kirstin was raised on a wheat and small cattle ranch. She has a herd of registered Angus cattle and has participated in the American  Junior Angus Association and 4-H for numerous years. She is an animal science major hoping to work with beef cattle genetics. After college, she would like to work in beef production or research somewhere in the Midwest. This is her sophomore year and her first year in Cougar Cattle Feeders.

Elizabeth Domby – Public Relations:

Elizabeth is the 20-year-old daughter of Chuck and Evelyn Domby of Kent, Washingotn . This is Elizabeth's first year in Cougar Cattle Feeders. She is a junior majoring in animal sciences. After graduation, Elizabeth plans to go to graduate school, get a doctorate in beef nutrition or genetics, and work within the beef industry as well as owning and operating a small operation of Polled Hereford seedstock. As a second career, Elizabeth would like to become a high school agriculture eductation teacher.

Sarah Murphy – Public Relations:

Sarah is the 19-year-old daughter of Renee Rainey and Michael Murphy from Fruitland, Idaho. This is Sarah's first year in Cougar Cattle Feeders and she is a sophomore majoring in Animal Sciences with a Pre-Vet option. She plans to become a large animal veterinarian and would someday like to manage a small cow-calf operation as well as continue raising and training horses.

Andrea Henderson - Finance:

Andrea is currently majoring in Agribusiness Economics and Management with a minor in Finance and plans to graduate in December of 2008. She is the 21-year-old daughter of Harold and Shelley Henderson of Chehalis, Washingotn . She grew up on a farm raising and showin g registered Polled Hereford cattle and remains very involved in the managemnet of the farm and travels often to various shows and sales. After graduation, Andrea plans to work in the financial planning and investment realm of Agriculture somewhere near Lynden, and near her fiance, Jordan Croft. This is her first year in Cougar Cattle Feeders.

Tiffany Patterson – Finance:

Dan Griswold – Maintenance:

Colby Croft – Maintenance:

Angela Thresher – Secretary: