At Seldom Rest Farms, Niles, Mich., their main marketing demographic is Angus youth, but the ultimate goal doesn’t end with a banner.  

“We have to supply more than just the cattle,” said Scott Foster, who farms and raises Angus cattle with his brother Bruce and son Andrew and their families. “We have got to supply a learning experience or help to supply a learning experience to the families.”  

They try to build Angus enthusiasts one show heifer at a time, but they want the youth to come away with more than just show ring experience.  

“At the end of the day, we really believe that the kids got to have something other than just a recip when they get done," Scott said.  

It’s why they not only look at the phenotype that will compete well at jackpots and national contests, but they also breed for calving ease and marbling.  

Whether the juniors they work with want to use expected progeny differences (EPDs) or indexes in their breeding programs is up to them, but Andrew says they should at least come away with an understanding of how all the tools work.  

“Every business that you work in, you ought to be willing to learn and take the information that you’ve been given and how to apply that to your business,” Andrew said.  

The conversation covered everything from favorite animals they’ve raised to their thoughts on how keep new Angus juniors feeding into the program. From their past leadership experience — including Scott’s time on the Board and Andrew’s on the National Junior Angus Association Board — they both know the need to serve as advocates of the breed and the beef business in general.  

They’ve hosted dozens of tours of their farm for retailers and restaurateurs who want to learn more about where their product comes from. Their willingness to always say “yes” and do it at a high level earned them the 2023 Certified Angus Beef Ambassador Award. Their proximity within driving distance of Chicago means they’ll continue to get diverse sales groups each year.  

“We talk about the basics, calving cows and breeding and [managing] cows on grass and what we feed them and what all that entails,” Andrew said. “So those are the things that they want to know and to put a face with the product that they’re selling. That’s where we feel that it's important to do our part.” 

Scott added, “We always bring one out that they can pet.”  

Whether it’s going the extra mile for youngsters starting out in the Angus business or seasoned professionals wanting to learn more, the Fosters’ highest goal is to keep demand for the breed going strong.