The following is a review of the topics discussed and action taken during the meetings of the Board of Directors held October 30 and November 2, 2025 in Kansas City, MO.

OCTOBER 30, 2025 MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

• Tonya Theis, president of the American Angus Auxiliary, gave an overview of the Auxiliary’s activities of the past year.
• In his CEO report, Mark McCully gave a preview of his report for the 2025 Annual Convention of Delegates meeting.
• The 2025 annual report, the fiscal year (FY) 2025 finances, and the annual audit were reviewed. Darrell Stevenson moved, seconded by Art Butler, to accept the report. The motion passed unanimously.
• Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) President Kelli Retallick-Riley gave a summary of the $Value Index Validation research project.
• The Board approved committee reports as follows:
  •  Breed Improvement Committee: motion by Smitty Lamb, second by Darrell Stevenson, unanimous approval
  • Events and Junior Activities Committee: motion by Jerry Theis, second by Henry Smith, unanimous approval
• Mark Ahearn moved, seconded by Jerry Theis, to approve future Annual Convention of Delegate dates and locations as follows. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Monday, November 16, 2026 Louisville, KY
  • Sunday, November 7, 2027 Oklahoma City, OK
  • Sunday, November 5, 2028 Cleveland, OH
• Darrell Stevenson, seconded by Smitty Lamb, moved to authorize a letter of support for Texas Tech University’s red meat yield research proposal. The motion passed unanimously.

BREED IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE

• Staff provided an overview of the current indexes and the process when component EPDs are not printed. After committee discussion, there was no action taken to change the current protocol, but the committee will continue to review the situation over time.

EVENTS AND JUNIOR ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE

• Stemming from committee direction during the September Board Meeting, staff presented possible NJAS rule changes.
• Ron Hinrichsen made a motion, second by Mark Johnson to lower the age of junior participation to 7 years of age by January 1. Motion passed unanimously.
• Ron Hinrichsen made a motion, second by Henry Smith for owned animals to be multiowned between siblings as long as all siblings own the animal by the ownership date and are within NJAA show rule ages (as of January 1). Motion passed unanimously.
• Both rules will go into effect as of January 1, 2026.

NOVEMBER 2, 2025 MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

• Pursuant to the Association’s bylaws, Paul Bennett moved, seconded by Charles Mogck, to elect Mark McCully as CEO for 2026. The motion was unanimously approved.
• Pursuant to the Association’s bylaws, Paul Bennett moved, seconded by Rob Adams, to elect Kenny Miller as assistant secretary for 2026. The motion was unanimously approved.
• Ron Hinrichsen moved, seconded by Henry Smith, to approve the following 2026 meeting dates. The motion was unanimously approved.
  • February 9 - 12 St. Joseph, Missouri
  • June 7 - 10 Lake of the Ozarks, MO
  • September 14 - 17 St. Joseph, Missouri
  • November 13 & 16 Louisville, Kentucky
  • December 7 - 11 CAB Board Mtg. & New Dir. Orientation - Wooster, OH & St. Joseph, MO
• Darrell Stevenson moved, seconded by Smitty Lamb to approve the following 2026 committees and appointments:

Executive Committee

Jim Brinkley, Chair
Darrell Stevenson, Vice Chair
Smitty Lamb, Treasurer
Mark Ahearn
Paul Bennett
John Dickinson
Jerry Theis
Ex Officio Mark McCully, CEO

Breed Improvement Committee

Paul Bennett, Chair
Smitty Lamb, Vice Chair
John Dickinson
Darrell Stevenson
Roger Wann

Commercial Programs Committee

Art Butler, Chair
Roger Wann, Vice Chair
John Dickinson
Danny Poss
Darrell Stevenson

Communications & Public Relations Committee

Charles Mogck, Chair
Ron Hinrichsen, Vice Chair
Mark Ahearn
Mark Johnson
Roger Wann

Events & Junior Activities Committee

Jerry Theis, Chair
Mark Johnson, Vice Chair
Ron Hinrichsen
Alan Mead
Henry Smith

Finance & Planning Committee

Smitty Lamb, Chair
Charles Mogck, Vice Chair
Rob Adams
Alan Mead
Danny Poss

Member Services Committee

Rob Adams, Chair
Charles Mogck, Vice Chair
Mark Ahearn
Mark Johnson
Jerry Theis

Research Priorities Committee

Darrell Stevenson, Association VP
Smitty Lamb, Association Treasurer
AGI Chair
CAB Chair
Foundation Chair
Kelli Retallick-Riley, AGI President
Esther Tarpoff, Director of Performance Programs
John Stika, CAB Staff Rep
Ex Officio:
Mark McCully, Association CEO
Kenny Miller, Association CFO
Jaclyn Boester, Foundation Executive Director
Dr. Joe Cassady, Education Member
Dr. Larry Kuehn, Industry Liaison

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Appointments

NCBA Board Representative - Paul Bennett
Ag & Food Policy - Smitty Lamb
Cattle Health & Well Being Committee - Roger Wann
Live Cattle Marketing Committee - John Dickinson
International Trade Committee - Darrell Stevenson
Alternate - Mark Ahearn

Chaplain - Charles Mogck

Parliamentarian - Sean Colligan

• Election of the Board of Directors and Officers of Certified Angus Beef
  • Darrell Stevenson moved, seconded by Paul Bennett to elect the Board of Directors of Certified Angus Beef LLC for 2026 as proposed. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Smitty Lamb nominated Henry Smith to serve as Chair of the 2026 CAB Board. The nomination was seconded by Darrell Stevenson. The motion was unanimously approved.
  • Roger Wann moved, seconded by Art Butler, to elect additional officers for 2026 as shown below. The motion passed unanimously.

Certified Angus Beef LLC 2026 Board of Directors

Henry Smith, Chair
Art Butler
Smitty Lamb
Charles Mogck
Darrell Stevenson
Roger Wann
Mark McCully
John Stika
Brent Eicher, Secretary/Treasurer
Rob Shuey, Industry Representative

• Election of the Board of Directors and Officers of Angus Productions Inc.
  • Mark Johnson moved, seconded by Ron Hinrichsen, to elect the Board of Directors of Angus Productions Inc. for 2026 as proposed. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Alan Mead nominated Darrell Stevenson to serve as Chair of the 2026 API Board. The nomination was seconded by John Dickinson. With no other nominations, Darrell Stevenson was elected unanimously.
  • John Dickinson moved, seconded by Danny Poss, to elect additional officers for 2026 as shown below. The motion passed unanimously.

Angus Productions Inc. 2026 Board of Directors

Darrell Stevenson, Chair
Mark Ahearn
John Dickinson
Ron Hinrichsen
Alan Mead
Danny Poss
Mark McCully, Vice Chair
Benjie Lemon, President
Kenny Miller, Secretary/Treasurer

• Election of the Board of Directors and Officers of the Angus Foundation
  • Rob Adams moved, seconded by Darrell Stevenson, to elect the Board of Directors of the Angus Foundation for 2026 as proposed. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Rob Adams nominated Mark Ahearn to serve as Chair of the 2026 Foundation Board. The nomination was seconded by Jerry Theis. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Jerry Theis moved, seconded by Henry Smith, to elect additional officers for 2026 as shown below. The motion passed unanimously.

Angus Foundation 2026 Board of Directors

Mark Ahearn
Rob Adams
Mark Johnson
Henry Smith
Jerry Theis
Mark McCully, Vice Chair
Jaclyn Boester, Executive Director
Kenny Miller, Secretary/Treasurer
Tom McGinnis, At Large

• Election of the Board of Directors and Officers of Angus Genetics Inc.
  • Darrell Stevenson moved, seconded by Art Butler, to elect the Board of Directors of Angus Genetics Inc. for 2026 as proposed. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Jerry Theis nominated John Dickinson to serve as Chair of the 2026 AGI Board. The nomination was seconded by Smitty Lamb. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Darrell Stevenson moved, seconded by Art Butler, to elect additional officers for 2026 as shown below. The motion passed unanimously.

Angus Genetics Inc. 2026 Board of Directors

John Dickinson
Paul Bennett
Art Butler
Smitty Lamb
Darrell Stevenson
Jerry Theis
Mark McCully, Vice Chair
Kelli Retallick-Riley, President
Kenny Miller, Secretary/Treasurer
Mark Allan, Industry Representative

• The 2026 Annual Convention of Delegates will be held November 16, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky.

NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING

• February 9-12, 2026 in St. Joseph, Missouri

In a special edition of The Angus Conversation, newly elected American Angus Association leaders Jim Brinkley, president and chairman, and Darrell Stevenson, vice president and vice chairman, reflect on highlights of the events and the conversations they had alongside director Ron Hinrichsen and CEO Mark McCully.  

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