Team Profile:
Todd McCartney, Dr. Ron Gill, Lesli Groves, Clay Cowdrey, Curt Pate

Todd McCartney - Owner & General Manager

With over 20 years in agriculture, Todd McCartney knows the ranching business from both sides of the fence. On the production side, he spent nearly half of those years horseback, cowboying for the historic R.A. Brown Ranch in Texas and the legendary Haythorn Land and Cattle Co. in Nebraska.

Experience on the professional side of ranching came with Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association as director of the producer education department.  Serving 13,000 members, Todd coordinated extensive livestock and ranching educational programs in Texas along with assisting and speaking at numerous national venues.

In addition, years spent as an equine nutrition consultant and a Pro Rodeo athlete have rounded out his experience.

Recognizing a need for agricultural stewardship promotion, Todd formed The Joe Steward Group in 2006.   In an effort to increase the company's impact, several talented ag professionals were selected as consultants.  This endeavor ultimately united and harnessed the expertise of 4 diverse specialists providing an arsenal of unique skills and expertise.

Blending Todd's knowledge of ranch life with his seasoned communication skills creates an effective and credible spokesperson for video, radio and television productions. National Cattlemen's Beef Association’s weekly TV show, Cattlemen To Cattlemen selected Todd as segment host for both its ’07 and ’08 seasons and the new RFD-TV horse program, TV Horse Source, uses Todd to host special segments and sponsor messages.

Raising their four little "cowkids", Todd and his wife stay very busy with their own cattle operation as well as a partnership in the family's Texas ranching operations.  

Dr. Ron Gill - Consultant

Ron Gill is a Professor and Extension Livestock Specialist for Texas A&M University System.   Dr. Gill provides technical expertise in beef cattle nutrition, management and handling to livestock producers in a large portion of Texas.

Dr. Gill is also State Coordinator to the Texas Beef Quality Producer program as well as on the Integrated Resource Management advisory board for National Cattlemen's Beef Association.   In 2004 he was named the Specialist of the Year by the Texas County Agricultural Agents Association.

Ron's expertise isn't limited to just cattle production.   He has been a vital part of the Management Team for the Texas 4-H Horse Show for the past 22 years.   This one event averages over 700 individuals showing over 1,100 horses totaling 2,200 total entries.

In 2005, Ron received Texas A&M University's Vice-Chancellors Award for Excellence in Programming for his efforts in developing and implementing the Texas Beef Quality Producer program.   He previously received the Vice-Chancellors Award in 1994, for his efforts in implementing NCBA's Standardized Performance Analysis program in Texas.

Dr. Gill is a highly sought-after presenter on numerous cattle related topics, not only in Texas, but across the nation as well.   Much of Ron's success as a presenter comes from his credibility as a rancher.   Born and raised on a large West Texas ranch, Ron remains no stranger to calluses as he and his wife operate their own sizeable commercial cattle operation.

Lesli Groves - Consultant

Lesli Groves is a photographer, video producer, writer and media consultant whose client list includes Western Horseman magazine, Sunbeam-Oster, Premium Gold Angus Beef, American Paint Horse Association, National Cattlemen's Beef Association and publishing conglomerate Primedia.

Ms. Groves recently authored the "how-to" book Photographing Horses: Capturing the Perfect Equine Image by Lyons Press. She is a former editor of The Quarter Horse Journal and the founding editor of AQHA's   America's Horse magazine.

Along with receiving multiple awards from the Livestock Publication Council for her writing, advertising and photography skills, Lesli's photos have appeared on more than 100 magazine covers.

Prior to her years with the American Quarter Horse Association, Lesli served as an account manger and photographer for a livestock advertising agency in San Antonio.

A featured speaker at numerous livestock association meetings, colleges and universities, Lesli's educational background includes an advertising/journalism degree from University of Central Oklahoma as well as a certificate of advanced professional standing in digital video production from New York University.

Clay Cowdrey - Consultant

Raised on his family's West Texas livestock and farming operation, Clay Cowdrey received a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture Business from Tarleton State University where he honed his skills as a competitor on the livestock judging team.   For more than 25 years, Clay has owned and managed registered, commercial or club calf herds as well as being directly involved in the show cattle industry as a fitter and showman.

Clay's role in recent years as a insurance agency owner and agent brings additional sales and business experience to The Joe Steward Group from outside the world of agriculture.

Nevertheless, the insurance industry can't hold him tight, as Clay is a top hand with a rope and his success in the arena has earned him respect from his peers.   A daily dose of livestock continues to fill out his work load as he, along with his wife and son, operate their own beef cattle operation.

As a presenter at industry events and educational venues, Clay's areas of expertise are livestock evaluation and financial protection for ag businesses.  

Curt Pate - Consultant

Although there are many popular horse clinicians today, not all are career cowboys and even fewer are cattle producers – true Stockmen. Curt Pate from Helena, MT is both. Curt practices as a rancher what he preaches in his clinics. Consequently, this Montana native’s methods clearly support a rancher’s “for profit” mindset as he understands the increased economic benefits of handling stock correctly. During his colt starting demonstrations and low-stress livestock handling clinics you will often hear Curt say: “I believe that low stress actually causes high performance!”

Although he has been invited to conduct demonstrations in multiple countries for more than 10 years, it is Curt’s wide variety of talents and experiences that enable him to communicate his methods so effectively. Along with horse and stockmanship presentations and managing his own ranch operation, Curt was chosen by The American Quarter Horse Association to serve as an AQHA Professional Horseman as well as their Regional Experience Clinician.

Curt’s impressive resume also includes time spent as an auctioneer, rodeo announcer, bronc rider and technical advisor for Hollywood.

Curt brings great value to The Joe Steward Group with his wise counsel and his energizing presentation abilities.