The Angus Conversation

an Angus Journal podcast

There are some pasture chats or bull sale discussions that are just too good to keep to ourselves. In this Angus Journal podcast, we’ll bring you interesting and entertaining chats with fellow breeders, researchers, marketers and more. Keep up on all things Angus. Be part of the conversation.

  1. 1 HR AGO

    Angus Women Connected — Focusing on the Future, Creating Ambassadors and Relationships That Last

    The Angus Women Connected Conference intends to do just that: foster relationships among breeders from across the country. Three cattlewoman share their experience of getting off the ranch to learn from both invited speakers and each other, creating a community of people they can now call on when they need outside expertise. From encouraging the next generation in agriculture to advocating for the Angus business to those on the outside, this episode covers what they’ve done and might even inspire you to make a difference in your own sphere of influence.     HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully     GUESTS: Emma Collins Powell, Danielle Brach, Tammy Weaver  Emma Collins Powell has a rich history with the Angus breed. As a former member of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) and the current president of the American Angus Auxiliary, this Mississippi native is giving back daily to the cattle and producers that helped shaped her into the woman she is today.   While she was a junior member, she grew up on her family’s farm, Kiani Angus, and served as the Mississippi Angus Queen. She lives in Flora, Miss., with her husband, Robert, on a registered Angus and commercial cow-calf operation.   From western Colorado, Danielle Brach is a cattle producer and agricultural educator. She and her husband, Jayton, operate a commercial beef cattle ranch and run their generational operation through the summer and fall utilizing BLM and National Forest permits. Recently, they started a seedstock Angus herd.   Additionally, she is passionate about agricultural advocacy and youth education. With a self-funded youth beef breeding program, she brings a practical, real-world perspective on the beef industry, rural business and the importance of preserving the ranching way of life.  With a herd of registered Angus cattle in Pennsylvania, Tammy Weaver and her family operate Weaver Show Cattle, raising cattle for the show ring and replacement females. As a beef industry sales representative, she’s able to serve the cattle business in her day-to-day career as well. She and her husband, Fred, live in Ephrata. They have two children, Madison and Hayden, who were both active in the NJAA and 4-H.   Tammy lives on her family’s farm where they have a small herd of Angus cows and raise corn, soybeans and tobacco. She is active in the Pennsylvania Angus Association, Pennsylvania Holstein Association, PA Livestock Association, Keystone International Livestock Exposition and several local agriculture groups. Tammy currently serves as the secretary/treasurer of the American Angus Auxiliary.     SPONSORS:   Are you ready to level up your herd’s genetics? With the Angus Bull Book Spring 2026 Angus Sire Directory, you can find your next great sire. The spring issue went live in March, but you're able to view the book online all breeding season. Live EPDs will help you pair the right bull with your breeding objectives. Search for the Angus Bull Book Spring 2026 Angus Sire Directory on the sale book search page on Angus.org.  Help your customers maximize the return on their Angus investment. Give commercial cattlemen access to the management, marketing, health and nutrition news they need to know. With a transfer of a registered Angus bull, they're automatically subscribed to the Angus Beef Bulletin, a premier publication committed to ensuring they make the most of their purchase. Go to www.angusmedia.org/subscribe today.  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

    1h 1m

  2. APR 28

    Keeping the Family AND the Ranch: Donnell and Tucker Brown Talk Genetics, Generational Transfer and Going Viral

    The Brown family has always been growth-minded and goal-oriented, but each generation has left their own mark on the historic R.A. Brown Ranch. This episode covers a lot of ground, including how they think about cattle and horse breeding, ways they help their customers make use of all the data available, and why building a community matters to them. Take a deep dive into their family’s approach to estate planning and find out more behind Tucker Brown’s passion for “telling the truth” about ranching.   HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully   GUEST: Donnell and Tucker Brown   Donnell Brown and his wife Kelli are the fifth generation to own and manage the R.A. Brown Ranch in Throckmorton, Texas, a family business since 1895. They raise registered Angus, Red Angus and SimAngus cattle and sell 800 bulls in addition to 250 registered females  and 1,200 commercial females in their annual auctions in March and October. They built a supply chain to help their customers earn more profits called Rancher’s Sustainable Angus Alliance.   Donnell and his wife Kelli both served as National FFA Presidents. They are blessed with two sons, Tucker and Lanham, that have joined them back in their family ranching business with their wivesand children. Together Donnell and Kelli are living their dream of raising cows, kids, grandkids and Quarter Horses.  Tucker Brown is a sixth generation rancher at the R.A. Brown Ranch in Throckmorton, Texas, where he and his family develop and sell 800 registered bulls a year. After graduating from Lubbock Christian University and Texas Christian University Ranch Management School, he returned home to do what he loves — working alongside his family. Through social media, he’s been able to share the truth about American ranching in a way that’s both educational and entertaining. He has earned 850,000 followers online, earning him the NCBA Beef Advocate of the Year Award and even a feature in Vanity Fair Expert Reviews.   Today Tucker and his wife, Karley, are raising the seventh generation of the R.A. Brown Ranch, working to keep the ranch in the family and the family in the ranch, while also making sure the world knows the real story of agriculture.    SPONSOR:    Angus Media: In the cattle business, print isn't dead. Your customers still enjoy the feel of a magazine in their hand. 98% of the Angus Journal's readers find it easier to recall ads they see in print publications. Be one of the names potential customers remember. Contact your regional manager to reserve your spot today.    Angus Media: A web address is just as important as a farm address. Angus Media can make establishing your online presence easy. We host more than 300 breeder websites each year, providing weekly EPD updates straight from the American Angus Association’s database. Follow this link to learn more.   RELATED READING: The Power of Telling Why Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

    1h 14m

  3. APR 14

    On a Handshake — Brent Thiel on Partnerships, Progress and Problem-Free Cattle

    Brent Thiel was early in his career with the American International Charolais Association when he got a nudge that changed the trajectory for him and his family. He bought a ranch and started a partnership that would span nearly four decades. During that time they grew the Lindskov-Thiel Ranch to become a household name in western South Dakota, with Angus and Charolais genetics that traveled around the globe. In recent years, they’ve amicably split the ranch, providing a model of how to make what started as a handshake agreement work out in the long run. Brent discusses his philosophies on creating functional cattle, building customer relationships and keeping the long game in mind.     HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully     GUEST: Brent Thiel was raised on a sheep and horse ranch near Aberdeen, S.D. He earned an ag journalism degree from South Dakota State University and briefly worked for the Tri-State Livestock News before taking a job as a fieldman for the American International Charolais Association. That job introduced Brent to his wife, Nancy, and they married and moved to South Dakota and started Lindskov-Thiel Ranch in partnership with Les and Marcia Lindskov. That business arrangement would span nearly four decades, growing them into a household name in both the Charolais and later Angus circles, before splitting up the partnership to allow for future growth in different directions. Today, the Thiels raise Angus cattle under the Thiel Ranch banner and take time to visit their two grown children and their families “down South.”     SPONSORS:   Angus Media: A solid herd starts with the cows. Commercial cattlemen need to know that your foundation is built on maternal traits. Tell them in the Female Foundations special section published with the September Angus Beef Bulletin. Get an advertisement, feature and social post all in the same package. Contact your regional manager or our advertising team to learn more. Find them at www.angus.org/angus-media/about/contact-us.   Angus Media: You are the most powerful marketing tool you have. Share your story directly to potential customers with a creative video by Angus Media. Our videographers are also cattle people, so they know how showcase your Angus cattle and can help bring your story to life. Let them put you at ease as you show them around your ranch and explain what sets you apart. Visit AngusMedia.org to get started today.    Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

    57 min

  4. APR 7

    From Blue Crabs to Baling: Wye Angus Intern Has a Summer of Firsts 

    When ag education student Molly Lusk went looking for a hands-on experience to make her a more well-rounded ag teacher in the future, the Talon Internship Program through the Angus Foundation piqued her interest. The North Carolina native immersed herself in the Wye Angus crew, doing everything from heat detection and moving cattle to baling hay and gathering carcass data. The University of Maryland herd provided a unique backdrop for non-traditional education, while Molly brought new energy and a sense of curiosity to the work. Hear how the internship process works and what everyone took away from it.      HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully     GUESTS:  Molly Lusk, an agriculture education major at North Carolina State University, first got interested in agriculture growing up in a small town just outside of Asheville, N.C. In eight grade she joined a livestock judging team, which evolved into her chosen major and decision to get hands-on farm experience to supplement her classroom learning.   Heath McPherson began his role as a program manager at Wye Angus in December. A former National Junior Angus Association board member, Heath says he’s a “self-proclaimed data nerd” and looks into seeing what they can build at the University of Maryland farm.   Megan Stibbe, Wye Angus program manager, has been with the University of Maryland since 2022 and the Angus farm since 2024. Megan grew up on a dairy farm, holds an ag business degree from what’s now Delaware Valley University and worked nearly two decades at an ag newspaper before her current role.  RELATED READING: 2026 Angus Foundation Scholarship Applications Due May 1 New Regions, New Opportunities Seek and You Shall Find A Perfect Fit SPONSORS:   Angus Media:  Are you ready to level up your herd’s genetics? With the Angus Bull Book: Spring 2026 Angus Sire Directory, you can find your next great sire. The spring issue went live in March, but you’re able to view the book online all breeding season. Live EPDs will help you pair the right bull with your breeding objectives. Search the Angus Bull Book here: https://shorturl.at/p06OD  Angus Media: A solid herd starts with the cows. Commercial cattlemen need to know that your foundation is built on maternal traits. Tell them in the Female Foundations special section published with the September Angus Beef Bulletin. Get an advertisement, feature and social post all in the same package. Contact your regional manager or our advertising team to learn more. Find them at Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

    50 min

  5. MAR 18

    The Next Best Thing vs. the Long Game — Alan Miller on Making Good Genetics, Building a Brand

    Alan Miller has a long list of Angus champions associated with his Prairie View Farms prefix, but the roster shouldn’t be mistaken for a simple overnight success. He’s a third-generation Angus breeder who, along with his family, grew the small cow herd of his childhood into a premier show cattle operation near Gridley, Ill.  At the same time, Miller was helping beef producers across the state in a position with the University of Illinois. The duality of his experience — both commercial and show ring — gives him a unique perspective on the future of the beef industry, how to serve a breed with multiple end targets and the importance of recruiting youth back into agriculture. In this episode, Miller shares everything from his judging philosophy and use of IVF to his favorite herd animals over the years.  HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully  GUEST: Alan Miller, Gridley, Ill., is a third-generation Angus breeder. His grandfather, Adam Schlipf, began an Angus cattle herd in the late 1940s and was active in the purebred Angus business through the 1960s. Forty-plus years ago, Miller’s parents, Orlan and Carol Miller, began revitalizing the Angus herd and named the operation Prairie View Farms (PVF). Alan and his wife, Theresa, operate PVF in close cooperation with their three children, Amelia, Adam and William, and Miller’s brother-in-law and sister Brandon and Cathy Jones.   Miller graduated from the University of Illinois in 1995 with a degree in animal sciences. He went on to earn his master’s and doctorate from Illinois in ruminant nutrition. He worked for 15 years for the University of Illinois Extension running its SPA/IRM Program. Miller is a former member of the American Angus Association Board of Directors, where he served as Angus Genetics Inc., (AGI) chairman.    SPONSOR:   It's a great time to be in the cattle business, and it's the perfect time to invest in genetics that will move your herd forward. You’re invited to Deer Valley Farm’s Spring Bull Sale, Saturday, March 28, at noon near Fayetteville, Tenn. It will feature 90 service-age bulls ready for heavy service, including sons of Statesman, Craftsman, Commerce, Gettysburg and many more. Visit  https://deervalleyfarm.com/ for more information.  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

    1 hr

  6. MAR 3

    Patterson, Barnard: Wrestling With the Balance of New Technology, Practical Application and Tradition

    The beef industry is a beautiful blend of long-standing traditions and forward-thinking innovation. How much technology to embrace, when to use it and for what purpose — those are questions that often challenge producers, no matter the size of their operation.  Trey Patterson, Padlock Ranch, and Janette Barnard, Merck Animal Health, share how they think about the future of the business. Covering everything from artificial intelligence for decision-making and virtual fencing to genetic progress and new marketing ideas, the duo talks about how to focus on practical application of data and the need for more advancements vs. greater adoption of current tools.    HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully     GUESTS:   Janette Barnard is bullish on the future of animal protein, and passionate about the intersection of animal agriculture and innovation. Janette currently leads the Vence business within Merck Animal Health and is the creator of Prime Future, a weekly newsletter for innovators in livestock, meat and dairy that draws on her background across agribusiness (Elanco, Cargill, McDonald’s Global Supply Chain) and the startup ecosystem (The Poultry Exchange, DecisionNext, Merck Animal Health Ventures).  Trey Patterson, president and CEO of Padlock Ranch Company, received a bachelor’s and master’s in animal science from Colorado State University and a doctorate in ruminant nutrition from the University of Nebraska. He served as an Extension beef specialist for South Dakota State University for five years, where he led statewide extension and research programs in beef cattle nutrition and management. Since 2005, Trey has been with Padlock Ranch Company, a multigenerational and diversified family-owned agribusiness with operations in northern Wyoming and southern Montana. Trey now holds the position of president and CEO. In 2008, he was listed in the Top 10 Industry Leaders Under 40 by Cattle Business Weekly. Trey and his wife Amy have five children and reside near Ranchester, Wyo.     SPONSOR:   Angus Media:  Are you ready to level up your herd’s genetics? With the Angus Bull Book: Spring 2026 Angus Sire Directory, you can find your next great sire. The spring issue went live in March, but you’re able to view the book online all breeding season. Live EPDs will help you pair the right bull with your breeding objectives. Search the Angus Bull Book here: https://shorturl.at/p06OD  Angus Media: A solid herd starts with the cows. Commercial cattlemen need to know that your foundation is built on maternal traits. Tell them in the Female Foundations special section published with the September Angus Beef Bulletin. Get an advertisement, feature and social post all in the same package. Contact your regional manager or our advertising team to learn more. Find them at www.angus.org/angus-media/about/contact-us.  Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

    1h 4m

  7. FEB 17

    The Crystal Ball is Broken: Why We Haven’t Built Back, Capital Concerns and the Demand-Driven Future

    If the last U.S. herd rebuild can be described as a “jackrabbit” rebuild, this current period is completely the opposite, says Oklahoma State University economist Darrell Peel. The beef industry is on pace for a slow rebuild, and this episode of The Angus Conversation dives into the “why.” Cattle feeder Steve Sunderman and stocker-operator Gene Copenhaver join Peel to discuss tight supplies, margin pressures and how producers are adapting. From heavier finishing weights to rising capital requirements for the next generation, the guests explore what’s shaping today’s dynamics and long-term outlook. The guests share why they’re “cautiously optimistic” and yet emphasize the importance of risk management. HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully GUESTS: Derrell Peel is an ag econ professor at Oklahoma State University, holding the Charles Breedlove Professorship of Agribusiness in the Department of Agricultural Economics. He has served as the extension livestock marketing specialist since 1989, focusing on livestock market situation and outlook and marketing/risk management education for producers. His work covers all areas of livestock production economics and marketing for beef cattle including meat supply chain and international cattle and beef trade with an expertise in the Mexican cattle and beef industry. Gene Copenhaver is a fifth-generation cattleman whose family dates to the 1850s in Washington County, Va. Copenhaver currently manages his family’s stocker operation in southwest Virginia with his son, Will. He was an agriculture loan officer for 38 years and served his clients who were primarily cattle producers in five East Coast states. Copenhaver is currently serving as National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president. He has been married to his wife, Jodi, for more than 35 years, and they have three grown children, Brad, Will and Jaymee, and one granddaughter. Steve Sunderman is a sixth-generation farmer rancher who works alongside his parents near Norfolk, Neb. Sunderman Family Farms is a farming, cow-calf and cattle feeding operation.  Steve has served the board of the Nebraska Cattlemen Association and is currently vice chair of the taxation committee as well as past chair of the marketing & commerce committee and past member of their executive committee. He is also a past chair and vice chair of the National Cattlemen Beef Association’s live cattle marketing committee. Steve is a co-founder and president of Sunderman Investments, an investment firm focused on rural downtown development and value-added ag investments. SPONSOR: Angus Media: Are you ready to find your next influential Angus sire? Angus Journal subscribers will receive a free copy of the Angus Bull Book: Spring 2026 Angus Sire Directory, mailed right alongside their March edition. Visit www.AngusJournal.net to subscribe to the Angus Journal today. Angus Media: A sale book isn't just a sale book. You have options. Big or small, private treaty or live auction, Angus Media’s Pasture to Publish online portal is here to serve you. Visit www.AngusMedia.org to learn more.   Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

    1h 1m

  8. FEB 13

    Board Recap: From the Commercial Pathway and DNA Sample Storage to Member Feedback and Research Updates

    There’s strong demand for Angus genetics, and the American Angus Association Board of Directors met this week in Saint Joseph, Mo., to discuss ways to keep providing its members with the tools and services to help keep them in the lead. Some of the topics covered in the quarterly meeting include:   The Commercial Pathway, a new communication effort to help explain how the breed’s industry-facing genetic tools work together for commercial producers. Member feedback on everything from the request for a gestation-length expected progeny difference (EPD) to the decoupling of breed registration from EPDs.  The Data Driven Herd Recognition Program and data submission overall. Storage of tissue samples and a looming challenge for archival.  Research updates, such as $B validation work, cow efficiency and bovine congestive heart failure (BCHF) studies. International production of Certified Angus Beef ® to increase market access. January Angus Foundation events and fundraising success. The role of the Angus Journal ® as a membership communication tool. The in-depth discussion gives you a snippet of the conversations and a preview of the work being done in at the Association office on behalf of Angus breeders across the country.  HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully  GUESTS:   Darrell Stevenson, vice president and vice chairman of the American Angus Association Board and native of White Sulphur Springs, Mont., holds strong ties to the Angus breed and a history of activity in the Montana Angus Association. In 2019 Stevenson and his wife, Sara, expanded from Hobson onto a new unit in White Sulphur Springs to establish a later-calving herd operating as Stevenson Down T. Although separated by a mountain range, Darrell continues to breed and market genetics with Stevenson Angus Ranch.  Art Butler is the third generation to raise registered Angus cattle at Spring Cove Ranch in Bliss, Idaho. Spring Cove Ranch was settled in 1912 by his grandfather A.H. Butler, who chose to make his desert homestead around a natural spring in northwestern Gooding County, purchasing their first Angus cattle in 1919.    After college graduation in 1978, Art returned to Spring Cove Ranch to continue the family tradition of raising Angus cows and kids. He and his wife, Stacy; son, Josh; and daughter, Sarah, manage the 350-head cow herd, producing all-purpose Angus cattle that will perform under the variety of range conditions of the West.  Henry Smith is a fourth-generation Angus breeder who grew up on a diversified family farming operation in south-central Kentucky. The farming operation consisted of a registered Angus herd, burley tobacco, corn, soybeans, wheat for feed and cash market.  The Smith family settled and began farming in the Fonthill community in 1810. Smith’s great-grandfather and his sons began the registered Angus seedstock operation in 1940, and it continues today with Smith raising the fifth generation invested in the Angus industry. For 33 years, he has successfully operated Smithland Angus Farm with his late father, Charles “Bud” Smith.  Smith married his wife, Melissa, in 1997. They have two children, Bryanna and Blane. RELATED READING President's Letter Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.

    1h 7m
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About

There are some pasture chats or bull sale discussions that are just too good to keep to ourselves. In this Angus Journal podcast, we’ll bring you interesting and entertaining chats with fellow breeders, researchers, marketers and more. Keep up on all things Angus. Be part of the conversation.

Information

  • Creator
    an Angus Journal podcast
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    99
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Angus Conversation
  • Show Website
    The Angus Conversation

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