Chairman of the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Board wasn’t on Smitty Lamb’s bingo card. But when he got the call, it was a full-circle moment.

“I studied meat science in college, so serving on this board has allowed me to continue the education I started in the early ’90s,” Lamb says. 

For years he was content simply being a member of the American Angus Association. As his children grew and his schedule opened, Lamb looked for ways to take a more active role in The Business Breed. 

With encouragement from fellow members, he accepted a nomination to the Board of Directors. 

Confident in the timing, Lamb says, “I felt that I did have something to offer. I was at a point in my life where I had the time to do it, and I wanted to serve the Angus breed.”

His business partner and cousin, Clint Smith, offered full support, excited to see how their passion for the breed would grow during Lamb’s service on the board. Lamb viewed the opportunity as a chance to repay the breed and the people within it.

“The Angus cow has always been good to us. It’s been a privilege to raise my family in this industry, alongside the people that we do business [with] and have become friends. It was time to give back,” Lamb says. 

Guiding principles

For 27 years, Lamb and Smith have partnered to cultivate an Angus seedstock business in Georgia’s cotton country. Named after the river that borders their property, Ogeechee Farms started with just three Angus cows and has grown to roughly 300 head today. 

Lamb is all about data, handling registrations and records, while Smith manages more of the hands-on labor for the farm. Together, they continue pushing toward the broader industry goal. 

“Our job as seedstock producers is to produce bulls for the commercial market,” Lamb says. “They can realize the genetics in those animals and get paid premiums based on that.”

From the Georgia heartland, Lamb and Smith look back on Ogeechee’s growth over the past year and look forward to the opportunities ahead for themselves and Angus stakeholders across the industry. 

“We’re seeing more Prime carcasses than Select carcasses, and the premiums are still there. In fact, they’re growing,” Lamb says. “CAB acceptance rates and the power of this brand eclipsed what I thought it could ever be.”

Between the ongoing progress of Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI), and the passion behind those who work at the brand — Lamb leaves his role with confidence and pride in the board’s ability to keep driving the industry forward.

Discovering the scope

Lamb continues to find himself struck by just how far-reaching the Angus breed has become. The brand’s growing demand and rising rate of Prime carcasses left a strong impression.