My dear friend, 

I have missed you, and I hope this letter finds you healthy and happy. I am well and am eager to share with you the extraordinary events that have transpired over the past year here in the United States. It has been a year of trials but also triumphs, and I am learning from each experience. 

As you recall, I set out on a remarkable journey to the Kansas prairie, bringing with me the first Angus bulls to these foreign lands. I believe the Angus breed, which I marvel at for its hardiness and superior beef quality, is the perfect fit for the American cattle producer. 

But let me take you back to the beginning of this incredible adventure. On April 1, 1873, I bid farewell to Scotland as the cattle, other colonists and I boarded the steamship Alabama. We were filled with a mixture of trepidation and excitement as we set sail across the vast Atlantic Ocean. Our journey was marked with unpredictable weather and rough seas, testing our resolve. However, we were fortunate that all went well, and our ship, along with its precious cargo of four Angus bulls, made it to the Gulf of Mexico and then up the mighty Mississippi River to Saint Louis. 

There, we disembarked and began the final leg of our journey — a rail trip to the newly established, and quite small town of Victoria, Kan. As we traversed the vast prairie by train, I marveled at the endless expanse of open plains and the great herds of Longhorn and Shorthorn cattle dotting the landscape. It was during this journey that reality sank in — my Angus cattle were seen as nothing short of freaks in comparison to the typical breeds for this region. The skeptics doubted the ability of these Scottish black Angus cattle to thrive on the American plains. 

However, adversity only fueled my determination. I held steadfast to my vision of developing hardy cattle and hardy men on the Plains. Our arrival in Victoria, Kan., was May 17, 1873, and I believe this marked not the end of a journey, but the beginning of a new chapter for the American beef industry.

Our initial months here were not without their difficulties. The summer heat and unrelenting wind can feel as hot as the breath of a dragon scorching the Scottish hills. By God’s grace we — and the cattle — survived a devastating prairie fire that swept across the prairie. Then, not many months later the cold harsh winter was as bone-chilling as a frozen loch. But each time I look at my beloved Angus cattle out on the plains, I resolve to persevere. We are breeding these Angus sires to Longhorn and Shorthorn cows and producing strong, hardy calves with meaty muscle. Most of the offspring have no horns — which is quite a selling point among cattlemen, I have learned. 

Looking back on the past year, I swell with pride at the impact we have had on the American cattle industry. The Angus breed, once considered “freaks” in these parts, has proven its worth.

The hardiness, adaptability and superior beef quality of the Angus cattle, as well as the delicious beef, has caught the attention of local farmers and ranchers, and many have started incorporating Angus cattle into their herds. I have also been fortunate to forge lasting friendships and bonds with the pioneers and settlers who have braved these wild frontiers. The spirit of camaraderie and the shared vision of building a prosperous future have made this experience all the more rewarding. I am certain that the Angus breed will be a strong part of America’s future — and the world’s — for generations.

Even as I enjoy my time here in the United States, please know my thoughts often turn to my beloved Scotland. I long for the rolling green hills, the misty mornings, and the family and friends I’ve left behind. In the midst of this reflection, I am reminded of the importance of maintaining our ties across the Atlantic. I will await your response and look forward to hearing about the happenings in Scotland. May God continue to bless us all. 

Cheerio my friend,
George Grant 

Bennett is a junior from South Dakota.