James T. (Trent) Fox was raised on a farm in south-central Kansas. His lifelong interest has been cattle production. He received a Ph.D. in Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology and a D.V.M. from Kansas State University, as well as a M.S. in Ruminant Nutrition from Texas A&M University. For 5 years after graduation from veterinary school, Trent worked as a staff veterinarian for a large cattle feeding organization in Greeley, Colorado. He was responsible for the health and well-being of their cattle, and played an active role in their research program.

Travis was raised on a beef cow-calf operation in southwest Kansas. He received B.S. and D.V.M. degrees from Kansas State University. After graduation from Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008, Travis spent a year working in the equine world before moving home to work in a mixed animal practice in Ashland, KS.  There, his focus was mostly on cow-calf herd health, reproduction, and feedlot medicine.  Travis joined VRCS in the fall of 2016 providing services for their customers in Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming.  When not in feedlots, Travis enjoys working on his family farm and ranch in Ashland and spending time with his wife Kelly and three kids Asher, Anistyn, and Rylan.

Del Miles received a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from the University of Missouri, and a Master of Science degree from Kansas State University. After graduation, he joined a mixed practice and then an exclusive small animal practice. Following graduate school at Kansas State University he was employed by what is now Bayer Laboratories, followed by employment by what is now Animal Health International. After being involved in feedlot management he established Veterinary Research & Consulting Services, LLC in 1984.

Randy Hunter received the Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Carroll College in Helena, MT. He received the DVM degree from Colorado State University, and following graduation he established Hunter Cattle Company, LLC, a stocker operation that purchases several thousand calves each year, grazes them on various ranches, and sells them as yearlings. He operated Veterinary Services Inc, a mixed practice in Wheatland, WY until 1995. In addition to managing his yearling operation, Randy does contract work for VRCS, LLC in feedlots and research studies.

Dr. Smith was raised on a small livestock farm in SE Kansas. He received the BS and MS degrees in animal science at Kansas State University, and was commissioned as an Army Air Defense Artillery officer through the K-State Army ROTC program. He served two years on active duty, then 23 years as an active Army Reservist, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Following graduation from veterinary school, he completed a large animal medicine and surgery internship at Oklahoma State University, and later worked as a Field Services Clinician for 15 years at Oklahoma State.

Miles Theurer grew up on a family farm and cow/calf operation in south central Kansas. He did a dual DVM/Ph.D. program at Kansas State University. His Ph.D. was in Epidemiology focusing on experimental design and statistical analysis. Miles coordinates research projects and evaluates data for VRCS, LLC to provide information to consultants to practice evidence based medicine.

Ryan was raised on ranches in the Texas panhandle and Eastern New Mexico. He received a B.S. in animal science and a DVM from Oklahoma State University. Following graduation, he was commissioned in the US Army Veterinary Corps where he served 5 years on active duty and continues to serve in the Reserves. Following his active duty tour and a short time in mixed practice Ryan entered into a beef cattle production practice that serves clients across all industry segments. Ryan, his wife Kelsey, and two children Lacey and Colby reside in Fort Sumner, NM.

Simon is a native of Washington State. His early interest in ruminant nutrition and veterinary medicine came from growing up on his family dairy farm. He attended Washington State University and received the MS degree in Animal Science and ruminant nutrition, with research emphasis on processing corn silage and evaluating a new method to measure rumen microbial output. He earned the DVM degree from Iowa State University. Simon’s practice is exclusively ruminant nutrition and medicine, with both dairy and beef clients.

Nick is a Colorado native with a deep-seated passion for the beef industry. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Colorado State University. After completing his education, Nick spent nine years as an associate veterinarian at Animal Clinic and Pharmacy, a prominent mixed animal practice in Ogallala, Nebraska. During his time at the Animal Clinic, he excelled in cow-calf production medicine and reproductive health, establishing himself as a recognized specialist in these fields.

Barb grew up dairying and crop farming with her family in Eastern Iowa. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees at Iowa State University, as well as a Masters in Business Administration at West Texas A&M University. Her passion is supporting humans in agriculture on the foundations of animal husbandry. An opportunity to work in beef slaughter in California’s Central Valley connected Barb with the Western U.S. beef and dairy industry. She practiced dairy medicine in California and has spent the majority of her career working in the Texas Panhandle.  Her professional practice experience includes veterinary diagnostics, youngstock health, and research which includes technology development and implementation.

Annika Johnson grew up on a small club calf farm in Central Iowa. She attended Iowa State University, where she majored in Animal Science with a focus on food animal production and meat science. Annika continued her education at Iowa State, earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2021 with a track in food animal medicine.

After graduation, Annika worked as an associate veterinarian at a feedlot practice in Picture Butte, Alberta, Canada. In this role, she provided ambulatory, regulatory, and consulting services to several large beef and sheep feedlots.

Currently, Annika holds a joint position with VRCS and Agri Beef, where she consults for ranches, growyards, and feedyards across the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, and Midwest.

Jim was raised on a large cattle ranch in western Nebraska where his connection to cattle and horses became cemented.  After receiving a BS in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska, and a DVM from the University of Missouri, he returned to western Nebraska to begin his practice career.  While in mixed practice he focused primarily on cow/calf and feedlot production medicine, as well as a significant amount of companion animal & equine practice. (Cattlemen all have their dogs and horses.)  Jim sold his mixed practice after a few years and joined the newly formed VRCS, where his practice consisted exclusively of feedlot consulting, serving operations in several states in the High Plains.  After several years with VRCS, he joined Bayer Animal Health as a Sr. Veterinary Technical Services veterinarian where for 24 years he supported their farm animal products and related activities for the U.S., Canada and Mexico.  After the acquisition of Bayer by Elanco in August of 2020, Jim exited industry practice and rejoined VRCS to provide contract work in feedlots and research studies.