The Angus Conversation

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 True

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.

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 Have
AGI 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 & Science
40 Years of Focus


SPONSOR 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 Linear
https://www.angus.org/ajarticlepdf/0124-Pratt%20cattle.pdf

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.