Trading cattle pastures for a conference center, 1,500 Angus breeders met up in Fort Worth, Texas, last month for Angus Convention.

In my many conversations with attendees, I’d ask how things are back home on their farm or ranch. A common response would be to the effect of, “It’s really hard to leave … so much work to be done. But this event and meeting is important to be at.”  

Networking, education and taking care of The Business Breed’s business is also a critical part of their operation’s success. 

In a recent episode of the Angus Conversation, recorded at Angus Convention, two cattlemen who have been recognized with Angus’s Young Breeder of the Year award shared advice for the next generation wanting to pave their own way. 

John McCurry, McCurry Angus Ranch; and Cody Quam, Marda Angus Farms, both took a chance returning to their family’s operations. Through lots of hard work, and a few opportunities finding them, they’ve left their own mark and have a little wisdom to share. 

Take the opportunities given to learn more

Highlighting the many youth education events Angus offers, McCurry said, “Just giving exposure, giving ’em, showing ’em different facets of the industry … We’re going to need cattle feeders, we’re going to need feed science majors, all those ... There is going to be a place for all of them here in the next decade.”

Embrace technologies that work for you

“Everybody’s operations [have] just got to become more efficient and sometimes more stuff, more data, more things to tell you where you’re spending more time or better time is spent here,” Quam said. “I mean, in our operation we made a lot of changes this year implementing more infrastructure, changing how we feed cattle because it needs to be a one-person job, not a two-and-a-half person job [like it was] growing up.”

The work is hard, but worth it

“It’s going to be work, and it could be very dirty work, but there will be a reward at the end,” McCurry said. “I would argue that if somebody wants to get their hands [dirty] ... and be boots on the ground and want to raise Angus cattle in any form or fashion, there’s opportunity.”

Find your people

“We’re in the cow business, but this is a people business as much as anything, whether it’s your customers or the people you’re sourcing stuff from or people you work with,” Quam said. “I think you’ve got to find your group of people … I mean this [convention] is full of quality people that are willing to help, and if you ask questions and be honest, they will be too.”

McCurry and Quam agree it’s more than just selecting the right bull for the job, or having the best working facilities. To be successful in the Angus business they say you should surround yourself with good people, and thankfully that’s built into the Angus family and our rural and ag communities.

On behalf of the Angus Journal team, we wish you and your family a merry Christmas. 

Listen to the full episode, “Hard Work Makes Luck: McCurry and Quam on Taking a Chance and Returning Home,” anywhere you get podcasts or below.