Meeting Location

Leesa Zalesky, Journalist

After an award-winning career in agriculture and investigative journalism that spanned nearly three decades, Leesa Zalesky covered virtually every major issue affecting the cattle industry.  She’ll discuss  the role the media has historically played in those issues and the intersection between politics, the press, and the beef consumer.   Her recent book, “The Killing of Jack Yantis,” tells the true story of an Idaho rancher who was shot down in cold blood by two Idaho county sheriff’s deputies.  Her second book, slated for publication in 2020, depicts the history and origins of the national mandatory beef checkoff, exposing some of the biggest flaws in the program and how those came to be.  Zalesky resides in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Dr. Doug Zalesky.  

Corbitt Wall, DV Auction

Corbitt is a native of eastern New Mexico and west Texas.  He is a fourth generation cattleman and has been a livestock auctioneer for 25 years.  Corbitt grew up at his father’s side, taking delivery of country cattle purchases off New Mexico ranches and wheat pastures.  They were also some of the first to order stocker calves from the Southeast, partnering with shippers from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida.  Corbitt received a Bachelor’s degree in Agbusiness and Economics plus a Master’s degree in Agriculture from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas.  Upon graduation, he started an 18 year career with the USDA’s Ag Marketing Service and carved a niche in feeder cattle market reporting as the author of the weekly National Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary.  In 2014, Mr. Wall accepted a position with DV Auction as their Commercial Cattle Manager and Livestock Market Analyst.  He recently relocated back to the Texas Panhandle, after 16 years in northwest Missouri where he operated a small stocker cattle operation with his three daughters.