Prior to launching the firm, Chelsea served as Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs and Legal at the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) for over a decade. At LMA, she successfully led policy efforts resulting in major legislative wins, including the creation of the Dealer Statutory Trust (2020) and modernizations to the Packers and Stockyards Act (2016). She built coalitions, navigated challenging issues, advised on regulatory compliance, and cultivated grassroots engagement across the industry. 

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Chelsea also brings firsthand agricultural business insight through her roles in cattle feeding, consulting, and investment.  

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Earlier in her career, Chelsea served at the Kansas Department of Agriculture as both Communications Director and later Staff Attorney, where she strengthened laws protecting producers and helped shape public messaging around key ag issues. 

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Chelsea is active on multiple national and state boards including the American Agricultural Law Association, Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership, Kansas City Agribusiness Council, and the Kansas State University Livestock and Meat Industry Council.

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She holds a J.D. from Washburn University School of Law, a Master’s in Communication Studies, and three bachelor’s degrees — in Agricultural Communications and Journalism, Political Science, and Public Relations — from Kansas State University. 

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Chelsea lives in Leawood, Kansas with her husband, Chad Tenpenny. Outside of work, she enjoys golf, travel, and classic country concerts.