A steady rain may have been falling across the rolling hills of Loudoun County, Va., on March 6, but it did little to dampen the energy at Whitestone Farm as the United Kingdom’s agricultural delegation arrived for the first stop on their Embassy Farm Tour. 

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President and Virginia cattle producer Gene Copenhaver says the visit was an opportunity to show British officials what American cattle producers do best.

“The British people love our product, and we want to get more and more over there to them,” he says. “This tour was a chance for them to see our operations firsthand and understand the quality behind what we’re sending.”

The tour brought together leaders from both sides of the Atlantic, including U.K. Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Emma Reynolds; Virginia Agriculture Secretary Katie Frazier; Deputy Secretary Ben Rowe; representatives from the U.K. National Farmers Union; and the Virginia Farm Bureau. Their visit to Whitestone set the tone for a week focused on agricultural collaboration.

The tour came on the heels of a landmark trade agreement signed last May, which significantly expanded market access for U.S. beef in the United Kingdom. The deal represents the culmination of years of NCBA engagement with British stakeholders. 

“We’ve been working with the U.K. probably for five or six years,” Copenhaver says. “It just opens the door for more trade in the future.”

With the first shipments of U.S. beef landing in the United Kingdom the same week as the tour, the timing felt symbolic. 

“It was a great opportunity to celebrate our reciprocal trade deal,” Copenhaver says.

Showcasing Angus excellence

Scott Buchanan, a Whitestone Farm employee, led the tour of their facilities and showcased the history and future of their program.

Copenhaver says, “Mark and Scott, they do such a good job at Whitestone, and they have these great Angus genetics there that have been there for years and years.”

Buchanan offered a compelling look into the depth of American Angus genetics. In the show barn, the delegation viewed cow‑calf pairs and learned about Whitestone’s long‑established breeding program. The sale barn, lined with photos of influential sires, sparked conversation about the evolution of the Angus breed in the States.

“They were really impressed with Angus genetics,” Copenhaver shares. “Whitestone had all their top bulls, had pictures of them around their sale ring … the background of their genetic program was there.”

The discussion then naturally turned to Certified Angus Beef^® (CAB) and the role it has played in elevating beef quality and consistency. 

“We talked about CAB, the importance of what it’s done for the cattle industry and how it’s improved the marketing of our great product in the last 40 years,” he says.

While Angus cattle originated in Scotland, Copenhaver notes U.S. breeders have spent more than a century refining the breed for modern markets. 

“It’s the proof in the pudding as far as the number of Choice and Prime we are now getting with our genetics.”