American Angus Association (Association) Members,

The Association Board of Directors will meet September 14-18, 2026, in St. Joseph, Missouri. The following summary highlights key non-confidential topics being discussed in board and committee meetings of the Association and its entities that are believed to be of greatest interest to the membership.

Association – General

• FY2026 year-end financial projections
• FY2027 budget approval for the Association and entities
• A presentation on fertility haplotypes in the dairy industry 
• Considerations for sponsorship and naming rights of Association events
• Update on the DNA sample archiving initiative

Association – Breed Improvement Committee

• Continued discussion of the Pathfinder® program, criteria, and elevated program recognition options  
• Research updates on fertility traits, impact of inbreeding, and red meat yield phenotypes for use in genetic evaluations
• 2026 results for the Data Driven Herd recognition program 
• Discussion on customizable $Values and opportunities with forecasted economic assumptions

Association – Events and Junior Activities Committee

• Review of 2026 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) and other show-related topics
• Feedback and considerations for the recently added owned bull show for juniors 
• Future NJAS host locations and associated budget considerations
• Judge selection

Association – Commercial Programs Committee

• AngusLink^® enrollment update and summer video sale results
• AngusLink^® carcass data summary from U.S. Premium Beef
• Pilot project enabling breeders to assist customers in AngusLink® enrollment process

Association – Communications and PR Committee

• Pathway to Progress campaign - plans and strategy
• Discussion of member communication channels, effectiveness and engagement 
• Artificial intelligence and implications to internet search results 

Association – Finance and Planning Committee

• FY2026 financial forecasts for Association and subsidiaries and FY2027 budgets
• Discussion of future NJAS funding options and potential for endowments
• Strategies to mitigate the financial burden of credit card payment processing fees 

Association – Member Services Committee

• Election of delegates review
• Paperless billing transition - update and feedback
• Review of recent AIMS updates and enhancements
• Improved data exchange with third-party herd management software providers
• Security upgrades and future considerations for Log-In users
• Findings related to offering health insurance benefits for members 
• Plans for Herdsman Bootcamp

Angus Foundation

• Summer fundraising report and plans for FY27
• External grant opportunities for new funding
• Approval of internal (Association and subsidiaries) grant proposals 
• Continued long-range strategic planning

Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB)

• Supply and sales update
• Update on CAB^® production in Uruguay
• Producer engagement survey results

Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI)

• 2026 Imagine Forum review, strategic insights and white paper initiative
• Commercial data pipeline initiative and progress
• Research update on heart health project
• GeneMAX^® Advantage™ growth and breeder engagement program
• Genomic service provider landscape update

Angus Productions Inc. (Angus Media)

• Business review
• Changes to the organizational design and team responsibilities
• Angus Journal subscription campaign to new members
• Digital marketing growth and enhancements

Should you have interest, questions or feedback on any of these topics please don’t hesitate to contact your board of directors or myself.

Sincerely, 

 
Mark A. McCully
Chief Executive Officer