Tom Jones

Raised on a row crop farming operation just north of Garden City, Kansas, Tom Jones has marked his career with a sharp emphasis on learning and advancement. From his time as an Animal Science major at Kansas State University to his diverse experience on both the live cattle and packing plant sides of the industry, he has consistently surrounded himself with cattle feeding’s best and brightest and kept a keen eye on what’s ahead.

So when Tom acquired Hy-Plains Feedyard through an investment group in 1999, he immediately began identifying opportunities for improvement. His discernment led to two decades’ worth of building on Hy-Plains’ successes and, eventually, the opening of the Education and Research Center in 2017, an organization whose overall goal is to educate producers and consumers. Topics range from appropriate antimicrobial use and water conservation to farming practices and community development. The center also supports multiple groups whose goal is to identify issues for the industry, collaborate on research projects and help make improvements throughout the entire supply chain. The ERC has facilities and support staff to conduct science-based research projects to identify practices to improve animal health and efficiencies while producing a safe and wholesome product for consumers.