In an evolving, fast-paced industry, education always continues. From taking advice from the older generation to hearing out what the youngster cattlemen have to say, producers from the ages of 22 to 90 all admit to being lifelong learners. The big “lessons learned” vary by ranchers who’ve been in production for decades compared to those in their early operating stages; but they can all agree, there’s no better place to learn than in the Angus business. 

Widespread knowledge

After retiring from the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA), 22-year-old Zach McCall knew his time in the industry was far from over. The Greenville, Va., native’s upbringing influenced his development as a cattleman. 

“I grew up on my family’s operation, MC Livestock, born and raised into the Angus deal,” he says. 

Upon finishing high school, McCall competed on collegiate livestock judging teams at Butler Community College and Western Illinois University. After earning a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science, he moved to West Alexandria, Ohio, and is now working for Spartan Roofing and Renovations. 

“Growing up we specialized in providing bulls to commercial customers and raising heifers for my brother and I to show,” McCall says. “I kind of took a liking to and got more heavily involved in the show side of things. It has always been my dream to raise show cattle.”

Following his passion, he founded ZMC Livestock, where he currently raises and sells show cattle in Ohio. Newer to his own string of production, McCall says he’s taken words of wisdom from older generations to get started.

I would say the best piece of advice [I’ve been given] ... is that keeping your customers happy and working well with them is equally as important as raising quality stock in terms of the success of an operation. For your customers to continue to come back, they have to be happy with what you’re doing.”— Zach McCall

When McCall reminisces on his experiences with special customers, he says he’s reminded of his “why.”

“There’s a junior Angus member [Kadyn] from home that we’ve kind of taken under our wing and helped get over the hump,” he notes. 

After working closely with the family, McCall watched as Kadyn transitioned from a shy kid participating at the county fair into a confident, polished showman who was winning showmanship at the state and regional levels.

“There was a show around home that we were at and Kadyn’s grandparents were there, and they said, ‘Well, Kadyn, what do you want to do with your life?’ And he told them that he wanted to get as good as he could, as fast as he could at showing cattle, so that he could help other younger kids that were in the same position as him when he started. He wants to give back,” McCall says with a smile. “This is why I love what I do.”

He plans to continue mentoring his young customers while aspiring to be a dominant force in the show cattle industry. McCall plans to do so by growing his donor battery and cow herd. 

“The biggest thing to me and what drives me is those kids that have the desire and the passion to get better and learn and the desire and passion to win,” he says. “Seeing that pay off for those kids is extremely special for me.”

McCall isn’t the only one who thinks the friendships and connections built through the Angus breed are second to none. 

“A lot of people get their involvement and enthusiasm through showing Angus cattle, and I guess from that, you develop relationships that to this day are still extremely strong,” says Lake Elliot, who had a lifetime membership before he turned a month old. The now 45-year-old cattleman lives in Adams, Tenn., where he works on the family operation, Robert Elliot and Sons. 

“The Angus division was started in 1935 when my grandfather graduated from high school. He bought two bred heifers, and that operation blossomed to where it is today,” he says. “Currently involved in our operation [are] my father, my uncle and myself full-time.”

Before working on the family operation, Elliot freelanced with a sale cattle operation where he helped with show preparation and mentored the youth exhibitors.   

“I remember when I was their age — the people that helped me,” he says. “There’s a guy that told me one time, never forget those that are in the trenches with you. I think in the Angus deal specifically, if somebody went to bat for you and nothing is below you as far as what you’re willing to help with in an ethical manner, somebody is going to remember that.”

Now as an experienced manager, Elliot gives props to the hub of connections he’s developed.

“[Looking at] the relationships that I’ve noticed through the years, I’ve got a long line of people that will be straight shooters with me,” he says.

“Because at the end of the day, we need to prosper as a breed. I’m not looking for anyone to fail.” 

The Angus fan says staying humble, keeping an open mind and prioritizing efforts to keep learning are key to the breed’s success. The big promoter of teamwork shares that when producers all work together, they all win. 

Teamwork is a common practice for Elliot’s contemporary in Lusk, Wyo., Buttons York. In 2023, the cattlewoman in her 60s suffered from a stroke, which landed her in the hospital and rehabilitation center for a combined total of 107 days. 

“The thing that I’ve learned is the people around you, your family, your friends, your neighbors, those are some of the most important people in the world,” York says. “I’ve always known that, but it was a really, really harsh reality a year ago.”

With an unbelievable amount of support shown by community members, she can’t put into words how much it meant to her and the WEBO Angus crew. 

“I think the Lusk area has always been a super community, but I think the thing that I’ve learned is when there’s a fundraiser in the community or something for the fire district, you need to go to them because you don’t know when it’s going to be your turn,” York says.

Her grateful attitude towards her community goes hand in hand with her mindset in the Angus cattle business. Keeping things simple and avoiding financial loss where she can is advice she would give to others.

“A statement that I make all the time is if you take care of your good cows, your good cows will take care of you,” York says. “I have some cows that are beautiful in life, just gorgeous. But I looked at them and they didn’t produce, they weren’t bred and they weren’t my good cows.”

The fifth-generation producer encourages youngsters to prioritize quality over quantity when selecting their first breeding pieces. 

“I would probably go buy one good cow and I would flush her,” she adds. “I know it’s expensive, but maybe you could lease a cow. Maybe you could buy embryos. It’s hard to go out and buy a set of cows.”

Another hard part of this business, York notes, is the mental strength required for the job. The 69-year-old says men and women of older generations tend to struggle with passing on their operations. 

“Because I was challenged to recover from the stroke, it was easy for me I guess to hand the reins to my younger generation,” she says. “You have to give the young people in the industry an opportunity.”

Passing it on

If it weren’t for the opportunities passed down from his grandpa and dad, Steve Brooks says he wouldn’t have been introduced to the breed he’s been heavily involved with all his life. The 70-year-old from Bowman, N.D., has served on the North Dakota Angus Association and the American Angus Association’s Board of Directors as president. 

As he reflects on the many years he’s spent with The Business Breed, he shares the lessons he’s learned along the way.

“We’ve had I think 43 bull sales, so you start learning ahead of time, planning a bit more, get advertising out quicker, and get everything lined up,” Brooks says. “It’s not as much pressure as it used to be.”

The sleepless nights before a sale are few and far between now with new technology available to the seasoned producer. He notes with the evolution of online sales, weather and hosting an in-person event aren’t as troublesome as they once were. 

Throughout the many years of production, his attitude and eye for selecting the right genetics has also progressed. 

“My dad on his commercial cows, he was going to reputation performance herds in Montana and buying bulls. After about 10 years I started looking at what was going on, and his cattle were way better than mine,” Brooks says with a chuckle. “So, I started switching back and breeding a different type of cattle and doing things different.” 

The other piece of fatherly advice Brooks lives by deals with taking advantage of the good years when they happen.

“My dad always said, if you have a good year, pay down some debt because there’s a bad one coming. He was always right,” he explains. “We’ve always tried to, if we had a really good year, maybe pay ahead on land payments and different things because there’s going to be a tough one coming.” 

Brooks’ advice to the next generation is the same. Though it can be tempting to spend on years with a good return on investment, getting rid of debt is better in the long run.

Ninety-year-old producer Sam Tuckwiller shares similar words of wisdom regarding finances for young producers.

“Be careful on the money that you are borrowing in order to get started,” Tuckwiller says. “I think it’d be advisable to have help from a banker and let him know that returns might be in a decent year, and get some help from relatives if they own some land. Maybe you could work yourself into the operation and come up slowly while watching your finances.” 

The producer from Lewisburg, W.Va., is living proof of this strategy, as he was brought up into the operation by his father while working alongside his brother. Tuckwiller says their dominant focus was on their Hereford and Shorthorn cattle herds before they purchased an adjoining farm in 1970. From there, he entered the Angus business. 

“The Angus cattle that we bought in this herd were at the time, an upcoming and forthright good herd of cattle,” he notes. “They were a little growthier than most of the Angus cattle were back in those times.”

Reflecting on his time dedicated towards the black-hided livestock, Tuckwiller says many changes have occurred since he began 50-plus years ago. His biggest takeaway is appreciating the way cattle have progressed through that time. 

“They have grown in the ability to not be so anxious,” he mentions. “The Angus cattle were known to be a little rowdy, and sometimes those old mama cows would get mean with you. That’s changed. That has changed a lot.”

Alongside temperament adaptations, he is complimentary of the size and the scope of carcass merit data the breed now brings to the table.

“The cattle have grown in a larger frame, but on that larger frame, they’re carrying quality characteristics of the carcass that we can now measure and get information from, which helps us in our selection,” he explains. “We’ve come a long ways with genetics and long ways in information.” 

Tuckwiller mentions his pride for the forward-moving progress the breed is making reminds him of his feelings for the family operation. While he doesn’t complete all tasks on the farm anymore, he happily shares that some of his greatest joy stems from watching his two sons manage the operation.

“If it wasn’t for those two sons who run the operation — I have to brag on them a bit — I’d be renting the farm to someone to raise commercial cattle,” he notes. “They’ve grown up with it and learned a lot, and they’re very capable guys.”

With a willingness to learn from his sons and the younger generation and a priority to keep honored family traditions alive, Tuckwiller finds happiness on his West Virginia establishment.