Angus Foundation Heifer Package Sale
Each January, a gracious Angus breeder donates a heifer to the Angus Foundation to be auctioned during the National Bull Sale at Cattlemen's Congress.
Wilks Ranch to donate WILKS Rita 4728 as the 2026 Angus Foundation Heifer Package.
The Angus Foundation is proud to announce WILKS Rita 4728 as the 2026 Foundation Heifer Package, generously donated by Wilks Ranch of Eastland, Texas. This female represents the kind of progressive, phenotypically correct genetics that define the Wilks program. Their offering showcases a breeding program built on form, function and balance and a commitment to the future of the Angus breed.
As a long-time supporter of the Angus Foundation, Wilks Ranch recognizes the value of contributing to initiatives that promote education, youth and research within the breed. Their donation of the 2026 Foundation Heifer highlights a continued commitment to supporting programs that strengthen the Foundation’s mission.
Event Location:
National Angus Bull Sale
Cattlemen's Congress
3001 General Pershing Blvd
Oklahoma City, 73107
Event Dates: January 9, 2026
“It’s quite an honor,” says Kevin Reed, asset manager for Wilks Ranches. “What [the Angus Foundation] does for the youth to give them opportunities, tools and the finances to grow, to do what they love and build a foundation for their future. We’re proud to contribute.”
WILKS Rita 4728 is a standout female from a maternal line that has proven themselves. Her maternal sister, WILKS Rita 4067, commanded $100,000 as Lot 6 in the 2024 Wilks Ranch Sale. Her dam will headline the upcoming fall production sale, and a maternal brother is slated to be a highlight in the 2025 Wilks Ranch Bull Sale. The consistency of this cow family is a testament to the quality of female Wilks Ranch are offering as this year’s Foundation female.
Rita 4728 ranks in the top 1% for both $Beef and $Combined indexes, offering a powerful growth spread, elite structural correctness and eye-catching phenotype. She’s the kind of female that blends performance with presence; built and bred right and backed by a story of success.
“She’s cowy. That’s what her mom is — she's just a good female,” says Aaron Kaiser, seedstock manager at Wilks Ranch. “I think this female’s going to be the same way but does it in a really neat number package and a neat pedigree.”
Rita 4728 is correct in her confirmation, and she’s got the numbers to back it up. Kaiser believes she has the versatility to be a donor, a show heifer or a female to produce bulls for a commercial producer.
Kaiser joined the Wilks Ranch team 13 years ago, bringing with him an understanding of Angus genetics and a passion for youth. Raised in West Texas, he showed Angus steers as a kid and converted his family’s commercial herd to Angus in junior high. Today, he’s raising his own children in agriculture.
“Agriculture teaches you how to work hard and how to be responsible,” Kaiser said. “Agriculture is the way of life. The neat thing about ag is, I love the way I was raised, and I wanted my kids to have the same experience as I did.”
That commitment to youth is part of what makes the Foundation Heifer Package so meaningful to the Wilks team. They’ve hosted interns, mentored students and supported scholarships, all with the goal of shaping the next generation.
The 2026 Foundation Heifer Package will sell Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, at the 87th National Angus Bull Sale during Cattlemen’s Congress. The sale will start at 2 p.m. at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Angus Foundation and its vision to provide limitless opportunities to enhance excellence and innovation within
the Angus breed.
The package supports the Angus Fund, which provides unrestricted funding for a variety of programs supported by the Angus Foundation including Beef Leaders Institute, the Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) conference and Angus University.
For more information about the package, contact Boester at JBoester@Angus.org.
Donor: Pollard Farms - Pollard Farms of Waukomis, Okla.,
Buyer: Lylester Ranch of Martell, Neb.
Sale Price: $75,500
Additional Donations:
- Transportation: Lathrop Livestock Transportation - Dundee, IL
- Insurance: Conover Auction Service
- Advanced Reproductive Technology Package: Trans Ova Genetics - Sioux Center, IA
Donor: Yon Family Farms -Ridge Spring, SC
Buyer: Express Ranches - Yukon, OK
Sale Price: $52,500
Additional Donations:
-
Transportation: Lathrop Livestock Transportation - Dundee, IL
-
Insurance: Conover Auction Service
-
Advanced Reproductive Technology Package: Trans Ova Genetics, - Sioux Center, IA
Donor: Coleman Angus - Charlo, MT
Buyer: Ingram Angus LLC - Pulaski, TN
Sale Price: $130,000
Additional Donations:
-
Transportation: Lathrop Livestock Transportation - Dundee, IL
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Insurance: Liberty Special Markets
-
Advanced Reproductive Technology Package: Trans Ova Genetics, - Sioux Center, IA
Donor: Tehama Angus Ranch - Gerber, CA
Buyer: Brumfield Angus - Sawyer, MI
Sale Price: $50,000
Additional Donations:
-
Transportation: Lathrop Livestock Transportation - Dundee, IL
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Advanced Reproductive Technology Package: Trans Ova Genetics - Sioux Center, IA
Donor: Benoit Angus - Esbon, KS
Buyer: Wilks Ranch - Eastland, TX
Sale Price: $35,000
Additional Donations:
-
Transportation: Lathrop Livestock Transportation - Dundee, IL
-
Advanced Reproductive Technology Package: Trans Ova Genetics - Sioux Center, IA
-
Insurance: American Livestock Insurance Co. - Geneva, IL
Donor: Knoll Crest Farm - Red House, VA
Buyer: 44 Farms - Cameron, TX
Sale Price: $65,000
Additional Donations:
-
Transportation: Lathrop Livestock Transportation - Dundee, IL
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Advanced Reproductive Technology Package: Trans Ova Genetics - Sioux Center, IA
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Insurance: American Livestock Insurance Co. - Geneva, IL
Donor: Krebs Ranch - Gordon, NE
Buyer: Lake View Angus - Mead, CO
Sale Price: $65,000
Additional Donations:
-
Transportation: Lathrop Livestock Transportation - Dundee, IL
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Advanced Reproductive Technology Package: Trans Ova Genetics - Sioux Center, IA
-
Insurance: American Livestock Insurance Co. - Geneva, IL
Donor: Vintage Angus Ranch - Modesto, California
Buyer: Lylester Ranch - Martell, Nebraska
Sale Price: $215,000
Additional Donations:
-
Transportation: Lathrop Livestock Transportation - Dundee, IL
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Advanced Reproductive Technology Package: Trans Ova Genetics and its cloning division ViaGen - Sioux Center, IA
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Insurance: American Livestock Insurance Co. - Geneva, IL
Donor: Basin Angus Ranch - Joliet, MT
Buyer: Herbster Angus Farms, Charles W. and Judy Herbster - Falls City, NE
Sale Price: $170,000
Additional Donations:
-
Transportation: Lathrop Livestock Transportation - Dundee, IL
-
Advanced Reproductive Technology Package: Trans Ova Genetics and its cloning division ViaGen - Sioux Center, IA
-
Insurance: American Livestock Insurance Co. - Geneva, IL
Donor: Schaff Angus Valley - Saint Anthony, N.D
Buyer: Herbster Angus Farms, Charles W. and Judy Herbster - Falls City, NE
Sale Price: $230,000
Additional Donations:
-
Transportation: Lathrop Livestock Transportation - Dundee, IL
-
Advanced Reproductive Technology Package: Trans Ova Genetics and its cloning division ViaGen - Sioux Center, IA
-
Insurance: American Livestock Insurance Co. - Geneva, IL
Donor: 44 Farms - Cameron, TX
Buyer: Herbster Angus Farms, Charles W. and Judy Herbster - Falls City, NE
Sale Price: $175,000
Additional Donations:
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Transportation: Lathrop Livestock Transportation - Dundee, IL
-
Advanced Reproductive Technology Package: Trans Ova Genetics and its cloning division ViaGen - Sioux Center, IA
-
Insurance: American Livestock Insurance Co. - Geneva, IL
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