By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Centre ag teacher Laura Klenda graduated Nov. 30 from Kansas Livestock Association’s Young Stockmen’s Academy.

Klenda, in her 10th year as ag teacher, said she appreciated the opportunity to learn more about a number of topics.

“I was looking for opportunities to get more professional development to gain more skills to be able to give to my students as ag teacher here at Centre,” Klenda said.

Networking with others, animal tours, and learning more about the KLA and what it offers members were some of the best parts of the academy, Klenda said.

The academy is a partnership of Merck Animal Health and KLA. KLA members in their 20s attend a series of four seminars during the year. This year, 20 members attended seminars in February, May, September, and November.

The academy wrap-up was a three-day annual KLA convention, which gave members additional industry knowledge and an opportunity to get a first-hand look at association workings.

Just before the convention, class members attended spokesman training with Ryan Goodman, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association director of grassroots advocacy and spokesman development, then were given Masters of Beef Advocacy degrees.

Klenda said she would definitely recommend the academy to others.

Deadline for the2019 academy is Friday. Enrollment is on the KLA website.