The Angus Conversation

When Josh Worthington was driving up and down the highway, working with Angus breeders across the state, he couldn’t imagine a better job than executive director of the Missouri Angus Association. But then he and his wife, Corry, started raising their family, and he knew he needed a job that kept him at home more often. Worthington Angus was born and quickly grew to include two production sales a year. Today, he’s focused on helping his customers market their calves, whether that’s by providing genetics that will be in demand by the ultimate consumer or by offering an outlet for bred females. This conversation covers everything from Josh’s journey to the Angus breed and mentors along the way to how he defines balance in his breeding program and who does chores on Christmas.  

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully  

GUEST: Josh Worthington 

Josh Worthington is a first-generation Angus breeder who calls Dadeville, Mo., home. Josh runs Worthington Angus with his wife and childhood sweetheart, Corry, and three sons, Wriston, Grayson and Corbin. They started the operation in 2005 and now breed around 350 females and transfer upwards of 400 embryos annually. He was recently named the American Angus Association 2025 Young Breeder of the Year.  

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SPONSORS:  

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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.

The balance between applying the gas pedal and the brake — that’s what Barb Downey has spent her career as an Angus breeder perfecting. She and her family ranch near Manhattan, Kan., where they work hard each year to make their “built for the long haul” tagline true. The cattle they breed have to last, and their business plans ensure their ranch will, too. Downey talks about her “safe to fail” approach to innovation, why being replaceable is a good thing and the key to being a good business partner.  

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully

GUEST: Barb Downey

Barb Downey and her husband, Joe Carpenter, manage a family Angus seedstock operation near Manhattan, Kan. A graduate of Kansas State University, Barb has served as president of the Kansas Livestock Association and president of the Kansas Angus Association.

At Downey Ranch Inc., they focus on using science-based tools, conserving their resources and leading their customers toward meeting the beef demand of the future. They are founding members of U.S. Premium Beef, 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award Winners and were named Beef Improvement Federation’s Commercial Producer of the Year in 2010.

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SPONSOR:
Join Cardinal Cattle Company on Dec. 13, in Wyoming, Ill., for their annual Program Female Sale. At Cardinal, the emphasis is always on all-around quality, longevity and balance. They’ll offer 105 premium bred females at their all-new sale facility. Learn more at cardinalcattlecompany.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.

What starts as a dream takes both capital and creativity, paired with a strong dose of hard work, to make it a reality. Sometimes the extra “umph” is someone else who helps along the way. For both Calli Williams, Mitchell, S.D., and Jake McCaleb, Gordonsville, Tenn., they had a passion for the Angus business that industry veterans helped them cultivate. Hear how these producers in opposite parts of the country started small, what they’ve done to grow their business, how they learned the ropes and what they found they could do without until the timing was right.

Whether you’re a longtime breeder or just beginning, this episode is full of inspiration on how to offer help to the next generation or how to get started on your journey.

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully 

GUESTS: Calli Williams and Jake McCaleb

Calli Williams and her husband, Tate, are first-generation Angus breeders from Mitchell, S.D. They operate TW Angus, where they sell bulls and run a direct-to-consumer beef business. Calli also works remotely for an ag-based company, balancing her off-farm career with ranch life. Calli and Tate are raising their two young boys, who enjoy helping on the ranch.  

Jake McCaleb, Gordonsville, Tenn., bought his first Angus cow in 2012 and started McCaleb Bros. Angus, which he hopes to pass on to his sons one day. He currently serves as vice president of the Upper Cumberland Angus Association and is a fleet manager for his family’s trucking business.  

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SPONSOR:

A good sale book can make or break a sale. Pasture to PublishSM gives you control, and access to Angus Media’s exclusive mailing list, global search features, sale book requests, live EPDs and lot QR codes.  Upgrade your experience with Pasture to Publish today.  Create your free account by visiting www.pasturetopublish.com.

Reach the right audience, every time. With Angus Media’s Pasture to Publish, our online sale book portal, you can use a customized mailing list to put your genetics in front of targeted customers. We'll give you real-time analytics to ensure your marketing plan is driving people to your offering. It’s a program designed with you in mind; call 816-383-5200 today to get started. 

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.

From his early years growing up as “Dr. Dan’s son” to paving his own way in the cattle business, Randy Daniel, Colbert, Ga., has always had a keen eye for cattle. Combining that with Angus tools, he grew his cow herd and his reputation in the business — and he shares many solid bits of wisdom from that growth in this episode. A long sought-after judge, Daniel has been all across the globe evaluating cattle and gives some insight on the show ring today. This conversation covers everything from raising kids in the Angus breed to looking back on a successful career.

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully

GUEST:

Randy Daniel, Colbert, Ga., grew up in the cattle business, active in the National Junior Angus Association and learning from his dad, Dan Daniel, who was a well-respected animal scientist. He attended the University of Georgia, met his wife, Beth, after graduation, and together they grew the Partisover Ranch from the ground up. Early on they made a purchase from Spur Ranch, which included the Burgess cow that most of their genetics still trace back to today. Daniel has judged cattle shows across the United States and globally, and he has a heart for sharing his industry knowledge and mentoring the next generation. Daniel and Beth raised their two children in the Angus business and now enjoy time with their grandchildren.

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SPONSOR: This episode is brought to you by Deer Valley Farms, where for more than 20 years, they've focused on the form and function needed to improve the bottom line. Join them on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 10 a.m. in Fayetteville, Tenn., for their 19th annual production sale. Check out what they have to offer, including 128 females and 136 18-month-old bulls.  

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.

In this bonus episode, new American Angus Association president Jim Brinkley joins fellow Board members Darrell Stevenson and Ron Hinrichsen to recap Angus Convention, what they learned and the conversations had among Angus breeders in Kansas City.

The 142nd Annual Convention of Delegates concluded the weekend of education, fellowship and celebration. The group shares updates about newly elected leadership, strategic plans and what’s ahead.

HOST: 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.

Darrell Stevenson, 2026 vice president and vice chairman of the American Angus Association Board and native of White Sulphur Spring, Mont., holds strong ties to the Angus breed and a history of activity in the Montana Angus Association. 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.

Ron Hinrichsen, director on the American Angus Association Board, has been involved in multiple sectors of the beef cattle industry throughout his professional career and is a third-generation Angus breeder. Ron and his wife, Lynne, established R&L Angus/Hinrichsen Ranch in the Flint Hills of Kansas near Westmoreland, upon graduating from Kansas State University. While raising high-quality cattle, Ron and his wife, Lynne, have two children — Cale and Eva. Along with the cattle operation, Ron's professional career started in semen sales and later moved into animal health sales.

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President's Letter

Angus Genetics Inc. research projects

American Angus Association Annual Report  

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 John Stika

GUEST: Gary Smith

Gary Smith had no plans to become a meat scientist.

In this episode, Smith shares how he found his path in the industry to dedicating more than six decades helping transform the beef industry through research, education and mentoring. He highlights how far the industry has come, including the development of vacuum packaging and the important work of the National Beef Quality Audit helping shape today’s quality-focused beef industry.

Smith also provides some insights on the future and the importance of delivering a consistent, quality eating experience for consumers.

GUEST: Oklahoma native Gary Smith, with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and a master’s in animal breeding, was tapped to fill a vacant meat science professor position at Texas A&M University where he completed a doctoral degree in meat science. Smith was at the forefront of industry-changing research, including studies on beef palatability, food safety, product packaging, beef shelf life, transoceanic shipment of meat, and food safety, including mitigation of E. Coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Listeria in packing plants. He has been an advocate of value-based marketing and worked to keep ranchers profitable. Alongside a team of researchers from Texas A&M and Colorado State University, Smith pioneered the National Beef Quality Audit. Other notable industry research projects include the International Beef Quality Audit, National Consumer Retail Beef Study and exploring USDA beef quality and yield grade standards.

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SPONSOR:

Ingram Angus is committed to producing high-quality, proven genetics that perform for real-world cattle producers. You’re invited to their Annual Production Sale on Friday, Nov. 7, on the farm in Pulaski, Tenn. For more information on some of the breed’s most proven cow families, visit ingramangus.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.

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully  

GUESTS: James Coffey

James Coffey’s granddad discouraged him from returning to the farm. But he did it anyway.

This episode covers Coffey’s path from business owner back to the Hustonville, Ky., farm, and details his No. 1 focus: the commercial customer. Knowing their needs turned into a large customer buyback program, which is an additional source of both revenue and data for Branch View Angus. Coffey covers how the tobacco industry shaped the cattle business in recent decades, lessons from his outside business that he can apply to his Angus operation and how he views progress.

 GUESTS: James Coffey is a fifth-generation Angus breeder raised on the family’s cattle and tobacco farm, Branch View Angus, near Hustonville, Ky. Coffey has spent his life working alongside his father and grandfather helping with the cattle, and previously the tobacco operation.

After graduating from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, James worked for Coopers and Lybrand, Louisville, Ky., a Big Six accounting firm. With a desire to be closer to the farm, he joined Kerbaugh and Rodes, CPAs, Danville, Ky., and finished his CPA certification. In 1993 he purchased Pitman Creek Wholesale (PCW), a sporting goods distribution company. While expanding PCW, James set out to grow the family Angus operation. Since 2011 the family has hosted the largest annual Angus sale in Kentucky, one of the largest sales in the east.

James and his wife, LuAnn, have a son, David Reid, who is the sixth generation to grow up on the farm. James also has two sons, Addison and Bennett. 

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Looking for your next influential sire? The Angus Bull Book: 2025 Angus Sire Directory is your resource for some of the top genetics in the breed.  

View this inaugural sire directory for updated EPDs as you make breeding and semen purchasing decisions at www.angus.to/angusbullbook02025api.  

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: Mick and Ross Varilek

Varilek Angus Ranch was Angus when Angus wasn’t the norm.  After a rough dehorning experience, Elvern Varilek turned to the breed in the 1940s, and the family has never looked back. Mick Varilek returned to the ranch after graduating from South Dakota State University, with his new bride, Lynn, and they raised three children alongside the Angus cattle. Now their son Ross and his family have done the same. They are gearing up to host their 74th annual Angus production sale this spring, but for all the heritage their southeast South Dakota ranch holds, it’s also a place of innovation. The Varileks have embraced new technologies like DNA testing, ultrasound, and video sales to improve their herd and reach more customers. Listen to this episode to find out why they do what they do, how their involvement in the local rodeo scene has helped shape their business and their thoughts on the future.

GUESTS:

Mick Varilek is a lifelong Angus breeder and rancher from Geddes, S.D. Varilek Angus consists of 500 registered Angus females, 4,000 acres of native pasture and 1,000 acres of grass hay, irrigated alfalfa and cropland. The ranch markets 175 registered Angus bulls and 30 registered females to commercial and seedstock producers each February. His son Ross returned after graduating from South Dakota State University, and he and his wife are raising their family on 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.

The American Angus Association Board of Directors met in Saint Joseph, Mo., Sept. 8-11 and covered a variety of topics including:  

• Long-range Association objectives  
• Research project updates 
• Review of genomic ownership policy  
• Association financial forecasts and entity budgets 
• Events and opportunities to come at the 2025 Angus Convention 

HOST: Mark McCully 

GUESTS:
Jonathan Perry, chairman of the American Angus Association, has spent much of his life working in the purebred business. As general manager of Deer Valley, Perry developed an Angus program that balances all economically relevant traits in cattle that maintain structural soundness and phenotype. Perry and his wife established the Hickory House restaurant in 2014, and it specializes in serving 100% CAB-branded product.  

Jim Brinkley, current vice 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).  

Darrell Stevenson, treasurer of the American Angus Association Board and native of White Sulphur Spring, Mont., holds strong ties to the Angus breed and a history of activity in the Montana Angus Association. 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. 

Mark Johnson, director on the American Angus Association Board, operates J&J Beef Genetics, LLC along with his wife, Brenda, and two daughters, Sydney and Charley, near Orlando, Okla. Johnson grew up on a centennial family farm in Deerfield, Mo. He attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M junior college and later Oklahoma State University (OSU). He then completed 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.

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President's Letter
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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.

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully  

GUESTS: David and Carol Medeiros 

Starting out as first-generation Angus breeders wasn’t easy, but David and Carol Medeiros were determined to make it work. In the tough agriculture climate of the 1980s, they balanced off-farm jobs, raising kids and managing cattle near Denair, Calif. With teamwork and hard work, they grew their operation and partnered with the Dal Porto family to launch an annual production sale — now the second-longest running Angus sale in California. 

While their vision of the ideal cow has remained steady, their business has evolved, including the expansion to a ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills. In this episode, David and Carol share their story and how they’re now helping the next generation of Angus families build dreams of their own. 

GUESTS: David and Carol Medeiros own and operate Rancho Casino, in both Denair, Calif., and Purdum, Neb. They both grew up in the agriculture business, and the Angus herd began with David’s first 4-H heifers that he showed during high school.  

David earned and Carol both earned degrees from Cal Poly State University, where they made connections that helped them in their career. Carol is a certified public accountant and was a partner in her own firm until they sold it a few years ago.  

The pair raised three children on the ranch in California, and now split their time between the home location there and the ranch they acquired several years ago in the Sandhills of Nebraska. Their goal remains to raise maternal, high -fertility, low -birthweight cattle that get “better every year.”  

SPONSOR: Ready to see how Vermeer can help you get more done in a day? Visit Vermeer.com/angus to learn more and find your local dealer.  

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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.