K-State Livestock & Meat Industry Council to recognize Richard Porter during 54th Annual Stockmen’s Dinner on March 6.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Richard Porter will be recognized Thursday, March 6 as the 2025 Stockman of the Year. The award is presented by the Livestock & Meat Industry Council (LMIC) at the annual Stockmen’s Dinner that kicks off at 6 p.m. at the Stanley Stout Center. Register for the event by February 20.
Porter is loyal to his workers, suppliers, alliances, community and, especially, Kansas State University (K-State). He owns and operates a grazing and backgrounding operation located approximately 60 miles southeast of Manhattan, Kansas. He receives around 7,000 head of three-weight, high-risk calves from the southeast annually and grows them to eight-weights. For most of the year, the cattle are on native grass supplemented with distiller’s grains. During winter the calves are in a drylot receiving corn silage.
Known for being an independent thinker, Porter has two degrees from K-State — Chemical Engineering (1972) and Master of Agribusiness (MAB) (2004). He also earned a law degree from Southern Methodist University in 1975.
“Growing up I knew I would not be in agriculture,” Porter says. “So I didn’t pay attention to management decisions for the ranch, nor did I take any agriculture classes in college. Then I returned to the farm in 1979. I was certain that I knew nothing about farming. This made me very dependent upon the extension specialists at K-State. Especially when the ag crisis of the 1980s hit, a year after my return to the farm.”
Porter has participated in numerous cattle research trials with the Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI) department. He is a member of the LMIC Board of Directors and served as president from 2020 to 2022. He follows in the footsteps of his late father, Walter, who was involved with LMIC from its founding, and worked closely with the K-State College of Agriculture.
A staunch supporter of the K-State ASI department, Porter generously served as the lead donor for the Stanley Stout Center. He has donated to many ASI projects and the College of Agriculture. Among his recognitions, Porter has earned a National Stocker Award by BEEF Magazine and a Distinguished Alumni Award from the K-State Department of Agricultural Economics.
To learn more about Porter’s leadership in the industry, register for the Stockmen’s Dinner by February 20. The cost to attend is $50/person. Registration is available online at asi.ksu.edu/stockmensdinner or by contacting 785-532-1267.
Plan to stay the night in Manhattan and attend the 112th Annual K-State Cattlemen’s Day on Friday. Hosted at the National Guard Armory, the day will start at 8 a.m. with refreshments, educational exhibits and a commercial trade show. The program begins at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided. Visit KSUBeef.org for a detailed schedule and registration information. Early registration deadline for Cattlemen’s Day is February 21.
Following Cattlemen’s Day, the 48th Annual Legacy Sale will begin at 4 p.m. at the Stanley Stout Center. The offering includes 47 bulls, 17 fall-bred females and 21 commercial heifers. To learn more about this year’s offering and to request a sale catalog, visit asi.ksu.edu/legacysale.
-Kansas State University
