Next up in our Meet the Staff blog series, meet Kyla Fawcett, the BOSS LADY at Focus Marketing Group. Kyla began Focus TEN years ago and works every day to take pictures and videos for customers from coast to coast. She also does design work and helps on her family’s ranch – Fawcett’s Elm Creek Ranch. Oh, and she LOVES bo’ dogs!
FROM KYLA —
People are always searching for their passion, but for Kyla Fawcett, the search was short. She realized at an early age, it was out to pasture. Her passion is livestock photography. Fawcett is the mastermind behind Focus Marketing Group, Inc.
In October 2010, Fawcett started Focus by offering photography and video services, print and web design, as well as sale consulting to the livestock industry. A leap of faith, some finger crossing, and a lot of hard work lead to the Focus Marketing Group that is now leading the market with a team of innovative and forward-thinking individuals, pushing the livestock industry forward.
Originally from rural South Dakota, Fawcett grew up showing cattle and helping on her family’s farm. She credits her parents, and specifically family friend and neighbor, Ron Bruns, for sharing his cattle knowledge. With Bruns’ help, she won a few banners and trophies she modestly adds. Fawcett, like many young people, studied the show publications, clipping out her favorite images. Often, it was Christy Collins’ photography that inspired her.
“My biggest mentor and someone who pushed the bar on cattle marketing would be Christy Collins; I still have old publications filled with pictures of hers. I would look at them and tell myself, ‘That’s what I want to do someday,’” Fawcett says. “I still look up to her and strive to be half as good as she is one day.”
After graduating from South Dakota State University in 2003 with a degree in ag journalism, Fawcett began her career as the Director of Communications at the American Maine-Anjou Association (AMAA) in Platte City, MO. In 2009, Fawcett left the AMAA and began her career in cattle marketing.
“I never thought I would be a business owner, but with the past 10 years of industry experience behind me, I owe so much to everyone who trusted my talents and allowed Focus to grow,” Fawcett says.
When Focus was in its infancy, Fawcett wanted to remove the stress from livestock marketing, using her people skills and good-natured attitude to streamline the process and make customers happy.
The stress of planning a sale, taking pictures, and designing marketing materials is enough to drive anyone crazy. With the motto “Our Only FOCUS Is You,” FMG has tried to make the process easier.
“Our entire team is upbeat, outgoing, and just fun to be around. Oh, and they’re good at what they do,” Fawcett says. “Some days can be a challenge, but we still have fun with our customers and make livestock marketing an enjoyable process.”
By offering a variety of services, Fawcett explains that the array of knowledge available from the Focus team is a real asset to its customers. Focus staff members include graphic designers, web developers, a social media manager, and field staff to handle the photography and video services. The team works together to help livestock producers come up with an execute a functioning marketing strategy for their animals.
One could describe Fawcett as sincerely passionate about livestock marketing, and relentless in the pursuit of Focus Marketing Group’s success.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT KYLA:
What motivates you to work hard? Being able to accomplish whatever I put my mind to, seeing things succeed. I’m also a bit of a perfectionist and want things done in a timely manner and done right.
Road trip snacks, what do you get at the gas station? Casey’s breakfast pizza when available and/or sunflower seeds
If you could see any band or performer in concert, who would it be? Queen
On show day, what’s your job? I keep track of timelines and keep everyone on schedule.
Lucky, LuLu + Pepper 
Views at Fawcett’s Elm Creek Ranch 
Danny, Kyla, Hollis and Ivy Fawcett 
Kyla is known for her angle shots 
PUPPIES! 
Their newest adventure — Green Valley Bulldogs!