Gregg Stewart of Washington, Kansas $2,500 richer after helping catch cattle thief

The Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Board of Directors has voted to pay a $2,500 reward to Gregg Stewart of Washington, Kansas, for his part in helping convict a Lincoln man for cattle theft. Information provided by Stewart played a key role in the arrest and conviction of Keith Earl Buttenhoff for stealing seven head of cattle from Mid Continent Farms in November of 2015.

Kendal Lothman, head of the Kansas Livestock/Brand Investigation Unit with the state attorney general’s office, assisted the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department with the investigation. Buttenhoff was convicted September 6, 2016, in Lincoln County District Court on six counts of felony cattle theft. He later was sentenced to 12 months of probation. If probation is violated, he could face 16 months of incarceration with the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Stewart, who is a partner in the family-owned Mid Continent Farms, pledged to donate part of the reward to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department for its role in convicting the thief. He also plans to give a portion to the Lincoln County Fire Department for helping local ranchers during the prescribed burning season.

KLA’s long-standing program offers up to a $2,500 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of livestock thieves. For the reward to apply, the victim must be a KLA member.

“We hope this case and the role the KLA theft reward program played serves to deter others from stealing livestock in Kansas,” said KLA President David Clawson of Englewood.

KLA is a 5,400-member trade organization representing the state’s livestock business on legislative, regulatory and industry issues at both the state and federal levels. The association’s work is funded through voluntary dues dollars paid by its members. F

–Kansas Livestock Association