Issuu

OCTOBER 2026

Selling

18 Month Bulls Registered Females Volume Commercial Females

For generations, Beckton has been recognized as a leading breeder of Red Angus cattle, known for producing animals that have industry leading maternal traits such as calving ease, and robust growth - traits that enhance the success of commercial cow-calf herds. Our focus on wellrounded genetics and maternal strengths have helped us become the preferred provider for replacement females and for establishing and building productive cow herds. 17 of the top 20 sires in the entire Red Angus breed for Calving Ease EPD are Beckton sires or descended from Beckton sires 16 of the top 20 sires in the entire Red Angus breed for Average Daily Gain EPD are Beckton sires or descended from Beckton sires 16 of the top 20 sires in the entire Red Angus breed for HerdBuilder Index are Beckton sires or descended from Beckton sires 19 of the top 20 sires in the breed for low Birth Weight EPD are Beckton sires or descended from Beckton sires

becktonredangus.com office@becktonredangus.com 37 Beckton Drive Sheridan, WY 82801 307-674-6095

OCTOBER 2026 Volume 62 | Issue 8

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEPARTMENT COLUMNS 4 8 12 16 20 30 76 86 94 106 108

Letter from the Editor Board Commentary Association Commentary Breed Improvement Marketing Update Member Services Bulletin Junior Update Show Results Member News Calendar of Events Advertising Index

42 PRIORITIZING DURING DROUGHT Preparing for drought will help producers maintain the most productive females

56 PRESERVING THE LIFESTYLE

Succession planning helps secure the future of the ag industry

70 SELECTING FOR LONGEVITY Cover photo by Annette Steffan

Studying the genetic architecture and effects of herterosis

81 2026 JRA COLLEGE

SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

49 BONDED BY COMMUNITY

Miller family recognized as 2026 Commercial Producer of the year

Red Angus Association of America Group: Red Angus Stockyard

Red Angus America

redangusamerica

RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

62 GENERATIONS OF GRIT

Fisher family operates multi-generational ranch

Remington Red Angus 13870 Remington Road Vale, SD 57788 Jesse Cibic 605-423-1144 OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

METATHESIOPHOBIA

Luke Bolin, Director of Communications

Written by Luke Bolin

luke@redangus.org 870-754-1160

I bet you thought opening an article with a heading like that meant you were going to read about a new genetic defect or some parasite we should all be worried about. Or, you might have assumed this creativeminded communications guy was trying to impress his more, scientifically-minded coworkers with a big word. Nope. Boiled down to its simplest definition, metathesiophobia is the fear of change, and I promise that is the last time I’m using it. I grew up with a mom who had a pretty serious case of it. Why paint the kitchen if the color still looks fine? Why move the water tank if the cows know where it is? Why try something different when what we have is working? As you might have guessed, I did not inherit that trait. Change has always intrigued me. Not for the sake of doing something different, but the kind of change that starts with asking questions. What could be made better? Could we reach more people? Could we tell this story differently? What happens if we are willing to take a chance? Over the last eight months, I have asked myself plenty of those questions. There have been a lot of changes in my own life during that time. Some exciting, some uncomfortable and a few that scared the heck out of me. Along the way, there have also been little winks from God reminding

Affiliated with National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Beef Improvement Federation U.S. Beef Breed’s Council National Pedigreed Livestock Council

me that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. Right now, that is here, with the privilege of leading a communications team that cares deeply about where Red Angus is headed. That is why the changes you see in this issue have not been taken lightly. As you flip through these pages, you will see a new Red Angus logo and branding system, a completely redesigned magazine and a few subtle hints of other projects we have been working on. So, why change? The Association has evolved considerably since our last major identity update in 2020. Leadership has changed, our reach has expanded and a new strategic direction is taking shape. We wanted the way we present ourselves to reflect that momentum. Throughout the process, we kept coming back to three things: recognition, confidence and heritage. We wanted something simple and recognizable that reflects the professionalism and momentum of today’s association while honoring where we came from. This was never about walking away from our history, it was about carrying the values that built this association into whatever comes next. Getting to this point took a lot of people. Our Affiliate Promotions Committee challenged ideas and provided thoughtful input. Our staff leadership and Board of Directors trusted us with something that

means a great deal to this membership. And my team poured themselves into the details, including plenty most people will never notice. With the new brand identity and new look of the magazine it feels like this is Issue No. 1 for me and the team. Of course, it isn’t. It is Issue No. 8 of Volume 62, and I love the reminder that we are a part of something much bigger. For all of our talk about what is new, we have been handed something that existed long before any of us arrived. Sixty-two volumes of stories, cattle, families, ideas, arguments, progress and history. We simply get to care for it for a while, make our mark and eventually (hopefully many years down the road) hand it to the next group who will inevitably decide something we did needs to change. I suppose that is how this whole thing is supposed to work. So, as you take in the new look, I hope you will set your fear of change aside and give it a chance. Embrace it like that first cool morning after a long southern summer. There is a lot ahead for Red Angus. More stories to tell, more ideas to try and, yes, probably a few more things we are going to change along the way. We are focused on the future, but we will always be driven by the breed.

RED ANGUS MAGAZINE STAFF

GENERAL INFORMATION

Director of Communications Luke Bolin 870-754-1160 | luke@redangus.org Managing Editor Faye Smith 316-249-4336 | faye@redangus.org Industry Parternship Specialist Jennifer Hudlow 580-822-5339 | jenniferhudlow@redangus.org

Published 10 times annually by the Red Angus Association of America at the national headquarters (2012 S. Post Rd, Oklahoma City, OK). A non-political magazine dedicated to the promotion and improvement of breeding, feeding and marketing Red Angus cattle. Subscription rate: U.S., 1 year - $30; 2 years - $55. Canada and Mexico, 1 year - $44, 2 years - $82 (Payable in U.S. Funds Only). International Air Mail, 1 year - $55; 2 years - $100 (Payable in U.S. Funds Only). These rates are based on Third Class Bulk mailed from Jefferson City, Missouri. Add $20 per year for First Class.

EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING POLICY Advertising and editorial content are not limited to any particular class of product or subject matter. However, we reserve the right to refuse publication of any material not within the bounds of high agricultural ethics. While we devote the utmost care to the preparation of each advertisement, we cannot be held responsible for ads received after the ad deadline. Furthermore, the accuracy and content of copy received over the telephone is entirely the responsibility of the advertiser. No adjustment for incorrect ad copy will be considered for ads that are received after the ad deadline or that are placed over the telephone. All unused reserved advertising space that is not canceled by the advertising deadline will be billed to the advertiser.

RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

PROVEN GENETICS. BUILT FOR REAL-WORLD PROFIT. For generations, Bieber Red Angus has produced cattle that excel where it matters most— fertility, calving ease, growth, maternal strength and carcass value. This fall, we're offering an elite set of registered bred heifers, cows, and age-advantaged bulls backed by one of the industry's most trusted breeding programs.

BIEBER FEVER FALL FEMALE & BULL SALE Thursday, November 12 • 1:00 pm CeNTral

selliNg over 200 head aT The raNCh Near leola, sd or live oN dvauCTioN

**For the first time in five years, we will sell our entire age-advantaged bull offering in our Fall Female & Bull Sale in South Dakota. For more information, visit our website.**

REQUEST YOUR FREE SALE CATALOG Be among the first to preview the complete offering, pedigrees, performance data, and videos before sale day.

sCaN The Qr Code or visiT www.bieberredaNgus.Com ® Office (605) 439-3628 • Craig (605) 216-8169 11450 353rd Ave. Leola, SD 57456

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

ASSOCIATION STAFF CONTACT

RED ANGUS

ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA 2012 S. Post Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73130 940-387-3502 | Fax 888-829-6069 RedAngus.org

ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP STAFF

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Greg Ruehle 720-916-1135 | GregRuehle@redangus.org EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Halla Ramsey Ext. 10 | halla@redangus.org DIRECTOR OF BREED IMPROVEMENT Larry Keenan Ext. 39 | larrykeenan@redangus.org DATABASE & REGISTRATION CONSULTANT Kenda Ponder Ext. 15 | kenda@redangus.org CO-DIRECTORS OF BEEF SUPPLY & MARKET DEVELOPMENT Troy Marshall 719-342-0001| troy@redangus.org Ashley McCoy 308-655-0748 | ashley@redangus.org DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Luke Bolin 870-754-1160 | luke@redangus.org

MEMBER SERVICES

REGISTRATION REPRESENTATIVE Brenna DeVoe Ext. 1 | membership@redangus.org

BEEF SUPPLY & MARKETING

COMMERCIAL MARKETING SPECIALIST Cory Peters 402-418-2351 | cory@redangus.org Taylor Ohlde 913-626-2715 | taylor@redangus.org Elizabeth Caskey 706-513-4951 | elizabeth@redangus.org Jesse Henson 828-734-3451 | jesse@redangus.org

IT & PROGRAMMING

DATABAS PROGRAMMERS Tom Ballard, Roy Sebastian and Praveen Seerapu

SHOWS

SHOW SPECIALIST Erin Dorsey 970-396-5420 | erin@redangus.org

EDUCATION

JUNIOR PROGRAM COORDINATOR Taylor Dorsey 970-397-0356 | taylordorsey@redangus.org

COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST Samantha Corn 979-450-1819 | samanthacorn@redangus.org CREATIVE CONTENT SPECIALIST Jared Farley 509-520-3527 | jared@redangus.org

RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

RED ANGUS MAGAZINE STAFF

MANAGER EDITOR Faye Smith 316-249-4336 | faye@redangus.org INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP SPECIALIST Jennifer Hudlow 580-822-5339 | jenniferhudlow@redangus.org

RAAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Jeff Pettit | Sebree, KY jeff@diamondpcattle.com

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT AREA 4 DIRECTOR - SOUTHWEST Tony Ballinger | Morgan Mill, TX anthony.ballinger@akralos.com SECOND VICE PRESIDENT AREA 4 DIRECTOR - GREAT PLAINS Jason Anderson | Oberlin, KS jasonea9@hotmail.com EX-OFFICIO Kyley DeVoe | Justin, TX kyley@3klandandcattle.com TREASURER / REGION A DIRECTOR Keith Hickle | Auburn, WA keith.a.hickle@gmail.com BOARD SECRETARY / AREA 5 DIRECTOR - NORTHERN PLAINS Stephanie Jung | Mina, SD lazyjbarranch@yahoo.com REGION B DIRECTOR Craig Bieber | Leola, SD craig@bieberredangus.com REGION C DIRECTOR John Langdon | Benson, NC johnlangdon5@gmail.com AREA 1 DIRECTOR - WEST George Murdock | Pendleton, OR murdockcattle@gmail.com AREA 2 DIRECTOR - MONTANA Craig DeBoer | Manhattan, MT ctredangus@yahoo.com AREA 3 DIRECTOR - ROCKY MOUNTAIN Ron Christensen | Sterling, UT hotshoeredangus@gmail.com AREA 7 DIRECTOR - NORTHEAST Rob Hess | Hershey, PA hessfarm@verizon.net AREA 8 DIRECTOR - SOUTHEAST Michael Watkins | Harrison, AR watkinscattleco@windstream.net AREA 9 DIRECTOR - MIDWEST Will Andras | Manchester, IL andras@irtc.net

RAAA COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

PRESIDENT Jeff Pettit | Sebree, KY jeff@diamondpcattle.com FIRST VIDE PRESIDENT / AREA 4 DIRECTOR - SOUTHWEST Tony Ballinger | Morgan Mill, TX anthony.ballinger@akralos.com SECOND VICE PRESIDENT / AREA 6 DIRECTOR - GREAT PLAINS Jason Anderson | Oberlin, KS jasonea9@hotmail.com

TREASURER / REGION A DIRECTOR Keith Hickle | Auburn, WA keith.a.hickle@gmail.com BOARD SECRETARY / AREA 5 DIRECTOR - NORTHERN PLAINS Stephanie Jung | Mina, SD lazyjbarranch@yahoo.com EX-OFFICIO Kyley DeVoe | Justin, TX kyley@3klandandcattle.com

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

AFFILIATE PROMOTIONS

Annette Steffan heartrivergenetics@yahoo.com AWARDS

Tena Ketchum | ketchum@midrivers.com BREED IMPROVEMENT / NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Tony Ballinger | anthony.ballinger@adm.com CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS

George Murdock | murdockcattle@gmail.com CONVENTION / INDUSTRY AFFAIRS

Rob Hess | hessfarm@verizon.net FINANCE

Keith Hickle | keith.a.hickle@gmail.com JUNIOR ADVISORY / RASF BOARD PRESIDENT

Kyley DeVoe | kyley@3klandandcattle.com MARKETING

Bryan Gill | bigredgenetics@hotmail.com RULES & REGULATIONS

Johnny Rogers | jrrogers1968@gmail.com SHOW & SALE

Will Andras | andras@irtc.net STRATEGIC PLANNING

Kelli Brown | kelli@rabrownranch.com TECHNICAL

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

ASSOCIATION UPDATES

BOARD COMMENTARY

LEGACY ISN’T SOMETHING YOU INHERIT, IT’S SOMETHING YOU BUILD Written by Tony Ballinger

When people talk about ranch legacy, the conversation often begins with how many generations a family has been involved in agriculture. Some ranches have been passed down for four or five generations, while others go back even further. Those stories deserve respect because they represent decades of hard work, sacrifice and stewardship. But for those of us who are first-generation ranchers, legacy carries a different meaning. Legacy is not something we have inherited; it’s something we’re trying to build. Our operation didn’t begin with a large land base, an established cow herd, or generations of cattle records. Like many first-generation producers, we started with a vision, a willingness to work and a belief that if we made enough good decisions over time, we could create something worth passing on someday. One of the realities of being a firstgeneration seedstock producer is learning how to grow without having all the resources you wish you had. For us, leased grass has been a critical part of that journey. Much of our operation relies on leased ground, which brings both opportunities and challenges. We don’t always have complete control over every acre we manage, but it has allowed us to expand and improve our cow herd while remaining financially disciplined. In many ways, leased grass has taught us to focus on efficiency. Every cow needs to earn her keep. Every mating decision needs to move the herd forward. Every investment must serve a purpose because resources are finite, and mistakes are expensive. That mindset has shaped our approach to genetics. While many producers choose one color and devote their entire program to it, we’ve found value in both red and black Angus cattle. We appreciate the strengths each bring to the table and have built our program around the belief that good cattle come in both colors. 8

RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

Tony Ballinger serves as the First Vice President and Area 4 Director

anthony.ballinger@akralos.com

The Red Angus breed has earned a reputation for maternal excellence, fertility disposition and adaptability. Those are traits that every commercial producer values and that contribute directly to profitability. At the same time, Black Angus cattle have established themselves with strong market acceptance, performance and carcass merit. Rather than seeing red and black hides as competing options, we’ve come to appreciate the blend of the two. Our goal has never been to chase trends or colors, our goal has always been to raise functional, productive cattle that work in real-world environments and create value for our customers. That philosophy extends beyond genetics and into larger conversations about legacy. For us, ranch legacy is not measured by how long we’ve been here. It’s measured by whether we’re building something that can last. It’s creating a cow herd that is better than the one we started with. It’s developing genetics that help commercial cattlemen become more profitable. It’s maintaining relationships with landowners who have trusted us with their grass. It’s caring for the resources we utilize so they remain productive for years to come, and perhaps most importantly, it’s demonstrating that there is still room in the cattle industry for young and first generation producers who are willing to work for the opportunity. The cattle business has never been easy. Markets fluctuate, weather patterns change, input costs rise, and there are always factors outside our control. Yet, every challenge reinforces the importance of building cattle that are resilient, efficient, and capable of thriving under practical conditions. That’s where herd health becomes such an important piece of the legacy equation. Great genetics can only reach their potential when supported by sound management and herd health practices. We believe longevity starts long before a calf enters the sale ring. It begins with

proper nutrition, strategic health protocols, and a commitment to raising cattle that can remain productive for years, rather than seasons. A healthy cow that breeds back consistently, raises a quality calf and stays in the herd year after year contributes more to profitability than any short-term gain. Those kinds of females are the foundation of sustainable cattle operations, and sustainable operations are ultimately what create lasting legacies. As first-generation seedstock breeders, we may not have decades of family history behind us. But, what we do have is a deep appreciation for the opportunity in front of us. Every calf crop, every breeding season and every relationship with our customers is another chance to build something meaningful. Legacy is often viewed as looking backward, but we believe it’s equally about looking forward. It’s about making decisions today that create opportunities tomorrow. It’s about building a cow herd with purpose. It’s about stewarding the land, whether we own it or lease it. Lastly, it’s about proving that with perseverance, vision and a commitment to quality, firstgeneration ranchers can create a legacy every bit as meaningful as the ones that inspired them. The truth is that every ranch starts somewhere. Our story is still being written, and that’s what makes the journey worth it.

We’ve moved! The Red Angus Association of America has officially moved to Oklahoma City!

Please direct all mail to our new address: 2012 S. Post Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73130

Semen Available! Calvo Jessi 631D

(Full sister to Calvo Forager 57E)

Calvo Forager 57E #4056728 (OCC Red Grazer 610Z x SR Jessi 683A)

Upcoming Herd Sire

SR Jessi 683A

(Dam of Forager 57E & Julio L251)

Calvo Julio L251 #5205337

(Blairs External Law x SR Jessi 683A)

Upcoming Herd Sire

Joe: 605-830-2210 • Rick: 402-760-1274 calvorachael@yahoo.com

www.calvofamilyredangus.com

Limited semen available

Calvo Patron M446 #5096763

(Calvo 4Real 102J x Calvo Vanessa H907)

RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

Confidence Starts in the Cow Herd. Time and again, we’ve seen bull buyers gain confidence in their decisions after touring the cows. There’s a reason. Our cow herd is where generations of selection show up – fertility, sound feet, functional udders, disposition, efficiency and the ability to bring home a good calf year after year. We’ve done the hard sorting. The cow herd is the proof. #5155665 BERWALD ABIGRACE 5016

Choose the bulls that fit your program and trust the cows behind them. Decisions Made Easy.

#1699731 LELAND FIRE POINT Y50-4600

Request Your Catalog:

#4310337 LELAND ROLLIN ON 0068

And receive our monthly newsletter.

Annual Production Sale

Friday, March 12, 2027 1 p.m. MT • At the Ranch 41 mi. N of Beach, ND, or 34 mi. SE of Sidney, MT

Selling: 185 Bulls • 65 Comm. Yearling Heifers Including age-advantaged bulls from Koester Red Angus

#4310859 LELAND DOMAIN 0330

Connect with us – and ride along on our ranch!

Leland RED ANGUS RANCH Melvin & Luella Leland • (701) 565-2347 Todd & Carla Leland • (701) 565-2361 192 Hwy 16 N • Sidney, MT 59270 lelandra@restel.net • www.lelandredangus.com

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

ASSOCIATION UPDATES

ASSOCIATION COMMENTARY

A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO SERVICE, EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT

Halla Ramsey, Executive Director of Operations

Written by Halla Ramsey

As the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) begins its next chapter in Oklahoma, one priority stands above the rest: our members. Our members are our number one priority. The people who answer the phone, process registrations, assist with REDSPro, resolve billing questions, support DNA submissions or connect an affiliate with educational resources directly influence the value of Red Angus membership. As we build our Oklahoma City-based team, we are placing renewed emphasis on making those interactions timely, knowledgeable, accurate and personal. We want membership in the RAAA to be an experience and journey, not a one-time transaction or event. From the day someone first joins the association through every stage of building their herd, and becoming more involved in Red Angus, we want RAAA to be a consistent partner and resource along the way. RAAA is currently filling several key positions, including an Office Manager, Membership and Affiliate Program Manager, Registry Program Manager and Genomics Program Manager. While each position has a specific area of responsibility, they share one expectation: provide exceptional service to Red Angus members. A Stronger Member Experience The new Office Manager will serve as an operational hub for the national office while also being a primary point of contact for members, affiliates, visitors and industry partners. When someone calls the RAAA, sends an email or walks through our doors, we want that interaction to begin with someone who is prepared to help, find an answer or quickly connect the member with the right person. The expectation is simple: members should feel welcomed, valued and confident that their request is moving forward timely and accurately. Investing in Our Affiliates and Education Our state and regional affiliates are an important extension of RAAA. They 12

RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

connect breeders, provide educational opportunities, develop future leaders and promote Red Angus at the grassroots level. As the association continues to grow, we believe those organizations deserve more direct support from the national office. The position of Membership and Affiliate Program Manager will assist members throughout their membership journey while also having dedicated responsibility for affiliate outreach and member education. The Membership and Affiliate Program Manager will build relationships with affiliate leadership, help coordinate educational opportunities and create a stronger connection between regional affiliates and the national office. The role will also work across departments to develop webinars, onboarding resources and educational materials that will help members better understand RAAA programs and tools. We want to proactively engage members, helping them understand not only how to use association programs, but why those resources can add value to their operations. Whether someone is joining RAAA for the first time, learning REDSPro, becoming involved with an affiliate or growing into a multi-generation Red Angus operation, we want the association to remain connected throughout that experience. Strengthening Registry and Genomics Support The Registry Program Manager will provide leadership for one of the Association’s most important day-to-day functions. This position will oversee registry operations and serve as a resource for registrations, transfers, REDSPro questions and other complex data transactions. The integrity of the Red Angus herdbook remains paramount. Accuracy can never be sacrificed for speed, but members should also expect efficient processing, timely communication and knowledgeable assistance.

halla@redangus.org 940-387-3502 Ext. 10

Our Genomics Program Manager will bring that same service philosophy to RAAA’s DNA program. The position will oversee genomic testing processes while serving as a resource for members with questions about sample collection, testing options and results. Genomics continue to play an important role in genetic evaluation and herd improvement. As technology advances, so does our responsibility to help members understand and effectively use it. Both of these positions are vital to overall breed improvement and staying relevant in the bigger picture of the beef industry. More Than New Positions The Oklahoma City transition gives RAAA an opportunity to evaluate how we operate, identify where members need additional support and intentionally build a team around those needs. We do not want a member’s relationship with RAAA to consist only of individual transactions. We want to build an ongoing member experience where each interaction strengthens the relationship between the member and their association. Strong programs and technologies are important, but they cannot replace responsive communication, knowledgeable staff and personal service. Our commitment moving forward is to continue raising the standard. We want questions answered, members connected with the right resources, affiliates supported, educational opportunities expanded and transactions processed accurately and efficiently. As we open the doors to our new Oklahoma City office and welcome the next generation of RAAA staff, we do so with a clear expectation. Members first. Every day, every interaction, every department. That is our commitment to the membership and the standard on which we intend to build the next chapter of Red Angus.

Genesis Enterprises is proud to announce the purchase of half of the Six Mile Red Angus Herd.

The results of Six Miles 51 years in the business and half of their herd are making their new home at GE.

Ranch Office | 918.377.6365 Owners, Steve & Betty Orr | Manager, Jason Shepard

940480 S 3520 Rd., Chandler, OK 74834 info@genesisok.net | www.genesisok.net

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

BUILT TO LAST.

PASTURE DEVELOPED. DATA DRIVEN. PROVEN TO WORK. JOIN US FOR OUR FALL PRODUCTION SALE

OCTOBER 16, 2026

At the Ranch near Elmdale, KS 60 18-month-old Red Angus and Red SimAngus Bulls - Complete set of elite bulls developed slowly on Flinthills range offered for the first time - Half of the bulls selling rank in the top 10% for $Profit and $Ranch

50 Red Angus Commercial Spring Bred Females

Deep offering of calving ease specialists, including this powerful Mushrush Moonshine K517 son! 5119 • Reg# 5093957 • 21 CED to a 110 YW!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR CATALOG, VIDEOS, & MORE!

RANCHES

2346B N Road ∙ Strong City, KS 66869 620.340.9774 (Daniel) ∙ 620.794.6151 (Chris) info@mushrushranches.com Follow us on Facebook at Mushrush Ranches

MushrushRanches.com OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

ASSOCIATION UPDATES

BREED IMPROVEMENT

WANT YOUR DNA RESULTS BACK QUICKER?

Larry Keenan, Director of Breed Improvement

Written by Larry Keenan

Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) staff is beginning a comprehensive overhaul of the DNA order submission and results delivery process. Our goal is to use available technology and improved processes to create a better member experience and shorten DNA turnaround times. A NEW DNA ORDER PROCESS The first change members will see is a new DNA order form, along with the ability to use REDSPro to automatically populate much of the form through Herd Reports – File Download. Members should email the completed DNA order form to dna@redangus.org before samples arrive at the RAAA national office. Using the REDSPro File Download tool reduces manual data entry and can help prevent issues that delay processing. A step-by-step guide has been established to help create your DNA order form through REDSPro. You can find the guide below. For any additional questions that cannot be answered here, be sure to reach out to the association to help with your order.

larrykeenan@redangus.org

COMMON ISSUES THAT DELAY DNA ORDERS Submitting a sample on an unregistered animal One of the first steps RAAA staff takes when processing a DNA order is verifying that each animal listed on the order form has a registration number. If an animal is not registered, staff must contact the member and resolve the issue before the order can move forward. This additional step increases processing time and can delay shipment of the order to the laboratory. Sample IDs on the order form do not match the physical samples An unusually high percentage of DNA orders contain at least one discrepancy between the order form and the samples received. Common examples include a transposed number on the order form, an extra physical sample that is not listed on the form, or a sample listed on the form that is not included in the shipment. When an issue is identified, RAAA staff must contact the member and resolve it before processing can continue. In many cases, this prevents the order from being included in the same-day shipment to the laboratory.

Payment is required upfront Payment is required before DNA orders can be processed. Including a check with the submitted samples is the preferred payment method and helps prevent delays associated with obtaining payment information after the samples arrive. Orders received without payment will be placed on hold until payment is received, which will delay processing and shipment to the laboratory. Submitting payment with your samples helps keep your DNA order moving through the process as quickly as possible. A Few Minutes Now Can Save Days Later Members can help shorten DNA turnaround times by using the REDSPro Herd Reports – File Download tool and taking a few extra minutes to verify that the order form is complete, all animals are registered, and every sample ID matches the physical samples being submitted. By working together to submit complete, and accurate, DNA orders from the start, RAAA and its members can build a faster, more efficient DNA process and deliver the level of service Red Angus stakeholders expect.

Q&A STEP 1

STEP 2

HOW TO USE THE REDSPRO FILE DOWNLOAD TOOL FOR DNA ORDERS

1. Log in to REDSPro. Select “Herd Reports/ Downloads” from the task bar, then select “File Download” 2. Select “Quick File” 3. Select the group you wish to create a DNA form under “Select Group,” then select “DNA GGP Submission Form”

STEP 3-5 16

RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

4. Once you download the form, Do not rearrange, add or delete columns. 5. Your form is ready to submit to dna@redangus.org!

Bright Lights & Big Cities! Featuring these fancy girls consigned to the ...

Prestigious NILE Red Angus Sale Friday, October 16, 2026

1 pm MDT • Montana Pavilion • Billings, Montana Futurity and Sale Preview: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026

FEDDES BLOCKANA 385-528 Reg. #5115757

C-T VERDI 5005 Reg. #5141027

C-T MARKETS UP 2119 x BIEBER CL ENERGIZE F121 This double-bred Blockana female has “cow” written all over her. We really like our C-T Markets Up 2119 daughters in production. She is the front-pasture kind and is due with a heifer calf in mid-January, sired by our Bieber Payday K113 bull.

C-T REPUTATION 0094 x BIEBER CL ENERGIZE F121 An eye-catching, deep-ribbed Reputation daughter from the maternally proven Verdi cow family. She has big individual performance with a 114 WR and a 109 YR, along with a balanced set of EPDs. These Reputation females have been making excellent cows with plenty of fertility and beautiful udder attachment and teat size. Her dam is a 3-year-old Energize cow that is quickly coming to the top of the herd with a 106 MPPA. She is due in January to the new-andupcoming herd sire from Select Sires, Mushrush Top Secret M126.

MTRAA Donation Heifer FEDDES SLEEK 277-623 Reg. #5276538

BIEBER PAYDAY K113 X FEDDES TREADSTONE 704-9352 Support the Montana Red Angus Association and earn a chance to win this beautiful daughter of Bieber Payday K113! The lucky winner will be drawn at the conclusion of the Prestigious Red Angus NILE Sale in Billings, Montana, on October 16. Tickets may be purchased at auction during the NILE events or by contacting a member of the MTRAA board.

Big Sky Country Red Angus ... Where Performance Meets Maternal! Chuck & Carol Feddes • 406-581-8826 Jake & Alyssa Feddes • 406-581-8157 2610 Churchill Rd • Manhattan, MT 59741 www.feddesredangus.com

Big Sky Elite Female Sale

Annual Production Sale

1 p.m. • GMRA Facility, Logan, MT

1 p.m. • At the Ranch, Manhattan, MT

Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2026

Monday, March 8, 2027

Craig & Taryn DeBoer 406-282-9029 4740 Churchill Rd • Manhattan, MT 59741 www.ctredangus.com

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

ASSOCIATION UPDATES

MARKETING UPDATE

THE COMPETITION: THE GRIDMASTER CHALLENGE

Taylor Ohlde, Commercial Marketing Specialist

Written by Taylor Ohlde

A couple years ago – Two, green Commercial Marketing Specialists and their big ideas had a lot of phone calls, planning sessions, and various other communication strategies taking place. They came up with a grand plan for producer involvement and put it into motion. Cory and I are so thankful that the Board of Directors trusted us to create the Gridmaster Challenge and start something we believe producers in the future will enjoy. While it came with its hurdles and curve balls, I am happy to say, we pulled it off and the inaugural contest has come to a conclusion. First off, we would like to show our appreciation and gratitude to the contestants and Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) members who sent cattle this past year. We understand that it took a lot of faith in us to handle the initial contest, and we thank you for allowing us to grow and learn from the experience. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the sub-committee whom we relied on to make sound decisions, protocols and modifications throughout the process. Those individuals were Paul Holton, Texas, Jermey Haack, Nebraska, and Jason Anderson, Kansas. This contest would not have taken flight without their insight and industry expertise. We are proud to announce that we had a healthy mixture of adult and junior members participating in the challenge. With eight from each age division representing 10 different states, we had a great group of Northern, Midwest and Southeast origin cattle. The steers entered were either enrolled in the Angus Access program or registered through the RAAA, making them all at least 50 percent Red Angus or higher. The cattle arrived in late January, after a 30day warm up period. Once delivered, we weighed, processed and took DNA samples for Igentity® Beef scoring as well as sire and dam verification. Those cattle were 20 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

taylor@redangus.org

also implanted with Synovex Choice® and started on the first phase of the growing rations. We processed these cattle several times throughout the trial to record data, which included ultrasound, feet and leg scores, a live USDA grade, as well as live weights to calculate average daily gain. On our first workday we reported the average weight to be 910 lbs, the heaviest being 1125 lbs and the lightest being 685 lbs. The second workday, we recorded an average weight of 1213 lbs with the upper-end outlier being 1480 lbs, while the low was 940 lbs. We finishing up the data records in early August, prior to harvest at Tyson in Dakota City. The average weight of the steers were 1506 lbs. The heaviest steer clocked in at 1855 lbs while the lowest was 1245 lbs. Throughout the challenge, we reported that the average daily gain of the entire set of 51 steers was 3.21 lbs per day. Looking into some of the phenotypes that we collected, we saw some interesting variables that we are excited to compare alongside the carcass data. The average ribeye area on the cattle, recorded via Ultrasound in April, was 13.43 in with an average Intramuscular Fat (IMF) score of 4.23. Another component we felt was important to this contest were feet and leg scores. Mitchell VanderWal joined us to evaluate these scores. We were excited to have VanderWal work with us as he assisted with the research for the breed scores for the past year. For those unfamiliar with feet and leg scoring, they are scored from 1-9 with a score of 5 being the most ideal. The average leg score for this set of cattle was a 5.3, While the average claw or foot shape score was 4.9 – Which I feel is a step in the right direction. As producers we know this is a big topic of discussion, especially around bull sales and longevity. VanderWal additionally recorded disposition scores for the cattle. These

scores range from 1 to 5, with 1 being the most docile. The average for this set was 1.8. We did see the high at a 4 and several with a score of 3. We did also notice some performance challenges with those cattle with higher disposition scores. I am looking forward to this contest growing into a staple for Red Angus breeders. I understand that a select, small group of steers does not give the most information and insight into how cattle will perform, but, for some producers, this is the most data they will ever see on their breeding decisions. Aside from friendly competition, this is a great way to see how your operation is progressing on the terminal side. We envision this to be a way to help producers not only to market cattle in the seedstock and commercial platforms, but help tell the story of your operation. This contest serves as a great way to showcase planned matings and show your customers how your cattle perform on the grid. As a commercial producer, this is a great way to highlight your herd bull purchases, AI decisions, and show your sale representative that you’re pushing your herd in the right direction. For your cattle to be eligible in the 2027 Gridmaster Challenge, they need to qualify for one of two requirements. They should either be enrolled in the Angus Access program or carry a RAAA registration number. This is so our team can verify at least one parent as Red Angus. Adult members will be required to bring a minimum of three head, while junior members have a minimum requirement of one head. We will offer two divisions for cattle sent to the GridMaster Challenge. The Access division, which is cattle verified to one Red Angus parent, and the Purebred division, where cattle can be verified to two Red Angus parents. We have protocols in place that state that cattle need to be weaned at least 60 days prior to delivery, with two rounds of

a modified live vaccine. This is not only to protect your investment, but everyone else’s. With cattle more valuable than ever, health will continue to remain a high priority throughout the contest. Entries are due October 15th, and cattle are to be delivered by late November. Entry fees are $100 per entry for enrolled and registered cattle, or $150 per entry for non-verified cattle to participate in data collection. Non-verified animals will not be recognized for overall GridMaster Challenge awards. Another change for 2027 that we are excited about is moving the contest to Cozad, Nebraska, where we will be working with Darr Feedyard. Not only does this give participants access to the Sustainable Beef plant in North Platte, but access to a vast amount of technology they are implementing. We greatly appreciate the team at Nilan Feedyard in Oakland, Iowa for their hard work and dedication to this contest in its beginning stages. Their crew was a pleasure to work with, and we thank them for their support throughout the last year. We hope you consider entering cattle in the Gridmaster Challenge this upcoming year and make it better than ever! Check out the website for rules, guidelines and entry forms. As always, if you have any questions, contact me or one of the marketing representatives. We would love to discuss cattle, genetics, marketing strategies or listen to ideas you have for your own herd as well as for the breed. Thank you all for your support and I hope to see you soon at a nearby Red Angus event!

GridMaster Challenge Cattle filter through the yard pen at the Nilan Feedyard in Oakland, Iowa. Cattle arrived in late January, 2026 and were fed and finished to their processing date in early August. Photo by Taylor Ohlde.

GRIDMASTER BY THE NUMBERS

For each workday that was completed, cattle were processed & scanned using an ultrasound system to record data. Photo by Cory Peters.

16 51 5.3 4.23 1506

Participants in the inaugural GridMaster Challenge Total steers evaluated for the challenge Average leg score Average Intramuscular Fat (IMF) score Average weight (lbs.) of steers collected prior to harvest date OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

ASSOCIATION UPDATES

MARKETING UPDATE

THE DATA: INSIGHTS TO THE GRIDMASTER CHALLENGE

Cory Peters, Commercial Marketing Specialist

Written by Cory Peters

As I begin sharing my insights from the GridMaster Challenge, I want to echo Taylor’s sentiments and begin by expressing my deep gratitude to everyone who participated, supported, advised and dreamed alongside us to make the GridMaster Challenge a reality. I always give Taylor credit for the idea, and he is always the first to hand credit back for its implementation. To reiterate Taylor’s gratitude, none of this would have been possible without the help of Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) members, staff and stakeholders. The RAAA Board believed in the vision, and the Oversight Committee helped mold the challenge into a reality. From the beginning of my time at RAAA, one of the most recurring questions I received from commercial producers focused on how to get health information, feedlot performance, and carcass data back to the ranch. Many of these producers were enrolled in RAAA Value-Added programs or were utilizing some level of permanent identification to allow for traceability. In my mind, this was always the first step. The next logical steps should focus on quality genetics and sound marketing strategies, with equal emphasis given to both. Relationship building plays a key role in each area. Strong relationships with those who market and feed cattle are important for learning how animals perform in the yard and on the rail. This knowledge can then be provided back to seedstock suppliers to offer insight into making genetic improvements and to help guide commercial producers toward the correct bull-buying decisions. However, based on the feedback I have received, commercial producers struggle the most with building strong relationships within the feeding sector of the industry to acquire the assessments they need to succeed. One of my goals with the GridMaster Challenge was to help provide commercial 22 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

cory@redangus.org

producers with insight into the feeding sector of the industry and offer a small snapshot of how their animals perform once they leave the ranch. The insight and education provided to participants about their animals in the Challenge allow for additional insight when making genetic improvements and developing marketing strategies. When designing the Challenge, we wanted to showcase different tools available to producers through the RAAA to help gauge animal performance and make improvement decisions. Taylor alluded to some of the tools that were utilized, but throughout the Challenge, feet and leg scores, carcass ultrasound data, Igenity® Beef testing, and visual appraisals— including frame and muscle scoring—were gathered on the animals entered. All of this information, both phenotypic and genetic, provided insight into the animals on test. By utilizing these practices and gathering data, we were able to collect meaningful information that helped provide predictions of how the animals would perform once the Challenge was completed. I’m not able to fully share the steers’ data set through an article. However, I’m hoping the information discussed in this piece lays the groundwork for some of the correlations I wish to highlight between the data collected during the test and the animals’ feedlot and rail performance. When looking at the production and carcass scores from the Igenity® Beef data set, we saw fairly wide ranges between individual animal scores. The average low figure in each set was 3, while the average high was 9. The average score across the group in each category settled slightly above 6. The exceptions were ribeye area (4.85), hot carcass weight (5.6), and marbling (5.57). For reference, average Igenity® Beef scores typically range around 5.5.

Carcass ultrasound provides insight into three important factors: ribeye area, thirteenth-rib backfat, and marbling, commonly known as IMF. Ultrasounding was completed on these steers in midApril, approximately halfway through the feeding period and when all animals on test were within the acceptable age range for carcass ultrasound under Beef Improvement Federation standards. When analyzing information on an individual animal, I don’t necessarily focus on the individual data point. Instead, I like to look at indexes and ratios to compare the individual data point against the group as a whole. This is very similar to the concept of EPD percentile rankings. Throughout the carcass ultrasound data, we saw a fairly tight spread when looking at ribeye area, with the largest ribeye area ratioing at 120.59% and the smallest coming in at 81.88%. Much more variability was found in the ratios for IMF (marbling) and fat thickness. The IMF ratio ranged from 56.75% to 180.88%, while backfat ratios varied from 47.01% (0.19 in.) to 180.63% (0.73 in.). The harvest data also proved very interesting to analyze. As a whole, the group averaged 1,536 lb. live at the plant, while hot carcass weights averaged 945 lb., providing an average dressing percentage of 61.50%. Initial analysis of the data suggested that the cattle performed below the industry average. However, please note that this set of steers was fed without the use of Experior®. As seen in the carcass ultrasound data, ribeye area showed the narrowest ratio variability, ranging from 73.56% to 122.29%. Yield grade ratios varied from 66.99% to 137.51%, while fat cover showed the largest variability, ranging from 37.8% to 155.07%. The most exciting and intriguing part of the data is that every steer sent to harvest graded Choice or better. Of the group,

19.23% graded Prime, and 69.23% graded upper two-thirds Choice or better. Both of these figures are at or above what is seen in the industry today. A recurring theme is how the association helps position producers to utilize tools available in the industry to predict outcomes and make sound management and financial decisions. While there is a cost associated with each practice discussed, the total cost of information collection for each animal in the Challenge was less than $65 per animal. Though each production system is different, I firmly believe this data set demonstrates that utilizing genetic testing, carcass ultrasound, and other practices can help producers make improved management decisions and increase profitability. Two of the most common traits viewed on an EPD profile or Igenity® Beef profile when selecting for feedlot growth and performance are yearling weight and average daily gain. These traits reflect an animal’s predisposition for growth and efficiency.

When analyzing the correlation between the GMC steers’ Igenity® Beef scores for yearling weight and average daily gain and their actual performance, moderate to strong positive correlations were observed. The correlation between the yearling weight score and final test weight was 0.45, while the correlation for average daily gain was 0.63. Furthermore, when utilizing Igenity® Beef scores to predict rail performance, the strongest correlation found when comparing carcass traits was between the Igenity® Beef score and the actual marbling score, at 0.459. In my mind, these findings indicate that genetic testing can provide an indication of which animals are predisposed to excel in these traits and, through proper management, can provide added financial return. I do believe that everyone reading this will not be surprised to find that the results from carcass ultrasound provided significantly high correlations to actual rail performance. The weakest correlation was found for ribeye area, where the correlation

between scan data and actual ribeye area was 0.58. Backfat correlations were 0.84, and marbling correlations were 0.78. For fun, I also compared backfat scan data to actual yield grades and found another strong correlation of 0.77. As we wrap up the first year of the GridMaster Challenge, I believe we are well on our way to achieving the goal of educating producers about their operations, the basic fundamentals of the feeding and packing sectors of the industry, and the different tools available through the association for improved decision-making. We are thrilled with the outcome of the first group of the GridMaster Challenge. As Taylor mentioned, there are some changes in store for the second year of the Challenge, including more educational opportunities and added participant engagement. If anyone has questions regarding the GridMaster Challenge from this past year or questions about 2027 participation, please reach out to the Commercial Marketing Team. We are excited for what the future has in store!

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

ASSOCIATION UPDATES

MARKETING UPDATE

2026 FEEDER CALF SALES CALENDAR SALE BARN

LOCATION

DATE

Crawford Livestock

Crawford, NE

10/2/2026

Ogallala Livestock Auction Market

Ogallala, NE

10/15/26

West Branch Feeder Calf Sale

West Branch, MI

10/20/26

Valentine Livestock

Valentine, NE

10/22/26

Stockmen’s Livestock Exchange

Dickinson, ND

10/27/26

Tri-County Stockyards

Motley, MN

10/28/2026

Broken Bow Livestock

Broken Bow, NE

11/5/26

LaCrosse Livestock Market

LaCrosse, KS

11/6/2026

Winter Livestock

Dodge City, KS

12/2/2026

Bagley Livestock Exchange

Bagley, MN

10/1/26, 11/5/26, 12/4/26, 1/7/26

Lemmon Livestock Inc.

Lemmon, SD

10/14/2026, 10/28/2026

Billings Livestock Commission

Billings, MT

10/8/26, 11/19/26

Hub City Livestock

Aberdeen, SD

11/4/26, 1/20/27

Want a staff member available at your sale? The Commercial Marketing Team’s mission is to actively support Red Angus breeders by attending seedstock sales where they can connect directly with commercial cattlemen, offer marketing tools and provide information about RAAA programs. The goal is to ensure producers and buyers alike have easy access to Association resources while strengthening relationships across the industry. This policy aims to create a more consistent and professional image for the Association while maximizing the impact of staff time, travel and resources. By strategically selecting sales for attendance, RAAA can continue to elevate the Red Angus brand and strengthen partnerships with breeders and cattlemen nationwide. For more information, contact stockyard@redangus.org. 24 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS The attending staff member’s name and contact information must appear in the sale catalogue. The hosting producer will provide space for RAAA literature and/or trade show style pop up. The staff member will be recognized on sale day and given an opportunity to briefly speak about RAAA initiatives and programs. The producer must complete this form outlining key sale details. The producer must be transferring at least 75% of bulls sold through past sales. Attendance decisions will be made by RAAA Marketing staff, with priority given to new sales in years 1–5 and members actively engaged in Association programs or committees.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO ACCESS THE INTEREST FORM

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

26 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

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ReDs EaRn

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Chappell Feedlot is seeking Red Angus feeder cattle to purchase or custom feed. Your calves are bred to earn – put them in a program focused on performance, gain and carcass value to capture grid-driven returns. Cattle are ﬁnished for grid success, then processed through Sustainable Beef – a plant that rewards premium-quality Angus genetics which meet the Red Angus Live Animal Speciﬁcations. “Sustainable Beef is appreciative of Red Angus genetics and the quality of beef they provide us with for our Angus label.” – Mark Nelson, Director of Procurement, Sustainable Beef LLC

“We like feeding Red Angus cattle. They do well in the feedlot and they tie into our relationship with Sustainable Beef to ﬁll our chain space with quality Angus carcasses.” – Tom Williams, Co-Owner, Chappell Feedlot Accepting cattle enrolled in:

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OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

ASSOCIATION UPDATES

MEMBER SERVICES

THREE DECADES OF DATA The Lasting Impact of Total Herd Reporting

Kenda Ponder, Database and Registration Consultant

Written by Samantha Corn, Digital Marketing Specialist in conjunction with Kenda Ponder, Database and Registration Consultant

Thirty years ago, the Red Angus Association of America made a decision that would fundamentally shape how the breed collects, evaluates and uses data. In 1995, RAAA became the first beef breed association to implement a mandatory total herd reporting system (THR). In coalition with the Strategic Plan written at the time, stakeholders implemented this program to continue to push the association forward in terms of data collection. The concept was straightforward—rather than reporting only on selected animals, producers would account for their entire herd and calf crop. Over time, THR grew into something far more significant, providing a comprehensive foundation for data collection, genetic evaluation, and the advancement of the Red Angus breed. One of the greatest challenges facing genetic evaluation is incomplete and selective reporting, which is exactly what THR was designed to address. When only the best performing animals are being reported, the resulting data does not necessarily represent the entire herd. By providing a complete report, there is a more accurate picture of performance which strengthens the information used to calculate Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) and other genetic tools. Three decades later, the same principle remains at the heart of THR. As Kenda Ponder, Database and Registration Consultant said, “Stakeholders aren’t simply submitting information for their own herd; their data contributes to the collective Red Angus database.” INDIVIDUAL RECORDS, COLLECTIVE VALUE Total Herd Reporting derives its strength from the accumulation of information over time. Many factors such as: pedigrees, calf records, calving ease, weights, disposal and reason codes, ultrasound and carcass data, heifer exposure information, udder scores, and foot and leg scores each can represent one piece of information. When combined across a herd along with the association, they create a much more complete picture of Red Angus cattle.

30 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

By comparing cattle amongst meaningful contemporary groups, additional value is added through the similar opportunities to perform. Those comparisons help separate the differences resulting from genetics from those influenced by environment and management. Not only that, but today’s genetic evaluation also benefits from the combination of phenotypic and genotypic information. These performance records provide the documentation on how cattle actually perform under real-world conditions, while genomic information provides insight from an animal’s DNA. Together, genetic evaluation is made stronger with those data sources and producers have access to better information to utilize for selection, breeding and management decisions. This means the reach of the information that a producer submits is extended much further and then benefits not only their herd but others across the breed as well. Each record becomes part of a collective Red Angus data set that strengthens the tools available across the membership. From the Association perspective, Ponder explains that “Members invest considerable time and money in collecting and reporting data, and our responsibility is to continually look for ways to turn that information into value for them.” EVOLVING WITH THE INDUSTRY Even though the basis of THR remains consistent, the manner in which RAAA collects and uses that information continues to evolve. Amidst recent improvements, including inventory metrics to assist members in evaluation of the completeness of their herd reporting, and alerts and reminders designed to identify missing information before important deadlines. The RAAA has also continued reviewing how performance data moves through THR and into the National Cattle Evaluation to ensure information is captured and utilized effectively. An increasingly important part of that evaluation has become REDSPro. Through

kenda@redangus.org

extended automation, improved reporting and greater visibility to allow members to submit information, reviewing records and identifying outstanding data is more efficient. Tutorials and in-system guidance further help members navigate reporting requirements. As the data collected through THR impacts and connects other breeders, it also reaches far beyond the association and its members. Information connects with resources and partners including International Genetic Solutions for the National Cattle Evaluation, DNA laboratories for genomic parentage information, and marketing resources that help producers promote and add value to their cattle. “The technology and tools may change, but the fundamental value of complete, accurate and meaningful data reporting remains at the center of the program,” Ponder said. BUILDING THE NEXT 30 YEARS Three decades of Total Herd Reporting represent a collective investment by Red Angus members. With significant time devoted by producers to collect and report information, the value of the effort compounds while the data set grows. The technology surrounding genetic evaluation has changed considerably since 1995, and it will continue to change. THR must evolve alongside it. However, the principle that established the program remains the same: useful genetic tools require complete, accurate and meaningful information. The process may begin as a record of an individual animal, but it becomes something much larger. Information that returns to producers through better tools for evaluating, managing, breeding and marketing their cattle. Thirty years later, Total Herd Reporting remains a foundation of the Red Angus breed, turning individual records into collective knowledge and that knowledge into better decisions for generations to come.

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OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

By Christopher Schneider, D.V.M., M.S.

The Equation to Build BRD Resilience in your Calf Crop It is a universal rule across cattle herds that every calf counts. Whether a calf will significantly add to or detract from a producer’s profitability may come down to their herd’s ability to overcome bovine respiratory disease (BRD) — the costliest and deadliest disease facing cattle producers.1,2 In my decades of experience as a cattle veterinarian, the herds that minimize significant economic losses from respiratory disease have adopted a BRD resilience mindset and action plan. They work with their veterinarian to leverage innovations in three key areas: genetics, management techniques and disease prevention. Here are some observations on frequent practices they use for stronger, more productive, disease-resilient herds: 1. They focus on BRD prevention and realize vaccination is a critical component. Calves are born with a developing but not yet fully functioning immune system. Intranasal vaccines can help bolster calves’ immunity early in life while avoiding the potential risk of maternal antibody interference. BOVILIS® NASALGEN® 3-PMH is an intranasal, modified-live vaccine shown effective against five of the most common viral and bacterial pathogens that cause BRD. It can be given to nursing calves as young as one week of age. Use ALLFLEX® CleanVax™ nozzles and disposable shields (shown in photo) to help reduce product drip and ensure a hygienic and more even distribution of the vaccine inside the nostril. 2. They follow a preconditioning program to not only increase the value of their calves but to give them the best opportunity for the next production phase. A 2023 dataset of nearly 900,000 calves shows that those vaccinated with two doses of a clostridial vaccine, two doses of a five-way modified live viral vaccine, and at least one dose of Mannheimia haemolytica and/or Pasteurella multocida vaccine, and weaned at home for 45 days before delivery, added nearly $45 per head compared to those receiving only one dose of each of the three vaccines and weaned at shipping.3 The calves also weighed more.

3. They leverage information related to genetic selection and animal breeding. Understanding and utilizing genetic selection and animal breeding information, especially as it relates to disease incidence, is impactful. It is vital to correctly interpret Expected Progeny Differences (EPD) and data on bulls to understand how this will impact the next calf crop. For commercial producers, understanding the importance of hybrid vigor is important as it pertains to calf health and performance. 4. They know BRD resilience starts with the mama cow, so they ensure the cow has adequate nutrition, has been dewormed and is up to date on her vaccinations. 5. They use a strategic deworming program. Internal parasites reduce feed intake and can compromise immune function, including response to vaccination. For spring calving herds, deworm calves six to eight weeks after turnout onto pasture.4 Deworming cattle ahead of vaccination doesn’t have to mean a trip through the chute. Feed and mineral forms of dewormers require relatively little time and labor and are highly effective. Building BRD resilience equals a more productive herd Work with your veterinarian who knows your goals and the health challenges in your area to determine the practices and protocols for your herd. Putting a plan together to build resilience to BRD in your calf crop can result in healthier animals, less treatment pressure and more profits. For more information, visit MAHCattle.com.

Christopher Schneider, D.V.M., M.S. Livestock Technical Services Merck Animal Health

References: 1. Fulton, RW. Bovine respiratory disease research (1983–2009). Cambridge University Press. Anim Health Res Rev. 2009;10(2):131–139. 2. Preview: Economic effects of Bovine Respiratory Disease. J. Anim. Sci. 2020;98(2). 3. Superior Livestock Auction Data 2023. 4. Kevin Gould, M. S. U. E. Beef cattle deworming strategies. MSU Extension. Jan. 21, 2022. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/beef_cattle_deworming_strategies. MAHCattle.com • 800-521-5767 © 2025 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved. US-NAL-250100002

34 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

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OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

ASSOCIATION UPDATES

103,664

ANNUAL REPORT

THR COW INVENTORY

2025 RAAA FISCAL YEAR IN REVIEW

64,126

TOTAL REGISTRATION

103,664

TOP 10 SIRES by Registration

1 Bieber Jumpstart J137............................ Reg. # 4463653....................................... 1,108 2 PIE Hollywood 222.............................. Reg. # 4702973.......................................... 568 3 BERWALD Confident 2044................ Reg. # 4687927........................................... 539 4 PIE Cadillac 3289................................. Reg. # 4865308.......................................... 532 5 ALC Reamedy K60............................... Reg. # 4610633.......................................... 492 6 C-T Reputation 0094............................ Reg. # 4296453.......................................... 453 7 Bieber CL Energize F121..................... Reg. # 3958815.......................................... 421 8 BB Propulsion 9096.............................. Reg. # 4169122.......................................... 420 9 Bieber Blue Chip H302......................... Reg. # 4303789.......................................... 418 10 Bieber Checkmate K126....................... Reg. #4620529........................................... 413

THR COW INVENTORY

2,852

TOP 10 RAAA MEMBERS by Registration

RAAA MEMBERS

1 5L Ranch, Montana.............................................................................................. 1,738 2 Schuler-Olsen Ranches, Inc., Nebraska.................................................................... 838 3 Beckton Red Angus, Wyoming................................................................................ 808 4 Mushrush Red Angus, Kansas.................................................................................. 807 5 Bieber Red Angus, South Dakota............................................................................ 786 6 Silver Spur Ranches, Wyoming................................................................................ 717 7 Pieper Red Angus, Nebraska.................................................................................... 621 8 Wedel Red Angus, Kansas........................................................................................ 523 9 Gill Red Angus, South Dakota................................................................................ 516 10 Cross Diamond Cattle Co., Nebraska...................................................................... 503

TOP 10 RAAA MEMBERS by Cow Inventory

1 5L Ranch, Montana.............................................................................................. 1,672 2 Calvo Family Red Angus, Wyoming..................................................................... 1,469 3 Beckton Red Angus, Wyoming............................................................................. 1,036 4 TJS Red Angus, Montana........................................................................................ 937 5 Smoky Y Ranch Inc., Kansas.................................................................................... 906 6 Pieper Red Angus, Nebraska.................................................................................... 900 7 Schuler-Olsen Ranches, Inc., Nebraska.................................................................... 895 8 Bieber Red Angus Ranch, South Dakota................................................................. 812 9 Gill Red Angus, South Dakota................................................................................ 796 10 Silver Spur Ranches, Wyoming................................................................................ 775

4,849

TOTAL MEMBERS

1,468

JRA MEMBERS

529

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS 2

3,747,790

TOTAL ENROLLED SINCE 1995

10,420 TOTAL ENROLLED IN ALLIED ACCESS

74,861

TOTAL ENROLLED IN ANGUS ACCESS 36 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

TOP 10 STATES Number of Members per State 1 Texas................................................340 2 Oklahoma........................................185 3 Minnesota........................................174 4 Missouri..........................................170 5 Kansas.............................................160 6 Iowa.................................................145 7 Nebraska..........................................141 8 South Dakota..................................125 9 Montana..........................................116 10 Wisconsin..........................................97

TOP 10 STATES Number of JRA Members per State

1 Texas................................................232 2 Oklahoma........................................172 3 Iowa.................................................133 4 Missouri..........................................108 5 Minnesota..........................................71 6 Kansas...............................................65 7 Nebraska............................................55 8 Indiana..............................................47 9 Illinois...............................................46 10 Montana............................................44

TOP 10 STATES for Registration

1 Montana.......................................8,214 2 Nebraska.......................................6,646 3 South Dakota...............................6,187 4 Kansas...........................................5,101 5 North Dakota...............................5,010 6 Texas.............................................4,585 7 Oklahoma.....................................3,234 8 Minnesota.....................................3,015 9 Wyoming......................................2,990 10 Missouri.......................................2,423

TOP 10 STATES for Transfers

1 Montana.......................................3,564 2 Texas.............................................2,410 3 Nebraska.......................................2,405 4 South Dakota...............................2,199 5 Kansas..........................................1,774 6 Oklahoma.....................................1,646 7 North Dakota...............................1,594 8 Missouri.......................................1,365 9 Minnesota.....................................1,281 10 Iowa..............................................1,171 OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

$PROFIT SHARE ®

Breed bulls that generate more profit for your customers JOIN HUNDREDS OF SEEDSTOCK PRODUCERS WORLDWIDE USING $PROFIT® TO DRIVE REAL-WORLD PROFITABILITY. Commercial ranchers demand bulls that deliver: • Improved cow fertility and lifetime productivity • Moderate, efficient, easy-breeding daughters • Profit-focused traits, including feed intake, feed conversion, PAP, mature size, and teat and udder quality When seedstock and commercial herds use the same tools, genetic improvement accelerates and breeders can build better bulls with confidence. Customers buy better bulls because they can clearly see the improvement.

If profit is your goal, select for it with $PROFIT®. Contact Craig Hays, 660-373-1897, to enroll as a $PROFIT® Share Partner.

Private Treaty Red Angus Bulls Available This Fall! Our Fall Private Treaty offering provides access to elite Leachman genetics selected for efficiency, fertility, and customer success.

LCHMN FORT KNOX A001N

LCHMN PATENT A016N

Reg. #: 5120003 | Breed Composition: 50 AR, 50 AN

Reg. #: 5120033 | Breed Composition: 93 AR, 18 AN

$PROFIT®$RANCH® $FEEDER® CED WW YW STAY MARB REA

$23,066

$26,771

$75

$215

115

1.10 0.57

LCHMN PATENT A018N

$106

$224

126

0.91 -0.09

LCHMN FIREBALL A213N

Reg. #: 5120037 | Breed Composition: 68 AR, 43 AN

Reg. #: 5192545 | Breed Composition: 25 AR, 75 AN

$PROFIT®$RANCH® $FEEDER® CED WW YW STAY MARB REA

$19,783

$35,545

$55

$198

163

0.57 0.13

$78

$390

135

1.31 0.52

*EPDs as of 6/25/26

WWW.LEACHMAN.COM/SALES | 307-788-7165 CONTACT OUR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES JERROD WATSON (WESTERN) | 303-827-1156 AARON RASMUSSEN (MIDWEST) | 308-763-1361 KURT SCHENKEL (EASTERN) | 740-503-6270 A-12865695887

7AR107 CHECKMATE

4620529 | Paycheck x Stockman Now a proven sire at over .86 accuracy for BW, CHECKMATE offers great spread from birth to yearling, ranking in the top 10% or better for both traits. His offspring offer extra width and muscle, highlighting this unique +17 CED sire. As his progeny numbers continue to grow and his data keeps improving, his type and kind that continue to impress. ProS HB GM CE BW WW YW ADG DMI MM ME HPG CEM STAY Marb YG CW REA FAT 75 17 -5.1 91 147 .35 1.54 23 15 15 9 12 0.8 -.09 27 .62 .01 19 16 8 5 5 9 95 73 91 13 12 83 11 8 38 6 49

EPD 118 43 % Rank 36 66

From Bieber Red Angus Ranch, SD

7AR112 CADILLAC

4865308 | Confidence x FRANCHISE A Red Angus sales leader in his first year, CADILLAC offers balanced trait selection with added phenotype. He offers great calving ease without sacrificing growth or REA. His 7AR87 FRANCHISE dam is as good as you will find for type and udder quality. Why settle for less when you can drive a CADILLAC? ProS HB GM CE BW WW YW ADG DMI MM ME HPG CEM STAY Marb YG CW REA FAT EPD 146 65 80 16 -4 87 140 .33 1.28 34 11 12 8 17 .55 .01 50 .64 .02 % Rank 13 31 14 27 17 8 8 13 88 7 83 45 31 30 33 31 6 6 60

From Pieper Red Angus, NE; Feddes Red Angus, MT and Twedt Red Angus, ND

7AR116 TOP SECRET 4926528 | Top Tier x Forager

TOP SECRET is a young rising star in the breed. He offers a complete package of phenotype and genotype and also offers a ton of mating flexibility as an outcross sire to most popular bloodlines. His dam is moderate with great feet, highly productive, and fertile. TOP SECRET is no longer a secret, he is a special bull! ProS HB GM CE BW WW YW ADG DMI MM ME HPG CEM STAY Marb YG CW REA FAT 18 -4.3 71 124 .33 1.18 32 3 14 10 21 .69 .21 23 -.05 .05 11 14 40 23 12 84 13 41 26 10 4 18 94 50 77 95

EPD 171 104 67 % Rank 5 3 28

From Mushrush Red Angus, KS

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE OR ORDER ONLINE TODAY!

Phone: (614) 973-4683 www.selectsiresbeef.com ®Your Success Our Passion. and the Select Sires logo are registered trademarks of Select Sires Inc., Plain City, Ohio. EPDs as of 7/31/26.

40 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

ANDRASKind”

“The

RED ANGUS FEMALE SALE

Nov. 7 1:00 p.m.CST AT THE FARM 1 Mi West of MANCHESTER, IL

*BRED HEIFERS *SPRING BRED COWS * FALL PAIRS

Andras Stock Farm

https://www.andrasstockfarm.com Will 217.473.2355 / Steve 217.473.2320 / Peyton 217.204.2530

andraswill@gmail.com / steveandras@gmail.com

Bid Online at

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

ANNETTE STEFFAN

TECHNICAL INSIGHTS

PRIORITIZING REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY DURING DROUGHT Preparing for drought will help producers maintain the most productive and valuable females in their herd and ensure reproductive efficiency Written by Lacey Quail, Extension Livestock Management Specialist, North Dakota State University for Progressive Cattle

While environmental conditions are always fluctuating, cow-calf producers often plan to experience drought. As the saying goes: It’s better to have something and not need it than to need something and not have it. Drought preparation follows the same advice. With the size of the national cow herd at historic lows, maintaining the most productive and valuable females in the herd will ensure a strong foundation to build upon during future herd expansion. While reproductive efficiency should always be a herd priority, it is even more critical to strategize who stays and who goes when facing drought conditions.

body condition impacts reproduction. Cattle that entered the calving season in moderate condition yet lost condition after calving were reported to have 31% lower pregnancy rates compared to cattle that maintained moderate condition. Cattle losing condition due to inadequate forage quality or availability during drought are less likely to become pregnant during the following breeding season. Knowing the forage species that dominate your pastures during different seasons and their quality can help meet the nutrient requirements of the herd, while accommodating pasture rotations, especially during drought.

NUTRITION The first 90 days after calving are the most nutrient-demanding, as cows reach peak lactation, prepare for the following breeding season and, ideally, become pregnant to maintain a yearly calving interval. It is not uncommon for cattle to lose body condition during this period if their protein and energy requirements are not being met. If overlapping with summer drought conditions, decreased rangeland quality and forage availability quickly exponentiate the loss of body condition during the early postpartum period. Herd productivity and profitability relies on females rebreeding in a timely manner. Research from Indiana investigated when cattle return to cyclicity based on body condition at calving. Thin cattle required 18 more days, on average, after calving to start having regular estrous cycles compared to moderate-conditioned cattle, perpetuating a cycle of late-bred and late-calving females. The same study indicated how postpartum change in

REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS Decreasing the carrying capacity may be LONGEVITY necessary during drought and should be Longevity should be a strong focus for considered systematically by identifying every cow herd. While specific replacement and retaining the most costs vary productive and profitable due to annual females. Reproductive “Focusing the herd on production success is the largest expenses and driver of profitability in females that become replacement the cow herd, and thus pregnant and calve at rates, as well as should be a heavy focus the opportunity for culling criteria. We the beginning of the cost associated can learn a lot from our season perpetuates with marketing cow herds based on if, but heifer calves, it an obvious cycle more importantly, when is routinely one females become pregnant of productivity and of the largest during a breeding season. expenses for longevity.” While females that the cow-calf become pregnant and producer. The subsequently calve earlier - Lacey Quail longer each in the season require female remains the nutrient demands as a productive of lactation earlier member of the herd, the lower her compared to late-calving females, data depreciation costs are each year and the from South Dakota reported that early-

42 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

calving females were more efficient. More specifically, early-calving heifers utilized less metabolizable energy per unit of calf weaning weight compared to late-calving heifers (44.6 megacalories [Mcal] per kilogram versus 50.9 Mcal per kilogram). In other words, older calves result in heavier weaning weights, offsetting the production expense associated with greater energy demands during lactation. Lactation requires significant energy and feed resources; thus, milk production potential should be matched to every unique environment. Nevertheless, it is an overall positive economical season for the dam, consistently producing pounds of calf weaned.

more profitable years she contributes to the herd after paying for her development. Research from Nebraska, Montana and Saskatchewan reported that heifers calving in the first 21-day period of their first calving season stayed in the herd longer, produced more calves and had greater lifetime production than heifers calving later in their first calving season. Furthermore, data from Virginia and Montana indicated that heifers calving early (first 21-day period) in their first calving season continued to calve early in future calving seasons as mature cows. As mature cows calve early and produce future replacement heifers, research from Nebraska reported that more early-born heifer calves were cycling prior to their first breeding season and calved in the first 21 days of their first calving season compared to late-born heifer calves. Focusing the herd on females that become pregnant and calve at the beginning of the season perpetuates an obvious cycle of productivity and longevity. If faced with culling decisions during times of drought, early-calving females should be prioritized in the herd. HEAT STRESS Summer drought is often associated with increased temperatures which can

CULLING Being able to cull less productive cows in a timely manner during drought conditions is key, which may mean performing an early pregnancy diagnosis. Furthermore, having consistent, accurate and complete herd records allows for quick identification of cows that routinely calve late in the calving season, fail to meet structural standards, wean a reduced percentage of bodyweight or otherwise contribute to inefficiency of the cow-calf operation. This article is reprinted by permission of Progressive Cattle. The original article was published on April 17, 2026.

Natural Bred Natural Fed Natural Red

H NC A

SELLING 2-year-old BULLS & OPEN HEIFERS

increased pregnancy rate in the first 42 days of the breeding season. With that in mind, if drought is imminent, it may be helpful to use reproductive technologies such as estrous synchronization to provide an opportunity for a large proportion of the herd to become pregnant early in the breeding season. The temperature-humidity index accounts for air temperature as well as percent relative humidity and is used to determine the level of risk when handling or moving cattle. Regardless of risk level, handle or transport cattle in the morning and in smaller groups to avoid heat stress, especially during the breeding season.

18 th Annual PRODUCTION SALE THURSDAY, MAY THURSDAY, MAY 6 6,, 2 2027 027

KOEN

Range Calved Range Raised Range Tested

negatively impact both male and female reproductive efficiency, affecting when cattle become pregnant during the breeding season or reducing overall pregnancy rates. During drought, cattle may be moved between pastures more frequently to provide adequate forage or moved to a more reliable water source. Being mindful of transportation and heat stress during these times is incredibly important. Heat stress can decrease estrus behavior, egg cell (oocyte) quality and embryo development during the breeding season, while also putting established pregnancies at risk in cows and heifers. While bulls have thermoregulatory mechanisms in place to support proper sperm production, extreme environmental conditions can still impede production of viable sperm cells. A decade of pasture breeding system data from late May to early August was summarized by a Nebraska research team to analyze the impact of environmental factors on pregnancy rate. In short, the minimum environmental temperature had the largest influence, over average temperature and temperature-humidity index, on pregnancy rate during the first cycle of the breeding season (first 21-day period). Overall, decreases in average and minimum temperature, as well as temperature-humidity index, significantly

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

K 2 And Friends —11th Annual Red Angus, Black Angus, Black Baldies, & Red Baldies

Fall Female Sale November 19, 2026

Commercial Females—400 head bred cows bred heifers

Lunch at noon, sale at 1 pm MST At the K2 Sale barn, Wheatland, WY Request your catalog today!

Winter Bull & Female Sale Februar y 4, 2027 18 Month old & yearling Bulls Always PAP tested Always guaranteed

k2redangus.com

C-BAR GENETICS Steve & Cindy Maier 785-623-9736

Online Frozen Genetics Sale Nov. 28th 2026 Inventory Reduction of nearly all embryos

Jason & Kim Cullen Goertz 307-331-2917 kcullen@wyoming.com

A Legacy of Quality, A Future of Innovation

Building the Future by Selling the Proven Past

C-BAR ABIGRACE 122J

C-BAR STONY 411M

C-BAR MS STONY 303L

C-BAR STONY 309L

Steve Maier: (785) 623-9736 Brian Brigham: (970) 481-5192 email: CBARSteve58@gmail.com 44 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

LACY’S RED ANGUS & MC LIVESTOCK

Annual Production Sale

OCTOBER 24, 2026 AT 1:00 PM • DREXEL, MISSOURI

A - 100% AR LACY SHIFT’N GEARS 015N • Reg: 5083757 SIRE: WEBR RELENTLESS 306 DAM: LACY LAKOTA 015H 002K The largest offering of age advantaged bulls that we have EVER offered will be highlighted by this 8105 descendant!

A - 100% AR LACY LAKOTA 084C 036N • Reg: 5229371 SIRE: DUFF RED WARRIOR 21104 DAM: LACY LAKOTA 8105 084C The influence of Duff Red Warrior 21104 is nothing short of incredible. This stunning female is a prime example of the quality!

A - 100% AR MCL JUST IN TIME 5526 • Reg: 5237841 SIRE: C-BAR JUST RIGHT 0225H DAM: C-BAR STONY 123J 5526 is a performance standout that is backed by the influence of the iconic A302 & W928 matriarchs!

A - 100% AR MCL AMPLIFIED 5528 • Reg: 5237837 SIRE: MCL DAWSON 2519 DAM: C-BAR STONY 138J MCL Amplified 5528 is a phenotype outlier that offers an unapparelled look of quality and balance!

A - 100% AR LACY LAKOTA 084C 038N • Reg: 5229375 SIRE: DUFF RED WARRIOR 21104 DAM: LACY LAKOTA 8105 084C We are proud to offer CHOICE between 036N and 038N, two of the best females that we have ever raised in Drexel!

A - 100% AR MCL MIMI 102J 5017 • Reg: 5130967 SIRE: C-T REPUTATION 0094 DAM: C-BAR MIMI 102J An elite sampling of spring bred heifers will certainly be a sale highlight on October 24! Due 2/1/27 to MCL Night Moves 3015.

A powerful set of Age Advantaged & Yearling Red Angus & Polled Hereford Bulls Fall Yearling & Spring Bred Red Angus Heifers, and Top Shelf Groups of Commercial Females!

Sale Management by:

Graham Blagg: (530) 913-6418 Auctioneer Jered Shipman: (806) 983-7226 INNOVATIONAGMARKETING.COM

Dan & Kelly Lacy • Drexel, Missouri Dan: (913) 909-1912 • dan@lacysredangus.com Derek & Amy Lacy LACYSREDANGUS.COM

Nick, Callie & Stetson Curtis • Archie, Missouri Nick (573) 999-3887• Callie (816) 807-6606 Rodney & Kay Mason Kip & Mackenzie Wallace MC-LIVESTOCK.COM

NFFS NEXT LEVEL 515N ASA: 4715576 • PB SM Sire: NEXT LEVEL Dam: KCC1 TIARA 131Z

Offering.... AT T H E FA R M : 2 1 5 1 F M 6 0 2 - F LOY D A D A , T X 7 9 2 3 5

40+ Simmental, SimAngus™ & Red Angus Age Advantage Bulls 15+ Simmental, SimAngus™ & Red Angus Registered Bred Heifers 100 Elite Commercial Red Angus Bred Heifers

NFFR RED BARON 516N

ASA: RAAA: 5271779 • A-100% AR Sire: BYU RED BARON 1333 ET Dam: NFFR HADLEY 031H

NFFR BRITA 527N

ASA: RAAA: 5271802 • A-100% AR Sire: MF TRUST IN ME 0636 Dam: RHODES 298Y BRITA

AI Bred to PIE Cadillac 3289 to calve in January.

NFFR TRUST IN ME 547N

ASA: RAAA: 5271783 • A-100% AR Sire: MF TRUST IN ME 0636 Dam: NFFR GUINEVERE 008G

NFFR HANNAH 511N

ASA: RAAA: 5271800 • A-100% AR Sire: MF TRUST IN ME 0636 Dam: MF HANNAH 5363

AI Bred to Brown SLB Unprecedented to calve in January.

NFFR JACK’N BOX 565N

ASA: RAAA: 5271793 • A-100% AR Sire: CRMS JACK’N BOX 124 Dam: NFFR 031G

NFFR HAZEL 524N

ASA: RAAA: 5271801 • A-100% AR Sire: CRMS JACK’N BOX 124 Dam: NFFR HAZEL 042H

AI Bred to PIE Cadillac 3289 to calve in January.

Offering 100 Commercial Red Angus Spring Bred Heifers!

AI Bred to the ST Genetics owned TAC Traveler and cleaned up with calving ease registered Red Angus bulls! 80%+ of the females will sell confirmed SAFE AI!

Keenan, Hannah & Bowdie Nixon (806) 292-6173 Kirby & Brooke Nixon (806) 292-5207 Gary & Robin Nixon (806) 632-2241

Graham Blagg (530) 913-6418 Jered Shipman (806) 983-7226 Tim Anderson (605) 682-9343 Tucker Wagner (601) 692-7172

RANCHING LEGACY FEATURES

Bonded by Community David Miller and family recognized as the 2026 Commercial Producer of the Year Written by Faye Smith, Managing Editor It’s human nature to spend years of our lives building communities. People tend to assume that a community is your neighbors or family, but it’s much more complex than that. It could be the study group in a college course, fellow breeders you met at a cattle sale, or even the regulars working at the local co-op elevator. Although those relationships vary in closeness, building a community is much

larger than who lives two doors down. It’s finding a group of individuals that share common interests on various levels and supporting them throughout the highs and lows of life. The 2026 Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) Commercial Producer of the Year award recognized a member that not only has built an impressive cattle CONTINUED ON PAGE 50

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

RANCHING LEGACY FEATURES herd but has put the success of his ranching community ahead of his own successes. GROWING THE OPERATION David Miller of Edgefield, South Carolina spent his whole life enriched by agriculture. He watched his grandfather and father dedicate their lives to raising beef and dairy cattle in the sandhills of South Carolina. As he grew up in a household that prioritized livestock production, he knew that was his calling in life. Living on a family dairy requires persistent work ethic and all available free time to care for the cattle. David recalls the many missed holidays and winters spent in the milking barns as a kid. Normally, children would not be enthusiastic about spending time milking, but Miller looks back with kind eyes. His time around the dairy gave him a foundational experience of understanding cattle production, husbandry and genetic improvement. “I knew I’d always wanted to work with cattle, and by milking cows I gained knowledge much quicker than I would on a beef operation,” Miller said. While continuing to work on his family’s operation, David poured his passion into the development of his own herd. As of 2008, he left his family’s operation to begin his own journey. He added around 100 head of Red Angus commercial females to his cow battery, but he realized that it wasn’t large enough to support himself and his family. Miller made the decision to transition into a full-time role in construction but continue to farm in his free time. “I fed cows at night when I got home, did as much work on the weekends and bred cattle around the holidays,” Miller said. The benefits of a full-time position outweigh the disadvantages. Miller soon after went back to ranching full-time and began his strategy to grow his program. By emphasizing embryo transfer and strategic heifer retention, Miller alongside his wife Karen and son J.D., grew their operation, Country Boy Farms, to over 300 registered and commercial Red Angus females. When asked why he made the decision so quickly – his answer was simple. “I’d rather be around cattle everyday than people,” Miller said. THE FOUNDATION OF RED ANGUS Red Angus was a breed that was an easy choice for Miller to incorporate into the herd. Practicality for their region was the biggest influence as they made their way through trait selections from different cattle breeds. 50 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

But, black hided cattle have a large only have 20 to 100 cows and still can’t pull influence in their region. As they weighed a load together,” Miller said. “They want to the differences between genetic selections do everything right operationally, but when and found ways to be unique in the you’re marketing them one or two at a time, it takes away profit.” marketplace, the reds reigned supreme. In 2019, Miller began gathering his “You need to do something a little bit first groups to the different to set stockyard. yourself apart “I had the idea and from competitors,” “David has done more I called around and Miller said. asked several sale Throughout to promote commercial barns in the area if his commercial cattle production and they were interested. operation, the I only heard ‘Y’all Millers utilize management and the will never do this and Red Angus and way we market our get that many people Hereford crossed grouped together. cattle to produce Red Angus sired feeder It will never work. Premium Red calves. He’s done People will never get Baldy cattle, on the same protocol designed to take more for our area than to get it worked out,’” advantage of anyone else in recent Miller said. hybrid vigor and years.” What started off the value-added rocky, was slowly programming built into a strong through the - Raymond Prescott feeder calf marketing RAAA. program. His goals for Before cattle arrive his commercial at the farm in South Carolina, clients are program follow a consistent guideline: producing quality replacement heifers and advised to tag with a Red Angus ValueAdded program. Depending if cattle fall uniform steers. Alongside their purebred into the Angus Access or Allied Access Red Angus operation that produces bulls program, each animal is source verified. to sell private treaty – the operation Because cattle in the southeast trade hands centers on creating high-quality animals between buyers frequently, these verified for buyers’ various needs. programs help continue to give valuable “We’re trying to create animals that will information for buyers, feedlots and work for commercial breeders in our area packers. and improve their herd. They’re born and “They should be source verified. This raised in the southeast and are acclimated gives buyers an idea of what these genetics to our environment,” Miller expressed. are and know where they came from,” Miller spent a considerable amount of Miller explained. time backgrounding and feeding their Cattle are weaned and vaccinated 30own calves to be sold as yearling groups days prior to arrival and are co-mingled every year. But, each time he sold he saw how much the value of the cattle dropped. with the other clients’ cattle. While on Miller’s lot, cattle are backgrounded for an Not because of quality, but because of the additional 30 days and shipped to be sold. group sizes. Making sure the cattle stay healthy He watched counterparts from across the during that period is of ultimate priority country pull truckloads of cattle together to David. to gain more value for their animals, he “It’s very time-consuming, like I’m back thought, why couldn’t he do the same? to milking cows. You’re checking cattle That’s where his feeder calf program twice a day and staying on top of the cattle was born. to keep them healthy,” Miller said. “It just takes effort from one person because once HELPING THY NEIGHBOR they get here they’re your cattle. Nobody is Miller saw how much his neighbors checking on them after they leave.” were being affected by cuts at the sale barn By the time the cattle get to shipment, and wanted to try to use his knowledge to customer cattle are grouped by weight to be benefit producers in his area. No matter fair to consignors. But, when the concept what color the cattle were, the priority was first started, Red hided cattle took a hit at for the people. “It helps the smaller producer. Any large the sale barn. producer can put their own loads together but you have people in the southeast that

“There’s nobody there with an order to buy red cattle because they don’t know they’re coming,” Miller said. And he sought to change that. With a recommendation from Saluda Livestock Exchange Sale Barn in S.C., Miller fostered a relationship with Northeast Georgia Livestock, a sale barn in Athens, Georgia. The staff at Saluda were instrumental in the connection and making sure that they would advertise the Red Angus influenced cattle being sold. The cattle immediately grew in value. “There was probably a $200-$300 head premium on these calves this year that hit the sale barn,” Miller said. “We sold a group of red heifers and a group of red baldies that outsold almost everything the day we sold this summer.” Each year, David expresses how the demand for their red cattle grew tremendously. Throughout this feeder calf program, the Miller family has directly influenced the use of Red Angus genetics throughout the southeast. Mike Gilmer, a commercial producer in Gibson, Georgia, has consigned with the Miller family over the last few years. Not only has the strict protocol and grouping of cattle helped them gain additional value, but understand the value of Red Angus genetics in their commercial herd. “We are in the process of having all of our cattle either be purebred Red Angus or heavily Red Angus influenced. David has and continues to play a major role in our day-to-day decisions with our cattle,” Gilmer said. “This relationship has not only improved our cow-herd, but we have developed a great friendship with David.” Although the benefits of his program have helped his operation in numerous ways, David was never in it for the recognition. “The reason he is able to do this is because the man is trustworthy. He’s not just out for himself, he sincerely wants to see the entire breed gain recognition and do better,” said Raymond Prescott, manager at Bull Hill Ranch, Gray Court, South Carolina. RECOGNIZED FOR A PURPOSE The Commercial Producer of the Year is recognized by the RAAA for commercial producers who successfully utilize Red Angus genetics in their operation, but David and his family are more than just that. They are a family that routinely advocates for the breed. “David has done more to promote commercial cattle production and management and the way we market our Red Angus sired feeder calves,” Prescott

David Miller owns and operates Country Boy Farms in Edgefield, South Carolina. With the help of his wife, Karen and son, J.D., they run over 300 head of registered Red Angus and commercial Red Angus and Red Angus Influenced cattle. Photo courtesy, J.D. Miller.

Focusing on Red Angus value and tagging programs has allowed for clients of Millers to gain more access to information on their cattle once they leave the farm. Photo courtesy, J.D. Miller.

said. “He’s done more of that in our area than anyone else in recent years. The way he’s been able to get producers together to work for a common goal and all has been phenomenal.” Staying true to the philosophy of doing what’s right, and helping others gave the Miller family an unexpected recognition that they are thankful for. “I never did any of this for an award, I was just doing it to help people,” Miller stated. But David recognizes that this award isn’t just for him. He shares how much

the team at Northeast Georgia Livestock shared in the success of their operation, and how without them, the feeder calf shipments would never have been possible. The customers and clients that the Miller family has met will continue to lift the value of Red Angus genetics, but the most important piece is the community that they have championed alongside it. As Prescott said it best, “A rising tide will raise everyone’s boat.”

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

TIME WAITS The Secret to our Success:

EPD Targets - Colored Like a Traffic Light We have been developing the ideal EPD profile since 1990 and are sharing these color-coded targets with the publicly to help you improve your profitability. They are colored green, yellow and red, similar a traffic light. Go to our website, www.RABrownRanch.com to see our EPD Targets for each trait. You will also find sortable spreadsheets for all of our sale cattle as well as the top 10 most-used sires in the breed. Lot #

ProS

CED

Milk

HPG

CEM

Marb

REA

$Profit

$Ranch

$Feeder

Fertility

Sire

Dam's Sire

Sex

Whitewater

Bull

208 103 17 -6.6 81 126 28 13 9 1.19 38 .34 27,825 117 225 2.39 Ideal Energize 302 No other red animal in the breed can match DONE DEAL's super RAAA stats. We are using him heavily & 4 females in this sale carry his service. 28 Ideal progeny sell in this sale.

Bull

177 100 16 -4.7 79 125 27 12 7 1.15 29 .33 35,225 125 319 2.55 Ideal 303 RED Wave is an outcross with amazing mating flexibility & is by far the highest $Profit red animal in the breed. We are using him heavily & 5 females carry his service.

Complete 7000E

Bull

165 86 18 -4.0 90 143 28 14 9 1.15 28 .29 24,101 59 254 1.70 Titus 306 Here is one of 3 sons in this sale out of the highest selling cow in our history He is one of 72 progeny selling by Titus who was recently purchased by Select Sires.

Stockmarket

Bull

181 123 20 -4.5 80 134 27 12 11 1.46 39 .52 39,366 114 394 2.72 Veracious 22 GAME CHANGER is the best bull we have every produced. His mother is the highest selling cow in our history at $100,000. Imagine what he can do for you.

Stockmarket

Bull

193 111 19 -3.0 80 137 34 13 11 .94 51 .57 24,883 114 188 2.18 Kingston 49 This is a great example of our breeding strategy to produce cattle that excel for growth, carcass, cowherd traits and calving ease all in an eye appealing type.

Energize

Bull

Lot # ProS GM CED BW WW YW Milk HPG CEM Marb CW REA $Profit $Ranch $Feeder Fertility Sire 611 186 94 17 -4.3 79 133 29 15 9 .89 34 .19 22,175 89 185 1.97 Energize This prolific donor has 12 outstanding progeny in the this sale including lots 302 & 612. She sells safe in calf with a bull due 3-4-27 sired by Lot 301, Artemis.

Dam's Sire

Sex

Sure Fire

Cow

612 185 101 20 -5.2 85 140 28 13 10 .97 40 .24 27,880 110 236 2.27 Ideal The time is now for you to own an outstanding heifer like this full sister to lot 302 and the daughter of lot 611. She sells safe in calf with a heifer by Brown Sure Thing.

Energize

Cow

624 169 114 18 -2.4 77 126 29 11 9 1.12 49 .50 26,681 103 229 2.13 Authentic You are sure to love this beautiful broody babe who who is sired by the $110,000 Authentic. She has a heifer due 1-14-27 by Prolific (15 females carry his service).

Confidence Plus

Cow

637 208 116 15 -3.0 89 136 31 12 11 1.06 62 .93 25,269 91 225 2.19 Kingston This is a georgous example of the 66 elite Red Angus females & embryo lots we are selling. See our catalog and videos at RABrownRanch.com. Then come join us.

President

Cow

301 134 105 16 -5.1 86 145 31 14 8 .87 52 .69 29,443 103 268 2.39 Titus Let ARTEMIS take your herd to greater heights with his impressive combination of type and numbers. His mother sells as lot 616 & 4 sale females carry his service.

Lot 301 - Red Angus

Lot 22 - Black Red Angus

Lot 304 - Red Angus

Lot 21 of 155 Angus bulls

Lot 322 - Red Angus

2166 - Selling 45 Angus Females

e n o o n for

The genetics you select today shape the cow herd you’ll own tomorrow. Choose wisely.

Lot # ProS GM CED BW WW YW Milk HPG CEM Marb CW REA $Profit 52nd Annual Bull, Female & Horse Sale

$Ranch

$Feeder

Fertility

Sire

301 134 105 16 -5.1 86 145 31 14 8 .87 52 .69 29,443 103 268 2.39 Titus ™ Let ARTEMIS take your herd to greater heights with his impressive combination of type and numbers. His mother sells as lot 616 & 4 sale females carry his service.

RED ANGUS • ANGUS • SIMANGUS

OCTOBER 13-14, 2026

Dam's Sire

Sex

Whitewater

Bull

302 208 103 17 -6.6 81 126 28 13 9 1.19 38 .34 27,825 117 225 2.39 Ideal Energize No other red animal in the breed can match DONE DEAL's super RAAA stats. We are using him heavily & 4 females in this sale carry his service. 28 Ideal progeny sell in this sale.

At the ranch • Throckmorton, TX

303 177 100 16 -4.7 79 125 27 12 7 1.15 29 .33 35,225 125 319 2.55 Ideal RED Wave is an outcross with amazing mating flexibility & is by far the highest $Profit red animal in the breed. We are using him heavily & 5 females carry his service.

Tuesday, Oct. 13 evening – Angus Females & Horses Sell1.15 • Wednesday, Oct. 14 @5910 a.m. CDT 1.70 – Main Sale Event 306 165 86 18 -4.0 90 143 28 14 9 28 .29 24,101 254 Titus Here is one of 3 sons in this sale out of the highest selling cow in our history He is one of 72 progeny selling by Titus who was recently purchased by Select Sires. The clock never stops. Neither does the pursuit of better cattle. For more than 130 years, 22 R.A. 181 Brown 123 20Ranch -4.5 has 80 invested 134 27 in 12 the 11 future 1.46 39of the .52 beef 39,366 industry. 114 394 For 522.72 years,Veracious GAME CHANGER is the best bull we havegathered every produced.here His mother is theOctober highest sellingseeking cow in our history at $100,000. Imagineto whatlast. he can do for you. cattlemen have each genetics built us as13 the11tradition 49 193 111 19 -3.0 80 Join 137 34 .94 51 continues. .57 24,883 114 188 2.18 Kingston

Bull

Complete 7000E

Bull

Stockmarket

Bull

Stockmarket

Bull

Energize

Bull

This is a great example of our breeding strategy to produce cattle that excel for growth, carcass, cowherd traits and calving ease all in an eye appealing type.

Dam's Sire

Sex

Sure Fire

Cow

185 101 20 -5.2 85 140 28 13 10 .97 40 .24 27,880 110 236 2.27 Ideal 612 The time is now for you to own an outstanding heifer like this full sister to lot 302 and the daughter of lot 611. She sells safe in calf with a heifer by Brown Sure Thing.

Energize

Cow

169 114 18 -2.4 77 126 29 11 9 1.12 49 .50 26,681 103 229 2.13 Authentic 624 You are sure to love this beautiful broody babe who who is sired by the $110,000 Authentic. She has a heifer due 1-14-27 by Prolific (15 females carry his service).

Confidence Plus

Cow

208 116 15 -3.0 89 136 31 12 11 1.06 62 .93 25,269 91 225 2.19 Kingston 637 This is a georgous example of the 66 elite Red Angus females & embryo lots we are selling. See our catalog and videos at RABrownRanch.com. Then come join us.

President

Cow

Lot 611 - Red Angus

Lot 625 - Black Red Angus

550

RED ANGUS, ANGUS & SIMANGUS™ BULLS

Lot 624 - Red Angus

Request your sale book today!

Plus ...

15 Horses sell on Tuesday, Oct. 13, including the Complete Dispersal of Rob & Peggy Brown’s Quarter Horse Mares and Foals

66 Registered Red Angus Females 45 Registered Angus Females 900 Commercial Bred Heifers 15 Complete Dispersal of Rob & Peggy Brown’s AQHA Mares and Foals

940-849-0611 RABrownRanch.com

T BAR S BULLISH N1422

T BAR S PAYLOAD N1432

RAAA #5282425 | 02.03.25 HRP BULLISH 2028K X LSF SRR CRYSTAL E7091 J1173

RAAA #5282440 | 09.08.25 RAML PAYLOAD 9500 X RAML COVERGIRL 3704

T BAR S DOMINION N1433

T BAR S JUMPSTART 7106N

RAAA #5282439 | 09.04.25 RED U2 DOMINION X RAML CHEROKEE MAIDEN 3174

RAAA #5171051 | 02.14.25 BIEBER JUMPSTART J137 X RAML COVERGIRL 1117

10.23.26

12.08.26

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FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE BULL SALE

ELITE BRED FEMALE SALE

T H E V E H I G E F A M I LY / / B I L L I N G S , M I S S O U R I

JUSTIN: 573.690.3813 // KYLE: 573.645.8819 // TOM: 417.444.2268 F I N D

54 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

U S

O N

F A C E B O O K :

@ T B A R S 1 9 9 3

RANCHING LEGACY FEATURES

Preserving the Lifestyle Succession planning helps secure the future of the ag industry Written by Megan Silveira for the Red Angus Magazine Picture this. You’ve spent the past 60-plus years in the livestock business. You dedicated your early years to learning more about the industry, to saving the money needed to buy both land and cattle. Today, reflecting on the challenges and the goals achieved, you realize it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor — its time to retire. But looking out on all that you’ve built, you realize one terrible truth. You never took the time to ensure there was someone lined up to carry the business on, to keep the legacy alive. It’s a sad reality that many a cattleman has had to face, but Lance Woodbury, a Principal at Pinion and a specialist in family business coaching, said it doesn’t need to be your reality. The cure to a disappearing legacy? Succession planning. “It’s the process of creating a plan for the transition of management and ownership of the business,” Woodbury said. It’s not to be confused with estate planning, however. “Estate planning is an event. You can sign the documents and it’s good for while,” he added. Woodbury calls that process “more technical,” explaining that estate planning can solve the process of how to move assets to a new generation by setting up certain kinds of trusts or compiling a will. On the other hand, succession planning is an ongoing process. “That’s why I call it a muscle,” he said. “You have to be talking about this all the time because succession planning is really an ongoing process.” THE WHEN Woodbury tells producers not to consider 56 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

succession planning to be burdensome He said people hitting their late 40s to but to really plan on making it an annual early 50s have reached “the sweet spot,” as conversation. Conversations about odds are high their children are in the 20s, what’s next should include the following meaning they’re at the prime age to soak questions: up wisdom while also offering their ideas Is there someone excited to take over this and opinions. operation? There’s a deeper level to this timeline, Are they ready to take on a new, highertoo. Though we as a society might be loathe level role within the operation? to admit it, Woodbury reminds individuals Are we still in the right business as an that cognitive and physical health starts to operation? decline in their late 40s. That’s nearly 20 What should our business’ goals be? years ahead of retirement age. Often, Woodbury said, producers fall “It’s going to feel too early to you, but victim to asking these types of questions I’ll be there before you know it, and you’ve too late. got to build multiple years of transition to “The knowledge of raising cattle…is practice or experiment to be able to do it gained over a lifetime well,” he advises. of working with cattle, If someone waits “If you want to pass year in and year out,” until retirement age, he added. “If you want there’s not just the not just assets to the to keep that operation next generation to next generation but going or continue think of. Woodbury the legacy that you’ve said the financial a successful way of built, other people dynamics of an doing business and a have to acquire the operation might not knowledge that you lend itself to such successful reputation have.” a rapid transition in the industry, that He reminds either. producers that goes Tax planning, doesn't happen beyond just teaching annual gifting overnight.” someone how to mix strategies, retirement the right feed rations funds, salaries, - Lance Woodbury or vaccinate calves 401ks, nest eggs correctly. — Woodbury said “If you’ve got there’s a long list of a reputation for high-quality cattle or considerations in the business that can’t be genetics that are valuable for [specific decided or handled overnight. Remember, customers], the knowledge of how to succession planning isn’t a single document; manage that operation takes years or even it’s a muscle. decades to transition from one generation “You need to exercise the successional to the next,” Woodbury said. muscle,” Woodbury explained. “Exercising In his opinion, the sooner succession the succession muscle is involving the next planning comes up, the better.

decisions, looping them into tax planning, increasing their management decisionmaking capacity. Family. Arguably the most important part of this trio, this answers an important question. How does the family stay intact while those other two areas of focus are being handled? Woodbury said while the other two circles help the business, cattlemen still need to make sure they can all sit around the table at Thanksgiving and hold hands.

When it comes to planning for the future of a ranch, Lance Woodbury states that creating a succession plan is an on-going conversation that needs to be discussed by producers. Photo by Faye Smith.

generation in decisions. It’s talking about the handoff.” Ultimately, if you want to hand it off well, you’ve got to be having a lot of conversations. Thankfully, Woodbury says families in agriculture have a bit of advantage at this. “Oftentimes, the younger generation has a tremendous amount of respect for the older generation and are appreciative,” he said. When it comes to the cattle business, a buy out of the older generation isn’t always the answer. Transferring assets at death, or gifting business ownership during one’s lifetime is more common, but that doesn’t mean they’re expected. With that mindset more commonplace, Woodbury really encourages older breeders to start the conversation themselves. “Say to the young generation, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do. Here’s our intent. Here’s our plan.’” At the end of it, Woodbury says certainty in securing their future is as much of a gift to the younger generation as the assets themselves. Even if the presented plan isn’t what those kids originally imagined, there’s an opportunity to collaborate, to plan. Without conversations, Woodbury says people end up guessing about the future,

and that can create tension or uncertainty that could tarnish both the family and the cattle operation. “Uncertainty creates anxiety, and that anxiety is what produces conflict,” he said simply. Though many might be tempted to use the typical family gatherings — holidays or birthdays — to start talking about succession planning, Woodbury discourages that option. Let the holidays stay special; set aside time for succession planning on its own. THE HOW Woodbury points to the three circle system as a common model for family business consulting. There are three big picture items to consider when having a discussion about an operation’s transition. Ownership. What happens to the assets you own? This question is answered during meetings with your accountant and attorney. Considerations include estate taxes, gifting, etc. Management. This is the decision making process where Woodbury said producers answer how things are logistically transitioned. Cattle producers need to decide when to involve the next generation in purchasing

THE WHY While often succession planning centers around the second generation, sometimes this option isn’t available. A farmer or rancher might not have children, or other times, their children aren’t interested in staying in agriculture. Either way, Woodbury said there’s options. Consider transitioning the business to a key employee, identifying another family member or connecting with another local family passionate about cattle. “If you don’t have kids coming back, you’ve got to wrestle hard with, ‘Do I want to convert this to cash, i.e. just go sell it? Or do I want to help somebody?” Woodbury said. That’s a part of how he believes we’ve learned to “reframe success.” Legacies in agriculture aren’t always tied to a last name. “You’re creating a new definition of success,” he explains, “The definition of success maybe be that operation continued and we found the best person to carry it on.” It can be hard to let go of what we think our own future should look like, but Woodbury isn’t afraid to get honest with producers. “Whether you have family or not, you’re going to transition that business, and you’re either going to do it on your own terms or it’s going to happen on someone else’s terms — the government or God’s or someone else’s,” he explained. “You’ve got lots of options, but if you wait until the very end, you’re pretty much reduced to a sale and cash.” Woodbury reminds cattlemen this all goes back to leaving a legacy, preserving a way of life and a type and kind of cattle that will sustain future consumers for years to come. “If you want to pass not just assets to the next generation but a successful way of doing business and a successful reputation in the industry, that doesn’t happen overnight.” OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

Bred for excellence 4.0 JYJ Red Angus Production Sale Saturday, November 14, 2026 • 1 pm CDT • Columbia, AL

• Registered Red Angus Spring Calving Bred Heifers • Fancy Registered Red Angus Open Yearling Heifers • Registered Red Angus Spring Calving Cows with A.I. sired Heifer Calves at side • Elite $Profit Registered Red Angus Bulls • Spring Calving Commercial Red Angus Bred Heifers

Tremendous Selection of Age-Advantage Front-Pasture Bred Heifers. Safe in calf to the Fall open yearling heifers represent our breed’s leading multi-trait calving ease sires . Red Angus bulls with elite calving ease freshest genetics & most proven cow families

Scan for Sale Catalog:

Progeny & Service of:

Jim & Jessica Yance (334) 726-7342 1360 Hayden St. Columbia, AL 36319 jim@jyjredangus.com jessica@jyjredangus.com jyjredangus.com 60 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

Brown-CH PROLIFIC L5159 • Brown IDEAL K1377 Bieber BLUE CHIP H302 • PIE CADILLAC 3289 Brown SURE THING K122 • Brown GTLS TITUS K6257 Wedel GRAND SLAM 3377 • ALC REMEDY K60 Bieber JUMPSTART J137 • Wedel CORNERSTONE 0224H Brown JRAR END ZONE H6629 • Wedel PRIME-TIME 0007 9 Mile FRANCHISE 6305 • LSF MR FIX IT 3204L

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Generations of Grit

Fisher family operates multi-generational ranch, diversifies with agritourism Written by Faye Smith, Managing Editor At dawn, a warm thermos lid of coffee fills the air. It’s a frigid morning day in the Kansas Gypsum Hills, and the waterfowl begin to land amongst the pasture ponds. Along with their hunting crew for the weekend, Luke, Kirk and Jake Fisher take in the roar of waterfowl roosting on a pasture pond, the low bellar of cattle in the distance and the cluck of pheasants in a nearby field. It’s a feeling that can’t be beat – sharing a passion for conservation and showcasing 62 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

a cattle ranch that has survived generations. It’s their past, and their future all wrapped into one. THE LONKER RANCH The Gypsum Hills are a rugged terrain of red rock mesas and canyons that run across a small portion of south-central Kansas. A sight to see for those who know Kansas as a state of flat farm ground. Medicine Lodge is at the center of these hills, and with it sits the historic Lonker Ranch.

Homesteaded in the 1880’s, Andrea Lonker-Fisher’s family settled in the area with a plan to ranch. Through three generations, the Lonker Ranch raised registered Hereford cattle. As the ranch changed hands, split land and renamed the ranch, the emphasis on Hereford cattle changed. “My dad and brother added Red Angus cattle in the 1990’s to diversify the ranch and help with the finances of the operation,” Andrea said.

COURTESY J. GORDON CLARK

RANCHING LEGACY FEATURES

Andrea’s parents operated Lonker Hereford & Red Angus through the early 2010’s. Every year the Fishers, with their extended family, sold Hereford and Red Angus bulls in an annual sale, until they neared retirement. As another generation at the Lonker Ranch looked for their successors, Andrea knew their options of keeping the ranch in the family was limited. “My dad was stepping back and it was at a point where if we didn’t take over, we didn’t know who would,” Andrea explained. Andrea, her husband John, and three sons, Luke, Kirk and Jake lived over an hour from the ranch in a larger community. Although they were away from the farm, the boys were always drawn to the lifestyle. From cattle production and exhibition, to riding horses and being outdoors, the Fisher boys knew that the ranch was their calling – and Andrea recognized it. In 2011, Andrea, John, and the boys moved back to Medicine Lodge, making them the 5th and 6th generation on the ranch. “The land is who we are. There is that legacy, heritage and pride that comes with it,” Andrea said. “Knowing that generations before us landed here and we stayed, we hoped that we could continue to stay and pass it along.” The family kept the legacy of generations before them. As they transitioned back home, Andrea and John looked to change the goals of the ranch to keep up with the evolving nature of the cattle industry. Red Rock Cattle was then established, converting to a Red Angus and Hereford Influenced commercial operation. CHANGING OF THE GUARD The transition home allowed for the family to go full-force into the herd and develop the commercial goals of the operation. Under the mentorship of Andrea’s parents through 2024, the boys learned valuable life lessons and knowledge about caring for the land and livestock. As Kirk and Luke grew older, their intent to come back and be a part of the ranch grew stronger. Luke spent a majority of his childhood devoted to the horses on the ranch. After attending Hutchinson Community College and a short stint in the military, his foundation in horsemanship led him back to the ranch to train horses, help with the cattle and go to farrier school to serve a large need in their community. “I saw there was a need for shoeing around where we live and decided to move back permanently in 2024,” Luke

said. “My shoeing business took off quickly and becoming involved with the ranch has played an important role in my life ever since.” Kirk followed his educational pursuits to Kansas State University (K-State) to receive his degree in Animal Science. As a sophomore in 2021, Kirk purchased his first load of bred Red Angus heifers to start his own herd, adjacent to his parent’s. Throughout his time at K-State, Kirk dedicated weekends and free time to travel home to calve out cows, work with the females, and help his parents. He relied on the help of his father as he traveled back to school, but relates his first calf-crop as the best learning experience a young producer could have. “There were a lot of late nights in a good way,” Kirk said. “I like being busy and felt like I found a good momentum to learn so much as a producer being hands-on like that.” Once Luke and Kirk made it home fulltime, they found their roles as herdsman for the operation. John continues to maintain his role with breeding decisions and marketing efforts, but the daily work of the ranch falls on all three of them. With Kirk spending more time with land management, and Luke splitting his time with the farrier business, their working relationship strengthened. “The biggest thing early on we struggled with was communication. Early on we were trying to figure out how all of our roles work together and how we can best serve the ranch,” Luke said. Both Kirk and Luke realize the challenges of being young producers in today’s cattle industry. Fear played a large role in the early stages of Kirk taking over a management role in the ranch – the fear of making too big of risks, and too many mistakes. But, eventually he saw how risks are just nature to being a cattle producer – a common piece of advice he received from his late grandfather Lonker. “Taking risks used to be intimidating and scary, but as time goes on I’ve begun to be more comfortable taking larger risks on the herd to continue to lead towards a successful operation,” Kirk said. One of the risks the Fisher boys took was continuing to diversify the ranch and the tourism interest in their area. DIVERSIFYING THE RANCH Hospitality has always been a big part of the Fisher family and Lonker Ranch. “My parents’ gift was hosting and making people feel welcome,” Andrea said.

As the Fishers moved home to Medicine Lodge, Andrea’s parents, Andrea and John recognized how much the public wanted to access the Gypsum Hills. With most of it being private land, Andrea and John wanted to give the public a reason to experience the landscape. “We attended a Kansas tourism class,” Andrea said. “We dreamt about creating a place where people could experience our home and the Gyp Hills.” On the headquarter property sits one of the original ranch houses that was transformed into a guest house in 2015. Alongside it, the family converted the old sale barn into a large event space and venue for the public to gather and use for special events. But, they wanted to utilize the rural lifestyle and working ranch as a reason for guests to visit. During that same time, Luke, Kirk and Jake began to use their property to lead neighbors and friends on guided hunts during the Kansas upland bird and waterfowl seasons. But quickly, it turned from a fun hobby into a business. “It got pretty serious in 2020 when everyone wanted to get out and be adventurous. We got a huge influx of people interested in our services and I looked at it like ‘wow, we probably need to make a run at this,” Kirk said. The Fisher boys are known as avid outdoorsmen and hunters. Being able to combine their love for the outdoors, and the ranch that gave them that passion was important to this business venture. The Gyp Hills Guest Ranch was created in part to help become the headquarters for visitors coming to the ranch on guided hunts and visiting the working cattle operation. This has given the family the opportunity to advocate and showcase to guests without an agricultural background a direct insight into cattle production. “A lot of people that stay with us enjoy seeing the western way of life,” Kirk said. “They enjoy seeing the cattle working facilities, calving in the winter time and running through cattle on horseback. The cattle are as much of an interest as the hunts themselves.” Kirk, alongside brother Jake, are responsible for coordinating guide services throughout the winter season. With approximately 120 out-of-state clients per year, the Fishers take guests through three-day hunts that combine waterfowl hunting in the mornings and upland game in the evenings. The hunts take place throughout ranch ground and neighborhood pastures. As CONTINUED ON PAGE 64

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

RANCHING LEGACY FEATURES they’ve developed the guide service, their main goal is to keep business to a small number to maintain the relationship building aspect with clients. “We don’t want to lose a sense of connection with each person. Everyone that comes and hunts we want to try and build a solid relationship with them as friends,” Kirk said. With a high demand for hunting during mallard duck season in January, the Fishers realized that moving their calving window later in the spring would ensure the use of pasture ground for the whole hunting season. This has given the family the opportunity to balance owning the hospitality ventures and the cattle business. “The businesses work pretty well together. Since they pick up at different times of the year, it has balanced and worked nicely together,” Kirk said. Not only does the timing of calving tie the businesses together, but also conservation and land management. The Fishers rotate pastures regularly, conduct controlled burns every year or two, and work to manage brush encroachment to benefit both cattle grazing and wildlife habitat for upland birds. “We manage the land that would be appropriate to not only run cattle, but serve as habitats for wildlife,” Kirk says. “We appreciate our tallgrass and water systems and try our best to raise cattle in harmony with the wildlife.” The diversification of the operation into the hospitality and agritourism industry has

strongly influenced the annual income and has helped when the ranching business can be a financial burden. Luke encourages producers to look at ways they can benefit from diversifying their operation, whether it be with hospitality or other ventures. “Don’t be afraid to take the risk because you’ll always learn something from it, whether it succeeds or fails,” Luke said. Andrea firmly agrees. “Ranching is not a nine to five guaranteed paycheck, it’s like you’re gambling every day and taking a different type of risk,” Andrea states. “The boys have always been really hard workers and aren’t afraid to try new things that will help keep the ranch successful.” KEEPING THE LEGACY ALIVE The succession of ranches that have gone through as many generations as the Fishers have is rare today. As the family looks at the operation and businesses they’ve built, they understand the privilege they have to continue their family’s legacy. “We’re pretty grateful for the opportunity because a lot of people would love to have something like that, but it’s a huge responsibility at the same time, knowing you don’t want to be the generation to lose it,” Luke said. For the boys, their family has always supported them in taking over management roles of the operation. Andrea recalls how much her parents, especially her father, were excited to see the Fisher brothers take the lead for the future of the ranch.

While making large decisions for the ranch – they always put the next generation first. “Kirk and I always think while we’re making decisions for the ranch is to think about my son Behren, and his future children and how the choices we make will impact their future,” Luke said. “If we make decisions that won’t benefit the future, then we shouldn’t be making them.” Not only do management practices make a large impact on the future, but the quality and maintenance of the cattle themselves. “Taking pride in the livestock and how we take care of the grass and wetlands has been the biggest influence on us to continue what our ancestors established for us,” Kirk said. As the three brothers all are involved in different portions of the cattle operation and hospitality services, Andrea understands how important their involvement has been for the future of their lifestyle. “It makes me teary just thinking about it. The ranch was such an important place to my parents and I and so knowing that it’s just as important to the boys is heartwarming,” Andrea said. “I’m so proud of them.” With Red Angus cattle at the heart of the operation, the Fisher family is a testament to those who will do whatever it takes to keep the legacy of their operation alive.

Left: Luke Fisher is dedicated to waterfowl season during frigid temperatures. Photo courtesy, J. Gordon Clark. Middle: The Fisher family from left to right, Jake, John, Brooklyn, Luke, Andrea and Kirk. Photo courtesy, Andrea Fisher. Right: Kirk Fisher pulls semen straws during breeding season. Photo courtesy, J. Gordon Clark.

64 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

REGISTERED & COMMERCIAL RED ANGUS ANGUS FEMALES

2025

250 HEAD

COW / CALF COW CALF PAIRS PAIRS SPRING BRED FEMALES SPRING 18 MO. OLD BULLS 18 BULLS EMBRYOS EMBRYOS SPRING SPRING & & FALL FALL OPEN OPEN HEIFERS EIFERS

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RED ANGUS LIVE AUCTION

SATURDAY, OCT 10, 2026

Lunch at NOON Auction at 1 PM

STAR G RANCH AUCTION BARN: 12144 DOVE AVE, DOUDS, IOWA STAR

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G I L C H R I S T ,

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Prime Maternal Elite Cow Herd Genetics

Saturday, November 7, 2026 • 1 pm Cedar Hill Farm, Jane Lew, WV

The largest concentration of daughters & sisters of the High Selling bulls from the R.A. Brown Ranch program east of the Mississippi River!

18 CED to 138 YW $132 $Ranch (.8%) $24,843 $Profit (.7%)

1.06 MARB (3%) 16 CED to 144 YW $25197 $Profit (.6%)

1.13 MARB (2%) 18 CED to 130 YW $22,836 $Profit (1%)

Brown GTLS TITUS K625

Brown IDEAL K1377

LSF MR FIX IT 3204L

15 CED - 120 YW 6% Marb, 9% REA $60,000 co-high seller March 2026 R.A. Brown Ranch Sale

1.23 MARB (1%) $108 $Ranch (1%) $33,112 $Profit (..1%) $92,000 Record-Selling Black/Red Angus Bull.

2.53 Fertility (.1%) 18 CED to 129 YW 1% $Profit, 3% $Ranch, 5% $Feeder $42,500 Second-High Seller Oct. 25 R.A. Brown Ranch Sale

Brown-CH FOREMOST M6649

Brown Stump LOCKED & LOADED

Brown-CH PROLIFIC L5159

Selling Daughters & Service of these Sires!

Fall Calving Cows with Heifer Calves at Side • Open Yearling Heifers Spring Cow/Calf Pairs • Prime Donor Dams • Bred Heifers

Cedar Hill Farm Dan & Alicia Stickel • (304) 545-7677

Cedar Hill Farm 346 Gooseman Road • Jane Lew, WV 26378 Red Angus Cattle cedarhillredangus@frontier.com www.cedarhillredangus.com

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STAKE YOUR CLAIM

Explore new territory in Red Angus genetics. Montana Red Angus Association's 43rd Annual

Prestigious NILE Red Angus Sale

Friday, October 16, 2026 1 pm MDT – Mt Pavilion – Billings, Montana Futurity and Sale Preview – Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026

Montana Red Angus Legacy Semen Sale

Building Tomorrow’s Herds, One Junior at a Time. Generous semen donations from Red Angus breeders and supporters fund Montana Junior Red Angus members purchasing registered heifers at the NILE and participating in the Red Angus Junior Futurity. Your purchase provides access to elite genetics while investing in the next generation of Red Angus breeders.

Thursday, October 15 BROADCAST ON DV AUCTION

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FEDDES SLEEK 277-623 (#5276538)

Sale Manager:

Thomas Livestock Services Jeff Thomas • (406) 581-8859 Email: jeffthomas138@gmail.com Sale Chairman: Luke Larson • 406-207-6776 lukelarson51@gmail.com OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

CMY

68 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

TECHNICAL INSIGHTS

TECHNICAL

INSIGHTS

SELECTING FOR LONGEVITY

Studying the genetic architecture and effects of heterosis on cow fertility traits through total herd reporting schemes Written by Cassidy Catrett, University of Tennessee-Knoxville doctoral candidate

Cow longevity and fertility are chief drivers of economic success for cow-calf producers. A female that breeds back on time and calves early each year spreads her development costs over more calves, while one that fails to rebreed forces producers to raise a costly replacement before she has paid for herself. Failure to rebreed and infertility are the most common reasons females are removed from herds, yet culling pressure is low due to the delayed expression of these traits, since a cow is not identified as subfertile until she has already failed to produce a calf. Phenotypes commonly associated with cow fertility and longevity are known to be under low levels of genetic control, hindering genetic improvement. However, selection tools (i.e., EPDs) can help to accelerate genetic progress on these traits by focusing selection on the genetic variation that controls these traits, allowing producers to make more informed breeding decisions even when a trait is difficult to observe directly. Collecting cow fertility phenotypes with conventional registration schemes on a population level has been a challenge, since only calves that are registered generate a record, and cows that fail to produce a registerable calf often disappear from the dataset entirely. Further, most phenotypes associated with cow longevity take several years to be expressed, leaving phenotypic selection ineffective at generating genetic improvements within a single producer’s herd. Traditional registration schemes have made the study of these traits a challenge, but Whole Herd Reporting (WHR) schemes open the door for exploring different component traits for fertility. WHR is an inventory-based reporting system where all female production records and calving information are recorded, regardless of calf registration status. This reporting framework has allowed breed associations to collect complete and 70 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

unbiased reproductive and performance 30, indicating that not only are the phenotypes from entire herds, capturing majority of females calving earlier in their the females that leave a herd early as well respective calving seasons, but heifers as those that stay, which is essential for are typically managed more intensely accurately estimating traits tied to fertility to ensure a tighter calving season and and longevity. adequate recovery time before their initial In collaboration with Beefmaster rebreeding. This is a pattern consistent Breeders United (BBU), our team used with the added scrutiny producers tend their to place on WHR replacement records to heifers before “Commercial cow-calf producers calculate committing six traits them to the cow are the lifeblood of the industry, associated herd. and ensureing that their with Our early and estimations production records are included sustained also indicate when estimating phenotypes cow that the first fertility: calving season will remain important as we heifer for a female is continue to make improvements pregnancy, important for heifer her downstream to selection tools.” calving productivity, as - Cassidy Catrett date, those females calving who initially date, calve within the discrete first 30 days of early calving, calving interval and first the calving season remain productive and calving interval. Broadly, these traits calve earlier than those females who initially capture whether and when a female calve outside the first 30 days of the season (CD = 30.02 days vs. 40.34 days). becomes pregnant as a yearling, how With the unique nature of Beefmasters early she calves relative to the start of her being a composite breed traditionally herd’s calving season, and how quickly consisting of 50% Brahman and 25% she rebreeds from one calving to the next, Shorthorn and Hereford, respectively, we together offering a more complete picture have been better able to understand how of a female’s reproductive efficiency than heterosis, or hybrid vigor, can improve cow any single trait could on its own. fertility and longevity. Across the BBU dataset, we found that Heterosis occurs when crossbred the majority of the animals maintain a offspring outperform the average of their calving interval of less than 425 days. parent breeds, and it tends to be most However, there is a slight increase in pronounced in traits, like fertility and observations at the 2-year, 730-day longevity, that are lowly heritable and mark, indicating that there are several heavily influenced by the environment. females retained after a missed calving Traits under lower levels of genetic control, opportunity. On average, heifers calve like fertility, have been found to respond on day 16 of the calving season, with more favorably to heterosis than traits the average for mature cows being day

under higher levels of genetic control, such as carcass traits – which tend to be more additively inherited and less responsive to crossbreeding. Knowing this, we estimated two measures of “genomic heterosis potential” using breed component information from those animals enrolled in WHR with genotypes available, giving us a genomic, rather than simply pedigree-based, estimate of how much retained heterozygosity each animal carries. We found significant associations between genomic heterosis and phenotypic performance in all fertility phenotypes evaluated. For example, a one standard deviation increase in retained heterozygosity decreased the calving interval by five days, allowing females additional recovery time during the postpartum interval and increased rebreeding ability. Beefmasters are a maternally driven breed, allowing them to play an important role in improving maternal traits when utilized in crossbreeding systems. The unbiased reporting required in WHR allowed us to better understand populationwide cow productivity, with genetic information allowing us to understand the impact of heterosis on these traits. Most seedstock Beefmaster producers maintain a 365-day calving interval, but management will be key in maintaining that, particularly as nutrition, health, and breeding-season length all interact with a female’s underlying genetic potential to rebreed on time. Each phenotype was lowly to moderately heritable (h2 = 0.030.31), underscoring that while genetic selection can move these traits over time, management decisions at the ranch level remain just as important in the short term. All phenotypes shared low to moderate phenotypic and genetic correlations with one another, suggesting that genetic improvement in one trait can improve the others, which is encouraging for producers who may not have the time or resources to select intensively on every individual fertility measure. Finally, heterosis positively affects cow productive phenotypes, indicating that the strategic crossbreeding used to establish the Beefmaster breed will continue to be beneficial for improving cow fertility. Our findings suggest that genetic improvement is possible for these traits as breed associations continue to develop genetic selection tools for them, giving producers another avenue, alongside sound

Phenotypes calculated using BBU WHR data. The six traits above were found to be associated with early and sustained cow fertility. Figure courtesy, Cassidy Catrett.

management, for building more fertile and productive females remains of interest to longer-lived cow herds. producers. Not only does WHR allow Through this research, we aim to for more holistic reporting in seedstock continue analyzing data to improve current herds, but it allows commercial producers selection tools for producers to utilize for each breed to have more of a voice in when making breeding decisions. The more driving genetic models. With WHR not holistic measuring of cow fertility traits having a requirement to register calves, through WHR allows for more precise just to report them, commercial producers phenotypes to be estimated, with the goal can have a larger impact on the genetic of improving precision and accuracy of models associations are providing for their genetic selection tools for producers. As producers. the U.S. beef industry continues to try Commercial cow-calf producers are the to meet demand for beef for consumers, lifeblood of the industry, and ensuring ensuring that producers that their production can better select for records are included when females more likely to estimating phenotypes “Whole Herd calve at age two and will remain important Reporting will remain productive as we continue to throughout the rest make improvements to continue to be an of their lives will be selection tools. As more asset to breed key. Replacement breed associations adopt females are essential for WHR-style reporting, associations operations to continue the resulting datasets as the push to evolve and ensure should only grow richer that there is a ready and more representative of to select for supply of terminal the commercial cow herd, more fertile calves for feedlots and further sharpening the packers. This work not accuracy of the fertility and and productive only helps to improve longevity tools available females remains selection for those more to producers across the of interest to productive females, but industry. also helps to ensure producers.” that the beef supply - Cassidy Catrett chain remains stable and continues to meet consumer demands. Whole Herd Reporting will continue to be an asset to breed associations as the push to select for more fertile and OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

72 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

These Girls are on Fire! Online Bred Heifer Sale

Opens Monday, Dec. 14 – Closes Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2026 Brandon & Dixie Rusch Sherill Seeger

3325 54th Ave • New Salem, ND 58563 Brandon: 701-226-5479 Dixie: 701-426-9443 Sherill: 701-400-5077

Visitors Welcome

to view the cattle at the ranch over the ND Red Select weekend

seeger-ruschredangus.com

Connect with us! 74

RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

Where Premier Red Angus Genetics Begin

featuring

$25,000 Junior Futurity Show

2026

s d e R Prairie on the

LIVE RED ANGUS AUCTION

*HIGHLIGHT PHOTOS FROM THE 2025 SALE

NOVEMBER 15TH

Dacotah Bank Center brookings, south dakota mnraa annual banquet friday, nov 14th, 6 pm

641/919-1077 | REDCOWSELLER@YAHOO.COM K Y L E

G I L C H R I S T ,

S A L E

GILCHRIST AUCTION CO

M A N A G E R

A U C T I O N E E R

ASSOCIATION UPDATES

JUNIOR COMMENTARY

BEYOND THE BARN

Connecting Commercial Juniors to the JRA

Written by J.D. Miller

J.D. Miller serves as the Vice President and resides in South Carolina. For junior association questions contact Taylor Dorsey. taylordorsey@redangus.org

Throughout my time serving on the Junior Red Angus Board of Directors, one question has remained at the heart of our mission and at the forefront of every decision we make: How do we create opportunities to engage every junior, regardless of their background or level of experience? The strength of the Junior Red Angus ( JRA) program lies in its diversity. Our juniors come from different operations, communities, and experiences, yet we are all connected by a shared passion for Red Angus cattle and the opportunities the organization provides. There is a special drive and passion within our organization to ensure that our commercially rooted junior members have every opportunity to grow, learn, and succeed. We recognize the unique perspective and value what these juniors bring to the Red Angus Association and the broader beef industry, and we are committed to celebrating and supporting their involvement in every way we can. From offering commercially focused contests at the Red Angus Youth Expo to incorporating industry tours into our annual Red Angus Round-Up trips, the Junior Red Angus Association continues to create opportunities that connect our

members to the beef industry. These experiences not only expand our juniors’ knowledge and skills but also help them see how their involvement in the Red Angus breed can extend far beyond the show ring. Each year at the Red Angus Youth Expo, a variety of educational events and contests are offered with one goal in mind: to provide opportunities for every JRA member. These events are not limited to those who exhibit cattle; they are designed to welcome juniors of all ages, backgrounds and experience levels. Whether a junior has grown up showing cattle or comes from a primarily commercial operation, there is an opportunity for all to be involved. Contests such as livestock judging, Skill-a-Thon, sales talk, and many others allow juniors to develop valuable skills while gaining confidence and expanding their understanding of the beef industry. Beyond the contests themselves, educational workshops featuring industry professionals and companies such as Boviteq® give our members the chance to learn about topics they may not encounter in their everyday operations. Each year, the JRA hosts Red Angus Round-Up, a week-long experience filled with educational events, industry tours and opportunities for juniors to connect

with members from across the country. Round-Up gives juniors the chance to meet people from different backgrounds and operations while gaining a broader understanding of agriculture and the beef industry. Throughout the week, participants visit a variety of stops, ranging from Red Angus operations and research farms to agricultural businesses and production systems unique to each region. These experiences provide juniors with valuable knowledge and new perspectives while showing them the many opportunities available within agriculture. However, what makes Round-Up truly special is the combination of education and connection. The friendships built, experiences shared, and knowledge gained throughout the week make Red Angus Round-Up an unforgettable and truly unbeatable experience for any JRA member. These experiences are what make the JRA program so special. They demonstrate that involvement does not have to look one particular way. Whether a junior’s passion lies in the show ring, the commercial cattle industry, or somewhere in between, the JRA is committed to creating a place where every junior can learn, contribute, and find their own path within the Red Angus breed.

JUNIOR RED ANGUS ASSOCIATION juniors.redangus.org

juniorredangus

2026-2027 JRA Board of Directors 76

RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

juniorredangus

Red Angus Sale

November 14, 2026 • 1 p.m.

Albany, Wisconsin Hosted at Shamrock Nook Red Angus • Offering open and bred heifers, mature cows and donor prospects • Females from proven cow families like Eleanor, Penny, Abigail, Sweet Sixteen, Susie, Laura

Request a catalog!

• Lunch at noon; preview cattle all day Friday and Saturday morning • Live sale located at Shamrock Nook Red Angus and online service provided by DV Auction • Find us on Facebook!

Females Like These Will Sell…

jan. 31

REGIONAL

RED ANGUS SHOW RODEO TICKETS ▶ SEPT. 14 PRE M I U M L I ST ▶ SE PT. 15 ENTRY DEADLINE ▶ NOV. 16

ENTRIES, PREMIUM LISTS, RODEO TICKETS

AVAIL AB L E O N L IN E

Albany, Wi • 608.558.5342

Montfort, WI • 608.778.7214

Platteville, WI • 608.642.6982

McDs Red Angus Monroe, WI • 608.214.6812 Emerald Earth Cattle Co. Platteville, WI • 608.778.6736 Welsh Prairie Red Angus Rio, WI • 608.516.7005

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

78 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

GENETIC OPPORTUNITY SALE bred heifers . embryos . semen BRED HEIFERS

Wasem Bred Heifers are bred to: Confidence 3089, Confident 2044, Complete 5126N, Burbank 5082, Commander 1055J 45 bred commercial Red Angus heifers from Ferebee Crops and Cattle | AI bred to WSM Commander 1055J due to start calving April 1 45 bred commercial Red Angus heifers from Ben Murphy | Bred to WRA bulls due to start calving April 1

•

SEMEN Wake Up 5150 - #5159145 - No semen has ever been sold on this bull!

Partnered with Broken Heart Ranch, we bought this 2025 sale topper from Berwald Red Angus for $120,000

•

WSM Long Cut 5095 - #5111707 Confidence 3089 - #4847016

Scan to view more sale info

• Bidding Starts: October 30, 2026 at 9am CST • Bidding Closes: November 1, 2026 at 7pm CST Online sale held at www.DVAuction.com. Producing Red Angus cattle that are

POWERFUL, PROFITABLE & PRACTICAL. W W W.WAS E M R E DA NGUS .C OM ( 70 1 ) 2 60 -1 5 1 3

JUNIOR FEATURES

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP JRA COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP

The Junior Red Angus Association of America is pleased to award a minimum of five $2000 college scholarships through the support of the Red Angus Foundation, Inc. The following criteria will be used to determine eligibility Applicant must be a current JRA member in good standing with the RAAA at the time of application. Applicant must be a graduating high school senior or a current college freshman with definite plans to enroll in post-secondary education in the fall of the application year. Complete applications must be submitted by the deadline of the application year. Applications will only be accepted via the online portal. Scholarship awards are not limited to one year; last year’s recipients may submit a scholarship application for the current year.

2026 JRA COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

PEYTON ANDRAS Peyton Andras grew up on a Red Angus cow-calf operation in Manchester, Illinois. His parents are Will and Kim Andras. He is currently attending Lincoln Land Community College and is a member of the livestock judging team. His plan is to transfer to a 4-year college to pursue a degree in Animal Science and Ag Marketing. Peyton currently serves as Vice President of the JRA Board of Directors and President of the Manchester Variety 4-H Club. Upon graduation, he plans to return home to the family’s Red Angus operation. Peyton enjoys being outdoors, whether it’s hunting or checking cows.

JADY LeDOUX Jady LeDoux is a motivated student from Harrold, South Dakota, with a strong passion for the cattle industry. She is currently attending Casper College and has gained extensive hands-on experience in livestock care, show cattle management, and breed promotion through her work at Thomas Ranch and involvement in major livestock events. Jady has competed successfully in state and national livestock judging contests and has held leadership roles in FFA, 4-H, and collegiate livestock organizations. She is actively involved in multiple junior breed associations, where she mentors younger

exhibitors and supports industry events. Her accomplishments include Supreme Champion titles, academic honors, and published photography in a national breed magazine. Jady is committed to furthering her education and building a career that supports ranchers and positively represents the beef industry. SARI ROGERS Sari Rogers of Princeton, Missouri, is the daughter of Nathan and Carrie Rogers. She is a student at North Mercer R-3 High School, where she balances academics with a work-study program that allows her to spend half her school day working

CONTINUED ON PAGE 82

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

JUNIOR FEATURES on her family’s multigenerational cattle operation. Sari is active in the Red Angus community as a member of the Missouri, Iowa, and American Junior Red Angus Associations. She has participated in Red Angus Round-Up for three consecutive years and has shown at two Red Angus Youth Expos. Outside of Red Angus involvement, Sari shows cows, is President of her FFA and FCA chapters, and is involved in multiple school sports. Sari remains deeply involved in her family’s Red Angus and Simmental cow-calf operation and plans to continue expanding her leadership and involvement within the beef industry. KALI ROGER Kali Rogers attends North Mercer R-3 High School in Mercer, Missouri, where she is taking dual credit classes through North Central Missouri College in Trenton, Missouri. She is the Daughter of Nathan and Carrie Rogers and has a passion for working with animals. She plans to attend Missouri State University in the fall of 2026 to major in Ag Business or Animal Sciences. She works on her family’s Red Angus farm, raising bulls and females, and enjoys spending time with family, reading, and showing cattle whenever she can. HAYDEN STUBBS Hayden Stubbs is the daughter of Darrell and Becky Vandike and Adam and Jill Stubbs. She resides in Wallace, Kansas, where her family and her run Short Grass Genetics. They focus on running practical cattle that can step into the show ring and also compete. Short Grass

Genetics markets show heifer prospects through private treaty sales and sells bulls through their family sale. She is currently a freshman at Butler Community College, where she is on the livestock judging team. After Butler, Hayden plans on transferring to Kansas State University, where she will get a degree in Agriculture Education. Concluding at Kansas State, she plans on teaching agriculture and being an FFA advisor.

DEE SONSTEGARD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER TANA LEE Tana Lee, Plaza, North Dakota, is the daughter of Paul and Sara Lee. Tana will graduate from North Shore Plaza High School in May 2026. She has excelled in school, consistently earning honor roll recognition. She has been highly involved in the North Dakota Junior Red Angus Program and 4-H. She has served as the Vice President, Treasurer, and Queen of the NDJRAA. She has also served as the 4-H club president for 3 years and the treasurer for 2 years prior. She is a 5th generation in her family’s farm and ranch, and they are deeply involved in both crop and cattle production, raising small grains and managing commercial and registered Red Angus herds. Tana will be attending the SPARK Leadership Conference in April 2026.

Get in Touch!

Are you looking to get involved with the JRA at your state level?

Want to get involved with the JRA?

The JRA is the organizational name for junior members of the Junior Red Angus Association. It is made up of all of the junior members of the Association. The JRA is governed by an eight-member board which is elected each year during the annual meeting of the JRA which is held during the Red Angus Youth Expo, the National Junior Red Angus Show. Junior applicants must be under the age of 21. The joining fee is $25. Annual dues are $25 and are assessed every July. The Junior Red Angus Association offers tremendous opportunities to our youth. Members of the JRA are eligible for: Registering cattle with the Association Participation in junior activities including conferences, shows, and other contests Leadership training Scholarship opportunities Subscription to the Red Angus Magazine, unless there is already a subscription within the same household. And more!

Connect with a state advisor!

Questions? Contact the Red Angus Association of America Junior Programs Coordinator Taylor Dorsey!

Visit juniors.redangus.org to see a complete list of state organization advisors to start your journey with the JRA!

taylordorsey@redangus.org

82 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

JBARW WAR TRAIN 10

4454661 | SIRE: STRA CINCH 904 HB 37 GM 36 BW 1.7 WW 72 YW 108 Milk 25

LELAND JULIA 410-7307T

1174262 | SIRE: TR JULIUS PT410 HB 60 GM 42 BW -1.7 WW 51 YW 78 Milk 34

WEBER MR WAR WAGON 81 JBARW WAR WAGON 2509 JBARW IRON IDENTITY 5533 3922471 | SIRE: RED U-2 ENTOURAGE 282B HB 12 GM 44 BW 0.3 WW 74 YW 119 Milk 23

BLW MS BIG IRON B410

1697172 | SIRE: HXC BIG IRON 0024X HB -32 GM 56 BW 7.5 WW 89 YW 153 Milk 23

4671917 | SIRE: WEBER MR WAR WAGON 81 HB 10 GM 54 BW -0.9 WW 74 YW 128 Milk 26

5135943 | SIRE: LSF SRR IDENTITY 0295H HB 44 GM 68 BW 0.4 WW 92 YW 151 Milk 27

JBARW MS MABEL 1505

WEBER MISS HAMLEY 2114

44858736 | SIRE: BROWN BLW FANTASTIC C5959 HB 33 GM 50 BW -2.9 WW 71 YW 124 Milk 33

1562261 | SIRE: TC HAMLEY HB 44 GM 35 BW 1.4 WW 71 YW 111 Milk 33

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

Autumn

OCTOBER 24, 2026 OCTOBER 24, 2026

12 NOON NOON

SE Red Angus Association’s

extravaganza extravaganza 3rd Annual Auction

Hardin County Stockyards -Savannah, Tennessee

SATURDAY, NOV. 7TH, 2026 12:00 PM

Classic Classic FALL

Hinds Community College Sale Facility Raymond, Mississippi

. selling REGISTERED RED ANGUS BULLS

REGISTERED & COMMERCIAL FEMALES

Red Angus Bulls Cow/Calf Pairs Bred Females Open Heifers Embryos & Semen

Annual membership meeting & meal

FRIDAY @ 6:30 PM

GILCHRIST AUCTION CO.

Kyle Gilchrist, Auctioneer | 641/919-1077 | redcowseller@yahoo.com 84 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

IOWA STATE FAIR - JUNIOR SHOW RESULTS

SHOW RESULTS

Regional Show | Friday, Aug 21, 2026 | Judge: Frank Jackson, SD

Grand Champion Owned & Champion Bred and Owned Purebred Female: LENTS MAPLE 5064299- 10/05/2024 Owned by: Veronica Lents, Creston, Iowa

3rd Overall Owned & Reserve Champion Bred and Owned Purebred Female: JTVM NORA 446N - 5078287 - 01/04/2025 Owned by: Trice Vander Molen, Pella, Iowa

Reserve Grand Champion Owned Purebred Female: LENT 5040 - 5230927 - 10/25/2025 Owned by: Allyse Lents, Creston, Iowa

4th Overall Owned Purebred Female: LENT 5021 - 5222091 - 07/20/2025 Owned by: Kenneth Lents, Creston, Iowa

5th Overall Owned Purebred Female: RED MOOSE CREEK REBA 150N 5237043 02-27-2025 Owned by: Colton Griffin, Moville, Iowa

Grand Champion Owned Percentage Female: ALENT 5018 PEPPERMINT - 5133591 - 04/03/2025 Owned by: Travis Lents, Creston, Iowa

Reserve Grand Champion Owned Percentage Female: ALENT 5005 - 5064301 - 03/02/2025 Owned by: Brooks Kabela, West Branch, Iowa

Grand Champion Steer: MALH 516N - 5071229 - 01/26/2025 Owned by: Mary Ann Hartogh, Osage, Iowa

Reserve Grand Champion Steer: 319CC BIG FOOT 8N - 5211287 - 03/06/2025 Owned by: Trevor Riesberg, Hartley, Iowa

86 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

Grand Champion Bred & Owned Bull: JTVM PHEONIX 681P - 5268339 - 03/28/2026 Owned by: Trice Vander Molen, Pella, Iowa

Reserve Grand Champion Bred & Owned Bull: MCRTN STEIGER 601 - 5220767 - 01/15/2026 Owned by: Brantley McCartan, Pocahontas, Iowa

Junior Iowa Red Angus Association Showmanship Contest

For all backdrops and other photos from the Iowa State Fair Regional Show, visit lindeslivestockphotos.com Showmanship award winners from left to right: Champion Senior, Veronica Lents; Reserve Champion Senior, Jace Peterson; Champion Intermediate, Chason Maier; Reserve Champion Intermediate, Kinsley Robinette; Champion Junior, Hannah Neleman; Reserve Champion Junior, Colton Griffin; Champion PeeWee, Trice Vander Molen; Reserve Champion PeeWee, Keaton Kabela.

IOWA STATE FAIR - OPEN SHOW RESULTS

Regional Show | Saturday, Aug 22, 2026 | Judge: Frank Jackson, SD Specialty awards

Group Class Awards

Champion Senior Get of Sire: Keith A Wolverton, Seward, Nebraska Champion Junior Get of Sire: Keith A Wolverton, Seward, Nebraska Champion Produce of Dam: Keith A Wolverton, Seward, Nebraska

Reserve Grand Champion Steer: 319CC BIG FOOT 8N - 5211287 - 03/06/2025 Owned by: Trevor Riesberg, Hartley, Iowa

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

IOWA STATE FAIR - OPEN SHOW RESULTS

SHOW RESULTS

Regional Show | Saturday, Aug 22, 2026 | Judge: Frank Jackson, SD

Grand Champion Purebred Female: LENTS MAPLE - 5064299- 10/05/2024 Owned by: Veronica Lents, Creston, Iowa

3rd Overall Purebred Female: TJC 158J NORA 504N - 5120145 - 01/05/2025 Owned by: Chason Maier, West Branch, Iowa

Reserve Grand Champion Purebred Female: LENT 5040 - 5230927 - 10/25/2025 Owned by: Allyse Lents, Creston, Iowa

4th Overall Purebred Female: JTVM NORA 446N - 5078287 - 01/04/2025 Owned by: Trice Vander Molen, Pella, Iowa

5th Overall Purebred Female: JTVM NATALIE 530N - 5169961 - 03/15/2025 Owned by: Keaton Kabela, West Branch, Iowa

Grand Champion Percentage Female: ALENT 5005 - 5064301 - 03/02/2025 Owned by: Brooks Kabela, West Branch, Iowa

Reserve Grand Champion Percentage Female: RED ROSE N115 - 5118485 - 01/15/2025 Owned by: Brock Barnett, Monroe, Iowa

Grand Champion Bull: JDD NASH N58N - 5072563 - 01/01/2025 Owned by: Jane Damman, Melbourne, Iowa

Reserve Grand Champion Bull: MCRTN STEIGER 601 - 5220767 - 01/15/2026 Owned by: Brantley McCartan, Pocahontas, Iowa

88 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

BULLS BUILT FOR THE

Long Haul FALL EDITION

With a combined 187 years in the cattle business, the Kniebel Cattle Co. and Downey Ranch and families have been bringing you hard-working seedstock for over 25 years. This fall’s offering includes 120 Age-Advantaged Angus, Red Angus and SimAngus bulls, and 60 commercial spring calving bred heifers, with lessons from all of that experience applied.

Across the Fence and Across the Country

Backed by three-year feet and semen guarantees, and with 80% of the bulls selling to repeat customers, you’ll ﬁnd Kniebel Cattle Co. and Downey Ranch seedstock “across the fence and across the country.” WHY? Because we know ﬁrst-hand what it takes to build cattle for the LONG HAUL.

FALL EDITION FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 6.2026 PRODUCTION SALE 12:00 P M CT – Downey Ranch Headquarters, 12 miles southeast of Manhattan, KS •

120 Age-Advantaged bulls - including 40 Red Angus and Red SimAngus, and 80 Black Angus and SimAngus.

•

60 commercial spring calving bred heifers - with calve-out service available.

•

All bulls are performance-tested, ultrasounded and genomically evaluated.

•

We offer three year feet and semen guarantees, wintering options, and volume discounts.

Want a sale book? CAL L , T E X T OR E M A I L O R S CA N T H E QR C O DE

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Joe Carpenter and Barb Downey Barb 785-556-8160 • Joe 785-556-8161 37929 Wabaunsee Rd., Wamego, KS 66547 barbdowney@wamego.net DowneyRanch.com

K N I EB EL CAT T L E C O.

Kevin and Mary Ann Kniebel • Ranch 785-349-2821 Kevin 620-767-2181 • Mary Ann 620-767-2180 428 S. 2600 Rd., White City, KS 66872 Marty Ropp 406-581-7835 kniebel@tctelco.net KCattle.com Corey Wilkins 256-590-2487 Jared Murnin 406-321-1542 alliedgeneticresources.com

TECHNICAL INSIGHTS

TOP

DOLLAR

DRIVING DEMAND

Why beef still remains king of the proteins Written by Nate Smith

nate@topdollarangus.com 620-546-4839

Nobody can blame them. When the board erases a spring’s worth of gains in a couple of months, it stings, whether you’re feeding cattle or running cows. That being said, I don’t think the fundamentals of this business have changed, and I want to explain why. This article got its start from conversations with a couple of friends; one a seedstock producer, the other runs his own cows and has a feedyard. Both see the business from different angles every day. The first point we kept coming back to was simple: demand hasn’t cracked. If anything, it keeps marching on. THE CONSUMER ISN’T BACKING OFF Set beef next to any other grocery staple right now and the consumer’s willingness to keep buying it stands out. Retail beef

prices have sold higher through 2026, along with the rest of the grocery cart, and the consumer has largely stayed at the counter anyway. Industry analyst Nevil Speer has spent a majority of this year writing about exactly this; how beef ’s demand curve has held up even as the herd has shrunk to its smallest since 1951 (27.6 million head as of this January, seven straight years of contraction) and prices to the consumer have climbed with it. That’s not an accident. It’s a product people keep choosing. EATING QUALITY IS STILL AN ACE CARD A big piece of this is eating quality, and today’s beef is genuinely in a class of its own. We’ve spent decades pushing marbling and consistency, and it shows on the plate. Chicken and pork are perfectly fine proteins, but the eating experience

MCKENNA MURPHY

As I sit down to write this, we’re two weeks into a real slide in the cattle market. Tyson’s abrupt closure of its Joslin, Illinois plant, a facility that had run cattle for 43 years and harvested roughly 3,000 head a day sent feeders scrambling to haul cattle 160 to 400 miles to find a kill slot. Add in JBS’s shuttered Pennsylvania facility, and the industry has pulled around 10,000 daily processing positions off the board in a matter of weeks. Layer on some unsettling comments out of the trade the following week, and live and feeder cattle futures have both skidded hard; down roughly 17 percent from their May highs and drifting back toward levels we haven’t tested since last November. It’s easy to get pulled into the same funk a lot of producers are sitting in right now.

Nate Smith, General Manager Top Dollar Angus www.topdollarangus.com

90 RED ANGUS MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2026

hasn’t meaningfully changed in 20 years. Pork, outside of bacon and sausage, increasingly gets shopped against chicken on convenience and ease of preparation rather than on flavor. Beef doesn’t have to make that argument. It wins on taste, and consumers know it. THE NUTRITION PACKAGE NOBODY ELSE MATCHES Beef also carries a nutritional case that’s hard to touch. A 3-ounce serving delivers about 25 grams of protein — roughly half a day’s requirement — packed with ten essential nutrients including iron, zinc, and B12. You’d need to eat 8 ounces of chicken breast to get the same iron in that 3-ounce serving of beef, and 20 ounces of chicken breast to match the zinc. Beef may not always win on protein-per-calorie, but on total nutrient density, nothing on the grocery shelf keeps pace with it.

Submit Spring ‘26 Birth & Weaning Data!

FOOD SAFETY BUILDS TRUST WHEN TRUST IS SCARCE There’s a piece that carries more weight today than it has in a long time: how consumers feel about the safety of what they’re buying. We’re living through a stretch where recalls and food safety scares regularly make headlines across the grocery aisle. In that climate, beef has built a reputation earned over years of traceability, inspection, and a supply chain producers can stand behind; this gives consumers real confidence in what they’re putting on the table. Trust doesn’t show up on a settlement sheet, but it’s part of what keeps demand under this business even when the board gets ugly.

it’s been in 75 years, and that adjustment is going to be bumpy and tough… it already has been. But, a smaller herd chasing steady-to-grow demand is not a bearish long-term story, even when it produces a rough couple of months on the market. The consumer is still showing up. The eating experience we’re producing is still unmatched, the nutrition case is still real, and the trust beef has built is still worth something. So the next time the market takes a swing at your attitude, remember why we’re in this business in the first place. Beef earned its place at the top of the protein aisle, and everything I see says it’s not giving that place up anytime soon.

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US? None of this makes the last two weeks sting any less. Packing capacity is getting correctly sized to a herd that is the smallest

All calves are required to have full birth information reported, even if they are disposed of or computed (non-registered). The recommended due date is October 14th, 2027. If your calves are not weaned by this date, you can submit your data once weaning information is recorded. There is no penalty if data is not submitted by the above date. If females do not have data submitted for the Spring 2026 calving season by March of 2027, they will be listed on your No Progeny report and subject to inactivation in May 2027.

Look Closer. The Difference is in the Genetics.

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OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

THE BEST OF THE OLD AND THE NEW STOCKYARD

LEM STOCKYARD 2001 ET | 29AR0291 | RAAA 4659179

A TRUE STOCKMAN’S KIND » One of the hottest sires in the industry with an uncommon blend of calving ease, performance, marbling, and phenotype » Elite curve bender genetics excelling for Calving Ease and Marbling with an efficient Growth and Intake combination » Dam is a young donor stacking the herd with her kind, performance, and udder quality » STOCKYARD is a dense made, thick-ended, deep-bodied bull that will suit the most discriminating producer with his added rib, flank, and fleshing ability

BIEBER CL STOCKMARKET E119 x PIE ONE OF A KIND 352

TRAIT

CED

ADG

DMI

MILK

HPG

CEM

STAY

MARB

REA

FAT

ProS

EPD ACC %

+19 .74 8

-5.4 .86 6

+75 .82 27

+123 .82 25

+.30 .82 24

1.17 .49

+23 .25

-5 .31

+16 .35

+11 .53 4

+15 .41

+.86 .57 8

+.12 .47

+27 .64

-.01 .58

+.02 .49

+165

+88

+77

EPDs as of 8/27/26 highlighted from a MATERNAL PERSPECTIVE

FEDDES EASTWOOD 3284 | 29AR0294 | RAAA 4787522

EASTWOOD

ALL-PURPOSE PERSPECTIVE

MARSHAL OF THE HIGH PLAINS » Star of the 2024 spring bull sale season » Impressive phenotype with rapid early growth, meshed with breed-leading longevity and marbling » Dam is a highly productive proven cow with 6 calves at a 104 MPPA » Will not only add performance, but also muscle, body, dimension, softness, and structure in a middle-framed collection

TAC DRIFTER H10 x BIEBER MAKE MIMI 7249

TRAIT

CED

ADG

DMI

MILK

HPG

CEM

STAY

MARB

REA

FAT

ProS

EPD ACC %

+14 .71 43

-2.2 .84 43

+80 .75 17

+123 .73 24

+.27 .73

+1.29 .40

+36 .24 3

+6 .28

+9 .9

+7 .48 42

+22 .29 3

+1.01 .44 4

+.20 .36

+48 .48 7

+.11 .41

+.03 .38

+180

+88

+92

EPDs as of 8/27/26 highlighted from a MATERNAL PERSPECTIVE

ALL-PURPOSE PERSPECTIVE

For the most up-to-date data, visit Bull Search at ABSbullsearch.ABSglobal.com or contact your local ABS Representative. Profit from Genetic Progress | 800.ABS.STUD | ABSglobal.com

Sell Steers that TOP the Market Run Cows that Don’t Eat All the Profits

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Thursday, November 19, 2026 • at the ranch, Sheridan, MT 180 Red & Black Angus, SimAngus and Char x Red Angus Bulls *50 Spring Calving Bred Red Angus Heifers - By the Gooseneck load or Potload* All Bulls: Feed Efficiency Tested | Fertility Evaluated | PAP Tested Volume Discounts | 1st Season Bull Warranty | Free Bull Delivery (with min. purchase) The Larry Mehlhoﬀ Family • Sheridan, Montana • 5lranch@3rivers.net

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CONGRATULATIONS!

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RED ANGUS MAGAZINE BREEDER DIRECTORY

AREA 8 - SOUTHEAST John Langdon, Region Director

JEFF & MICHELLE PETTIT Sebree, Kentucky 270-836-2963 • www.diamondpcattle.com

Mercer Farms

Registered Red Angus Cattle since 1978 32237 Hwy 58 • Ten Mile, TN 37880 Sales: Steve Burnette – 865 804-8156 mercerfarms@gmail.com

JYJ RED ANGUS Jim & Jessica Yance • (334) 726-7342 1092 Davis St • Columbia, AL 36319 jim@jyjredangus.com jessica@jyjredangus.com jyjredangus.com

SERAA

Southeast Red Angus Association www.seraa.org

OFFICERS

Andy Camp - President 770-601-3308 • redangus@bellsouth.net Josh Pierce - Vice President 601-385-7575 • jbarsredangus@gmail.com Jessica Yance – Secretary/Treasurer 334-790-4953 • jessica@jyjredangus.com

DIRECTORS

Jed Dixon • Jim Yance • Johnnie Cundiff Danny Winchester • Tiffany Watkins • Brian Lance

OCTOBER 2026 / RED ANGUS MAGAZINE

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