As the books close from one fiscal year to the next, it’s a good time to both reflect on progress and set goals for more of it. This week the American Angus Association Board of Directors met to: 

• Detail a strong fiscal year, with positive bottom lines for the organization and its entities. 
• Celebrate program wins, from 1 million AngusVerifiedSM AngusLink® enrollments and a huge uptick in Data Driven Herd recognitions to numerous Ag Media Summit awards. 
• Discuss business, such as ongoing fertility research projects, an Angus Journal ® subscriber campaign to new members, and ways Certified Angus Beef is combating supply reductions.  
• Hear about updates on work in progress, from Angus Foundation funding opportunities to Angus Genetics, Inc. efforts to collect commercial data.  

From branded beef tallow and TikTok advertising to heart health research, this recap episode condenses a week’s worth of meetings into a conversation that gets you caught up on the recent highlights in the breed.

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully 

GUESTS: 

Jim Brinkley, 2026 president and chairman, has served on the American Angus Association Board of Directors for the past seven 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) near Milan, Mo. 

Rob Adams has been a lifelong resident of Union Springs, Ala., where his grandfather established their current farm in 1936 and bought the first Angus cattle in 1939. He is serving a second term on the Board and is currently chair of the Member Services Committee. Adams has been involved in the day-to-day operations since purchasing his first cow at 8 years old. The farm has transitioned over his lifetime from a diverse cattle and row-crop farm to registered Angus cattle and timber. Adams has also worked as a financial advisor for more than 35 years. He and his wife, Connie, have four children.

Roger Wann is a native of Poteau, Okla., and was raised on a multigenerational family commercial cow-calf ranch. While a student worker at the Oklahoma State University Purebred Beef Center, he says the value of the Angus cow herd at OSU was the last step in a learning curve that would lead him and his family into the Angus seedstock business. After completing a bachelor’s degree in animal science at OSU, Wann earned a master’s in physiology of reproduction from Texas A&M (TAMU). Wann is serving a second term on the Board of Directors and is currently vice chair of the Commercial Programs Committee. 

RELATED READING: 

President’s Letter 

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.

Whether you’re excited about the possibility of change or are cautious about the pace, this episode will give you a lot of perspective on the way the genetic landscape is shifting in the beef industry. Bringing together two great minds with decades of experience across beef, dairy, swine and poultry, the discussion covers everything from genomic testing and artificial intelligence to commercial data and the importance of phenotypes. The discussion gives a lot of insight into ways the Angus breed can remain competitive now and in the future.  

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully  

GUESTS:   

William Herring is the vice president of research and development at Cobb-Vantress, a leading global poultry genetics company. He leads the discovery efforts to accelerate genetic progress and introduce it at scale in more 100 countries. He leads a team of scientists, engineers and innovators with more than 30 years of experience and leadership in livestock and poultry genetic improvement. He obtained a bachelor's degree in animal science from Auburn University and a master's degree and doctorate in genetics from the University of Georgia. In his spare time, Herring enjoys helping with the genetic improvement program at this family's beef operation. 

 Mark Allan is an independent consultant in beef and dairy cattle genetics, genomics and reproductive technologies. Raised in the Nebraska beef industry, Allan combines practical cattle production experience with advanced training in animal genetics. His career has included roles with purebred farms, the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Pfizer Animal Genetics and Trans Ova Genetics. Today, he works with seedstock and commercial producers, breed organizations and allied industry partners to apply data-driven genetic solutions that improve profitability and long-term herd performance. Allan also serves as an industry representative on the Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) Board of Directors. He and his wife, Alise, live in Iowa, where they raised their two kids.   

RELATED LINKS: Exploring Next-Generation Phenotyping that Drives Commercial Profitability White Paper  

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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 trying to get beef out to the masses, there’s a step in the supply chain that has a lot of influence on what beef goes where: foodservice distributors. Hear from BJ Johnson and Pat Shepherd, who represent both the buy and the sell side of that equation. From sourcing and procurement to restaurant partnerships and consumer expectations, the message is clear — they don’t want beef they have to push, they want pull-through demand. The pair covers the emerging Prime trends, how they combat volatility and the importance of being able to talk about all the work that happens back on the ranch.  

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully  

GUESTS:  

BJ Johnson, director of sales, Buckhead Meat of Atlanta 

Growing up near his family’s farm in Huntsville, Ala., where they raised Angus cattle, cotton and soybeans, BJ developed a deep appreciation for agriculture and the food industry. He attended the University of Alabama, where he studied management, and later graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a degree in Culinary Arts in 2002. That same year, he began his career with Sysco. 

 Over the past two decades, BJ has served in roles across Alabama, Charlotte, Atlanta and Chicago, holding leadership positions in three of those markets. Alongside his teams, he helped launch two highly successful Certified Angus Beef® programs in North Carolina and Georgia and was honored as Certified Angus Beef® Marketer of the Year. 

Today, BJ serves as director of sales for Buckhead Meat of Atlanta where he leads a team of 26 sales consultants across the Southeast. Together, they proudly lead the nation in Certified Angus Beef® Prime sales. 

Pat Shepherd, director of beef procurement, Buckhead Meat of Atlanta 

Pat oversees beef sourcing and purchasing strategies for Buckhead Meat Company, the specialty meat division of Sysco, one of the nation’s leading foodservice distributors. A University of West Georgia graduate with a culinary background, Shepherd joined the company in 2010 and discovered a passion for the beef industry. Today, he collaborates across the supply chain to ensure consistent quality, manage inventory and procurement, and help foodservice operators deliver an exceptional beef experience to consumers.  

 SPONSORS:   

SenseHub Cow Calf®: Cattle reproductive success has relied on visual observation for decades ...  until now. SenseHub® Cow Calf provides a new approach to breeding success and time management. Learn about 24/7 collection of data and insights you can use to detect heats and more at SenseHub-CowCalf.com.  

Angus Media: Don't let a busy schedule stop you from being the most informed breeder in the room. Click here to subscribe to the AJ Daily or the AJ Weekly. 

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 secret to success isn’t a secret so much as it is hard work. National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members Piper Cates and Sloane Curtin both say that there’s a lot of practice put in before they ever step in the show ring. On this episode the two competitors share their show day tips and encourage young members to seek out mentors, while talking about their own favorites and teasing next year’s National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) location and theme.

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman, Mark McCully

GUESTS:

Piper Cates, Modoc, Ind., has been an active member of the NJAA since she was old enough to join. She’s participated in everything from the NJAS photography contest to the Auxiliary-sponsored All-American Certified Angus Beef Cook-Off. Cates currently serves as the Indiana Angus Association junior princess and won Reserve Champion Junior Showmanship A in both 2025 and 2026 at the National Junior Angus Show.

Sloan Curtin, Oxford, Iowa, has had much success in her time as an NJAA member, including many champion and reserve champion wins. She was the 2025 Showmanship winner in the National Junior Angus Show intermediate B division.

GUEST HOST: Ava Leibfried is a third-generation Angus breeder from Platteville, Wis., currently serving as the National Junior Angus Association board chair. Ava is studying agricultural business at Iowa State University, and intends to keep Angus cattle as part of her long-term career goals. 

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.

Some of the most formative years of an Angus junior’s life are spent in the barns. That’s how it was for the Wood Family of Willow Spring, N.C. When it comes to the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA), all three of the siblings — Justin, Mary and Ava — have been involved in everything from exhibiting animals and competing in contests to attending conferences and serving in leadership roles. As they have grown, they’ve put the skills they honed through their involvement with the NJAA to work on their own Angus operation, which now includes a wedding venue and meat market.

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman, Mark McCully 

GUESTS:  

Siblings Ava and Justin Wood grew up on their family’s Willow Spring, N.C., Angus operation. Along with their sister Mary, they have been long-time participants in the National Junior Angus Association, including all three serving on the organization’s board of directors. Justin is now back home on the family farm, and Ava is studying ag business at North Carolina State University.  

GUEST HOST: Ava Leibfried is a third-generation Angus breeder from Platteville, Wis., currently serving as the National Junior Angus Association board chair. Ava is studying agricultural business at Iowa State University, and intends to keep Angus cattle as part of her long-term career goals. 

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Dreamers, Believers and Go-Getters

A Woman Worth Looking Up To

Transitioning to a New Role

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.

Nearly all of Kolton and Kinleigh Grim’s Angus memories include each other. The siblings started showing Angus cattle at a young age, and their partnership began. Today, they approach their cattle operation with a similar mindset — how you work the animals at home is a direct reflection of how they’ll behave in the ring. In a flurry of National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) competition, the Grims paused to share their tips for preparation and advice for making the most of the experience. 

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman, Mark McCully

GUESTS:

Kolton and Kinleigh Grim, Beaver Creek Angus, have been involved in their family’s Thomasville, Pa., cattle herd from very early ages. They're both currently serving in leadership roles on the Pennsylvania Junior Angus Association board and are active in the National Junior Angus Association. They were members of this year’s Team Fitting Champion team.  

GUEST HOST: Ava Leibfried is a third-generation Angus breeder from Platteville, Wis., currently serving as the National Junior Angus Association board chair. Ava is studying agricultural business at Iowa State University and intends to keep Angus cattle as part of her long-term career goals.

RELATED CONTENT:   

I Am Angus: Beaver Creek Angus, York County, Pa.

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.

Keeping the breed moving forward, guided by the membership — that's the role of the American Angus Association Board of Directors. The group met this week to: 

• Review fiscal year trends in fiscal numbers and program enrollments  
• Address member feedback on everything from amplifying the Pathfinder® program to a rule change for donor dams  
• Adopt an updated tissue sample archival policy   
• Get updates on the following research projects: $B validation, cow efficiency, bovine congestive heart failure (BCHF) studies and haplotype 
• Approve a three-year long-range plan for Angus Genetics Inc.  
• Discuss the increases inflation and price hikes have had on the long-term profitability of the Angus Journal®  
• Learn more about the Certified Angus Beef ® supply challenges and strength in demand  
• Discuss the Angus Foundation opportunities and planning for the future  

This conversation gives you an inside look at discussions around the board table, including decisions that were made and how the Board arrived at them.  

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully 

GUESTS:  

Jim Brinkley, 2026 president and chairman, has served on the American Angus Association Board of Directors for the past seven 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) near Milan, Mo. 

Paul Bennett manages Knoll Crest Farm, Inc., a four-generation seedstock operation, near Red House, Va. Bennett’s grandfather, Paul D. Bennett, established a registered cow herd in 1944, and the family transitioned the farm from a typical southside-Virginia tobacco, livestock and crop farm to a beef seedstock operation in the 1980s. Today, Knoll Crest is operated by the team of brothers — Jim, Brian and Paul — along with Paul’s nephew, Dalton. Bennett and his wife, Tracy, have two children, Scott and Sarah, and four grandchildren.  

Alan Mead is a third-generation Angus breeder from Barnett, Mo. After completing his undergraduate degree, medical school and his residency, Mead returned to the area in 1994 as a board-certified anesthesiologist practitioner, serving his local community while harboring a new vision for Mead Farms. The farm has grown to more than 7,000 acres and close to 1,500 registered Angus cows in addition to Charolais, Hereford and Red Angus cattle. Mead has two daughters who are actively working as the fourth generation of Mead Farms.    

RELATED READING: 

President's Letter 

Angus Genetics Inc. research projects 

Brand Production Beyond Borders 

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 happens when the beef and dairy worlds intersect? Randall Grimimus, California cattle feeder and Angus breeder, joins the podcast to talk about the ever-evolving beef-on-dairy sector and how Angus fits into it. From raising day-old calves to scaling his family operation, Grimmius shares how data, genetics and relationships have built his business. He is grounded in faith and guided by a strong desire to do the right thing for his calves, his employees, his suppliers and his customers. In this episode you’ll learn about everything from his young entrepreneurial ambitions to how he listens to God’s call. 

HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman  

GUEST: Randall Grimmius   

Randall Grimmius is the owner of Grimmius Cattle Company, a family-owned and operated livestock business he helped build from the ground up alongside his father, Tom Grimmius. What started as a cattle feeding and trading business has grown into a fully integrated operation spanning seedstock genetics, dairy, cow-calf production, calf raising and cattle feeding across California and Texas — with five ranches; capacity for 300,000 head; more than 1,000 employees; and additional cattle fed through some of the industry's most respected feedyards in Kansas, Texas, Nebraska and Colorado. 

Away from the operation, Randall and his wife, Beth, have been married 34 years. Together they have four daughters, eight grandchildren and have provided guardianship to 12 additional children over the past 15 years. He remains deeply committed to faith, family and the values that continue to guide the company. 

SPONSOR:  

Angus Media: Are you ready to level up your herd’s genetics? With the Angus Bull Book Spring 2026 Angus Sire Directory, you can find your next great sire. The spring issue went live in March, but you're able to view the book online all breeding season. Live EPDs will help you pair the right bull with your breeding objectives. Search for the Angus Bull Book Spring 2026 Angus Sire Directory on the sale book search page on Angus.org. 

Angus Media: A solid herd starts with the cows. Commercial cattlemen need to know that your foundation is built on maternal traits. Tell them in the Female Foundations special section published with the September Angus Beef Bulletin. Get an advertisement, feature and social post all in the same package. Contact your regional manager or our advertising team to learn more. Find them at www.angus.org/angus-media/about/contact-us. 

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 Angus Women Connected Conference intends to do just that: foster relationships among breeders from across the country. Three cattlewomen share their experience of getting off the ranch to learn from both invited speakers and each other, creating a community of people they can now call on when they need outside expertise. From encouraging the next generation in agriculture to advocating for the Angus business to those on the outside, this episode covers what they’ve done and might even inspire you to make a difference in your own sphere of influence.  

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully  

GUESTS: Emma Collins Powell, Danielle Brach, Tammy Weaver 

Emma Collins Powell has a rich history with the Angus breed. As a former member of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) and the current president of the American Angus Auxiliary, she is giving back daily to the cattle and producers that helped shaped her into the woman she is today.  

While she was a junior member, she grew up on her family’s farm, Kiani Angus. She lives in Flora, Miss., with her husband, Robert, on a registered Angus and commercial cow-calf operation.  

From western Colorado, Danielle Brach is a cattle producer and agricultural educator. She and her husband, Jayton, operate a commercial beef cattle ranch and run their generational operation through the summer and fall utilizing BLM and National Forest permits. Recently, they started a seedstock Angus herd.  

She is passionate about agricultural advocacy and youth education. With a self-funded youth beef breeding program, she brings a practical, real-world perspective on the beef industry, rural business and the importance of preserving the ranching way of life. 

With a herd of registered Angus cattle in Pennsylvania, Tammy Weaver and her family operate Weaver Show Cattle, raising cattle for the show ring and replacement females. As a beef industry sales representative, she’s able to serve the cattle business in her day-to-day career as well. She and her husband, Fred, live in Ephrata. Their children, Madison and Hayden, were both active in the NJAA and 4-H.  

Tammy lives on her family’s farm where they have a small herd of Angus cows and raise corn, soybeans and tobacco. She is active in the Pennsylvania Angus Association, Pennsylvania Holstein Association, PA Livestock Association, Keystone International Livestock Exposition and several local agriculture groups. Tammy currently serves as the secretary/treasurer of the American Angus Auxiliary.  

SPONSORS:  

Are you ready to level up your herd’s genetics? With the Angus Bull Book Spring 2026 Angus Sire Directory, you can find your next great sire. The spring issue went live in March, but you're able to view the book online all breeding season. Live EPDs will help you pair the right bull with your breeding objectives. Search for the Angus Bull Book Spring 2026 Angus Sire Directory on the sale book search page on Angus.org. 

Help your customers maximize the return on their Angus investment. Give commercial cattlemen access to the management, marketing, health and nutrition news they need to know. With a transfer of a registered Angus bull, they're automatically subscribed to the Angus Beef Bulletin, a premier publication committed to ensuring they make the most of their purchase. Go to www.angusmedia.org/subscribe today. 

RELATED READING: 

The Power of Sharing

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 Brown family has always been growth-minded and goal-oriented, but each generation has left their own mark on the historic R.A. Brown Ranch. This episode covers a lot of ground, including how they think about cattle and horse breeding, ways they help their customers make use of all the data available, and why building a community matters to them. Take a deep dive into their family’s approach to estate planning and find out more behind Tucker Brown’s passion for “telling the truth” about ranching.  

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully  

GUEST: Donnell and Tucker Brown  

Donnell Brown and his wife Kelli are the fifth generation to own and manage the R.A. Brown Ranch in Throckmorton, Texas, a family business since 1895. They raise registered Angus, Red Angus and SimAngus cattle and sell 800 bulls in addition to 250 registered females  and 1,200 commercial females in their annual auctions in March and October. They built a supply chain to help their customers earn more profits called Rancher’s Sustainable Angus Alliance. 

 Donnell and his wife Kelli both served as National FFA Presidents. They are blessed with two sons, Tucker and Lanham, that have joined them back in their family ranching business with their wivesand children. Together Donnell and Kelli are living their dream of raising cows, kids, grandkids and Quarter Horses. 

Tucker Brown is a sixth generation rancher at the R.A. Brown Ranch in Throckmorton, Texas, where he and his family develop and sell 800 registered bulls a year. After graduating from Lubbock Christian University and Texas Christian University Ranch Management School, he returned home to do what he loves — working alongside his family. Through social media, he’s been able to share the truth about American ranching in a way that’s both educational and entertaining. He has earned 850,000 followers online, earning him the NCBA Beef Advocate of the Year Award and even a feature in Vanity Fair Expert Reviews.  

Today Tucker and his wife, Karley, are raising the seventh generation of the R.A. Brown Ranch, working to keep the ranch in the family and the family in the ranch, while also making sure the world knows the real story of agriculture.   

SPONSOR:  

 Angus Media: In the cattle business, print isn't dead. Your customers still enjoy the feel of a magazine in their hand. 98% of the Angus Journal's readers find it easier to recall ads they see in print publications. Be one of the names potential customers remember. Contact your regional manager to reserve your spot today.   

Angus Media: A web address is just as important as a farm address. Angus Media can make establishing your online presence easy. We host more than 300 breeder websites each year, providing weekly EPD updates straight from the American Angus Association’s database. Follow this link to learn more.  

RELATED READING:

The Power of Telling Why

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.