Kansas Angus Association - Kansas Angus News February Edition
ELLINGSON PROLIFIC
Kansas Angus Association
2 2 Annual eeting & an uet ▪ February 28 Futurity Jr. Show–March 1 , Hutchinson
The Kansas Angus Association (KAA) Banquet and 74th Annual Meeting HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED ( due to the heavy snow and extreme temps on Jan 24-25) to February 28 in Hutchinson at the Kansas State Fairgrounds . The educational presentations and annual meeting will be in the afternoon. The annual banquet which will include a social hour, the Kansas Angus Auxiliary scholarship auction, honorary member induction, KAA Directory page auction, Miss Kansas Angus crowning and the KJAA t-shirt fundraiser auctionwill be in the 1861 Club on the fairgrounds lateron Saturday evening. The Futurity Junior Show will be on March 1st.
► Banquet venue -The 1861 Club on the Ks State Fairgrounds Banquet reservations are due byFeb 19and are required.
►Junior Show entries are due Feb 20, entries are on Showman.app only. Late entries accepted thru Feb 24 -late fee applies. (PGS entries close on Feb 20-late not accepted.)
If you entered prior to the reschedule do not re-enter! You can add or delete entries on Showmnan.app.
►If you entered prior to the reschedule and cannot show on March 1st you can request a refund -email Anneat kansasangus@wbsnet.org include the exhibtor(s)'s name(s) in the email. Refunds will be issued back to the credit card you used when making the entry.
Schedule
All events on Ks State Fairgrounds, Hutchinson, KS Friday –Feb 27-5 pm, cattle may arrive after 5 pm and go to tie outs only. Saturday, Feb. 28
• 6 am -Barn open for cattle and tack
• 11 am–Deadline for junior cattle to arrive
• 10 am to 11:30 am-junior cattle check in
• 11:30 am -Ks Angus Auxiliarymeeting–Prairie Pavilion meeting room, Fairgrounds
• 1:30 pm to 4 pm -Hospitality hosted by Ks Angus Auxiliary
• 2 pm–Ks Angus Association educational program-(Prairie Pavilion meeting room, Fairgrounds)presented by Esther Tarpoff Director of Performance Programs ,American Angus Association. Esther will speak about the Association’ s new Data Driven Herds program. Data The program, launched this summer, aims to recognize members who carry on the Association’s, and more specifically Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR®), long history of phenotypic data collection
Exploring New Features, Tools, and Programs
There are several new features, tools, and programs that were recently launched by the American Angus Association. From breeding data populating on female transfers and a planned mating tool to a program designed to recognize herds participating in data collection and a rewards program for members, everyone can learn something new from this session! Join us to learn more about these new features and programs and ask questions about how they can apply to your operation.
For more info banquet reservations, hotels visit www.kansasangus.org
The President's Pen
Friends and Fellow Angus Breeders, I look forward to serving as the 2026 Kansas Angus Association President*, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Stephanie (Stielow) Dickerson, I am an owner and operator of Bar S Ranch, Paradise, KS, together with my husband, David, my parents Ken and Pat Stielow, son Ethan and daughter- in-law Lexi and son Jayce. My oldest son Grady works as a district technician at NRCS in Trego county.
Bar S Ranch was established in 1900 with seedstock genetics that are commercially focused in a real world, unpampered environment. While Angus is our largest breed, we also sell Red Angus and Charolais bulls in our annual bull sale.
As I write this letter, most of you know we had to postpone our annual Kansas Angus Annual Meeting, Banquet and Futurity Junior Show. I hope all of you can join us Saturday Feb. 28 for our annual meeting and banquet, as well as Sunday March 1 for the junior show in Hutchinson.
We are also coming out of the deep freeze from some of the coldest temperatures this year. To quote a good friend of mine. “To every cattleman and cattlewoman watching the calvers tonight, coffee in one hand and grit in the other; may your calves hit the ground breathing, your mams stand and mother up, and your hands stay steady when the weather gets ugly .” Stay safe out there.
Thank you and I hope in the coming year I can meet many of you and connect with those of you I already know. I am humbled and excited to serve as your 2026 KAA President.
Stephanie Dickerson
2026 Kansas Angus Association President 785-445-5139
*the 2026 officer slate will be presented and elected during the rescheduled annual meeting on 2.28.26
Notes & News from Anne Seasons?
In Kansas in February sometimes is hard to tell what season we are in, we can experience below freezing days, blizzards and even warm sunny days that hint at a promise of spring.
However, for Angus producers we know the seasonis the beginning of sale season and that calving season is in full swing for most. The season when the mating decisions of previous ‘breeding seasons’ pay off with new calves and sale days.
In FY 2025 reported sales of registered Angus bulls in the US averaged $8395 and females averaged $8436, nearly double from posted averages of just a few years before in 2020. In the coming months Kansas Angus breeders will offer approximately 5000 registered Angus bulls through production sales and by private treaty an if early sales indicate what is to come it will be a great ‘sale season’.
It is also the season for shopping for new herd bull and replacement females. Our Kansas Angus Association members will offer genetics, bulls and females that fit whatever individual goals buyers have. As you are for your herd bull, donor females or replacement females look at what Kansas has to offer. Don’t miss the upcoming sale list on 24 of this issue.
Services KAA Mailing List (member use) Mailing List (non member use) Website Block Ads E– Classifieds, E–Advertisements Catalog inserts welcome.
Terms: All accounts that are 60 days or more past due will be assessed charge of $12 per month/billing until account is paid in full . Accounts that are six months past due must be paid in full prior to accepting advertisements , furthermore a stop advertisement order will be in effect for those delinquent accounts that place advertisements in each issue of the Kansas Angus News or have a spot ad on www.kansasangus.org . This policy applies to all advertising accepted by the KAA including the Kansas Angus News, Kansas Angus Directory, website ads, and e- advertisements. Effective 4/1/2020. Any member 3 months or more in arrears in the payment of dues or assessments shall be dropped from the roll with the membership year beginning with the annual meeting. (KAA By -Laws: Art III, Sec 4)
Any claims or statements of the writers or advertisers in this publication represent their own opinions and are not necessarily those of the editor or of the officers and director s of the Kansas Angus Association. Published Four issues per year.
Please send address changes or subscription cancellations to kansasangus@wbsnet.org
President : Cash Schilling, Goodland
Vice President : Stephanie Dickerson, Paradise
Secretary/Mgr: Anne Lampe, Scott City (620) 874-4273
Treasurer: Elizabeth Perkins, Ellsworth
Past President: Lynne
Page 1. Ks Angus Association News ▪ 1 President's Pen, Editors Notes, KAA Info ▪ 2 Angus Business 4 & 23
Grady, Jayce, Lexi, Ethan, Stephanie & David Dickerson; Pat & Ken Stielow Bar S Ranch
Cover photo & design by Anne Lampe
CARCASSQUALITY MATERNALVALUE...
Angus Business
Working in Balance
There’s value in simultaneously improving carcass and maternal traits in your Angus herd.
By Kara Lee, Certified Angus Beef director of brand engagement
When you look at quality grid premiums, Angus cattle continue to defy the fundamentals of supply and demand. As Angus cattle continue to improve, today there is a higher percentage of high-quality carcasses hanging on the rail, yet producers continue to get paid for it. That’s strong demand—and a clear signal back to ranchers.
These gains are driven by consumers who continue to purchase beef for its superior taste and tenderness. As this pull-through demand signal from the consumer has become evident, Angus breeders have met end-users’ increased appetite for quality beef. At the same time, Angus cows continue to offer strong maternal traits while raising calves that may later enter the supply chain.
As carcass quality improves and the average marbling (Marb) expected progeny difference (EPD) for the Angus breed increases, many Angus breeders ask the supply development team at Certified Angus Beef (CAB), “Do we still need to focus on marbling?” Data says yes.
Money on the table
The Angus breed has a strong market share, with 72% of fed cattle being Angus-influenced. Still, only four in 10 head that meet the live animal specifications go on to meet all 10 CAB carcass specifications. In 2024, 82% of Angus-influenced cattle didn’t have enough marbling (CAB Consist Study).
While cattle may not qualify for CAB for missing multiple carcass specifications, the greatest opportunity to increase the amount of Angusinfluenced cattle that qualify for CAB are those that barely miss the marbling requirement.
Evaluating the marbling distribution of Angus-influenced cattle provides a clearer picture of the portion of the population that falls short of CAB’s marbling threshold. Just over 10% of our missed supply is within only 30 points of marbling. Moderate improvements in marbling can still leave room for improved selection across multiple traits while making meaningful strides in product quality.
The data proves that marbling should still be a priority. But additional data shows that it doesn’t have to be your only priority.
Are marbling, feet and fertility related?
Another common question from cattle country: Has our breed been so focused on marbling that we’ve lost sight of other valuable traits? Specifically, feet and fertility are recent areas of concern.
In search of answers, CAB worked alongside the American Angus Association® (Association) team to identify genetic trends between fertility and feet issues and the culled animals’ Marb EPDs. The Association provided all disposal code records from the Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR) database for both fertility and feet from 2010 through 2023. AHIR offers valuable insights into the primary reasons cattle were removed from a herd. In both cases, there was a normal distribution of animals culled— indicated by the bell-shaped curve. The real lessons become visible when we draw lines at the marbling threshold for Targeting the Brand™.
For several years, CAB has published Targeting the Brand™ requirements for Marb EPD and Grid Value ($G) Index to help commercial customers easily identify registered Angus animals with added genetic carcass value. The minimum genetic requirement thresholds are +0.65 Marb
EPD and +55 $G.
The most cattle culled for feet and fertility fall below +0.65 for marbling. Incidentally, the 2025 breed average for current sires was +0.64. While there are cattle with very high marbling values culled from herds due to feet or fertility problems, the whole picture shows that many of those culled cattle are not considered elite for carcass quality. Moreover, this data shows that recent improvements in Marb EPDs aren’t to blame. In both disposal codes, the bulk of the curve peaks at around a +0.40 Marb EPD, which was the average for Angus cattle born in 2005. Perhaps improvement in quality doesn’t rely on extremes.
Simultaneous improvement
Cattlemen and women have a responsibility to look critically at their own herd, determine the areas that warrant improvement, and cull animals accordingly. Stockmen bring immense value by objectively evaluating phenotypes, regardless of what the numbers say, and setting individual breeding objectives.
When evaluating EPDs and considering what you’re breeding for, you must first recognize your environmental needs. Second would consider resources (labor, land availability, etc.) at your disposal. Third are your marketing goals and, just as important, your customers’ marketing goals. For cattle producers who have goals of increasing their CAB acceptance rates, Targeting the Brand™ is a data-driven selection tool that helps bull and female customers more easily identify registered Angus animals that will help them achieve a 60% CAB acceptance rate, whereas the 2025 CAB acceptance rate (not exclusive to those utilizing Targeting the Brand™) averages 37%.
Some Angus breeders or their customers’ breeding objectives are higher than CAB acceptance and focus on increasing the number of cattle that grade USDA Prime. In 2025, the industry average Prime acceptance rate was around 11%. If you manage an average commercial cow herd under average management and environmental conditions, then data suggests registered Angus bulls with a +1.10 Marb EPD and +72 $G have more potential to achieve a 20% Prime acceptance rate.
As you’re making mating decisions for your next breeding season or headed to purchase new herd bulls, there’s space to put emphasis on marbling without excluding other valuable traits for your operation.
Sale Day Tip
The Angus Sire Evaluation Report and Angus Media’s Pasture to Publish sale catalogs both offer an EPD Search tool, allowing you to set your EPD parameters and search for animals in a sale book that meet your criteria. When sale day arrives, you already know which bulls carry the genetics that will help meet your breeding objectives.
The American Angus Association ® is calling for applicants for the 2026 Angus Ambassador of the Year and Young Breeder of the Year awards. The awards, established in 2023, highlight impactful individuals helping to drive the breed forward. This year’s recipients will be recognized at Angus Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, Nov. 13- 16.
Angus Ambassador of the Year Award -The Angus Ambassador of the Year Award recognizes someone who goes above and beyond to promote or aid Angus efforts and broadens the influence of Angus cattle in the beef industry.Applicants for this award can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else. Nominees do not need to be members of the Association and can be businesses or allied industry members.
Young Breeder of the Year Award -The Young Breeder of the Year Award recognizes a young, registered Angus breeder for their leadership within the Angus breed, participation in Angus programs and innovation within their herd.Applicants for this award can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else. Applicants must be between 25 and 45- years-old and an active member of the Association. Couples or business partners can be nominated if they meet age requirements. Herd ownership and/or management responsibility is required of each individual applicant.
For more info and applications visit www.angus.org.
LAR
Cherry Crk Blue Collar G275
Basin True Grit 1021
Other Main Service Sires
Deer Valley Growth Fund –15 grandsons
BAR Dynamic – 2 sons
HF Safe & Sound 019 – 4 sons
DAR Propel T085 – 2 sons
DAR Buckaroo 3461 – 5 sons
LD Dually 0181 –10 sons
Deppe WW SFF Incredible 281 – 10 sons
Windy Ridge Great Plain 013 – 5 sons
Ferguson Breakout 103H – 4 sons
DAR Plus One 1225 –6 sons
Craft Versatile 828-314 –3 sons
Plus other sires
Kenny Institution 2010
Kansas Junior Angus Association
Kansas Junior Members,
As we move into February with the Kansas Junior Angus Association, I continue to be excited about the opportunities ahead for our junior members.
While plans have shifted slightly, with the postponing and reschedule we are looking forward to a great Futurity weekend with the Kansas Angus Banquet taking place on February 28, followed by the cattle show on Sunday, March 1.
Junior cattle check-in and the KJAA meeting will be held onSaturday, February 28 This banquet serves as our main fundraiser, supported through T-shirt sponsorships as well as a variety of Auxiliary items available to bid on, which help fund scholarships and support junior programs. If you are unable to attend the banquet on Feb. 28 and would like to bid on a t-shirt logospot please call me at the number below.
The weekend is special not only because of the cattle, but also because of the opportunity to visit, reconnect with friends, and meet new junior members from across the state. I truly enjoy getting to know our juniors and seeing the passion and dedication each of you brings to the Angus breed. I look forward to seeing you soon and to continuing another successful year together.
Austin Woodrow
KJAA President 2025-26 austinwoodrow3@gmail.com , 620 -794-3927
Ks Angus Futurity Jr Show rescheduled to March 1st.
If you entered for the Jan. 25th date DO NOT enter again. You can check, edit or add to your entries on Showman.App. If you did not enter, entries are open! Enter on Showman.App by Feb. 20 or late entry by Feb. 24. For more info visit www.kansasangus.org.
2025-26 Ks Jr Angus Association Board of Directors
Greetings, We are looking forward to a great spring season! From calving to sales to scholarship season, it’s a great time to be a part of the Angus family. If you are a high school senior, the state Auxiliary scholarship is due April 1. As a reminder, bronze and silver awards must be received prior to scholarship application. If not completed, do so as soon as possible to be eligible. The top male and female from the state are able to be sent on to compete for additional scholarship funds with the American Angus Auxiliary Scholarship. For more details, visit the website or contact any of the officers.
A new scholarship was established in 2023, the Auxiliary Angus Foundation Endowment Scholarship. If you are a college student above the freshman level and have been a member of the KJAA, NJAA, or current member with KAA, you are eligible to apply. Educational programs e ligible include but are not limited to trade school, junior college, university, or any degreed program such as nursing or vo-tech. Applications aredue April 1. Find more information on the website.
Join us for the rescheduled Ks Angus weekend on February 28 –March 1. We will have a short Auxiliary meeting, and later that evening award not only scholarships but also the Premier Exhibitor and Challenge Award at the banquet. New state royalty will also be crowned. Wrapping up the evening is the Auxiliary auction to raise funds to support the juniors. Bring an auction item or come ready to bid on your favori tes! It will be a great weekend to reconnect with the Angus family and support the juniors!
Good luck with spring calving and sale seasons!
Esther Tarpoff
esthertarpoff@gmail.com
Kansas Angus Auxiliary President
Dates to Remember:
Feb. 28 - Mar .1 – Kansas Angus Banquet, Annual Meeting, Futurity Jr Show
Feb. 28 – Auxiliary Meeting 11:30am,
• Auxiliary Hospitality Room, bring snacks & baked good to share
• KS Angus Banquet, bring items for Auxiliary scholarship auction April 1 – Auxiliary Scholarship Applications due for high school seniors graduating in spring 2026, & Auxiliary Endowment
school, junior college, university, other degreed programs such as nursing or vo-tech)
For more info and application links visit www.kansasangus.org/auxiliary
Hospitality Chairman– Mary McCurry Miss Ks Angus Program Chairman– Anne Lampe Ways & Means Chairman– Mary McCurry
A balanced approach to genetics - A solid commitment to our customers Proven, profitable cattle for the beef industry
FEATURING:
• 120 Angus Bulls, Fall Born • GE-EPDs, Ready to Work Sons of Iconic, Exponential, Justify, Craftsman, Architect, RiseAbove, Rawhide, Coalition, Wrangler and more. Strong, proven sires with growth, carcass, maternal.
SPECIAL OFFERING:
• 45 Fall Bred Commercial Home Raised Heifers • All AI bred to Connealy Restore 178C then exposed to sons of Commerce and Resilient, to calve September-October 2026. Designed to increase maternal strength in any cowherd.
Request a sale book today!
Those Famous Gloves
Kansas Angus News Card Advertisements
Reach 2000 subscribers and readers in print plus our online viewers . 4 issues per year .$150 per year. Current advertisers send card ad updates or replacement ads to Anne at kansasangus@wbsnet.org .
NEW advertisers welcome.
Parent Match to Streamline Parent Verification
Upgraded, no-cost service offered by Angus Genetics Inc.
By Sarah Moyer, Senior Communications Specialist, Angus Media
When reviewing DNA results, members might now see “Parent Qualified by Parent MatchSM” as part of upgraded services from Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI®). This is the first of several progressive updates being implemented in 2026, streamlining the parent verification process for members. Parent Match is a no-cost, added service for customers of parentage testing.
For animals genomically tested with AGI, members can view qualified matches on their DNA results page.
Each parent will now show one of the following statuses:
Excluded: The provided sire(s) did not match the animal.
Qualified: Parent recorded in Calving Book matched the animal.
Parent Qualified by Parent Match: A different parent than the one provided by the member was found to match, based on results of the Par-
Contact Office: Conflicts exist in the results; member should speak with
For Beef Improvement Records (BIR) animals, AGI will use the Parent Match technology to call parentage on those animals who cancel the reported sire or dam. For registered animals, AGI will offer a discovered parent through the “Animals with excluded DNA parentage” tab in AAA Login. Written confirmation is still required to update parentage on animals registered
By registering an animal with a Parent Qualified by Parent Match, the member is agreeing that the discovered parents are true and accurate. Parent Match cannot account for individual animal ID or sample swaps at the farm/ ranch level (as is the case today).
Donor Dam Requirements to Register
American Angus Association members are encouraged to review the 2024 update to the donor dam DNA policy
Members with cattle in the upcoming spring sale, calving and show seasons should be cognizant of the 2024 donor dam rule change that may impact the ability to register embryo transfer (ET) calves.) The rule update, approved in 2024, states donor dams born on or after January 1, 2023, and used for embryo transfer must have DNA testing done including parentage markers and the complete genomic condition bundle for the genetic conditions monitored by the American Angus Association ®. This mirrors the longstanding requirements already in place for Artificial Insemination (AI) sires.
Incomplete testing can lead to ET calves being placed in suspense, delaying registration. In the event DNA is unavailable from the donor dam for genetic condition testing, the full suite of known commercially available tests for the genetic conditions monitored by the Association will be required for all offspring applying for registration. Members can review Rule 104 d.2. in the Breeder’s Reference Guide. www.angus.orgIf you have questions about donor dam requirements, genetic testing, or how these rules apply to your operation, the Association’s Member Services team is here to help; 816 383 5100 or angus@angus.org.
Ks Angus Calendar *
Winter - Spring 2026
• Kansas Angus Annual Mtg.-Hutchinson, KS -Meeting- rescheduled Feb 28
• Kansas Jr. Angus Futurity Show -Hutchinson, KS -Show- rescheduled Mar 1
• 2/19/2026-GG&T Cattle Co.-Quinter, KS-Sale
• 2/20/206- Lundgren Angus Ranch , Gove, Ks - Sle
• 2/26/2026-Rowh Angus-Jennings, KS-Sale
• 3/1/2026-Lazy H Ranch-Hays, KS-Sale
• 3/2/2026-Don Johnson Angus -Salina, KS-Sale
• 3/2/2026-Lyons Ranch-Manhattan, KS-Sale
• 3/3/2026-Cornwell Farms-Saint John, KS-Sale
• 3/4/2026-Carcass Plus Bull Sale-Isabel, KS-Sale
• 3/5/2026-Larson Ranch-Leoti, KS-Sale
• 3/6/2026-K-State Legacy Sale-Manhattan, KS-Sale
• 3/7/2026-Laflin Angus-Olsburg, KS-Sale
• 3/8/2026-Huninghake Angus Ranch Bull Sale -Frankfort, KS-Sale
• 3/11/2026-Flat Iron Ranch-Washington, KS-Sale
• 3/11/2026-Stucky Ranch-Kingman, KS-Sale
• 3/12/2026-BJ Angus Genetics-Manhattan, KS-Sale
• 3/12/2026-McCurry Angus Ranch Bull Sale -Burrton, KS-Sale
• 3/13/2026-Bar S Ranch-Paradise, KS-Sale
• 3/14/2026-Jones Family Angus-Wamego, KS-Sale
• 3/14/2026-May-Way Farms-Baldwin City, KS -Sale
• 3/15/2026-April Valley Farm PT Sale-Leavenworth, KS -Sale
• 3/16/2026-B&D Angus-Claflin, KS-Sale
• 3/17/2026-Hinkson Angus Ranch-Cottonwood Falls, KS -Sale
• 3/20/2026-Huck-Stegman Bull Sale-Dodge City, KS -Sale
• 3/20/2026-Sunflower Genetics 30th Production Sale -Maple Hill, KS
• 3/21/2026-Molitor Angus Ranch-Zenda, KS-Sale
• 3/21/2026-On Target Bull Sale/ Alcove Cattle Co & Springhill Herefords Blue Rapids, KS-Sale
• 3/22/2026-Rockin' H Ranch-Haddam, KS-Sale
• 3/23/2026-Oleen Bros.-Dwight, KS-Sale
• 3/24/2026-Ferguson Angus-Agra, KS-Sale
KANSAS ANGUS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS*
Send your sale date or updates to kansasangus@wbsnet.org. Listing is free to members Length of calendar in each issue is at discretion of the Editor . Dates subject to change please check with sale host. All events are sales unless otherwise noted. KAA members submit your PRIVATE TREATY SALE info at www.kansasangus.org .*More sales will be added as information is received. Association members please submit your sale date. New members your sale can be added after joining. All listings are sales unless otherwise noted.
