Through the decades, Izzo has built one of the most consistent and successful programs in college basketball. While his team didn’t make it past the Elite Eight this year (and my No. 1 rank in the office March Madness pool fell like a rock), Izzo is considered one of the greatest college coaches of all time.

I have watched Coach Izzo closely since the mid-1990s when I was in graduate school at MSU. As the game of basketball has changed, one thing has remained constant: Izzo’s ability to adapt to change and maintain his commitment to the fundamentals. While he has adjusted to new realities as the sport has changed, he has never abandoned the core principles of defense, rebounding and player development. This delicate balance — staying true to the basics while embracing change — is exactly what Angus breeders must master to thrive in today’s cattle industry.

When Izzo began his career, basketball was a different game. Physical post play was dominant, three-point shooting wasn’t as emphasized and the transfer portal didn’t exist. Today, the game is faster, more perimeter-oriented, and player movement has forced coaches to adjust their recruiting and playing styles. Izzo has embraced these changes instead of resisting them, ensuring MSU remains a powerhouse.

Adapting for today

Likewise, Angus breeders operate in a vastly different world than we did even a decade ago. Bull buyers today expect more than just a good-looking animal. They expect service, data and a long-term partnership. The days of selling a bull and sending the buyer on their way are largely over. I believe the breeders who will remain competitive in the future will be those who recognize this shift and adapt to meet customer expectations. 

You don’t have to make that shift alone, however. The American Angus Association offers multiple programs for breeders to leverage and deliver this next level of service. The first one is simple and sometimes overlooked: the transferred registration. 

Transferring the bulls into their name not only earns your customer a free three-year subscription to the Angus Beef Bulletin^®, but it also provides them with updated expected progeny differences (EPDs) for their bulls and streamlines their enrollment in AngusLinkSM. The AngusLink program is built to add value to calves sired by registered Angus bulls. Even if you don’t offer a calf buyback program, you can assist your customers enrolling in AngusLink and put them in a better position to get paid for the bull investment they just made at your sale. 

And the GeneMax^® Advantage™ test offered through Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) is another way for you to engage with your bull customers wanting to utilize the most cutting-edge selection tools. GeneMax testing will help your commercial customers refine their replacement selections and give you more insight into their needs for their next set of herd bulls. 

There is no doubt both college basketball and the Angus business will continue to evolve. But one thing remains constant: those who are willing to adjust, innovate and put their customers (or players) first will continue to win — whether that’s on the court or in the pasture