Bill and Sally Bowman

Bill and Sally Bowman traveled separate paths to Angus, but their shared teamwork helped transform genetic tools and producers’ ability to use them. 

Bill’s grandfather first taught him about livestock, and his small herd started as a junior high FFA project. He graduated with an animal science degree from the University of Missouri and worked in various roles for the American Angus Association, including as a regional manager, director of commercial programs, and assistant director of performance programs.

Sally, a native of Lexington, Ky., earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Kentucky and then completed a doctorate in quantitative genetics at Iowa State University. After time at Oklahoma State University, she landed at the Association, bringing the organization’s genetic evaluation in-house for the first time. 

“We wanted to be more fluid and be efficient and change the environment of the industry,” Bill says.  

During their time at the Association, the duo led the introduction of $Value indexes, genomically enhanced expected progeny differences (EPDs) and helped create Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) as a standalone subsidiary of the Association. 

With Sally working on the data to build tools, Bill was “out in the country” helping to inspire adoption as AGI’s first president. 

“I am still immersed in Angus cattle and the Angus breed, and will be my whole life,” Sally says. 

In 2014 Sally founded Method Genetics, and Bill became her first employee. The couple was married in 2017 and continue to advance the Angus breed through data-driven innovation and a strong sense of commitment to the cattlemen they serve. 

Dave and Yvonne Hinman

Pioneer breeders of performance cattle, Dave and Yvonne Hinman of Hinman Angus have raised registered Angus cattle since 1973.

“It’s a work in progress forever, and it will be for the next generation and the next one,” Dave says.  

The couple and their daughters, Jill and Heidi, ran Hinman Angus in Willow Creek, Mont., for more than 25 years. In 1988 they had their first production sale, joining with Bill and Jennifer Davis and two other couples as the Performance Breeders, a group that worked together until 2008 to market registered Angus seedstock.

“The reason we wanted to do it together was at the time, we wanted more bulls in one sale,” Dave says. “It worked.” 

In 2000 Dave and Yvonne made the move to “good old cow country” near Malta, Mont., to lease an 8,000-acre ranch and later purchase land in the area. In Malta, they have worked alongside daughter, Heidi, and son-in-law, Billy, for many years, mentoring them and now their grandson, Tyler. Together, the family continues to produce high-quality, reputation cattle as Hinman Angus and distribute their signature, bright yellow-covered sale books annually.  

As leaders in the breed, Dave served on the Association Board of Directors from 2017 to 2023. Yvonne served as president of the American Angus Auxiliary in 1999 to 2000 and was honored with the Distinguished Woman Award in 2007. In 2005, the Performance Breeders were recognized with the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Seedstock Commitment to Excellence Award.  

“If I had advice for young breeders? I’d do this: make some friendships with older breeders that have been in the business and listen to them,” Dave says. “I was very, very fortunate to have a lot of them … those friendships, that’s what made it so special.”

Harlan Ritchie (posthumously)

Harlan Ritchie’s profound legacy and influence on the cattle industry is unmatched.

Throughout the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, the Michigan State University (MSU) professor championed change, driving cattle trends with his bold selections in the show ring, groundbreaking research and published works.  

“Dr. Ritchie had the innate ability to foresee the future needs of the beef cattle industry,” says Ken Geuns, Ritchie’s business partner in Ventura Farms. 

Up until his passing in 2016, Ritchie was first and foremost a student, a seeker of knowledge. It was his constant curiosity and passion for learning that laid the foundation for him to become one of the world’s leading experts on cattle. 

The Iowa native traveled the world speaking about his work, seeking out value in all types of cattle and judging premier cattle shows. In the ring, Ritchie made selections that pushed the industry to think differently. 

“Having the courage to walk out in front of thousands and thousands and thousands of people and slap an animal that you deem champion, that nobody else deems champion, requires tremendous courage,” says Jason Rowntree, who knew Ritchie and now serves as MSU Faculty Coordinator at the Lake City Research Center. 

What stands out most to those who had the opportunity to cross paths with Ritchie is his generosity with his time and wisdom; always willing to have a conversation, answer questions and offer his insights.  

“My dad was a very hardworking, passionate person about the beef cattle industry,” says Ritchie’s oldest son, Bill. “He was very humble; very kind and generous.” 

Ritchie is remembered as a man who dedicated his life to the betterment of the cattle industry, pushing against the grain to drive meaningful and impactful change that continues to play a role in the success of today’s market.