Beyond The Bale

Timothy Steele is a farmer, baler mechanic, equipment builder and teacher whose experience began baling grass hay in high humidity. By age 20, he was managing his own 400-head cow herd, building an early foundation in livestock production and operation management.

He moved to western Kansas in 2009 and to Dumas, Texas, in 2011, where he lives today. His work on the High Plains has given him extensive firsthand knowledge of high-volume forage production. He has operated more than 75 machines across various brands and bale sizes, experiencing both their strengths and their most costly shortcomings.

Timothy has also designed and built his own equipment, including a 47-foot swather and two 9-by-9-foot round balers. His experience reaches beyond the field and shop to the limitations of dealerships and original equipment manufacturers, insurance disputes and lawsuits, banking difficulties, and the demands of managing an agricultural operation. These lessons shape the practical perspective he shares with other producers.

At the center of his life are his fantastic wife and their six fantastic children.

Carson brings a Missouri research and Extension perspective to forage, pasture and grazing decisions. His Sedalia sessions will challenge familiar assumptions around companion crops in alfalfa and turn grass and pasture information into practical decisions producers can use.

Chris Leach is a sixth-generation Texas farmer, agricultural entrepreneur and forage seed industry professional with extensive experience in forage production, seed genetics and livestock agriculture.

A graduate of West Texas A&M University, Chris has built his career across multiple sectors of agriculture, including commercial seed production, cattle feeding, dairy management and forage crop development. He currently serves as Manager of Coffey Forage Seed, where he oversees breeding, production and commercialization efforts involving sorghum-sudangrass hybrids, forage sorghums and hybrid pearl millet.

Chris is also the owner of Diamond L Seed, an independent seed business specializing in forage crops, small grains and grazing systems. Through his work, he connects plant genetics and agronomic management with the practical demands of livestock producers across the Southern Great Plains and beyond.

His expertise centers on improving forage productivity, nutritional quality and economic returns through better genetics, efficient production practices and an understanding of how forage crops perform in real-world livestock operations.

With roots in a family farming operation established in 1887, Chris brings a unique perspective that combines generations of agricultural experience with modern plant breeding, emerging technologies and a strong commitment to the future of American agriculture.

As a speaker, Chris focuses on bridging the gap between forage research and practical application, helping producers understand not just how to grow more forage, but how to produce greater value from every acre. He will also join the Wednesday evening Beyond The Bale live panel.

Many people know Jarrod as a Dent County, Missouri, beef producer. Others recognize him from his TikTok and Facebook updates, where he shares his ranching and haying experiences—and his honest opinions about both.

Jarrod joins the Wednesday evening conversation to bring a practical producer perspective on forage, equipment, livestock and the economics behind everyday farm decisions.