Staff writer
John Stika, a 1989 graduate of Centre High School, was honored earlier this month at Kansas State University. He received the 2010 “Outstanding Young Alumnus Award” at the K-State Agricultural Alumni awards banquet.
Stika is in his fourth year as president of Certified Angus Beef, a not-for-profit division of the American Angus Association. He has been successful in increasing the brand’s market share every year, which in turn has increased beef industry profits.
Stika graduated from KSU with a degree in meat science in 1993. He obtained an MS degree in 1998, also at KSU, and a Ph.D. in Kentucky in 2003.
“To be successful a brand must address a basic need, deliver on an expectation, offer value, and be available,” Stika told a meeting of animal science faculty at KSU.
He said despite the economic downturn people are willing to spend a premium for quality beef.
The Certified Angus Beef brand denotes the highest quality of beef available to consumers, he said. The meat comes from several breeds of cattle and must meet the brand’s high standards.
Sales of CAB products have multiplied under Stika’s leadership, from 1.8 million qualified cattle in 2006 to 3.3 million this year.
Stika credits Cary Granzow, his FFA adviser at Centre High School, with starting him down the path to a career in meat science. Granzow got him involved in meats judging, which piqued his interest in beef quality. He achieved the rank of Kansas Star Farmer as a senior.
Stika’s father and stepmother, Eugene and Judy Stika, and his brother Jason and wife Shelley and children, all of Lincolnville, attended the awards ceremony.
Stika and his wife Deanna live near Creston, Ohio. They have three sons — Tavis, 12; Gavin, 10; and Maccoy, 9.