Ryan Ludvigson
Ryan was born and raised on a diversified livestock and crop farm in Northwest Iowa that specialized in beef seedstock. He graduated with a degree in Agricultural Business and an MBA from Iowa State University. Ryan works extensively in consulting genetic and branded beef programs in the U.S. and throughout the world in the major beef producing countries. He has a previously worked for Leachman Cattle Company as director of sales, the National CUP Lab as director of communications, and Chile Beef as director of planning and strategic management. He is responsible for handling all international business for the National CUP Lab.
J. David Nichols
J. David Nichols is managing partner of Nichols Farms, LTD, a family owned operation which combines seedstock production, cattle feeding, and farming in southwest Iowa. Nichols Farms is the largest seedstock operation in the mid-west and is the fifth largest in the US. Nichols raise and sell about 800 head of production tested yearling bulls each year.
Nichols Farms have participated in research projects with the University of Missouri, Virginia Tech, University of Georgia, Cornell University, University of Minnesota, and Kansas State University. J. David Nichols participated with Iowa State University in the original ultra-sound research in 1987. In addition to securing funds for this real time ultra-sound project, Nichols Farms provided over 200 bulls each year during a four year period as test animals.
Dave is married to Phyllis Nichols. They have two children, Fletcher, who works at Nichols Farms and, Jennifer, who is Special Features Editor for a daily newspaper.
Dave's impressive and long list of accomplishments and awards is as follows: Recipient of the World Simmental/Fleckvieh Federation “Golden Book Award”, Chairman of the Board of National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium (NBCEC), Recipient of Iowa Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award, Inducted into Iowa Cattlemen’s Hall of Fame, BEEF magazine’ Top 40 Person for contributions to the beef industry, CUP LabTM Board Member, Past Chairman of NCBA Product Enhancement Committee, NCBA Long Range Strategic Planning Committee, Iowa State University Block and Bridle Club Man of the Year Award, National Beef Improvement Federation (1993) Seedstock Producer Of The Year, Iowa Cattlemen's Executive Committee and Board of Directors, past President and Trustee of the American Simmental Association, member of National Beef Promotion and Research Board, and past President of The National Beef Improvement Federation (BIF).
Darren Dies 
As President of a meat processing company, W & G Marketing, Inc., Dies brings an end product perspective to the board room. A licensed Certified Angus Beef (CAB) processor, W & G concentrates on marketing value added products like CAB BBQ Beef. Dies, an owner of Walter & Associates since the inception of the business, keeps the board updated on export markets, branded programs, and general beef consumer demand.
