AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION - THE BUSINESS BREED

Wilks Ranch to donate WILKS Rita 4728 as the 2026 Angus Foundation Heifer Package.

Wilks Ranch to donate WILKS Rita 4728 as the 2026 Angus Foundation Heifer Package.

2026 Angus Foundation Heifer Package | Wilks Rita 4728

Event Location:

National Angus Bull Sale

Cattlemen's Congress

3001 General Pershing Blvd

Oklahoma City, 73107

Event Dates: January 9, 2026

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.

About the Donor

2026 Angus Foundation Heifer Package | Wilks Ranch

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.

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.

Form, Function, Foundation

The blueprint behind Wilks Rita 4728, 2026 Angus Foundation Heifer.

Previous Heifer Package Donors

Looking for previous package donations?

Download the full list

The 2025 Angus Foundation Heifer Package, donated by Pollard Farms of Waukomis, Oklahoma, was purchased by Lylester Ranch of Martell, Nebraska, for $75,000 on January 10 at Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City.


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

2024 Angus Foundation Heifer Package 

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

 2023 Angus Foundation Heifer Package

Donor: Coleman Angus - Charlo, MT

Buyer: Ingram Angus LLC - Pulaski, TN

Sale Price: $130,000

Additional Donations: 

  • Transportation: Lathrop Livestock Transportation - Dundee, IL

  • Insurance: Liberty Special Markets

  • Advanced Reproductive Technology Package: Trans Ova Genetics, - Sioux Center, IA

2022 Angus Foundation Heifer Package

Donor: Tehama Angus Ranch - Gerber, CA

Buyer: Brumfield Angus - Sawyer, MI

Sale Price: $50,000

Additional Donations: 

  • Transportation: Lathrop Livestock Transportation - Dundee, IL

  • Advanced Reproductive Technology Package: Trans Ova Genetics - Sioux Center, IA

2019 Angus Foundation Heifer Package

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


     
2020 Foundation Heifer Package

Donor: Knoll Crest Farm - Red House, VA

Buyer: 44 Farms - Cameron, TX

Sale Price: $65,000

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

2019 Heifer Package

Donor: Krebs Ranch - Gordon, NE

Buyer: Lake View Angus - Mead, CO

Sale Price: $65,000

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

2018 Heifer Package

Donor: Vintage Angus Ranch - Modesto, California

Buyer: Lylester Ranch - Martell, Nebraska

Sale Price: $215,000

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

2017 Heifer Package

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

2016 Foundation Heifer Package

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

2015 Heifer Package

Donor: 44 Farms - Cameron, TX

Buyer: Herbster Angus Farms, Charles W. and Judy Herbster - Falls City, NE

Sale Price: $175,000

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

Current Impact: 552 Total Donors, 153 New Donors, $794,348 Total Donations in FY24

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