July 11, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:

Holly Martin, director of communications

816-383-5143

hmartin@angus.org

To download the photo, click here.

Cutline: On behalf of Ingram Angus, Jason Upchurch and David Cagle, along with their families, accept the Honorary Angus Foundation award during the 2024 National American Angus Show.

Tennessee Ranch Pivotal to Development of New Youth Education Platform

Ingram Angus of Pulaski, Tenn., was recognized as an Honorary Angus Foundation Inductee for its support of youth programs including a new online educational platform.

Ingram Angus may be new to the Angus breed, but the ranch has quickly made a name for itself as a supporter of youth development and education.

Established in 2016 by Orrin Ingram and managing partners Jason Upchurch and David Cagle, Ingram Angus has been integral in the development of the American Angus Association's newest online learning platform for youth beef education – BEEF Academy.

“Orrin Ingram never hesitates to support the Angus youth and Angus Foundation,” said Upchurch, a former National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) member. “It is a huge blessing for David Cagle’s family and mine to give back a small token to a program that we all grew up in and means so much to us.”

BEEF Academy launched in early July during the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Madison, Wisconsin. During the platform’s ribbon cutting, Ingram Angus was recognized as a 2024 Honorary Angus Foundation Inductee and Upchurch and Cagle accepted the award on the ranch’s behalf.

“We are proud to recognize Ingram Angus,” said Caitlyn Brandt, American Angus Association^® director of events and junior activities. “With support like theirs and that of so many other generous Angus enthusiasts, we can continue to provide opportunities to advance our juniors and our breed.”

BEEF Academy is currently available to NJAA members. The Association, in partnership with the Angus Foundation and Ingram Angus, will continue to develop learning modules for cattle breeds, genetics, the cattle industry and meat science. Eventually, the platform will be made available to youth enrolled in other organizations and educational institutions.

“There are a lot of kids that are not a part of the NJAA; that don’t have the tools that our kids have,” Upchurch explained. “We want to bring a piece of this industry to classrooms across the country and introduce them to the Angus breed and Angus Family.”

Ingram Angus has also supported the Angus Foundation and NJAA in other ways. The ranch hosted junior members attending the Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) conference in 2019 and purchased the 2023 Angus Foundation Heifer Package.

The Honorary Angus Foundation was established in 1986 to recognize and show appreciation for those who have displayed extraordinary interest and support for the NJAA’s members and programming.

Up to three individuals, businesses, or organizations are selected each year from a list of nominations. Association members can nominate a candidate for the distinction. View previous inductees and access application forms for the Honorary Angus Foundation by clicking here.

- Written by Jessica Hartman, Angus Communications

About the Angus Foundation

Established as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1980, the Angus Foundation remains focused on its mission to support Angus education, youth, and research. The organization has distributed more than $4.2 million in youth scholarships since 1998 and has also invested more than $1.3 million in beef cattle research in the past decade. For more information, contact the Angus Foundation at 816-383-5100.

ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS. The American Angus Association^® is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 22,000 members across the United States, Canada and several other countries. It’s home to an extensive breed registry that grows by more than 300,000 animals each year. The Association also provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers and others who rely on Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers.

For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association, visit www.angus.org.