Alumni Spotlight

Name: Callahan Grund

Current Title: Executive Director

Organization: U.S. Cattle Trace

Major: B.S. Animal Sciences and Industry (2018)

 

K-State College of Ag is proud to recognize alumni from all departments who continue to pursue their passion in their respective fields. It is through experience that we continue to grow as individuals and stewards of the industry. Through those experiences, we hope to be a continued resource for the next generation of K-State students to lean on for advice and continue to build our network!

Why K-State College of Agriculture and what made you choose Animal Sciences & Industry as your major?

It was always my dream and plan to go to Kansas State University. I was very interested in livestock judging to begin with. I went to community college right out of high school and was a member of the judging team. I was fortunate to be on a well-respected team, making the transfer process to K-State incredibly easy. Going the junior college route gives you a couple more years of eligibility before you head into what we deem in the livestock judging world, a senior college. I didn't have any lost time there or any extra semesters I was going to have to gain because the transfer process was incredibly easy.

The courses I took were incredibly helpful and powerful, one of them being accounting through the business option. I never thought I'd be doing the books for an organization but now, working as the executive director of a small nonprofit startup I’m responsible for organizing and balancing the accounts for the organization (U.S. Cattle Trace) During my time at K-State, it was always about the people. I know you hear that repeatedly but it's true at a place like K-State. This lives especially true at the College of Agriculture and Department of Animal Sciences and Industry. The College of Agriculture carried those connections for me to the position I am in today. The connections I've made carry more weight than anything.

Tell us about your career path to where you are now with U.S. Cattle Trace.

When I transferred to K-State, I had a deep interest in agricultural policy. I was looking to see if there were any potential employment opportunities available. As a production-oriented cow-calf producer with a dad who worked at the purebred unit at K-State, I thought that was my path. I was at the Kansas State Fair when I was a sophomore at community college getting ready to transfer to K-State the next year, when I met the former Kansas Secretary of Agriculture, Jackie McClaskey.

She talked to me about the internship opportunities at the Kansas Department of Agriculture, so I took advantage of the opportunity and applied to KDA, working for the ag policy team. I also had a chance to work on some biosecurity foreign animal disease preparedness projects which were new to me at that time. This led me down this path to what is my career today. Once I graduated from K-State, I started working full-time for KDA doing business development, ag policy work and spending some time on foreign animal disease preparedness along the way.

At that time, the Cattle Trace pilot project was in its inception in Kansas. I was fortunate enough to be on the advisory committee for the pilot project, guiding the direction and performing the project. Following that, I spent a year working for Farm Strategy LLC, a startup in the grain sector in Kansas. During that year, we were transitioning the Cattle Trace pilot project into a full-blown organization which is now recognized as U.S. Cattle Trace. I applied for the position of executive director and was pleased to be selected. I'm very fortunate to have been here for four and a half years.

What advice would you give to current students in the K-State College of Agriculture?

Take advantage of the experiences, connections, people, friendships and mentorships within the Department of Animal Science and Industry. Those relationships are invaluable. This world of agriculture is incredibly small, keep your circle broad and work through all those different friendships and connections. Make sure to take advantage of those times and experiences you have while you're at K-State because there's never enough time for it.

I think it’s really important today for students graduating and looking for jobs to be confident. Yes, internships and experiences are very, very powerful, but being confident in yourself and having the experience to be a leader is invaluable in every job. Having the confidence to be well-spoken, being personable and displaying interpersonal skills is what really sets you apart from others.