Topics included in this month’s “News & Notes” include

• Tolbert to lead commercial relations and producer education
• Delegates elected by peers to 143rd Convention of Delegates
• Participation doubles in Data Driven Herd Program’s second year
• Free training helps cattle producers figure costs, returns amid market volatility
• Rodeo Tickets for Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo go on sale Sept. 14

Tolbert to lead commercial relations and producer education

The American Angus Association has promoted Alex Tolbert, regional manager for Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee, to director of commercial relations and producer education.

For the past 12 years, Tolbert has served Association members and commercial cattlemen with a deep passion for the Angus breed and a commitment to producer success. In his new role, he will lead efforts to advance programs that improve profitability for users of registered Angus genetics, strengthen commercial industry relationships and expand producer education.

As a regional manager, Tolbert championed educational efforts surrounding AngusLink^® and GeneMax^® Advantage^TM and worked to connect both commercial and seedstock producers with tools designed to add value across the beef supply chain. His efforts helped drive significant growth in GeneMax testing throughout the region, with testing doubling year over year for two consecutive years.

“I once heard, ‘The seedstock industry exists as a business to meet the needs of the commercial cattleman,’” Tolbert says. “That idea has shaped the way I approach my work at the Association. Whether serving as a regional manager or in this new role, my goal remains the same: to serve Angus breeders and commercial cattlemen while strengthening the value Angus genetics bring to the beef industry.”

Tolbert is a product of the Angus breed, having grown up on an operation in Jackson County, Ga. As a member of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA), he served on the National Junior Angus Board. Following graduation from Oklahoma State University, Tolbert worked for the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Livestock and Grain Market News Service and eventually managed the Federal/State program in Kentucky and Tennessee. Throughout his tenure with the Association, Tolbert has expanded outreach across his region by strengthening industry partnerships, serving as a trusted resource for cattle producers and organizing educational opportunities.

“Alex brings a unique combination of commercial industry perspective, practical experience and passion for the Angus breed to the position,” says Casey Jentz, COO of the American Angus Association. “His ability to build relationships and connect producers with solutions that improve profitability makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead our commercial relations and producer education efforts.”

Tolbert will transition into the role Sept. 14. He will continue supporting previously scheduled sales and events within Region 3 during the transition period. The Association is actively recruiting a regional manager to serve Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. Interested applicants can learn more and apply at angus.org/careers.

Delegates elected by peers to 143rd Convention of Delegates

Delegates and alternates have been elected to the 143rd American Angus Association Convention of Delegates, to be convened Monday, Nov. 16, in Louisville, Ky., as part of the 2026 Angus Convention. Angus breeders were elected by fellow members in their state or district to serve as voting representatives at the annual meeting. Representing the United States and Canada, the delegates will participate in the annual business meeting, which includes the election of officers and five directors to the Association Board of Directors.

Delegate candidates were nominated this spring through a process outlined in the Breeder’s Reference Guide. Following the close of nominations, ballots were prepared and sent to eligible voting members in each voting district (state or Canada). 2,225 ballots were received, with 2,169 eligible to be counted. Through the process, 301 delegates and 247 alternates were elected from 44 states, Canada and Washington D.C.

A complete list of delegates and alternates to the 143rd Convention of Delegates is available online. Delegates and alternates were notified by email.

This year’s Convention of Delegates and Angus Convention will be convened in conjunction with Angus events at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE). Association members are invited to attend the convention Nov. 13-16, for the meeting, educational sessions and opportunities to connect with fellow producers. Registration and event details are available at AngusConvention.com. Producers can take advantage of early-bird pricing through Sept. 10.

Participation doubles in Data Driven Herd program’s second year

The Data Driven Herd program is the result of breeders, Board members and staff seeking to recognize Association members committed to collecting and submitting data on multiple traits to AHIR^® (Angus Herd Improvement Records) to help better characterize phenotypes in both their herd and the Angus breed. In August, 299 herds were recognized as 2026 Gold, Silver and Bronze level Data Driven Herds. This is more than double the number of herds who met the requirements in the program’s inaugural year.

“We have had tremendous uptake in the program over the last year,” says Esther Tarpoff, director of the Association’s Performance Programs. “The data collected by our members is a key part of ensuring our database continues to characterize the breed. Not only are these herds contributing data, but they are doing so in sets, which makes that data even more powerful.”

Tarpoff explains that having sets of data from a herd allows them to gather greater insights from the data as they look at validating current tools and, in the future, build new ones. She says the contribution benefits all users of registered Angus genetics who take advantage of the Association’s suite of selection tools. Data submissions come from a diverse cross-section of participating Angus producers, with 37 herd states represented and cow inventory size ranging from six to more than 4,000 head.