Angus University
Our Angus University line up offers a variety of educational topics to help you grow as a producer. Sessions aim to provide actionable takeaways to help you meet your operational goals.
Customize Your Education
This year's Angus University series will offer sessions ranging in topic from customer service programs and tools, consumer research and marketing tips to new AAA Login tools and a Member Services panel.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Room: Olmsted 1-2
The CAB Consumer: Loyalty, Quality and Willingness to Pay
Lindsay Graber Runft, Director of Producer Communications, Certified Angus Beef
Consumer demand continues to shape opportunities in the beef industry. Explore how purchasing decisions, brand loyalty, and the value consumers place on quality influence beef demand and prices. Learn why producing higher-quality carcasses, including Prime, matters in today’s marketplace.
Inform Genetic Decisions with Market Signals
Paul Dykstra, Director of Supply Management & Analysis, Certified Angus Beef
Kara Lee, Director of Producer Engagement, Certified Angus Beef
Did the conversation on the main stage get your gears turning? Dive deeper into the economic signals, feedlot trends and carcass outputs shaping the cattle industry. Leave with practical tools and strategies to better align genetic decisions with market opportunities.
Customer Service Tools to Serve Commercial Cattlemen
Casey Jentz, COO, American Angus Association®
Alex Tolbert, Commercial Relations & Producer Education, American Angus Association®
One important key to a successful seedstock operation is developing a relationship with your customers. Learn practical, ready-to-use strategies that can be adapted for your customers and their needs. Chief Operating Officer Casey Jentz and Director of Commercial Relations Alex Tolbert will lead a discussion on ways to connect and drive customer profits to keep them coming back.
SELECTION TOOLS
Room: Olmsted 4
The Power of Participation: How Your Data Creates Value
Devin Jacobs, Performance Programs Specialist, American Angus Association
Angus breeders continue to reach new milestones in data collection, surpassing 2 million genotypes in the Angus evaluation and recognizing nearly 300 Data Driven Herds. These achievements reflect a commitment to collecting the information that powers genetic improvement across the breed.
In this session, we'll explore how breeder participation in data collection improves the accuracy of genetic predictions, increases confidence in selection decisions, and accelerates the rate of genetic progress. Join us to discover how your investment in data collection translates into better selection decisions, faster genetic improvement, and a stronger future for your herd and the Angus breed.
Turning Data into Decisions: How Angus Genetic Evaluations Work
Daniela Lourenco, Professor of Animal & Dairy Science, University of Georgia
Once data is collected, how does it become an EPD? This session will explore how pedigree information, performance records, and genomic data are combined to create the genetic predictions producers use every day to make selection decisions. You'll gain a practical understanding of what happens behind the scenes of a genetic evaluation and how the information you submit on your herd contributes to more accurate predictions and selection tools that support continued progress toward your breeding goals.
AAA QUESTION & ANSWER
Room: Olmsted 5-6
AAA Q&A: New Login Tools & Features
Kayla Wookey, AGI®, Customer Service Team Lead
Discover new tools and features designed to simplify the way you manage your herd. From parent verification enhancements to breeding prediction capabilities, new AAA Login features aim to save you time and streamline management tasks.
AAA Q&A: Member Services Panel
Melissa Hanway, Senior Member Services Specialist, American Angus Association
Delynn Kuykendall, Member Services Specialist, American Angus Association
Hannah Jorgensen, Member Services Specialist, American Angus Association
No presentations—just answers. This member-driven discussion puts your questions front and center, providing an opportunity to connect with the Member Services team who helps you keep your Angus business moving forward.
ANGUS MEDIA MARKETING SUMMIT
Room: Olmsted 7
Posts to Profit: A Social Media Workshop
Schyler Marley, Associate Digital Marketing Coordinator, Angus Media
Mackenzie Leach, Senior Digital Specialist, Angus Media
Use social media as your marketing engine. A session where strategy meets practical take-homes – we'll show you how to build your brand, drive customers to your sale, and stay in touch.
Cut Through the Noise: Marketing Messages that Work
Miranda Reiman, Director of Digital Content & Strategy, Angus Media
Learn how to connect with buyers by focusing on their challenges and positioning your program as the solution. Walk away with simple action items to start reframing your message.
Education Year-Round
Connect with industry experts and fellow producers during live educational webinars or catch up on topics important to you when you have time. Angus University educational resources for your herd, your business and your Association are always available online.
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View the schedule
Explore Angus Convention events and make plans to connect with ranchers and industry leaders from across the United States.
