The Angus Conversation

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully GUESTS: Tyler and Andy Musgrave  Musgrave Angus wants to be known for balanced, moderate cattle that thrive in different environments. On this episode brothers Tyler and Andy Musgrave share their philosophy on using their own sires vs. sourcing outside genetics, how they've created outliers while also remaining consistent, and the importance of maintaining the tradition Angus “look.” From Bando 1961 to LD Capitalist, they tell the stories of some of their most well-known sires and then give their outlook for the future challenge in the Angus breed.  Brothers Tyler and Andy Musgrave are the second generation to raise Angus cattle on their western Illinois farm. Since 1961 Musgrave Angus has been breeding and selecting cattle that work in the fescue grass environment and perform under the stress of a humid climate. Feet, fleshing ability, structure and phenotype set the base for their program. Their parents, Melvin and Cathy Musgrave, started the operation, and today Tyler and his wife, Sarah, and their four sons; and Andy, his wife, Beth, and their three sons each take on their own roles.SPONSOR: Ingram AngusAt Ingram Angus near Pulaski, Tenn., they have a code for doing business: “Integrity is what we stand by: good quality people who deal with good quality cattle.” Learn more about their program at IngramAngus.com. The whole Ingram crew wants to wish all the juniors “good luck” at their shows this summer. RELATED CONTENT: New Maternal EPDs Expand Selection Tools for Users of Angus Genetics The People Business  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

HOST: Miranda Reiman  GUESTS: Kurt Kangas and Reese Tuckwiller Angus optimism is running high across the country, as strong feeder calf prices fuel record demand for bulls. In this episode, American Angus Association regional managers Kurt Kangas and Reese Tuckwiller share numbers from their sale season and sentiments of breeders in different parts of the United States. They cover everything from useful investments during this economic period to customer service and marketing that will keep programs relevant.Kurt Kangas works with Angus breeders in Montana, Wyoming and Alaska. He came to the Association in 2012 as regional manager for Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah before transitioning to his current position for Region 10.Kangas grew up in the San Joaquin Valley of California. He earned a degree in range sciences from Montana State University before doing range management consulting for ranches in southwestern Montana.  He then transitioned to working for Basin Angus Ranch in Hobson, Mont., for 10 years and played a role in their marketing, artificial insemination (AI) and calving. Reese Tuckwiller has served Angus breeders in the Northeast region as regional manager since 2019.Tuckwiller grew up on a registered Angus seedstock farm near Lewisburg, W.Va., and is a ninth-generation cattleman. He showed Angus cattle and served on the National Junior Angus Board as vice chairman. He graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with a bachelor of science in production management and had several herdsman and animal science internships before graduation.He previously worked for Western Sire Service as production manager and was the West Virginia University livestock judging coach. Full list of American Angus Association regional managersDon't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully GUESTS: Scott and Andrew Foster At Seldom Rest Farms the business model is different than many: Angus youth are their main target demographic. Selling Angus show heifers across the United States allowed brothers Scott and Bruce Foster to bring the next generation back to the Michigan farm. Today Scott's son, Andrew, and his family are active in the day-to-day management of the nationally renowned operation. Phenotype matters, but having an end product is also important. Hear how they balance it all, the reason they're so invested in the next generation of Angus enthusiasts and why they believe opening their farm gates to beef marketers makes a real difference.  Scott Foster is a Niles, Mich., native and second generation Angus breeder. He and his siblings grew up on a row crop farm with a small herd of Angus show cattle, which first sparked his interest in the ring. Scott earned a degree in animal husbandry from Michigan State University, married his wife Elaine and raised their children, Andrew and Danielle, with a strong involvement in the National Junior Angus Association. Along with his brother, Bruce, Scott grew Seldom Rest Farm into a nationally recognized program, which has received many honors including 2023 Certified Angus Beef Ambassador of the Year and 2022 Master Breeder of the Year Award at the All-American Angus Breeders' Futurity show in Louisville.  Andrew Foster grew up in the National Junior Angus Association, serving as vice chairman of the National Junior Angus Association Board. After earning an animal science degree from Oklahoma State University, he returned to become a partner in Seldom Rest Farms. He was honored as the 2013 Herdsman of the Year and is a well-known cattle judge across the United States. He and his wife, Emily, are raising their three daughters in the lifestyle he grew up in.  SPONSOR: Deer Valley Farms invites you to their Spring Cow Sale on Saturday, May 10th, at 11 a.m. at the farm near Fayetteville, Tenn.  Several of the donor females have been huge contributors to their program — see what they can do for your herd! For more information, visit https://deervalleyfarm.com/.  RELATED CONTENT:    Building Bonds Watch: The Foster Family, Seldom Rest Farms, 2023 Ambassador Awards     Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully  GUESTS: Richard and Kathy Tokach  Traditions can be a nice foundation for or a barrier to progress, and the key lies in knowing which to keep and which to use as a springboard. In this episode, Richard and Kathy Tokach talk about their return to the family's fourth-generation North Dakota ranch and about all that's changed in that time. After four decades of marriage — raising three kids on the operation — they now work alongside the next generation as they look to transitions and the future. They share insights on their breeding philosophy, the evolution of their annual bull sale and the opportunities and challenges facing the Angus breed today. They cover technology, serving on industry boards and advice for young couples starting out in the cattle business.  GUESTS: Richard and Kathy Tokach own and operate Tokach Angus Ranch, which was homesteaded in 1897 by Richard's great-grandfather. Their present-day herd still traces back to Richard's dad's original purchase of a registered heifer from Lyle Dawson of Oak Coulee Ranch in 1955. Richard graduated from North Dakota State University with a degree in animal science, and Kathy earned a nursing degree from the University of North Dakota. Following graduation they married and made their home on the ranch, raising their children Rebecca, Ben and Renae. They've been active in the American Angus Association, the North Dakota Stockmen's Association, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and various local boards, and recently had their 50th Angus production sale.  RELATED CONTENT: True Grit with a Grin Tokach Angus Ranch: Seedstock Commitment to Excellence Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Sometimes you hear history second-hand, and sometimes you get to talk to people who lived it. In this episode, Keith Evans shares a little of both. As a 36-year employee of the American Angus Association public relations department he had a unique vantage for many big changes through the years. He first covers early history from proxy voting to the move to St. Joseph, before switching to changes he observed, such as the incorporation of artificial insemination to the “elephant ads.” Upon retirement from the Association, he authored, “A Historic Angus Journey — The American Angus Association 1883 to 2000.”  HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully GUEST: Keith Evans — writer, marketing expert and Angus promoter — spent 36 years working in the public relations department at the American Angus Association. He came to the Association in 1962 with journalistic experience, which helped him in his quest to provide news that editors wanted to run. He worked his way to director of publication relations and retired in 1998. That's when he undertook the research and writing of a comprehensive history of the Association, “A Historic Angus Journey — The American Angus Association 1883 to 2000.” RELATED CONTENT:  Purchase “A Historic Angus Journey — The American Angus Association 1883 to 2000.”  After 35 years with the American Angus Association, Keith Evans retires.The "elephant ad" highlighted in the Annual Report on page 57 of the December 1984 Angus Journal.Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Genetic innovation in animal agriculture is moving at a faster-than-ever pace, and this episode digs into the history of performance testing while exploring new technologies like computer vision, microbiome analysis and ways to collect more commercial phenotypes. The discussion covers the challenges of more data, including the labor and expense of proposing new traits, along with the opportunities to make big moves in important categories such as health and efficiency. Open-mindedness, collaboration, creativity and standardization will all be needed to make progress. What is the role of the American Angus Association and Angus Genetics Inc. in leading this change? Listen to find out.   HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully GUESTS: John Dickinson and Troy Rowan John Dickinson is a fifth-generation Angus breeder and a former National Junior Angus Board (NJAB) chairman. A University of Illinois graduate and former regional manager for the American Angus Association, Dickinson often makes the trek between his cows in California and his home in Idaho. He is also a founding partner in Parnell Dickinson, Inc., a full-service marketing firm that works in all facets of promotion, management and cattle trade — both seedstock and commercial. Troy Rowan is an assistant professor of beef cattle genomics at the University of Tennessee– Knoxville. His research work brings together many types of “big data,” both phenotypic and genomic, to understand the genetics of economically relevant traits in beef cattle. He also has a part-time Extension appointment, making all that research applicable to the state's beef producers.  Troy grew up on a small Charolais operation in Southwest Iowa and received his undergraduate degree in biology from Creighton University. He earned his doctorate in genetics from the University of Missouri before coming to Tennessee in 2021.  RELATED CONTENT:  Exploring Next-Generation Phenotyping that Drives Commercial Profitability Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Red meat yield has always mattered to the beef industry, but there have only been mediocre tools available to quantify it. This episode covers the surprising history of the subjective measurement before switching to new technology that could completely modernize the system for the better. Every breeder knows the way to drive directional change is to first start with good data, and that's the goal of a group of ranchers, feeders, packers and academia who are all working together to tackle this issue.  HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully GUESTS:  Blake Foraker, Texas Tech University, and John Stika, Certified Angus Beef Blake Foraker is an assistant professor of meat science at Texas Tech University. He grew up in Burrton, Kan., and earned his bachelor's degree in animal science from Kansas State University and his master's degree in meat science from Colorado State. He holds a meat science doctorate from Texas Tech and worked at Washington State University before returning to his alma matter. Foraker is a member of the American Society of Animal Science, Intercollegiate Meat Coaches Association, and the American Meat Science Association. He has coached and participated on many nationally acclaimed meats and livestock judging teams and was named Texas Tech's Department of Animal & Food Science Outstanding Graduate Student in 2022. John Stika, president, Certified Angus Beef (CAB), leads the American Angus Association's consumer-facing subsidiary. The brand is owned by registered Angus breeders and operates to create pull-through demand for Angus cattle. CAB has grown to more than 1.234 billion pounds of sales annually under his leadership. Stika joined CAB in 1999 in what was the feeder-packer relations division, before working in business development and assuming the role of president in 2006. He's a Kansas farm boy, with degrees in animal and meat science from Kansas State University and the University of Kentucky.  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

The cattle feeding business has not been a smooth ride throughout the years, but Joe Morgan and now his son, Grant, have found ways to ride the waves by putting the needs of their customers first. This episode covers more than four decades of cattle feeding history — the high interest rates of the '80s, the poor beef demand of the '90s, and so on. At every junction, Poky Feeders had “page turning” events that allowed them to survive and grow. They'll tell you what they need most from Angus breeders and what kind of cattle they need in their feedyard. Hear from the father-son duo just ahead of Joe's induction into the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame.  HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully GUESTS: Joe and Grant Morgan, Poky Feeders Joe Morgan farmed and fed cattle after earning an animal science degree from Iowa State University. In 1985, he moved to Garden City to manage Poky Feeders. Its original capacity was 17,000 and under his and now his son, Grant's, leadership it has grown to 103,000 head.  Growing up around the feedyard, Grant first chose to pursue other paths for his education before coming back to the feedyard. He took over as manager six years ago and has created an internship program and paths for employee growth along with leading their most recent expansion efforts.  Joe has served on several committees with the Kansas Livestock Association and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. He was a founding member of U.S. Premium Beef, and he currently serves as vice chairman of their board.  RELATED CONTENT: I AM ANGUS: Poky Feeders Big Time Quality The Idea that Worked   Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

As the breed continues to make progress, the American Angus Association Board of Directors meets quarterly to provide direction on projects that will keep the Angus breed on top. This episode covered a lot of ground, including these topics: Ongoing research in Angus Genetics Inc., from validation studies to ongoing bovine congestive heart failure (BCHF) work  Crafting a data recognition program  Improvements to the GeneMax® test for commercial Angus females  AngusLink℠ success and packer feedback  A ribeye area specification adjustment for Certified Angus Beef (CAB)Changes to National Junior Angus Show competitions HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully GUESTS:  Jonathan Perry, chairman of the American Angus Association, has spent much of his life working in the purebred business.  In 1998, he came to manage the Deer Valley Farm's purebred program in Fayetteville, Tenn. As general manager, Perry developed an Angus program that balances all economically relevant traits in cattle that maintain structural soundness and phenotype. Each year, more than 500 bulls are marketed through three sales. Perry and his wife established the Hickory House restaurant in 2014, and it specializes in serving 100% CAB-branded product. Roger Wann, Poteau, Okla., was elected to the American Angus Association Board in 2022. He was raised on a multigenerational commercial cow-calf ranch. After the purchase of commercial Angus cows and one Angus bull, the benefits of Angus genetics became clear. After graduating from OSU, he earned a master's in physiology of reproduction from Texas A&M and began a career with ABS Global, where he helped cattle producers learn the value of efficient reproductive management programs. Wann Ranch hosts an annual production sale.He served on the board for the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association and Oklahoma Angus Association and has helped develop its Angus feeder-calf sale.  John Stika, CAB president, leads the American Angus Association's consumer-facing subsidiary. The brand that is owned by registered Angus breeders and operates to create pull-through demand for Angus cattle has grown to more than 1.234 billion pounds of sales annually under his leadership. He joined CAB in 1999 in feeder-packer relations division, before working in business development and assuming the role of president in 2006. He's a Kansas farm boy, with degrees in animal and meat science from Kansas State University and the University of Kentucky.  RELATED READING: Close, But No Certification Angus Releases New Teat and Udder Research EPDs Angus Releases Cow Longevity Prediction AGI White Paper Looks at Future of Phenotyping, Commercial Data Producers to be Paid Grid Premiums for AngusLink Beef Scores Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

When Lorna Marshall, Cody Sankey or Don Trimmer hit the road for the bull studs they represent, they're out to acquire the next great genetic package for their customers. How do they choose? How do they compete with each other and remain friends? What happens next after they've made a significant investment? This episode covers all of that, along with their take on the beef-on-diary trend, future challenges to their business model and what could be game changers in the future.HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully GUESTS:   Lorna Marshall, vice president of beef genetics for Select Sires, grew up on a Simmental operation near Valley Cetner, Kan. She judged livestock at Colby Community College before transferring to Kansas State University and earning a degree in animal science and industry. She was a Block & Bridle officer and a member of the 1990 reserve national champion livestock judging team. After completing her animal breeding master's at Colorado State University, Lorna worked for the American Gelbvieh Association before beginning her career in the beef artificial insemination (AI) industry. She and her husband, Troy, raised their three children on their ranch in Colorado and now reside in Oklahoma.Cody Sankey, associate vice president of beef programs at Genex, has been involved in the Angus business his whole life, growing up on his family's Kansas Angus ranch. He lives near Economy, Ind., with his wife, Lindsay, and their two children, where they are developing their own herd today. He holds a bachelor's degree in animal science and master's in ruminant nutrition from Oklahoma State University and is active in National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the Indiana Angus Association and Indiana Beef Cattle Association.  Don Trimmer, U.S. beef sales manager for Alta Beef Genetics, grew up in Woodsboro, Md., where he worked on his family's registered Angus farm. He's a Virginia Tech graduate with a degree in animal science and worked as a regional manager for the American Angus Association for nine years before serving as the vice president of member services for the Illinois Beef Association. He worked 23 years at Accelerated Genetics and was responsible for sire acquisition and product development. In 2017 Don joined Alta Genetics to lead their beef programs in the United States. Don has traveled extensively around the country and the world, promoting U.S. beef genetics and the use of AI in commercial and purebred beef herds. He now resides in Baraboo, Wis., with his wife, Jean. He has four grown daughters and two grandsons. Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

As COVID-19-related cancellations mounted in 2020, it was clear exhibitors wanted a place to show and cattlemen needed a place to sell. In the state of Oklahoma, breeders got busy working their connections, and soon Cattlemen's Congress was born. Now in its fourth year, the event featured record numbers and record-high sale averages this January. It has become a place of camaraderie, celebration, commerce and competition.  This episode gathers three individuals who were there for the beginning and have been involved ever since, as they talk about its influence on the state and plans for the future.  HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully GUESTS: Mark Johnson, Tyler Norvell, Donnie Robertson Mark Johnson, along with his wife, Brenda, and two daughters, operates J&J Beef Genetics, LLC.  Johnson grew up in Deerfield, Mo., and attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M junior college and later Oklahoma State University (OSU) before completing his doctorate at Kansas State University in 1992.  Since then, Johnson has been a professor of animal and food sciences at OSU and has served as supervisor of the OSU Purebred Beef operation for 32 years. At OSU, Johnson has held the Totusek Endowed Chair, been recognized with awards for teaching and advising, conducted youth and beef cattle extension programming, and coached the livestock judging team. He's been very involved in the Oklahoma Angus Association, and in 2024 he and his wife were inducted into the OAA Hall of Fame. Tyler Norvell, president of the Oklahoma Youth Expo and board chairman for Cattlemen's Congress, has deep roots in Oklahoma agriculture. He grew up on his family's farm and ranch, judged livestock for OSU, and served as vice president of public policy at Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Since 2012, Tyler has worked for the Oklahoma Youth Expo, where he leads in strategy development and fundraising. In addition, he owns a lobbying firm.  Donnie Robertson was born and raised in Lexington, Ky., and had experience at purebred Angus operations across the country before coming to Express Ranches, Yukon, Okla., 31 years ago. He's currently the vice president of marketing at Express Ranches, where he travels extensively and attends many purebred Angus sales. He is also responsible for selecting the sale cattle for Express' six sales held at the ranch each year.   Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Wildfires, floods, hurricanes, tornados – when natural disasters hit cattle country, it hurts. Lives and livelihoods are changed, sometimes in mere seconds. Today's guests, Callie Carson of Laurel Springs, N.C., and Steve Herbst, Salmon, Idaho, talk about the hope that exists in those spaces. From everybody saddling up horses to evacuate ahead of a fire to the donations that poured in after Hurricane Helene, this episode covers some of the similar threads in stories across the United States. It also touches on everything from practical preparations to mental health implications. This conversation will leave you with plenty to think about, whether you've experienced disaster, been there to help, or sent cash and prayers across the miles.HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCullyGUESTS: Callie Carson and Steve HerbstCallie Carson of Laurel Springs, N.C., and her husband raise Angus cattle on a forage-based operation in northwest North Carolina. She also works as a field representative for the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation. She is currently serving her second term as president of the North Carolina Angus Association, and, in addition to experiencing the effects on their own farm, has been actively involved in Hurricane Helene Relief efforts.  Steve Herbst operates Nelson Angus Ranch with his family near Salmon, Idaho. His father-in-law, Clyde Nelson, started the registered Angus herd, and they've had annual sales every year since 1966. They were early adopters of genomics and have extensive experience in PAP testing. Herbst is known as a leader in the region and often serves as a voting delegate for the American Angus Association annual meeting. Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Starting out in the Angus industry wasn't easy in the 1980s and 1990s, but as the old adage goes: where there is a will, there is a way. Doug Schroeder, of Clarence, Iowa, and Charlie Boyd, of Mays Lick, Ky., talk about the beginnings of their businesses and the opposite end of that continuum, transitioning to the next generation. They cover the tough decisions they had to make while serving on the American Angus Association Board of Directors and the progressiveness of those before them. This episode takes listeners from the early years of “working at Hardee's and fixing tires” to living the dream of raising Angus cattle, kids and crops. HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully  GUESTS: Charlie Boyd and Doug Schroeder Charlie Boyd II, Mays Lick, Ky., graduated from the University of Kentucky, and after a short stint away, returned back to his family's Boyd Beef Cattle operation. He and his wife, Paula, added Angus cattle to the historical Hereford herd, and today their sons, Blake and Logan, are raising cattle with them.  Charlie served two terms on the American Angus Association Board of Directors, and was president and chairman of the Board in 2017. He's served as president of the Kentucky Angus Association, and he and Paula volunteered as co-chairs of the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in 2003 and 2012. He enjoys cattle shows and has evaluated cattle across the United States.  Doug Schroeder, Schroeder Angus, and his wife, Glenda, were married in 1982 and started their operation near Clarence, Iowa, with the purchase of five head. They have three children who participated in the Angus junior activities, and today their son Drew farms alongside them.  Doug served on the American Angus Association Board from 2008 to 2014, chairing the Certified Angus Beef Board his final year. He served as the president of the Iowa Angus Association and on the Iowa Cattlemen's Association board. In addition, Doug and Glenda were both Iowa Junior Angus Advisors for 13 years and chaired the National Junior Angus Show twice. RELATED CONTENT:    President's Perspective  Giving Back  SPONSOR NOTE: Premium cattle marketing meets one of baseball's most iconic venues. Stockmen at the Stadium, LiveAg's inaugural video auction event, is set for Jan. 16, 2025, at Denver's Coors Field. Visit Live-Ag.com to learn more and consign your cattle today.  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Industry consultant Nevil Speer helps illustrate the story of the transformation of the nation's cowherd during the last decade or so, and Oklahoma producer Jimmy Taylor shares his personal example. Rising to meet consumer expectations has been a self-fulfilling prophecy, where better beef begets more demand, but there are other considerations. Can you have the carcass and the cow? How have novel genetic tools allowed for a much faster pace of progress? What's on the horizon? Answers to all that and more, in this episode that offers a peek at the priorities of the commercial Angus bull buyer. HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Troy Marshall, American Angus Association director of commercial industry relations  GUESTS: Jimmy Taylor and Nevil Speer  Jimmy Taylor, an Elk City, Okla., commercial Angus producer, manages around 600 females on 12,000 acres alongside his wife, Tracy. In 2011 they were named the Certified Angus Beef Commitment to Excellence Award winners and in 2013 the Oklahoma Angus Association Commercial Breeder of the Year. Taylor has served on various local boards and recently served on the executive committee for the Cattlemen's Beef Board. He is a strong proponent of using all the tools available to produce the highest quality beef possible.   Nevil Speer, Bowling Green, Ky., started his industry consulting business after a career in academia and private industry. He earned a doctorate in animal science from Colorado State University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Western Kentucky University, where he taught for several decades. He says he's forever a student of the business and uses his combination of on-farm experience, academic training, and start-up know-how as he consults, writes and speaks across the country.  RELATED CONTENT:  A Crucible for Quality  Beef Market History and Status with Nevil Speer  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

It's not always glamorous but if there's a will to return home to the ranch, there's a way. In this episode, the American Angus Association's two Young Breeder of the Year honorees share their path back to generational Angus operations.  They suggest there's more opportunity for young people than ever before and share the opportunities they've capitalized on as they've come. “There are people looking for somebody to step up. It's going to be work and it could be very dirty work, but there will be a reward at the end,” says John McCurry, Burrton, Kan., who joins Cody Quam, Lodi, Wis., for an authentic discussion on how they're making their ways in the Angus business. HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully  GUESTS:  John McCurry, McCurry Angus, Burrton, Kan., says he is “double bred Angus.” His parents Mary and Andy McCurry were two third-generation Angus breeders who met at Kansas State University and started their own operation. Today the ranch operates on 2,000 acres of sandhill pastures near Hutchinson, Kan. Also a graduate of Kansas State, John was an energetic National Junior Angus Association member, actively participating in the show ring and attending national conferences. He capped off his junior career in 2003 as he hung up his green coat for the last time. Today he and his wife, Melody, have three children who compete at the National Junior Angus Show every summer and are capable hired hands during school breaks and weekends.  Cody Quam, Marda Angus Farms, Lodi, Wis., is a fourth-generation Angus breeder working side-by-side with his family. Cody leads genetic selection and the donor/embryo transfer program as well as sales and marketing. Under his stewardship, the business has earned multiple top honors at the Midland Bull Test. Off the farm, the young breeder stays involved in the cattle industry, as a long-time delegate to the national convention, a graduate of the Beef Leaders Institute and president of the World Beef Expo board. Cody and his wife, Tracy, are raising their two kids, Levi and Paisley, as the fifth generation in the Angus business. Cody was recently awarded the 2024 Young Angus Breeder of the Year award, and he accepted the award at the Angus Convention in Fort Worth, Texas.  RELATED READING:  Double Bred Angus A Tradition of Proficiency  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

A judging team romance led to a lifetime of breeding cattle together. That's Chris and Sharee Sankey's story in a nutshell. The pair came with cattle roots, but made their own way when a lease opportunity came up outside of Council Grove, Kan. There's no way to put a price tag on the memories made during all the miles traveled to cattle shows, but the couple says that helped them grow their kids and their cow herd both. They now meet their adult children and their families at the same locations. This episode covers their history, how they've seen the industry evolve and a nod to the future — with more than a few stories sprinkled throughout.  HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully  GUESTS: Chris and Sharee Sankey  In the early 1990's Chris and Sharee Sankey purchased the headquarters and part of 6N Ranch near Council Grove, Kan., after leasing the ranch from the Norquists since 1983. With the blessings of the original owners, the ranch was able to stay Sankey's 6N Ranch in the Flint Hills. The Sankey family's roots in agriculture and the Angus breed span a century. They have been building their Angus herd off of intense artificial insemination (AI), producing cattle that will survive primarily on grass in the Flint Hills, but also be successful in the showring. They Sankeys have produced three national Roll of Victory Show Bull of the Year honorees, and many females that have been successful showing on a national level. SPONSOR NOTE: This episode is sponsored by Deer Valley Farms. They invite you to their fall production sale Saturday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m. near Fayetteville, Tennessee, where they will sell 124 bulls and 139 females lots. Find the salebook and more at https://deervalleyfarm.com/sale/sale-ring/. Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Focusing on the future and creating the tools that help produce high-quality bulls for the beef industry – that's the message from the cattle feeding segment back to Angus breeders in this episode. A feeder's top priorities are cattle that stay healthy, get big, marble well and use resources efficiently, and if cattlemen send those kind of raw materials, this episode's guests pledge to make the most of them. If today's cattle are “high-performance athletes,” hear directly from those who are the final step in making them winners.HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCullyGUESTS:Tom Fanning, general manager for Pratt Feeders Group, oversees the four yards that make up the feeding company: Buffalo (Okla.) Feeders, Ashland (Kan.) Feeders, Ford (Kan.) Feeders and Pratt (Kan.) Feeders. Tom earned an agricultural economics degree from Oklahoma State University in 1987 and served as an Infantry Captain in the U.S. Army from 1982 to 1992. He completed his master's in management at Troy State University in 1992. From 1992 to 2001, Tom was employed by Cargill, where he managed cattle feeding operations across the Texas Panhandle. Then he spent 22 years as manager of Buffalo Feeders, before assuming his current role. Throughout his career, Tom has held various leadership positions in cattlemen's organizations at local, state and national levels, including serving as chairman of the Oklahoma Beef Council. Under his leadership, Buffalo Feeders garnered numerous accolades, including the 2009 Certified Angus Beef Feedyard of the Year, the 2019 Beef Quality Assurance Feedyard of the Year and the 2023 Texas Cattle Feeders Association Feedyard Excellence in BQA.Pete Anderson is director of research for Midwest PMS, and directs research all their research activities, provides technical support to nutritionists and clients, and oversees the company's performance records analysis program. He also has quality assurance, feed safety and regulatory responsibilities for the firm's production facilities. In addition, Anderson leads the company's initiative in business and operations consulting. He provides strategic planning, succession planning and management and leadership education to clients, and coordinates operations consulting efforts for the company. He applies scientific principles to solve business problems, based on 25 years of experience as a senior business executive. Pete received his bachelor's in animal science from Kansas State University in 1983 and a master's and doctorate from Michigan State University in 1987 and 1989, respectively. Pete has never made a hole in one, but he has climbed several fourteeners and has his own barbecue website (petesmeats.com). Pete and his wife, Denise, reside in Loveland, Colo., and have three adult children. SPONSOR NOTE: This episode is sponsored by Ingram Angus LLC.The entire Ingram team invites you to their annual production sale, Friday, Nov. 8, on the farm at Pulaski, Tenn., to see how they've harnessed the power of the Angus cow to make the herd bull your operation needs. Visit IngramAngus.com for more information on some of the breed's most proven cow families, and they'll see you Nov. 8.Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Angus breeders only stay in business if their customers do, too. Joe and Lake Elliott, of Robert Elliott & Sons Angus near Adams, Tenn., make selection decisions with that end in mind. Their rules of management include one-line statements like, “No bad genes in = no bad genes out” and “realize trend is not destiny,” and they help guide their program. This episode covers Lake's path back to the family operation and the evolution of their customer base with more focused, data-driven buyers looking for value-added marketing opportunities. To them, things like disposition and fertility aren't just nice to have, they're foundational traits.  HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman GUESTS: Joe and Lake Elliott Joe Elliott Tennessee cattleman Joe Elliott has been in the Angus business since age 9. An active 4-H member, Joe's father put him in charge of the family herd performance records. Robert Elliott & Sons Angus hosts an annual production sale and were the first farm in the Southeast to take live online bids and to host an online auction.  Joe and his wife, Anne, have two sons, Lake and Bennett. Today, the family farm is a partnership with Joe's brother, William, and son Lake as Robert Elliott & Sons Angus near Adams.  He served on the board of the Tennessee Angus Association and as president. Joe also served on the American Angus Association Board of Directors from 1996 to 2004 and as president in 2004. Lake Elliott Lake Elliott serves as herdsman for his family's Tennessee Angus operation Robert Elliott & Sons Angus, managing the herd's more than 250 head. He has a degree from the University of Tennessee–Knoxville (UTK) in animal science with emphasis in production and management. Lake has served the beef industry since his youth as a Tennessee Junior Angus Association director and as vice president. He was an advisor to the Tennessee Junior Angus Association and served as the adult chair of the education committee at the 2012 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS). He has also served six years on the Tennessee Angus Association board of directors, has been a delegate to the annual Angus Convention of Delegates and participated in the Beef Leaders Institute. SPONSOR NOTE: Vytelle is revolutionizing cattle breeding with their hormone-free IVF technology, providing reliable, predictable results without the use of hormones. Stop by Vytelle's booth at the upcoming Angus Convention, or visit Vytelle.com to access their calendar of upcoming OPU events.   Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Big data and strategic collaborations are the way of future when it comes to solving genetic challenges in the beef business. This episode covers work that is happening now to inform tools of the future. Christine Baes gives a peak into a multi-disciplinary project she works with on behalf of the Canadian dairy industry, and Andre Garcia draws parallels to what could be possible in the U.S. beef industry. Fertility, efficiency and methane emissions are among the traits that could see new ways for selection pressure in the future.  HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Kelli Retallick-Riley  GUESTS:  Christine Baes, department head and Canada Research Chair in Livestock Genomics for the University of Guelph, was born and raised on a dairy farm in Southwestern Ontario. She has a bachelor's degree from Guelph, a master's in animal welfare from Universität Hohenheim, and a PhD in quantitative genetics from the Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology and the Christian Albrechts Universität zu Kiel in Germany. She and her team are involved in various large-scale livestock breeding projects (swine, horses, dairy cattle, goats) and bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and practical application of new knowledge. Baes has extensive knowledge in the areas of quantitative genetics and statistical genomics as it relates to the genetic and genomic evaluation of livestock.  In her spare time, she runs a small farm outside of Maryhill. André Garcia, senior geneticist for Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI), grew up in southern Brazil with a diversified agriculture background. In 2015, he earned his animal science degree from Margina State University and followed it with a master's program in animal breeding and genetics. He earned his PhD from the University of Georgia, where he also took on a postdoctoral research position with a strong emphasis on quantitative genetics and the use of genomic information for genetic evaluation. Garcia came to AGI as a research and development geneticist in 2021. He works on genomic evaluation and in an educational role, helping producers understand the technology available to improve their herds. Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

How is the Association sitting financially at the end of the fiscal year? Do age of dam adjustments distort the genetic evaluation? How does Angus Media handle long-outstanding accounts receivable? How different are the $Weaned Calf Value ($W) and $Maternal Weaned Calf Value indexes? When the American Angus Association Board of Directors met this week, these questions (and many more) were discussed. From DNA sample policies to new advertising products, the Board covered the gamut of Association business. This recap episode captures some of the conversations that breeders have out in the country and how those are then brought to the board room. There were successes to report: AngusLinkSM numbers are up 86%, the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB ®) brand acceptance rates climbed even during times of tight supplies, the Beef Academy and a new Angus.org launched and much more.   HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman GUESTS: Charles Mogck, Olivet, S.D., is a third-generation Angus breeder and serving a second term on the Board. He has built upon his family's heritage in the breed, increasing their herd to 400 registered females.Mogck began his career as a loan officer after attending South Dakota State University, but eventually he found himself working on the farm full-time. Today, Mogck & Sons Angus markets 120 bulls and 50 females annually. They farm 2,000 acres of corn, beans and wheat with an additional 2,500 acres of pasture and hay ground. They also routinely buy feeder cattle from their commercial customers, allowing them to collect data on their customers' cattle. Mogck records ultrasound, carcass and genomic information to help them make the best decisions they can for the future of their herd.Barry Pollard, Enid, Okla., currently serves as the chairman of the American Angus Association Board of Directors. He attended Oklahoma State University (OSU), followed by medical school and serving as neurosurgeon, performing than 18,000 surgeries prior to his retirement. In addition to other agriculture business ventures, Pollard has built his Pollard Farms registered Angus operation to 400 Angus cows, selling around 150 bulls each year.Darrell Stevenson, White Sulphur Spring, Mont., is serving his second term on the Board. Stevenson holds strong ties to the Angus breed and a history of activity in the Montana Angus Association. He continues his family's legacy by operating Stevenson Angus Ranch.He is actively involved in international Angus events. In 2010, Stevenson created a partnership with two Russian businessmen to form an international beef venture between the two countries. Due to its success, Stevenson has since overseen shipments of Angus cattle to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.In 2019 Stevenson and his wife, Sara, expanded from Hobson onto a new unit in White Sulphur Springs to establish a later-calving herd operating as Stevenson Down T. Although separated by a mountain range, Darrell continues to breed and market genetics with Stevenson Angus Ranch. Visit the Member Center on angus.org for the full president's letter or watch for in-depth articles on many of these topics in upcoming editions of the Angus Journal. Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Gardiner Angus Ranch started with a Kansas homestead, a willingness to work and a quest to stay curious, says fourth-generation rancher Mark Gardiner.  From “pay it forward” and “there is no downside to marbling,” Gardiner shares both life advice and breeding philosophy during this episode that covers everything from the history of the ranch and their involvement in the start of U.S. Premium Beef to today. Early adopters of artificial insemination (AI), Gardiner talks of the change they've been able to make because of technology and access to information over the years. But in the end, it all comes back to the people who help make it possible. HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman  GUEST: Mark Gardiner, Gardiner Angus Ranch, is the fourth generation to raise cattle in western Kansas, near Ashland. Longtime Angus producers, the Gardiners were early adopters of AI  and are now one of the largest embryo transfer (ET) programs in the breed. Mark is a founding board member and current board chairman of U.S. Premium Beef, former Board member of the American Angus Association, former chairman of the NCBA Seedstock Council and former president of the Kansas Angus Association. He is also active in the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF). Under Mark's guidance in 2012, the Henry C. Gardiner Scholarship and Lecture Series was created and endowed at Kansas State University, and they began a structured internship program at the ranch. Mark and his wife, Eva, have three sons, Cole, Ransom and Quanah, who represent the fifth generation of the Gardiner family ranching in Clark County, Kansas. RELATED CONTENT: In the Driver's Seat   The Fire – Mark Gardiner: “If you can't see God in all of this…” Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Struggles often lead to success, and that's been true many times in the American Angus Association's history. Illinois Angus breeder Gary Dameron, Dameron Angus, had a front-row seat for many of those pivotal periods in the breed's history. From the early years of the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand to the dramatic swings in frame score, he has seen a lot of change in his career. Yet, some solid truths have remained evident: the Angus family is strong, there is power in people coming together and the next generation wants to be involved.HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman GUESTS: Gary Dameron, Dameron Angus Angus cattle, Angus activities and Angus people have been an important part of the Dameron family, Lexington, Ill. Gary and his family began purchasing registered Angus females in the mid 1960s to add to the small commercial herd started by his father and grandfather. Black-hided cattle have played an important role in the Dameron family for the past four decades. In the 1960s, Gary and his family began purchasing registered Angus females to add to the small commercial herd started by his father and grandfather.Today, the Dameron Angus herd has grown to about 200 registered Angus cows. The Damerons focus on raising elite Angus genetics that successfully compete at national, regional and local shows.Gary served on the American Angus Association Board of Directors and was Board president in 1989. His four children, Christy, Jay, Jeff and Julie, were actively involved in the National Junior Angus Association, with three of them serving on the junior board. SPONSOR NOTE: This episode is sponsored by Westway Feed Products and People's Company.  Westway Feed Products' liquid supplements increase forage utilization when seasons cause forages to decline in value, our products deliver effective and efficient nutrition to your herd. To learn more, visit westwayfeed.com. People's Company invites you to a major Vernon County Wisconsin land auction, Thursday, Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. Woodhill Farms is selling 818 acres of prime pasture, tillable and recreation land in 14 tracts. Visit Peoplescompany.com to learn more. Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Most consumers aren't out to get the ag industry, they just don't understand us. That's the message that Claire Murnin and Lyle Perrier shared during the Junior Takeover of this podcast. They are poised to help change that through both day-to-day interactions and more organized and strategic initiatives. Both of these National Junior Angus Association members are taking what they've learned in the organization to be ambassadors for our breed. Take a listen to learn about everything from their approach and the skills they've developed to fill that role to what question they hoped they drew in the extemporaneous speaking contest.HOSTS: Mark McCully, Miranda Reiman, Avery Mather GUESTS: Claire Murnin, Pompeys Pillar, Mont., was born into a long tradition in the Angus breed and has now carved her own path. She has historically been involved in both the show ring and the contests, and has recently worked to expand her network beyond the Angus industry. A year and half ago, she started a social campaign called @365daysofagricluture where she posts about her daily journey of raising beef cattle.Lyle Perrier, Eureka, Kan., is involved on his family's Dalebanks Angus operation where he has seen first-hand the benefits of building connections to consumers. In addition to his cattle background, Lyle has also honed his livestock judging, extemporaneous speaking and salesmanship skills, among others, at several national contests over the years.  CO-HOST: Born and raised in State Center, Iowa, Avery Mather is the daughter of Joe and Allison Mather. She comes from generations of Angus breeders and continues to exhibit and produce Angus cattle alongside her siblings, Carson and Keegan. Currently, Avery is studying agricultural business at Iowa State University. After graduation, she intends to stay within the agriculture industry, working with producers and the next generation of agriculture enthusiasts. RELATED CONTENT:@365daysofagriculture Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Life is what you make it, and a National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) experience is much the same, say Brenlen Humpert and Paige Lemmenager. The two have taken different paths to their involvement in the breed but come with a similar “seize the moment” approach. In this second edition of the Junior Takeover of The Angus Conversation, they share advice for fellow NJAA members such as step out of your comfort zone and embrace new opportunities. Hear more about them and how their Angus network has shaped each of them into who they are today.HOSTS: Mark McCully, Miranda Reiman, Avery Mather GUESTS: Brenlen Humpert, Windthorst, Texas, is a second-generation Angus breeder and the oldest of four Humpert siblings growing up in the breed. He has exhibited cattle on the National Junior Angus Show for years but also prepares and works for many contests, from public speaking to team sales.Paige Lemenager, from Hudson, Ill., grew up in an Angus family, where they've placed a lot of emphasis on the show ring during her career. She just finished her judging career at Lakeland College and will be headed to Texas Tech in the fall. Paige was named Champion Angus Showman at the National Junior Angus Show in 2022.CO-HOST: Born and raised in State Center, Iowa, Avery Mather is the daughter of Joe and Allison Mather. She comes from generations of Angus breeders and continues to exhibit and produce Angus cattle alongside her siblings, Carson and Keegan. Currently, Avery is studying agricultural business at Iowa State University. After graduation, she intends to stay within the agriculture industry, working with producers and the next generation of agriculture enthusiasts.RELATED CONTENT: More than Just a Cattle Show Human Moments  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Breeding cattle that work for customers is priority No. 1, but finding those that also excel in the showring is a close second, say Tennessee Angus juniors Alexandra Duckworth and Allison Davis. On the first-ever Junior Takeover of the podcast, Mark and Miranda add National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) director Avery Mather as a guest co-host to dig into her peer's philosophies on breeding and selecting a champion animal. Avery and Allison share their tips for getting involved in the NJAA, talk about the benefits of having a whole community invested in their future and give advice to new junior members.HOSTS: Mark McCully, Miranda Reiman, Avery Mather GUESTS: Allison Davis, of Shelbyville, Tenn., is an integral part of her family's operation, Mark Davis Family Angus. She's been involved in the NJAA ever since she was old enough, showing at her first National Junior Angus Show in 2013. A highlight of her show career has been winning Grand Champion Bred and Owned Heifer in 2022, but she says some of her favorite moments are spent in the pastures at home. Alexandra Duckworth, Afton, Tenn., has literally been Angus her whole life. She was gifted a lifetime American Angus Association membership when she was born and has never looked back. With success both in Bred and Owned and the Phenotpye and Genotype Show, Duckworth is looking to take that experience to become a beef geneticist in the future.CO-HOST: Born and raised in State Center, Iowa, Avery Mather is the daughter of Joe and Allison Mather. She comes from generations of Angus breeders and continues to exhibit and produce Angus cattle alongside her siblings, Carson and Keegan. Currently, Avery is studying agricultural business at Iowa State University. After graduation, she intends to stay within the agriculture industry, working with producers and the next generation of agriculture enthusiasts.RELATED CONTENT:  A Dream Come TrueDon't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

This behind-the-scenes look at the American Angus Association Board of Directors June meeting gives a recap of the discussions from Oklahoma City this week. The agenda ranged from the ways a newly announced packer premium is creating pull-through demand for AngusLink to the financial health of the organization.In this episode, Board members discuss the ways ongoing research in everything from heart health to male fertility will continue to advance the breed. They cover data collection trends and encouraging more participation in programs like Inventory Reporting and MaternalPlus, and welcomed Benjie Lemon to the team in his role as Angus Media President.HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman GUESTS: Barry Pollard, Pollard Farms, is the current chairman of the Board.Rob Adams, Adams Angus Farm near Union Springs, Ala., is serving his first term on the Board.Art Butler, of Spring Cove Ranch at Bliss, Idaho, is serving his first term on the Board.RELATED CONTENT:Producers To Be Paid Grid Premiums for AngusLink Beef Scores The American Angus Association; National Beef Packing Co., LLC; IMI Global; and U.S. Premium Beef, LLC announces new grid premiums to take effect in August and December, based on genetic merit data.A Good Problem to HaveAGI implements updates to keep up with growing data store. For additional details from the Board Meeting, read the president's letter here.  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

What do you get when you combine a lifetime as a student of the Angus breed with more than a half of a century of collecting Angus memorabilia? The only logical answer is Tom Burke and his American Angus Hall of Fame in Smithfield, Mo. In this episode, Tom selects his top 10 favorite items in the collection and tells stories on everything from the early years of the Angus Journal to the time he personally knew both the sitting U.S. president and vice president.   HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman    GUESTS: Tom Burke is a fourth-generation Angus breeder and an owner of the original Burke Farm located in southeastern Minnesota.  Burke has spent more than 50 years of his life traveling the country as a sale manager for the American Angus Hall of Fame, which is also home to the world's largest collection of Angus memorabilia.  Among his many accolades, USA Today named him “America's Most Traveled Person” in 1993. Burke served on the American Angus Association Board of Directors from 2013 to 2016, and in 2017 was inducted into the Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery, which is considered one of the highest honors in the livestock industry.Today, Burke owns 200 registered Angus cows and has co-authored 11 Angus books.RELATED CONTENT:  Purchase the barn book, “Sheltering Generations” here: https://shop.certifiedangusbeef.com/products/sheltering-generations-the-american-barn To find the American Angus Hall of Fame, visit their website: https://www.angushall.com/index.html Saddle and Sirloin Honors Tom Burke SPONSOR NOTE:  At Ingram Angus near Pulaski, Tenn., they have a code for doing business,  "Integrity is what we stand by: good quality people who deal with good quality cattle.” Learn more about their program at IngramAngus.com. The whole Ingram crew wants to wish all the juniors good luck at their shows this summer. Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

 When Brian McCulloh found himself in Viroqua, Wis., in 1984 to manage and grow the Angus herd at Woodhill Farms, he knew he'd be learning as he went. In the decades that followed, Brian used that as a personal motto of sorts, always drawing on his curiosity and need for answers to make improvements. Early on he selected the type of cattle he wanted to create and then stayed focused on that for his entire career, building a legacy Angus brand with his program as a result. Brian says the key has been avoiding distractions, believing in the data and then following the plan. This episode covers everything from his early years to whether it's easier or harder today and even the story of why he decided it was time for a new chapter.  HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman   GUESTS: Brian McCulloh was an Iowa farm boy who enjoyed showing and judging cattle in 4-H. He was on the judging team at Iowa State University and graduated with a degree in agriculture finance. McCulloh spent a short time as Activities Director at the American Angus Association before he and his young family headed to Wisconsin to pursue an opportunity to raise Angus cattle. They've been there ever since.Woodhill Farms, operated in partnership with Dan and Anne Borgen, received the Certified Angus Beef ® Commitment to Excellence award in 2000, and McCulloh received the Angus Heritage Award in 2020. He served on the American Angus Association Board of Directors and has been active in the Beef Improvement Federation.RELATED CONTENT: Stockmanship & Science40 Years of FocusSPONSOR NOTE: Deer Valley Farms has brought back their Spring Cow Sale, and they invite you to join them this Saturday May 11th at 11 a.m. Come see the unique offering of 4- and 5-year-old donor cows and natural calving cows, along with a variety of bred heifers out of contemporary groups not typically featured.Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Life isn't always a direct line from A to B, and Jason and Paige Pratt found blessings abound in their journey. They detail the path that took them from the Appalachian foothills to the Kansas prairie and back again. They included lessons in generational transfer along the way. The couple shares what they expect from their cows, how they built their customer base and why they think it's so important to get involved in organizations that will help them protect their way of life.  HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman    GUESTS: Jason and Paige Pratt and their family operate Pratt Cattle Co. near Akins, Va., with Jason's parents C.W. and Shirley. When they married in 2011, they both brought cattle upbringings and advanced degrees in agriculture (Jason with his master's in ag business and Paige with her doctorate in animal breeding) to make their mark on the herd that had started as C.W.'s FFA project. They share responsibilities on the farm where their children Elizabeth and Garrett make up the next generation.  Related reading:Not Always Linearhttps://www.angus.org/ajarticlepdf/0124-Pratt%20cattle.pdfDon't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Dan and Ty Byrd, Byrd Cattle Co., Red Bluff, Calif., say that the best grazing land in the United States comes with its own set of challenges. From the state's political climate to other land uses threatening to shrink their customer base, they know providing good genetics is only half of the strategy to getting repeat customers. They're active in marketing customer calves, too. The father-son duo shares their experience in growing from a show cattle project to selling commercial bulls in an operation that now also includes female and embryo sales. Tune in to hear about everything from where they were on 9/11 to how the work gets done on their multigenerational ranch. HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman  GUESTS: The father-son combo of Dan and Ty Byrd raise 350 registered Angus bulls in north-central California near the town of Red Bluff. Their customers are primarily commercial cow-calf producers in the Western states.  Dan and his wife, Chris, started the cattle operation decades ago. Their children Ty and Brooke were active in the National Junior Angus Association, showing across the country. Ty came back to the family ranch following a short stint in private industry out of college, and they changed up the business model to focus on selling bulls. Today, he and his wife are raising two children on the ranch. They host an annual bull sale in the spring and a female sale in the fall, and have added embryo sales in recent years.   Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman Friendships that form over Angus cattle are the type that stand the test of time. Hear from long-time friends and fellow South Dakota Angus breeders TJ Gabriel, Deep Creek Angus; and David Uhrig, Mt. Rushmore Angus, as they discuss what they're asking their Angus cows to do. They talk maternal, terminal, weaning weights and calving ease, along with ways they've gotten involved with the breed at both at a regional and national level.GUESTS: TJ Gabriel and David UhrigTJ Gabriel, his wife, Jeannie, and their family own and operate Deep Creek Angus. TJ's great-great grandfather homesteaded near Midland, S.D., where they now have 250 registered Angus cows. They host a “Ranch Bred, Ranch Fed” production sale in Philip, S.D., each February and sell private treaty heifers in the fall.David Uhrig's history in the Angus breed dates to his grandfather's ranch in Nebraska. He went to the University of Nebraska and held various jobs before joining the Mt. Rushmore Angus crew in 2006. Today he manages the 500-cow Hermosa, S.D., ranch that's owned by brothers Marty and Eddie Rypkema, and they have an annual production sale each February.  SPONSOR NOTE:  This episode is brought to you by CAM Ranches and Ogeechee Farms. To learn more about their April 13th Southern Synergy sale visit: www.southernsynergyangus.com Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

The Ellingson family knows consistency, in both cattle and customer interactions, plays a role in their success. Chad and Julie Ellingson, St. Anthony, N.D., have grown their family and their Angus herd in tandem, with that next generation now taking an active role in management and breeding decisions. This episode features the father-son duo of Chad and Stetson and covers how much emphasis to place on calving ease, creating a uniform calf crop, their favorite moment of sale day and much more.  HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman   GUESTS: Chad and Stetson EllingsonChad and Julie (Schaff) Ellingson started Ellingson Angus in 1995 near St. Anthony, N.D., when they married and merged their registered Angus herds. Over the years, the Ellingsons have used artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transplant (ET) to expand their herd, taking advantage of the best genetics available. They strive to raise balanced-trait cattle that will perform well for their customers. The Ellingsons host a production sale the first Saturday in February at the sale facility on the ranch where they market yearling and age-advantaged Angus bulls and open and bred females. They also help market their customers' thousands of feeder calves each year.  Chad and Julie have five children: Stetson, Jameson, Sierra, Medora and Sheridan.Stetson and Jameson returned to the family operation full-time after graduating college, and along with their brother-in-law Keenan Pierce, help operate the ranch.  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

If a breed association “takes its eye off the ball” of making commercial cattlemen more profitable, it's set to fail, says Donnie Schiefelbein, Kimball, Minn., Angus breeder. He joined breeder Lee Leachman for this episode that covers the changes in the Angus business over the decades, the data that has made a difference, and ways that coordination can produce solutions. The pair talks about the shift to grid marketing, and how to prioritize your cow herd while aiming for carcass quality. HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman  GUESTS: Don Schiefelbein, along with his seven brothers and three nephews, own and operate Schiefelbein Farms, Kimball, Minn., where the family manages more than 1,000 registered females, farms 4,600 acres and feeds out 7,500 head of cattle.  The operation was started in 1955 by his father, Frank, and before Don returned to the family farm he served as executive director of the American Gelbvieh Association. He previously worked for the North American Limousin Association after graduating from Texas A&M University.  Don has served the industry in numerous roles including American Angus Association president, National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) president and Minnesota Cattlemen's Association president. Lee Leachman is the CEO of Leachman Cattle of Colorado. He graduated from Harvard University with a degree in economics in 1988 and completed graduate-level work in animal breeding at Colorado State University. Leachman Cattle markets more than 2,000 Angus, Red Angus, Stabilizer and Charolais bulls produced from a pool of 12,000 females in more than 45 cooperator herds. Selection objectives are largely based on the company's proprietary indexes. The company's flagship sale is hosted in March each year in Fort Collins, Colo. Lee has been active in the industry through groups including the NCBA, various breed associations, and the Beef Improvement Federation, where he is a past president. Lee frequently speaks to cattlemen both in the United States and internationally. Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

The days of feed cards and calculators have given way to computer-balanced rations, mixed pens of cattle have become more uniform and carcass-based premiums are now figured into the target rather than an afterthought, but the main objectives of cattle feeders remain the same today as they were decades ago. Two well-known names in the cattle feeding business join us for this episode capturing their history, the kind of cattle they're currently demanding and an outlook on the future of that segment of the industry. It covers everything from beef-on-dairy systems and roller compacted concrete to advice Angus breeders can take to heart. HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman GUESTS: Kee Jim, of G.K. Jim Farms and founding partner of Feedlot Health Management Services, hails from Okotoks, Alberta. After growing up on a ranch and the earning his degree from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan in 1983, he began his entrepreneurial and his feedyard consulting career in tandem, always looking to the data to answer the toughest questions. In addition, he feeds cattle across North America. Among the numerous accolades he's received, Kee was recently inducted into the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame.Mike Thoren has served as the president and CEO of Five Rivers since it began in 2005. Before that he held various roles for ConiBeef and Continental Grain Company, including CEO, feedyard general manager and feedlot operations. He earned a masters in ag economics and a bachelor's in ag business from Washington State University.  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

A state of constant improvement — if there was a phrase to sum up the work the American Angus Association Board did this week and the updates they heard from staff, that would be it. This episode focuses on “core” updates to the National Cattle Evaluation, a discussion around parentage protocols and a rundown of the genetic tools for commercial cattlemen (and their timeline for release). There are notes from each of the entities and the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) board and an encouraging outlook for the year ahead. HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman GUESTS:  Barry Pollard, Enid, Okla., currently serves as the chairman of the American Angus Association Board of Directors. He attended Oklahoma State University (OSU), followed by medical school and serving as neurosurgeon, performing than 18,000 surgeries prior to his retirement.In addition to other agriculture business ventures, Pollard has built his Pollard Farms registered Angus operation to 400 Angus cows, selling around 150 bulls each year. Jerry Theis, Leavenworth, Kan., is a second-generation Angus breeder. His parents established April Valley Farms in 1952 in the Salt Creek Valley.Theis graduated with his veterinary degree from Kansas State University in 1991, and still practices at a local clinic while he manages his family's diversified operation. April Valley Farms was recognized as a Historic Angus Herd by the Association in 2019. Theis and his wife are active in the Kansas Angus Association, serving two terms as advisors for the National Junior Angus Association. Kelli Retallick-Riley, president of Angus Genetics Inc., leads her team of research geneticists and customer service specialists to provide the best genetic and genomic tools and resources to Angus breeders and users of Angus genetics. Related reading: Find the full letter to membership following the meetings here. Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

 Listening to your commercial customers is one of the best ways to ensure success at meeting their demand, says Jake Tiedeman, Baldridge-Tiedeman Angus of North Platte, Neb. In this episode, he recalls what it was like to grow up as Jim Tiedeman's sidekick and covers how his family works together today. Tiedeman talks tools for change, how to make sure you're heard by your Association and gives a look at the future. As a bonus, there's some beef product talk and a history on the family's famous Baldridge Seasoning.   HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman  GUEST: Jake Tiedeman, along with his wife Lindsay and parents Bob and Becky, operate Baldridge-Tiedeman Angus near North Platte, Neb. Longtime Angus breeders, Jake got his start by tagging along with his grandfather Jim and then purchasing some cattle of his own. Jake was involved in the National Junior Angus Association, where he served on the board and still counts many of those cohorts among his friends.   Related content:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4WS-o2Rxv4 Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Adam Sawyer, Doug Stevenson and John Toledo have more in common than the title of 2024 National Western Stock Show Angus Pen and Carload Show judge. During this episode you'll hear what the trio thinks about the best way to create the right animal for the right time, how to get a little bit better every day and how it felt to wear that judge's pin in Denver.   HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman GUESTS:  Adam Sawyer, A & B Cattle, Bassett, Neb., and his wife Jenessa work alongside Adam's mom, Becky, to manage the family's registered seedstock operation. They're raising the next generation of Angus breeders, as their sons Augustus and Truett grow up in the Nebraska Sandhills. Doug Stevenson, Basin Angus Ranch, Reed Point, Mont., was active in the National Junior Angus Association and attended Montana State University before graduating from law school and returning to his family's ranch in the Judith Basin. In 2010, Doug and his wife, Sharon, and their three daughters, moved to eastern Montana, where today, along with their growing family, have various roles in Basin Angus. John Toledo, Tri-T Farms/Toledo Ranches, Vasilia, Calf., got his start in the Angus business through 4-H. On his family's central California farm and ranch, he grew the herd, married his wife, Kelli (a fellow Angus junior), and they're now raising their son in the breed.  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Could the epigenetics of a male sperm cell tell us anything about cow herd fertility? What advancements in the aquiculture industry could be applied to the beef business? Two scientists give an outside perspective on how technology is shaping improvements in everything from patient care to feeding a growing world population. They share challenges that sound familiar, such as barriers to data collection and applying genetic tools across diverse production environments. This episode is meant to stretch perspectives by showing what is, what could be, and cautions and encouragement for the future. HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Kelli Retallick-Riley, president, Angus Genetics Inc.GUESTS: Debbie Plouffe, co-founder and vice president of business development-genetics for the Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT). The full-service R&D company helps improve productivity, efficiency, and sustainability in the aquaculture industry.  Debbie graduated with a bachelor's in invertebrate biology and a doctorate in physiology and cell biology from the University of Alberta, and she's held leadership roles at the National Research Council (NRC) and AquaBounty Technologies. There she contributed to the regulatory approval of the world's first genetically engineered food animal, the AquAdvantage salmon. She's now based at CAT's San Diego, Calif., office, working with collaborators across the globe on genetic improvement in fish.  Kristin Brogaard, chief scientific officer and co-founder of Inherent Biosciences, leads the design and execution studies that validate their products that focus on using epigenetic discoveries to answer unexplained medical conditions. Currently much of her work focuses on the DNA methylation patterns associated with male infertility.Kristin received her doctorate in molecular biology from Northwestern University, where she developed a novel epigenetic technology that allowed for single-base pair resolution mapping of DNA binding proteins genome-wide. She did postdoctoral work with Leroy Hood, a pioneer in personalized medicine technologies, and then served as director of program management for Arivale before joining Inherent Biosciences in 2019. Co-founding the startup allowed Kristin to combine her passion for epigenetics and personalized medicine to help put a stop to trail-and-error medical procedures. Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

If there's a day when you want everything to go right, it's sale day. So, how far in advance should preparations start? Three months out? Six months? Will Harsh, regional manager for the American Angus Association, and sale manager Rance Long, Rance Long Inc., say it's a year-round focus.Whether you're looking to host your first bull or female sale or have been at it a while, this episode covers ways to manage the pre-sale to-do list, ways to get buyers in the seats, and making all the details “day of” run smoothly. With decades of combined experience, they share the secrets of sale day success.  HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Clay Zwilling, president, Angus Media  GUESTS: Will Harsh, American Angus Association regional manager for Nebraska and Colorado, grew up on his family's central Ohio farm. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2018, and served as a regional manager in Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi before taking on his current post. Today, he serves Angus breeders as the regional manager for Nebraska and Colorado.Rance Long, Rance Long Inc., is a third-generation Angus breeder, and he and his wife are raising the fourth. An Indiana native, he attended Oklahoma State University and makes his living just down the road near Adair, Okla., today. He serves as a sale manager for breeders from across the country, helping them market their cattle and get the most for them.  Related reading:Plan Your Pathway to Sale DayCalculate the deadlines you need to hit to have a successful sale with the Sale Day Calculator. This podcast is brought to you by Zoetis Genetics. Visit beefgenetics.com for more information.  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Sometimes the only way to start a new venture is to jump right in. That's how Angus producers Lindsey Hall and Ashley Brunner say they approached their direct-to-consumer beef marketing enterprises they operate as part of their family Angus operations. Both operations have been among the first to test Certified Angus Beef's (CAB) Ranch to Table program, and share how they got started, the power of partnerships and ways they keep their customers happy. And they're not done yet. Tune in to hear what's next and if this is an opportunity you might want to pursue in your own operation.  HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Kara Lee, director of producer engagement, CABGUESTS: Lindsey Hall grew up in the Angus business, on her family's Maplecrest Farms near Hillsboro, Ohio. She headed off to The Ohio State University where she earned a bachelor's degree in animal science, followed by a master's in ruminant nutrition, animal breeding and genetics from Kansas State University. She met her husband, Adam, at the Ohio State Fair, and today they're raising their two boys in the ag industry. Hall returned to her family's operation and heads up their Maplecrest Meats enterprise, a storefront where they sell their home-raised beef.Ashley Bruner, Bruner Angus Ranch, ranches with her husband, Travis, their four young children, and his extended family. They have about 500 registered Angus cows on their ranch near Drake, N.D., where they host an annual production sale in June. The family recently partnered with friends and fellow North Dakota Angus ranchers, the Wendel family, to form Dakota Angus — a direct-to-consumer beef merchandizing business. That effort and their commitment to quality recently earned the families the 2023 CAB Progressive Partner award.  RELATED READING:Future Focused BusinessDon't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

There's risk, and the faith that pushes you to take it. There's challenge, and critical thinking and intentional action that allows you to overcome. For Gordon Stucky and Kevin Yon, their work as first-generation Angus breeders has been studded with risk, faith, thought and action. In this episode, they give advice and discuss current trends and hurdles, along with the ways they approach them head-on in their seedstock operations. They answer questions like: How do Angus breeders remain competitive? What's the relevance of a breed association today? How do you work smarter?  HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman GUESTS:  Gordon Stucky's roots in Kingman County, Kansas, trace back to 1937, when his parents established a diversified crop and livestock operation. Stucky began the transition to a registered Angus cattle herd in 1976. After graduating from Kansas State University with an animal science degree, he returned to the ranch to build the herd he and his wife, Caroline, and family have today. Stucky served as president of the American Angus Association and in leadership roles with the Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Extension Council and the Beef Improvement Federation. Keivn Yon, Ridge Spring, S.C., and his wife, Lydia, established Yon Family Farms in 1996. All three of their children and their families have returned to the operation, which is now home to 700 head of Angus brood cows and 300 commercial cows. Yon has served as president of the American Angus Association, president of the South Carolina Angus Association and South Carolina Cattlemen's Association.  This podcast is brought to you by Zoetis Genetics. Visit beefgenetics.com  for more information.  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Leo and Sam McDonnell, Angus breeders from Columbus, Mont., aren't afraid of hard work, speaking up or taking risks. In this episode the couple covered everything from a post-Angus tour proposal and the story of the Midland Bull Test to ways that a healthy dose of conflict can make everyone better. Working in an industry with a lot of opinions has similarities to running a family ranch, and they have plenty of advice for navigating both.  HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda ReimanGUESTS: Leo and Sam McDonnell, Columbus, Mont., devote their time and efforts to providing the most predictable and proven genetics available on their operation, McDonnell Angus. Moving toward trait selection of economic value, the family's success increased as they worked with breeders toward a common goal — industrywide efficiency. Carrying on what his father started in 1962, Leo managed the Midland Bull Test. The test has since grown to become the largest performance test center in North America, testing about 2,000 bulls annually, and has since been passed on to his son. As Leo and Sam transition their focus to McDonnell Angus, they note that the legacy isn't the business — the legacy is their children and grandchildren. Related Reading:A Lifetime Dedicated to Improvement: https://www.angusjournal.net/post/a-lifetime-dedicated-to-improvementDon't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

As David Holt and Kent Brown grew separate Angus businesses just down the road from each other, they found a natural partnership. They could do more together than they could separately. The Tennessee neighbors talk about why they went Angus, how whole herd inventory reporting will strengthen their programs and the breed, and the ways they maximized their marketing by working together. HOSTS: Esther Tarpoff, Mark McCully, Miranda Reiman  GUESTS:  David Holt, of Holt Farms, Livingston, Tenn., was a dairyman for the first 26 years after high school, but when he got out of milking, he immediately switched to Angus. He and his wife have two boys who are involved in agriculture and help around the farm when needed.  Kent Brown of Jared Brown & Son near Rickman, Tenn., got his start in the Angus business from the herd his dad started in 1961. After a few decades of other breeds, he came back to Angus in the early '90s and sells 60 to 70 registered bulls annually.  This podcast is brought to you by Zoetis Genetics. Visit beefgenetics.com  for more information.    Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

What do you get when you combine Angus data from three countries on 11 different traits? More accurate and reliable tools, says Kelli Retallick-Riley, president of Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI). The team will release the World Angus Evaluation, in partnership with Angus Australia and the Canadian Angus Association, on Oct. 13, and this episode shares what that means for Angus breeders across the globe. In addition, the international guests cover genetic and marketing trends in their countries, talk international commerce, share history on past partnerships and invite listeners to go Down Under in 2025. HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Kelli Retallick-Riley GUESTS: Myles Immerkar, CEO of the Canadian Angus Association, works with the board of directors to grow and promote the Angus breed. He has experience in the animal nutrition and marketing fields and most recently spent 16 years managing the global beef programs for Semex Alliance based in Guelph.Christian Duff is the general manager of genetic improvement for Angus Australia. He's been with Angus Australia for the past nine years in research roles before taking the lead on the team that completes their genetic evaluation and research projects. This podcast is brought to you by Zoetis Genetics. Visit beefgenetics.com for more information.  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

You're not going to find expansive Angus ranches on wide open plains in New York, but if you head just 90 miles north of The Big Apple, you will find Trowbridge Angus Farms. With reach across the United States, Phil and Annie Trowbridge, along with son and daughter-in-law, PJ and Miranda, have made a name for themselves by creating cattle for the showring and the commercial industry in tandem. And they've done it by leasing small pastures, working closely with their “weekender” neighbors who come out to country homes and helping their customers create a market for their cattle.  This episode covers everything from the family winning the county fair rabbit show to the time they brought a bull to Madison Square Gardens.GUEST:  Phil Trowbridge and his family operate Trowbridge Angus Farms near Ghent, N.Y. Trowbridge earned an animal science degree from Alfred Sate College, Alfred, N.Y. The day after his graduation in 1976, he became a herdsman for Gallagher's Angus Farm in Ghent, N.Y., and gradually built up his own Angus herd in the same community. He and his wife, Annie, have two grown children and six grandchildren, who are all involved in the farm in some way.  This episode is brought to you by Westway Feed Products. Visit https://westwayfeed.com/ for more information. Related Reading:  Open Gates: https://www.angusjournal.com/articlepdf/cab-trowbridge-ambassador-10_15-aj.pdf Family Matters: https://www.angusjournal.com/articlepdf/president_trowbridge%2011.13.pdf Black Farms, Green Grass — Roseda Angus Farms: https://www.angusjournal.net/post/black-cows-green-grass Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

If the commercial cattleman isn't successful, the breed isn't successful, and the American Angus Association Board of Director's investment of time on that segment reflects that. Updates on functional longevity and heart health research, projections and budgeting for the fiscal year, and FDA presentations on the gene edit approval process, labeling and processing — that and “a lot more” in this special episode that recaps the when, what and why of discussions at the August 2023 board meeting.  To read the president's summary, visit https://www.angus.org/pub/LetterFromthePresidentAug2023FINAL.pdf GUESTS:  Chuck Grove is no stranger to the Angus breed. He was a longtime regional manager for the American Angus Association, covering various states during his 39-year tenure including Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware and Ohio. Grove and his wife, Ruth, now reside on the family farm and manage a 100-head Angus herd. He is currently serving as president and chairman of the American Angus Association Board. Jim Brinkley has served on the American Angus Association Board of Directors for the past three years. Along with their children, Crystal and Justin, Brinkley and his wife, Sherry, own 1,300 acres and 400 registered Angus cattle at Brinkley Angus Ranch (BAR). He is the current chair of the Certified Angus Beef board and was elected to serve as the upcoming treasurer of the American Angus Association Board.  Smitty Lamb has joined The Angus Conversation before but sat down this week as the chair of Angus Genetics Inc. He grew up on a small-row crop farm in east Georgia, where he discovered his passion for Angus cattle at an early age. After a career in the cotton industry, Lamb came back home to Angus. The family operation, Ogeechee Angus Farm, began in 1997, and markets more than 100 bulls annually. Related reading: Bovine Congestive Heart Failure Work Continues  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Looking back, Steve and Laura Knoll, Hereford, Texas, now remember their first cow herd was a “learning experience.” There are stories to tell, but one of their favorites gets them to the transformation that led to their 2 Bar Angus operation of today. In this episode, hear about the quick lesson in marketability that started their switch to Angus, how a busload of chefs enjoyed the West Texas wind, and why breeding projects used to start at midnight. GUESTS: Steve and Laura Knoll learned the Angus business together. The couple operate 2 Bar Angus near Hereford, Texas, where they raised their four children and cows in tandem. Steve has an ag degree from West Texas A&M University and worked for Cactus Feeders after graduation. Laura served as a pharmacist for a number of years before they both decided to make ranching their sole source of income in the early 2000s. Today, they host an annual bull sale each spring, and partner on a female sale in the fall. They were named the 2018 Certified Angus Beef Seedstock Commitment to Excellence award winners for their focus on carcass quality. This podcast is brought to you by Zoetis Genetics. Visit beefgenetics.com for more information.  RELATED READING: Raising the Right Kind, RightDon't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

Resilience and adaptability required in the face of adversity — that describes Jim Sitz's entry into the Angus business fairly well. When their dad was killed in a ranch accident, Jim, his brother Bob Jr., and sister Sherrie stepped into greater responsibilities, navigating the challenges of digging out of the 1980s economic crisis. Their mom taught them to prioritize needs over wants, and working together as a family they grew at a steady pace.Jim and his wife, Tammi, their children, and Bob and his children make up the third and fourth generation now operating two locations at Harrison and Dillon, Mont. They still focus on the "Sitz look" — deep ribs, strong top lines and sound feet — but have added data from carcass information to genomics into their selection process as it's become available. They're always “chasing balance,” Jim says.  The family operates with a monthly meeting, active communication and a strong commitment to each other to do what's best for the whole.GUESTS:  Jim and Tammi Sitz raise Angus cattle against the scenic backdrop of the Beaverhead Mountains near Dillon, Mont. Jim and his brother Bob, Jr., make up the third generation, and their children the fourth, to carry on the family legacy of raising good cattle, cultivating customer relationships and serving the breed. Jim served on the American Angus Association Board and was president in 2016. This podcast is brought to you by Westway Feed. Visit www.westfeed.com for more information.  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

What's discussed at the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium and Convention today provides a glimpse at beef production advancements in the future. This year's conference in Calgary, Alberta, focused on collecting and managing large amounts of data, creating tools for cattlemen that don't exist today and discussing hot topics like the genetic role in methane emissions and heart function. When academia, industry and production segments all gather, there's sure to be a lot of questions and answers — this podcast brings you the highlights. HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Kelli Retallick-Riley GUESTS: Joe Epperly, Wagonhammer Ranches, is a third-generation Angus breeder raised in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. He spent most of his youth exhibiting livestock, helping on the family farm and working at the family's livestock market. He worked at the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) before moving to Wagonhammer Ranches in Albion, Neb., where he's the director genetics and sales. He's a former National Junior Angus Association Board member, current president of the Nebraska Angus Association and immediate past president of BIF.  Dick Beck, vice president of sales and marketing at ORIgen, has been involved in livestock production and marketing for his entire life. As a former regional manager for the American Angus Association and general manager of Three Trees Ranch, in Sharpsburg, Ga., he brought a well-rounded view of the industry to his position at ORIgen. He and his wife, Diane, have two daughters who were active in the National Junior Angus Association, with the third generation involved today.  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

The Functional Longevity (FL) expected progeny difference will be released in a research form this summer, Certified Angus Beef now has a grass-fed line, and the gene edit on the table was not approved at this time. That and much more in this special episode that recaps the whens, whys and hows of many updates discussed in the June 2023 meeting of the American Angus Association Board of Directors.   To see the president's letter and the memo referenced in this podcast, visit www.Angus.org. GUESTS:  Chuck Grove is no stranger to the Angus breed. He was a longtime regional manager for the American Angus Association, covering various states during his 39-year tenure including Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware and Ohio. Grove and his wife, Ruth, now reside on the family farm and manage a 100-head Angus herd. He is currently serving as president and chairman of the American Angus Association Board. Barry Pollard was raised in Hennessey, Okla., where his father taught vocational agriculture and his mother was a schoolteacher. After attending Oklahoma State University and finishing his education at Oklahoma University, Pollard became a board-certified neurosurgeon and returned home to open a medical practice in Enid, Okla., in 1982. He and his wife, Roxanne, have five children and several grandchildren. Pollard started his Angus herd in 1992, and has built it to more than 30 elite donor cows, 400 performance cows and heifers, raising 400-500 spring and fall calves every year. He has served on the American Angus Association Board since 2016. Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

The cattle have to be good, but the customer service is what seals the deal. That's according to Roger Jacobs, who has helped breeders sell their Angus bulls for more than four decades as a leading livestock auctioneer. When he says “service”, that includes caring about the family, creating a market for your customer's cattle and standing behind your product. He and Ron Frye talk about hitting the road in their younger years, how the cattle and the business have evolved, and the shift to technology from DNA to video sales. They wrap up a strong 2023 bull sale season and look ahead to the future. HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda ReimanGUESTS:  Roger Jacobs was born and raised on a farm/ranch in southwest North Dakota, as one of six boys on the operation that raised Angus cattle and small grains. In 1975 Roger graduated from North Dakota State University with a bachelor's in animal science. He worked as a regional manager for the American Angus Association and Angus Journal from 1977 to 1983, at which time he and his wife, Sandy, started Jacobs Livestock Sales, Inc. The purebred livestock auction company sells 80 to 100 sales per year, across 25 states and Canada. Roger and Sandy have three grown children and eight grandchildren. Roger enjoys spending time with family, cooking, gardening, and his outdoor pursuits, which include fishing and bird hunting.Ron Frye, Ron Frye Marketing, grew up in Wyoming, but has called Montana his home since 1990. He started his professional career with the Wyoming Stockman/Farmer Stockman magazines in Spokane, Wash., and later worked for the Western Livestock Journal. In 1992 Ron began a decade of serving as a regional manager for the American Angus Association, getting to know producers across the West. In. 2001 he left for a four-year stint at Edwards Angus Ranch, Denton, Mont., until their dispersion, when he continued his Angus marketing career at KG Ranch in Three Forks, Mont. In early 2015 he started Ron Frye Marketing. He and his wife, Lynette, have three children: Randy, Kyle and Jillian.  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.