A nicely balanced and complete Exemplify son that offers strong growth projections and carcass merit. 48M ranks in the top 5% of the breed for $C.
MG Exponential 65N LOT 45
MG Exponential 51N LOT 34
A maternal brother to 48M and to 51N’s dam. Magnitude, owned by Grimmius Cattle Company and Linz Heritage Angus, ranks in the top 3% of the breed for calving ease direct and top 1% for $C. He sires attractive cattle with elite performance that have been the top performing and selling cattle in herds throughout the United States, including Linz.
An elite calving ease prospect with solid growth and carcass merit projections. 51N’s EPD profile ranks him in the top 4% for calving ease direct and top 15% for $C.
MG Jamison 52N LOT 35
Calved: Dec. 20, 2024
Sire: Basin Jamison 1076 | MGS: GDAR Leupold 298
A high performing bull with elite growth and carcass merit. 65N ranks in the top 1% for weaning and yearling weight EPDs.
A calving ease prospect that ranks in the top 15% of the breed for $C.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL
213 S. Locust Street | Pana, Illinois 62557
Selling Purebred Angus Bulls out of these dams!
Rudow’s Blacksmith 669
Rudow’s Empress Pride 414
Several bulls will be calving ease.All of the bulls will be 50K tested.Selling bred heifers due to calve in Fall 2026. -
Rudow’s Enchantress 839 ONLINE BIDDING
Sires of the bulls include: Rudow’s Wholesome 953, OCC You Bet 800Y, OCC Zenith 620Z, THSF Lover Boy 33, Riverstone Vegas 49H.
IN THIS ISSUE:
January/February 2026
President: David Mool
Vice President: Brad Evans
Secretary: Clay Sellmeyer
Business Manager: Doug Turner
Past President: Carla Jurgenson
Auxiliary Pres.: Cindy Anderson
Junior Advisor: Stacy Lemenager
Bureau County: Vaughn Kiner
Central Illinois: Luke Lemenager
Logan County : Carla Jurgenson
Northern Illinois: Jarad Carroll
Wabash Valley: Open
Directors at Large:
Eric McClure
Aaron Schafer
Travis Fruhling
T J Curtin
Chris Cassady
Bodee Schlipf
Brad Evans
Tracey Rawlings
Chad Horsley
Sam Brumleve
Scott Anderson
Dan Naughton
ON THE COVER
by Devin Bollman.
UPCOMING EVENTS
AAA Regional Manager Message
Greetings everyone,
I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself and share a bit of my background. My name is Tyler Murray, and I joined the American Angus Association last March as the Regional Manager for Region 4, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. I graduated from Iowa State University in May 2025 with a degree in Animal Science, and I grew up on an Angus cow/calf operation in northern Iowa.
As we look ahead, several new rules will go into effect on January 1, 2026, and I want to highlight a few key updates.
Junior Angus Show Age Requirements
The age requirements for participating in Junior Angus Shows have been updated. Juniors must now be 7–21 years old as of January 1 of the current year. This change accommodates birth dates from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2018. Exhibitors must also hold a Junior, Regular, or Life membership with the American Angus Association.
Sibling Multi-Ownership
A new rule now allows multi-ownership of animals between siblings, provided the ownership is established by the ownership deadline and all siblings meet NJAA age requirements.
• Bred-and-Owned animals must still meet breeder, first-owner, and continuous-ownership rules.
• If Sibling A is listed as the breeder and first owner, they may exhibit the animal in the Bred and Owned division.
• If Sibling B is added as an additional owner, they may only show the animal in the Owned division.
• Multi-owned Bred and Owned animals cannot be shown as a bred and owned animal and an owned animal at the same NJAA sponsored show.
• A maximum of three owners may be listed on registration papers.
Embryo Transfer Donor Dam Testing Requirements
I also want to draw attention to Rule 104, Section D of the Breeder’s Reference Guide. For all Embryo Transfer Donor Dams born on or after January 1, 2023, a full suite of commercially available genetic condition tests monitored by the American Angus Association will be required before registering calves resulting from embryo transfer.
If you have any questions about marketing your cattle or general operational topics, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m always happy to help.
All the best,
Tyler Murray
In the News
By Jessica Hartman, Angus Communications
American Angus Association® concluded a successful fiscal year in which registrations totaled more than 300,000 for the 11th consecutive year and were up nearly 2.4% from the year prior. Regular and junior memberships totaled 21,467. Leading seedstock sales during a record year in the cattle markets, registered Angus bulls and females both garnered high-dollar prices. Bulls averaged $8,395 and females bested that by $41, an increase of $1,200 and nearly $1,600 respectively compared to last year. Demand supported the
sale of cattle at a higher dollar, and an increase in the number of head sold in the same period.
"We are fortunate to not only enjoy this historic market, but do it as a leader in the industry. That is not something we take lightly," said Mark McCully, chief executive officer of the Association, while addressing the membership at the 2025 Angus Convention in Kansas City. "We have a responsibility to continue to improve the Angus breed by supporting our producers." McCully said the Association remains focused on the continued success of the Angus breed through programs, tools and resources that help producers meet their individual operation’s goals, including improvements to its toolkit for members.
As a result of years of data collection and research, the Association released three new expected progeny differences in 2025: Functional Longevity (FL), Teat Size (Teat) and Udder Suspension (UDDR). Alongside the release, Angus Genetics Inc. updated the Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M) and Combined Value ($C) dollar value indexes ($Values) to account for the three new maternal EPDs. At the close of the 2025 fiscal year, there were more than 433,000 combined scores for teat size and udder suspension and 8.9 million records collected from 2.1 million females behind FL.
To better communicate the value of registered Angus genetics and allow for a direct comparison to sires’ $Values, AGI® added $Values to their genetic testing product for commercial females, GeneMax® Advantage™. The update creates a common language, so both buyer and seller can make direct comparisons and more easily evaluate a given bull’s genetic potential to meet the goals of a commercial herd. These tools are possible thanks to decades of data collections efforts by Association members, who have built the largest single beef breed database. In an ongoing effort to maintain the database and best characterize the current Angus population through data collection, Angus Herd Improvements Records (AHIR®) launched a new program to recognize members committed to that effort. During its inaugural year, 129 herds earned Data Driven Herd recognition. AHIR also saw a 16% increase in enrollment in Inventory Reporting.
The close of fiscal year also marked one year of a partnership between AngusLink SM, National Beef Packing Co., LLC (NBP) and U.S. Premium Beef, LLC. In a first-of-its-kind program, producers selling to USPB earned premiums based on the genetic merit of their cattle, as measured by the AngusLink Genetic Merit Scorecard SM. Looking at data from August 2024 through mid-February 2025, over 44% of cattle that have qualified for the program have graded Prime; compared to industry average of 11% Prime. Qualifying cattle have averaged more than $200 per head premium over selling in the cash market. The partnership’s success has been a testament to the AngusLinkSM value-added program. Since 2019, premiums paid out total $94.5 million. Over the last year, more than 287,000 cattle have been enrolled in AngusLink, resulting in producers earning an average premium of $20.92 per hundredweight. Nearly 19,000 registered Angus bulls were represented in FY 2025.
Driving a growing demand for Angus genetics, Certified Angus Beef sold 1.235 billion pounds of branded beef with 17,000 licensed partners worldwide, the 10th consecutive year above 1 billion pounds. Engaging producers across the industry, Certified Angus Beef concluded the second year of its Raised with RespectTM campaign having facilitated the Beef Quality Assurance certification of more than 1,600 ranchers.
Serving the advertising and communications needs of members, Angus MediaSM created more than 19,000 custom sale book pages. In the past year, the Angus Journal® printed 948 news articles, and the Angus Beef Bulletin® provided commercial readers with 239 industry news articles. Downloads for the publications’ podcasts neared 140,000.
The Angus Foundation continues to expand its reach/support of youth, education and research, awarding $395,500 through scholarships, with members donating over $660,000 in unrestricted funds and $5,517,260 in additional donations/grants.
The Fund the Future campaign, which contributes to the unrestricted Angus Fund, had 18 donors and raised more than $81,000 through the sale of donated lots.
To view the 2025 Association’s Annual Report and financial report, visit https://bit.ly/AAA_AnnualReport25.
Ashton Dillow earns Bronze and Silver Awards
Ashton Dillow, Villa Ridge, the 20-year-old daughter of Robert and Susan Spaulding, has earned the National Junior Angus Association’s Bronze and Silver awards. She is a member of the NJAA and the Illinois Junior Angus Association. She has participated in state, regional and national shows and showmanship contests. At the National Junior Angus Show, Dillow participate in the 2019 mentoring program. Dillow has also submitted DNA samples for Genomic Profile Testing through Angus Genetics Inc. and has consigned cattle to the PVF Fall and Spring Production sales.
The Bronze and Silver awards are the first two levels of the NJAA Recognition Program that began in 1972. Junior Angus breeders must apply for the award, then meet point requirements in many areas of participation before receiving the honor. Applicants are evaluated in areas of junior Angus association activities and leadership, participation in showmanship, contests and shows, using performance testing to improve their herd and their progress in producing and merchandising Angus cattle.
KramerFarms
2026 Illinois
Performance Tested Bull Sale
February 19 | 11:00 a.m. | Springfield
Kramer Farms Craftsman 2413
Reg # 21132923 | Born 08/17/2024
Connealy Craftsman x Kramer Farms Blackbird 2036
CED BW WW YW $C +7 -1.9 +57 +103 +317
Kramer Farms Keystone 2445
Reg # 21226673 | Born 12/02/2024
Basin Keystone 2021 x Kramer Farms Blackbird 2250
CED BW WW YW $C +7 +1.0 +77 +141 +313
Registered Angus Cattle
Scan the QR code to connect with us and watch videos of our offerings!
Wabash Valley
Angus Association
Annual Sale
March 15 | Harrisburg
cow/calf pair
Kramer Blackcap Lady 1821 & 2530
Reg #19205458 & 21455970 | Calved 09/13/2025
1821: Musgrave Sky High 1535 x KF Blackcap Lady 283
2530 Sire: Kramers G Fund 175
*1821 COW BRED AI TO BOYD BELLRINGER, DUE SEPTEMBER 2026
*1821 COW RECORDS IMPRESSIVE PROGENY RATIOS-W/R 4@105 AND Y/R 2@105
bred cow
Kramer Farms Erica 2148
Reg # 20389996 | Born 12/18/2021
Tehema Patriarch F028 x Erica of Ellston R209
*2148 COW BRED AI TO SAV MAGNUM 1335. DUE APRIL 2026
bred heifer
Kramer Farms Blackbird 2415
Reg # 21132916 | Born 08/19/2024
Kramers G Fund 175 x Kramer Farms Blackbird 378
*FROM THE HEART OF OUR REPLACEMENT GROUP.
*THIS FEMALE RECORDED AN INDIVIDUAL W/R OF 109.
*BRED TO KRAMER FARMS JAMESON 2423, DUE SEPTEMBER 2026
New Program Highlights Data Collection Commitment of Angus Producers
American Angus Association recognized Data Driven Herds at the 2025 Angus Convention
By Jessica Hartman, Angus Communications
The American Angus Association recognized its inaugural class of Data Driven Herd recipients during the 2025 Angus Convention. The program, launched this summer, aims to recognize members who carry on the Association’s, and more specifically Angus Herd Improvement Record’s, long history of phenotypic data collection.
The Association manages the largest single beef breed database in the world and offers a suite of selection tools available to all registered Angus genetics users that would not be possible without the support of the member-built database. Members can earn Bronze, Silver or Gold level recognition annually by submitting a minimum of 8-12 traits of their choosing on a corresponding percentage of their herd to AHIR. The number required for each trait is determined by the member’s cow inventory as part of the Inventory Reporting program and on a percentage of what is reasonable to collect for each individual trait. For example, scrotal requires a minimum of 20% while birth weight’s minimum is set at 75% of the cow inventory.
Data Driven Herds will be recognized annually as part of Angus Convention and listed on Angus.org. On Saturday, November 1, the twenty gold level herds were presented with plaques on stage in front of their peers at the convention’s awards dinner. Bronze and silver herds will also receive plaques. In addition, all qualifying herds have use of the year level logo for marketing and promotion of their breeding program. This year, two Illinois breeders were recognized as bronze herds — Bremer Bros in Metropolis, and Rahe Family Angus in Bluffs.
Members interested in earning 2026 Data Driven Herd recognition and are primarily spring-calving herds, should enroll in Inventory Reporting by January 15, 2026. Primarily fall-calving herds can enroll between May 1 and July 15 of next year. However, members can begin submitting data at any time during the fiscal year which runs from October 1 to September 30. Learn more about the complete program requirements of Inventory Reporting and Data Driven Herd at Angus.org/ahir.
Roll of Victory winners awarded at the 2025 Angus Convention
Angus cattle carry the tradition of excellence in the show ring, displayed across the country year after year. The Roll of Victory Show Program was created in 1984 to recognize show-winning animals, their sires, dams, breeders and owners.
The 2024 to 2025 ROV show program included 16 shows — six Super ROV shows and 10 additional ones. "Points for these shows are accumulated within the season. The ROV program continues to showcase the top Angus show cattle in the country as they compete for top honors every year," said Caitlyn Brandt, director of events and junior activities. "We congratulate the winners on their achievements."
2024-2025 ROV award winners from Illinois include:
Reserve Show Bull of the Year: HB Expectation 3012, owned by Horsley Bros of Galva, Illinois, and Wilson-Good Cattle Company of Dora, Missouri
Reserve Sire of the Year: STAG Good Times 201 ET, owned by Prairie View Farm of Gridley, Illinois; Griswold Cattle Company of Stillwater, Oklahoma; and May Cattle Company of Mineral Point, Wisconsin
Reserve Champion Senior Heifer Calf of the Year: SCC Phyllis 3110, owned by Ella Brooks of Prophetstown, Illinois
Reserve Champion Junior Bull of the Year: HB Expectation 3012, owned by Horsley Bros of Galva, Illinois; and Wilson-Good Cattle Company of Dora, Missouri
Champion Get-of-Sire of the Year: Destinys American Style 304, owned by Morgan Lea Hutchins of Pittsfield, Illinois; and Willis Angus Farm of Coal City, Illinois
Reserve Champion Get-of-Sire of the Year: STAG Good Times 201 ET, owned by Prairie View Farm of Gridley, Illinois; Griswold Cattle Company of Stillwater, Oklahoma; and May Cattle Company of Mineral Point, Wisconsin
Champion Junior Get-of-Sire of the Year: Destinys American Style 304, owned by Morgan Lea Hutchins of Pittsfield, Illinois; and Willis Angus Farm of Coal City, Illinois
Reserve Champion Junior Get-of-Sire of the Year: STAG Good Times 201 ET, owned by Prairie View Farm of Gridley, Illinois; Griswold Cattle Company of Stillwater, Oklahoma; and May Cattle Company of Mineral Point, Wisconsin
Consigned by Sydenstricker Genetics
Selling 3 IVF Embryos sired by EXAR Anticipation 4836B
Here is an opportunity to purchase embryos that are maternal sibs to the $160,000 Sydgen Lady 5057 purchased by Express Ranches and Pollard Farms and the $66,000 valued Sydgen Stability 4577 purchased by Brinkley Angus and Mead Farms in the 2025 Sydgen Sale. 1506 came to Sydgen as the $50,000 third top-selling open heifer in the 2022 Pollard Farms Production Sale. The sire of these embryos EXAR Anticipation 4836B was the top selling bull in the 2025 Big Event Sale at Express Ranches as he sold for $400,000 for half interest to Edisto Pines and Circle F Farms.
Consigned by Ward Bros Cattle
This February female is an attractive daughter of the past ROV Show Bull of the Year Executive Decision 2219 and her dam, WB Princess 137, was selected as the Reserve Division Champion at the 2023 NJAS. This Princess female combines two great cows, Pebbles and CCC Sara’s Dream 5116. There is purple all throughout this pedigree!
Consigned by Frank-Hazelrigg Cattle Co. and Basin Angus Ranch
Offering a conventional ET Flush to the bull of the buyer’s choice with a guarantee of 6 embryos with no cap. All flush and semen costs are the responsibility of the buyer. Offering an unprecedented opportunity to flush the one and only full sister to FHCC Foundation 1558 to the bull of your choice. Top 1% $Combined genetics with impressive phenotypic quality that matches her brother. One of her first progeny by Basin Safe Deposit was a $25,000 featured bull selected by Mead Farms in the 2025 Basin Angus Ranch Bull sale. Blackcap Lady 1527 embryos by Pollard Hennessey were among the most popular matings in our Fall 2025 Elite Embryo Auction achieving a winning bid of $2,900 per embryo. After exclusively doing IVF work with 1527, we recently switched her to conventional embryo transfer where she produced 18 high quality embryos in her first flush.
Consigned by MW Cattle Co
If you are looking for a competitive Intermediate division show heifer keep your eyes on this one, she is STOUT and stylish! Resulting from an embryo purchase made from Reed Genetics, this pedigree needs no introduction. BNWZ Dignity 8017 backed by the famous Sandy cow family after her show days are over, she will be a fun breeding piece!
COLEMAN DONNA 9283
Consigned by Upchurch Angus
Offering an IVF Flush with a guarantee of six to eight embryos; anything after eight will be at a pro-rated cost. Buyer is responsible for semen and flush costs. Also selling 3 IVF Embryos sired by Coleman Maternal Balance 3734 Here is an opportunity to acquire a flush by the $20,000 Upchurch Angus donor Coleman Donna 9283. 9283 is an elite high $M female that ranks in the top 1% for $M. She has progeny production record of WR 2@106 and YR 2@105. She is a direct daughter of the legendary donor Coleman Donna 0308. Her full sister Coleman Donna 9286 was a feature in the 2023 Your Maternal Source Sale and one-half interest sold for $30,000 to Southall Angus, TN. Maternal sisters to the dam include Coleman Donna 8216, who was the $150,000 one-half interest feature of the 2024 Your Maternal Source Sale going to Jocko Valley Ranch of Montana.
Consigned by Thummel Angus
One thing about Thummel Angus consignments is you always find cow power in their pedigrees. TA Achievement 436 is no exception to that rule. He has three close dams in his pedigree who produced through ten years of age. They consistently calved towards the beginning of calving season and produced progeny vital to their operation. He was the Division 4 Reserve Champion PGS Bull at the 2026 Cattleman’s Congress.
FEBRUARY 19, 2026
UNDER THE LIGHTS IN THE ARTISANS BUILDING THURSDAY EVENING, FOLLOWING THE IPT BULL SALE AND TRADESHOW RECEPTION
food and beverages provided, join us for raffle giveaways
MAKING GOOD ONES
A young producer's path to Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale success is lined with good cattle and great people leading him along the way.
Story by Olivia Hoots, Photos by Devin Bollman
Joe is never afraid to try and tackle something,” says Mike Callan, owner of Callan Farms, Inc. in Stonington. He is referring to Joe Curtin, who worked on his farm for over ten years, beginning as an intern when Joe was a junior in high school and, through the growth of his skillset, eventually became Mike’s herdsman. During his time working for Mike, he was growing his own herd – eventually being able to go full-time on his own cow/calf operation, Joe Curtin Cattle Company. Now, Joe has become well known for his purebred Angus bulls at the Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale held during the Illinois Beef Expo every February.
Growing requires hard work and good stock
Joe is the youngest son of nine children to his parents Fred and Mary Curtin. The family has spent much time involved
in the cattle industry and Joe knew when he was a little kid he would one day raise cattle for himself. He used to study every catalog that would come in the mail.
Following high school, while still hard at work at the Callan operation, Joe bought his first cow-calf pair. He remembers driving through some snow with his high school friends to pick it up. “She is a 004 daughter out of a 1407 cow,” Joe describes. He bought her from another Illinois Angus producer, Joel York.
The heifer calf he bought alongside that first cow is still a part of his herd and calved this summer – she is fifteen years old. “She is the matriarch of the herd,” Joe says. “Ninety percent of my herd goes back to her.” He likes to build his genetics from within his herd.
Just to clarify – Joe’s an Angus guy. “I like Angus cattle,
FARM FAMILY
MEMBER AWARDS
This award recognizes an Illinois beef family that exemplifies industry involvement and leadership qualities. This family should have a strong commitment to producing highquality beef within the state and demonstrate a desire to propagate their operation through generational involvement.
COMMERCIAL PRODUCER
SEEDSTOCK BREEDER OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR
This award acknowledges an exceptional cattle breeder within the seedstock sector of our industry. This operation should prioritize raising breedingquality progeny to be retained or marketed to other producers. Priority is given to operations that utilize innovative tools and technology to advance their herds. Purebred and commercial breeders are eligible.
This recognition honors an Illinois beef producer who is making a significant impact on the commercial sector of our industry. Qualities of relevance include operational savviness, integrity, and responsible cattle management. Operations may be involved in the acquisition, development, marketing, and or processing facets of the commercial beef cattle sector.
OUTSTANDING JUNIOR
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARD OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR
This award highlights an Illinois operation with exceptional resource stewardship practices. Thoughtful consideration is given to natural resource protection within their beef herd, and land use practices are regularly evaluated and improved. Herd management tools may include EQIP programming, rotational grazing, cover crop usage, manure management, and more.
This award recognizes an actively involved member of the Illinois Junior Beef Association. The ideal candidate demonstrates commitment, leadership, and a passion for the Illinois beef industry. Juniors from the commercial, seedstock, and showstock sectors are eligible for award honors. Tenure of involvement is taken into consideration.
IBA MEMBER OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR
This award honors a member who continually goes above and beyond to support the efforts of the IBA. This person should be actively involved in the time leading up to their nomination, though a leadership position within IBA is not required. A demonstrated commitment to the Illinois cattle industry and its people is also taken into consideration.
and the Angus community,” he says. “My grandpa was an Angus guy, then my dad, and then my brother.”
Now, Joe has 25 fall pairs with a mix of pastures and hay fields. He enjoys going from pasture to pasture each day doing chores and feeling grateful for the operation he has worked to grow.
From his first cow to the cattle he raises, or buys, today, Joe elevates a few specific phenotypic traits, including structure and then utter quality. Genotypically, Joe values the accuracy EPDs provide in terms of performance.
Learning from and working for others
Joe would tell you he was able to improve his operation because of the help given to him along the way. From clipping cattle for multiple different operations and being at shows, to
spending years on an operation, He has been around enough cattlemen to know diverse ways of cattle raising.
Lessons he learned from Mike specifically include checking, pulling, mixing rations, and other common practices, Joe says. Early on Mike could tell Joe was willing to learn and “not afraid of work.” Which helped give him a humble ability to listen when taught.
Mike says Joe is “a force to contend with,” stating he has incorporated the experiences gained at Callan Farms into his operation. “He is good with his dollar and very intelligent,” he says. He also adds that his ability to self-teach, for example, mechanics, is impressive.
“You want them to buy your bull, not your feed pan,” Mike once told him. Joe explains that you do not want your animals to get too fat but instead focus on good weights and
overall quality, not just size. Lessons like this come from seasoned producers.
Joe’s mom Mary testifies to the help others have given him over the years. “His friends are there in a heartbeat, from all around the country,” Mary says. “I am thankful for the people who have helped my youngest son in his dream.”
Another producer Joe has learned from is Marvin Kramer of Kramer Angus, too. He has bought cattle from him and sometimes puts females back in the Kramer Angus sales as well. He has also been clipping Marvin’s cattle for years, preparing them for the sales.
“He is an honest, hardworking man that loves the cattle business,” Marvin says. “A pleasant person to be around and has used a lot of our herd bulls over the years.” He says Joe’s herd continues to make huge improvements, saying it is a testament to doing things right and keeping good records.
“He is making a good name for himself in that IPT sale,” Marvin says.
Performance is a tradition
Joe remembers when his own dad and grandfather would put bulls in the long-held tradition of the Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale. Then, once he was growing his own operation, Travis Meteer, who was just starting out managing the sale, Mike, who used to put in a dozen bulls himself, and others encouraged him to put bulls in the sale. He first had bulls in the sale in 2013 and has only missed one year since then.
Joe is focused on the sale as an opportunity for growth and improvement from year-to-year. “The cattle have gotten more valuable,” he says. He is thankful customers remember the quality of the stock he enters.
If you ask him what he looks for to put into the sale, Joe prefers an 18-month-old bull because of the likeliness it is ready to run on cows. Important EPDs for him include birth weight, and other weights, $Cs and other dollar values.
He stays away from extremes on EPDs because often that is not what commercial producers who buy his cattle are looking at, but he still values the maternal EPDs. Also, because he sells commercial cattle, he values terminal values too, in terms of carcass quality and growth rate.
Before choosing which bulls to put in the sale he considers scrotal circumference, management numbers, hair shed, health scores, foot, claw and ankle scores, and docility. Milk, teat and functional longevity scores are also considerations.
If anyone is an advocate for the IPT Bull Sale, it is Joe. He would like to see the tradition continue to support new and seasoned producers and promote quality performance.
“That is the biggest day of the year in my mind,” Joe says. It helps him meet with other producers and compete with current quality standards to go back and try better each year.
Looking ahead
While Joe may be looking ahead, he prefers to focus on the present. “I have a goal of 50 breeding age cows, right now I’m at 40,” Joe says. While this will require him to sell more cattle, he hopes his reputation at the IPT Bull Sale will help with that.
This reputation, partnered with his commitment to the February sale and his friendships across the Illinois Angus and commercial industries, surely earns him a spot among committed breeders. Our industry is a success because of producers like Joe, who get up every day committed to excellence in their fields.
2026 MEMBERSHIP
Being a member has its perks. IBA partners with several companies to offer its members cost savings and this year, we’ve added more!
• Yearly subscribtion to IBA’s bi-monthly magazine, Illinois Beef
• Producer members receive preferred pricing on magazine advertsing
• Discounted Air Evac membership fee for affinty pricing
• Partial funding of consultation services with Funktioneering ($100 value)
• Assistance with applying for EQIP dollars, building permits, and siting new or expanded projects
• Access to Performance Livestock Analytics Cattle Krush program
• $150 off Frank & West Environmental Engineering Services
• Preferred rates to subscribe to a smart phone app based cattle market information service
• Option to be listed in the IBA member-only Local Beef Directory
• Discounts on Equipment at Bush Hog ($250) and Buchheit IL (10%)
• Extended rates at the Ramanda Springfield North and Northfield Inn & Suites
• Special discounts and promotions with feed companies
OTHER MEMBERSHIPS OFFERED
Junior Member Benefits
• Two seasonal issues of Illinois Beef
• Opportunity to participate in educational and leadership events
• Participation in IJBA Points Show program
• Scholarship eligibity given by Illinois Beef Foundation
• Opportunity to vote for or serve on the IJBA Board of Directors
Collegiate Student Member Benefits
• Dual IBA/NCBA Membership
• Full access to IBA Producer member benefits
• Internship opportunities with IBA and NCBA
• Scholarship opportunities from IBA and NCBA
• IJBA eligibility (students 21 or under)
EARLY RENEWAL BENEFITS
Show Results
North American International Livestock Exposition
West Allis, Wis. | November 16-18 | Judges: Brandon Callis, Okla. (juniors), and Matt Leo, Calif. (open)
Photos by Linde's Livestock Photos
Reserve Champion Owned Junior Heifer
Champion Division 2
PVF Proven Queen 5043
Owned by Caden Crain
ROV Reserve Senior Champion Bull
HB Expectation 3012
Owned by Horsley Bros, Ill., & Wilson-Good Cattle Company, Mo.
ROV Junior Heifer Calf Champion
Champion Division 3
PVF Blackbird 5012
Owned by Ashton Dillow
ROV Senior Bull Calf Champion
Rhode High Roller 34
Owned by Preston Rhode
ROV Reserve Sire of the Year
STAG Good Times 201 ET
Owned by Prairie View Farm, Griswold Cattle Co. and May Cattle Co.
February 20 • Illinois State Fairgrounds
We are excited to host the third annual banquet for the Illinois Angus Association on February 20, 2026, at the Illinois Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois.
Schedule: 12:30 - Board Meeting
2:00 - Annual Meeting
5:30 - Happy Hour
6:00 - Supper catered by Poe’s on the Hill.
&
LEMENAGER CATTLE
Luke, Stacy & Paige 703 Hinshaw Rd. Hudson, IL 61748
Luke Cell 309-261-0752
Chuck, Tori, Curt & Grace 10098 N. 2200E Fairbury IL 61739
Chuck Cell 815-867-7011 www.lemenagercattle.com
217-473-5868 cell 217-854-5200 o ce rhodesangus@royell.org
9350 Rte 108, Carlinville, IL 62626 www.RhodesAngus.com
20976416 | Culmination x NIAGARA
The leading sire and top sale feature from the Spring 2025 Connealy Angus Sale offers balanced EPDs in a six frame package. Few sires in the breed offer a more complete EPD profile than CORNHUSKER. He ranks in the top 25% or better for 16 different traits!
Connealy Angus, NE and Stellpflug Cattle Co., WY
SQUARE DEAL 7AN773
20509700 | Fair-N-Square x Step Ahead
Deep Creek Angus Ranch, SD and Bruner Angus Ranch, ND
20909438 | Gable x Compass
PURSUIT offers the complete package of phenotype, genetic merit and maternal excellence! He is one of the sires that offers over 155 YW and 120 $M. PURSUIT delivers extra performance without increasing cow size.
Poss Angus, NE and Stellpflug Cattle Co., WY
MONEY MAKER 7SM153
3978845 | Eagle x Beacon
No matter how you look at it, MONEY MAKER is a sire that will add profit to any operation! He is a genetic outlier for all traits and will move your herd forward. He boasts exceptional genetic merit, added power, foot quality, and fluid and flexible mobility.
Bielenberg Simmental, IA and Heartland Simmentals, IA
Contact your SSMC representative to order these sires and bring the complete package to your herd! StanLee Grobosky - Illinois SSMC Beef Specialist (309) 749-7788 l www.ssmcoop.com
