The Angus Conversation

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, Right

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.

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 Reiman

GUESTS:  

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.

Starting From Scratch: The Fink Beef Genetics Story 

From a few cows in the back yard (yes, seriously) to consistently ranking among the top 25 largest seedstock producers in the United States, Galen and Lori Fink built their ranch and reputation from the ground up. Near Manhattan, Kan., they grew Fink Beef Genetics on leased ground and by renting space in commercial cows, pioneering the embryo transfer (ET) model many use today. They share the leap of faith it took to give up full-time jobs, how they generate and implement new ideas, and one of their first splurges when they were finally sure they were going to make it.  

HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman

GUESTS: Galen and Lori Fink, Fink Beef Genetics, began their Angus seedstock operation in 1977 with a handful of cows and lots of hard work. By day, Galen managed the Kansas State University purebred herd, and Lori was the Kansas Angus Association secretary; and their own interests came after that. In 2006 they purchased a piece of ground and moved their ranch near Randolph, Kan.  

The Finks were named 2002 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Seedstock Producers of the Year and 2008 Certified Angus Beef Commitment to Excellence Award winners. Galen received the Beef Improvement Federation Pioneer Award in 2021. They’re also co-owners of the Little Apple Brewing Company (LABCo) in Manhattan, Kan.  

Today, their daughter Megan Larson is now involved, along with her husband, Chad, and their daughter, Whitley.   

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 there’s a challenge in the cattle business, sometimes it’s easier to point fingers than to find solutions. Bovine congestive heart failure (BCHF) has been a growing topic of discussion in the last decade, and this episode unpacks if it's a genetic problem or a management problem? And perhaps, most importantly, is it an Angus problem?

Hear from a breeder, a veterinarian and a geneticist as they uncover real-world examples and research findings to help put the pieces together. Leave with an idea of what we know and what we’re hoping to know in the future.

HOSTS: Mark McCully, Miranda Reiman and Kelli Retallick-Riley 

GUESTS:  

Randall Spare is a large animal veterinarian in southwest Kansas with a wide reach in the cow-calf sector and consulting with feedlot operations. Growing up on a Kansas dairy farm, Randall went to Kansas State University for both his undergraduate and veterinary degrees. After gaining early experience in another practice, he helped establish Ashland Veterinary Center (AVC) and has been helping producers across the state ever since.

Today he serves as president, and through dedication and teamwork, AVC has become the largest veterinary practice in southwest Kansas. Randall and his wife, Michelle, are parents to five children, Anna, Bethany, Mark, Abigail and John.

 
Darrell Stevenson, Stevenson Angus Ranch, has strong ties to the Angus breed and a history of involvement in the Montana Angus Association. Stevenson’s grandparents were charter members in 1951, and his father participated in the first National Junior Angus Showmanship contest in 1967. Stevenson was involved in 4-H and FFA, where he served as a state officer. He went to Montana State University and Oklahoma State University before returning home to the ranch near Hobson. He and his wife Sara have two children, CJ and Claire. 

Stevenson has served on the American Angus Association Board of Directors since 2020. 

Related Content: Healthy Hearts Start with Knowing More

Video: Research on Bovine Congestive Heart Failure

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 the cattle business, it’s easy to follow the fads or to veer slowly off course, but for Kelly Schaff, discipline has been his trademark. He gets to know each calf, clips his own bulls and takes many of the pictures seen throughout Schaff Angus Valley’s marketing materials. Maybe that’s in part because he’s particular, but also because it makes him better at his roles of customer consultant and chief breeder.  

“I think when you really like the cattle and know them, you can represent them better, but also you like to look at good cattle. If you're around them every day, it gives you incentive to breed better cattle,” Schaff says.  

This episode covers the ranch and herd history, breeding decisions and how they’ve intentionally built a brand to match. He talks about tools and diversity in the breed, the advantage of competition and how to stay focused.  

 
GUEST:  

Kelly Schaff, Schaff Angus Valley, is a fourth-generation North Dakota rancher who has spent his entire career building and refining the family’s operation with his wife, Martie Jo. Their daughters, Kelsie and Kourtney, make up the fifth generation — with a young granddaughter now starting the sixth.  

 
Schaff was born and raised in the Angus business, taking on responsibility early. He learned breeding and customer service from his grandpa, dad and uncles, and then added his own stamp. In 2001 he and Martie purchased a core group of cows and took the reins as his parents retired. Today they sell Angus cattle worldwide.  

Related Content: 

• Believing in Bonsma
• Giving Back — I am Angus with Kelly Schaff

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 you’ve made a career out of being a lifelong learner, you’ve got a lot of wisdom to share. These guests gave us practical nuggets, visionary insight and a few laughs, too.  

Hear from Larry Corah and Dave Nichols, who crossed paths at Kansas State University decades ago and have been colleagues and friends ever since. They cover everything from the impact of genomics on breed registries to how incoming animal science students have changed over the years.

HOSTS: Mark McCully and Miranda Reiman

GUESTS:  Larry Corah and Dave Nichols

Larry Corah, professor emeritus Kansas State University, former Certified Angus Beef vice president  

 Growing up on a small North Dakota farm during the 1950s, Larry Corah watched as technology reshaped the agriculture industry. That background led to a passion for learning by doing, and he earned degrees from North Dakota State University, Michigan State University and the University of Wyoming before settling in Manhattan, Kan., with his wife and young children. He began as the feedlot specialist at Kansas State University (K-State) and held many roles there, where he developed an internship program and mentored many students. He worked briefly for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association before he spent two decades helping create and lead the supply development efforts at Certified Angus Beef as a vice president.   

 
Dave Nichols, professor emeritus Kansas State University  

Raised on a commercial beef cattle, swine and crops operation in Indiana, Dave Nichols’ love for agriculture drove him to earn degrees from Purdue and Kansas State University (K-State). After earning his doctorate from K-State, Nichols stayed on campus as faculty. From 1981 to 2021, Nichols taught and mentored more than 14,000 students on the topics of livestock and carcass evaluation, sales management, and beef systems management. His teachings went beyond the classroom, as he led students on a variety of student abroad trips and has spoken and judged at both national and world events. Dave and his wife, Anita, currently own and operate A&D Ranch near Manhattan. The pair has two children and recently welcomed their first grandchild.   

Related Content: 

• Life Long Student, Teacher: https://www.angusjournal.com/articlepdf/
• Dr. Dave Nichols, Livestock Publications Council Headliner Award Winner:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0LsT3lvfoU

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.