There are many ways to classify a tradition, but personally, I would define it as any valuable principle that is established and passed from one generation to the next. Intentionally so, this is a very broad definition of the word because “traditions” can be a wide array of things — from what your family prepares for Christmas dinner to the breed of cattle your family has raised for generations. Traditions are not easy things to create out of nothing, but I think it is even more challenging to sustain them. 

In life, the next great thing, new technologies or a cultural shift are all things that can put pressure on our traditions over time. “Change” can certainly be viewed as the enemy of tradition. However, I would argue that tradition is exactly what allows us to make sincere and beneficial changes, rather than careless ones. 

In agriculture I believe we are as good as any at valuing the traditions that have been set forth for us by previous generations. Some may argue that we value them almost to a fault. However, in general, they ground us while allowing us to pay respect to the work done by those who came before us. 

The brand or prefix your family may have used for generations, your “pasture names” that have been passed down through the years or that livestock show that your family goes to year after year are all traditions we may not notice in our daily lives. 

These traditions may seem simple to us, but they truly have a profound influence on our identity in agriculture. They remind us that to achieve success in agriculture, we must be consistent, diligent, and intentional in what we do. These truly make us proud of where we came from, and are what each of us hope to carry on to the next generation.

The Angus breed and our associations do many things very well. However, of all those things, I believe establishing and maintaining good traditions is our greatest strength. Our traditions remind us of the work that has been done by those before us while keeping us grounded as we continue to innovate and advance our industry. This is something to truly be proud of and is, in my opinion, the primary indicator that we live in a healthy Angus community.