Dr. Tina Sullivan,

K-State NE Area Agronomist

Tina Sullivan joined the Northeast Research and Extension Center in June 2024 as the Northeast Area Agronomist based in Manhattan, KS. Originally from southeast Tennessee, Sullivan was raised on a goat farm started by her late father and her mother in Bledsoe County. Surrounded by vegetable farms and smaller-scale row cropping and forage, agronomy had always been part of her life, even if it was not an initial interest of her youth. FFA during high school allowed her to branch out into topic areas and initial research endeavors through the Agriscience Fair and other career development events.  

Sullivan graduated with her bachelor’s degree in agriculture – agricultural engineering technology and precision agriculture from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2018. Working as a manager trainee for the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative stationed at the local branch of her home county led her down a path of wanting to go to graduate school for the intersections of agronomy and irrigation. This desire led her to Utah State University, where she did her master's and PhD with Dr. Matt Yost. Her graduate work focused on irrigation and cropping system management interactions in common and alternative forage systems. Additionally, Sullivan led some of Utah's first outdoor industrial hemp trials since the 1940s.

Responsibilities of this position include extension and outreach as well as applied research for the northeastern region of Kansas. This area comprises 31 counties, including the River Valley, Meadowlark, Flint Hills, and Central districts. Additional counties include Atchison, Brown, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Geary, Harvey, Johnson, Leavenworth, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Pottawatomie, Reno, Rice, Riley, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, and Wyandotte.

Outside of work, Sullivan enjoys hiking with her dog, Dottie, and baking bread and cookies. She can be reached by email at tsullivan@ksu.edu.

Dr. Cassandra Olds,

K State Veterinary Entomologist

Cassandra Olds is a veterinary entomologist who focuses on understanding and mitigating the impact of arthropod pests and associated diseases. Her research in horses has focused on understanding and measuring fly aversion behaviors and evaluating fly control strategies. Her extension program focuses on helping producers and owners develop sound integrated pest management programs.

Ethan Walker,

NRCS Eastern KS Grazing Specialist

Ethan graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Rangeland Management and a minor in Animal Science in 2012. Following his studies he gained valuable experience as a Soil Technician at the Wilson County Conservation District for three years. He later joined the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as a Rangeland Specialist, serving Montgomery, Elk, and Chautauqua Counties. Nine years ago, I transitioned to the role of Area Grassland Specialist, responsible for overseeing 16 counties in Southeast Kansas, including Douglas County. His passion lies in promoting soil health through regenerative agriculture practices. With his wife Kate they manage, E & K Heritage Farm located outside of Chanute. They focus on diverse animal grazing including fowl, cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats through adaptive management strategies. Outside of work, he cherishes time with his two boys, aged 4 and 2.

Event Host:

Julie DeYoung

Julie DeYoung and her husband Bob live in rural Douglas County with six equine - a Quarter Horse, a Paint, two donkeys and two retired draft horses. They enjoy trail riding on their property and elsewhere, and Julie participates in parades and local competitions. She’s a member of the Douglas County Trail Riders, the Kansas Horse Council and the Backcountry Horsemen of America - Kansas Chapter. Julie retired from a 35-year career in public relations in food and agriculture, and now serves on the Board for the Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade and Leadership Committee for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Douglas County. She is a native Iowan and holds a degree in agricultural journalism from Iowa State University.

K-State Research and Extension is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services, and activities. Program information may be available in languages other than English. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, including alternative means for communication (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, and American Sign Language) may be requested by contacting the event contact our main office or the event's program leader four weeks prior to the start of the event at 785-843-7058. Please see the full Douglas County staff list for detailed contact information. Requests received after programs' deadline dates will be honored when it is feasible to do so. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information will be provided free of charge to limited English proficient individuals upon request.



Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.