Officer staff, BOARD, advisors

KHC Executive Director 

• Equifest Event Manager

Justine Staten

8831 Quail Lane, Ste 201

Manhattan, KS 66502

785-776-0662 (Office)

785-539-2928 (Fax)

785-565-1976 (Cell)  director@kansashorsecouncil.com

KHC Secretary

• Non-Voting
• Region 5 Director
• Technology
• Marketing
• Equifest

Cheryl Thomas  

2143 Hwy K278  

Lyndon, KS 66451  

785-528-4255   

thomasjc68@gmail.com 

Non-Voting

Back Country Horseman Assoc.

Kansas President

• Non-Voting
• KHC Trails Chairman
• Education
• Foundation

4912 N. Kent Rd

Buhler, Ks. 67522ejacob716@gmail.com

Non-Voting

President

• Equifest Chair
• Nominations
• Education Chair

Kallie Emig

313 W. 4th Street 

Waverly, KS  66871

785-410-0812

kbemig@gmail.com

Vice President

Rewards Program

• Public Relations
• Membership Marketing
• Equifest

Marty Bloomquist
Dancing Star Ranch
7227 SW US Hwy 40
Tecumseh, KS 66542
785-554-3257

 martydsranch1@gmail.com 

Technology

• Technology
• Membership/Marketing Public Relations
• Equifest

Better Equine® Store & Ranch
Everything Horses and Livestock®

Magazine

29545 Pleasant Valley Rd

Paola, Ks. 66071
913-333-2657
Tech@KansasHorseCouncil.com

Treasurer

• Nominations
• Equifest

Greg McDonald

18734 Buena Vista St.

Stillwell, Ks. 66085

913-544-8589 

gregmd07@gmail.com 

 Legislative

Equine Veterinary Technical Services Director

Merck Animal Health

31568 Beaver Creek Rd.

Paola, KS 66071

913-294-1700 (home/office)

816-863-3113 (cell)  craig.barnett@merck.com

Board Member

• Marketing
• Membership
• Nomination

Sheryl Strathman 

Strathman Cowboy Dressage  

horseplayx5@gmail.com

Membership / Marketing

• Equifest

Shanda Mattix

148 S. Adams Ave.

Colby, KS 67701  

Shanda.Mattix@colbycc.edu

BOARD

 Julie Carden

Graduated from Lawrence High School, completed her BS in Ag Ed with a minor in Animal Sciences at KSU, then received her Masters form Colorado State University. Julie currently serves as an ag instructor at Burlington High School and supporting Allen County Community College. When she is not teaching, she can be found riding and training horses, competing in rodeos or checking/feeding/working cattle, or helping in other aspects of production agriculture. Julie has extensive experience in FFA and 4H as well as across the Livestock showing specter and hopes to help KHC meet the needs of youth engagement and activities with horses.  

BOARD

Dr. Fred Gardner

Grew up south of Emporia, in Hartford, on a farm where his family has resided since 1880. He’s had interest in horses since he was a kid, but his bulk of experience has been gained during his career in Veterinary Medicine. He and his wife Jackie have raised 4 boys who participated in 4H and their local saddle club in their youth. He now has a granddaughter and bought 2 ponies for her…one for each hand! Dr. Gardner recognizes the significant contributions of horses to the social and economic fabric of Kansas and hopes to serve in KHC to promote and advocate on behalf of folks new to horses, to encourage their involvement.

 Veterinary Health

Dr. Chris Blevins

• Vet
• Equifest

 KSU Equine Science Liaison 

Dr. Joann Kouba, PhD, Dept of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State Univ.

Dr. Kouba is originally from Bellevue Nebraska. She graduated from Northeast Missouri State University in 1993, majoring in Equine Science. She received her MS from Clemson University and her PhD from Texas A&M University, both in Animal Physiology with an equine concentration. In the fall of 2001, Dr. Kouba joined the Kansas State faculty as the Horse Teaching and Research Specialist, and currently holds an 80% teaching and 20% research appointment. Her research interests are focused on equine reproductive physiology, she currently teaches 6 different equine courses each year, advises 60 undergraduates, and mentors equine graduate students. Her personal horse interests include cutting and reining-bred Quarter Horses.  

 ADVISOR 

• Equifest Chair
• Past President

Justin Janssen, DVM  

27350 Paw Paw Creek Rd.  

Alma, KS 66401  

785-765-2450 (H)  

785-844-1334 (C)  justinjanssendvm@gmail.com 

 ADVISOR

• Equifest Chair
• Trails
• Past President
• Past Vice President

  Jim Thomas 

2143 Hwy K278 Lyndon, KS 66451 

785-633-4761

thomasjc68@gmail.com