Thirteen students paired with Angus ranches across the United States will be expanding their knowledge of the cattle industry this year as part of the Angus Foundation’s 2026 Angus/Talon Youth Educational Learning Program.
The program’s internships are the legacy of the late Camron “Cam” Cooper of Talon Ranch, Twin Bridges, Montana. Cooper established the Angus/Talon Youth Educational Learning Program Endowment Fund in 2009 to offer educational experiences for undergraduate students pursuing agricultural degrees.
“The Talon internship empowers students with practical, hands-on experience that not only builds their technical skills but also deepens their passion for the cattle industry,” said Jimmy Stickley, donor coordinator for the Angus Foundation. “By working alongside respected Angus breeders, interns gain invaluable insights into ranch management, genetics and animal health, preparing them for successful careers.”
Allen Hill | Yon Family Farms
Studying natural sciences at West Texas A&M University, Allen Hill brings a background in agriculture and livestock production from Bonanza, Oregon, to Yon Family Farms in Ridge Spring, South Carolina, this summer. Hill’s passion for the cattle industry was shaped through involvement in FFA, 4-H, livestock judging and athletics; experiences that helped develop his leadership skills, work ethic and dedication.
Yon Family Farms is a family-owned operation managed by Kevin and Lydia Yon alongside their three children. Founded in 1996, the operation has grown from 100 head of Angus females into a forage-based program utilizing more than 5,000 acres and maintaining approximately 1,200 registered cows and 200 commercial cows. Known for producing high-quality cattle, the Yon’s host both spring and fall production sales, marketing hundreds of registered bulls and females each year to progressive commercial cattlemen across the country.
Lucy Flynn | Audley Farm
Originally from Ducor, California, Lucy Flynn brings a passion for agriculture and livestock production from her family’s fifth-generation cattle ranch in the Central Valley to Audley Farm this summer. Flynn will graduate in May from the University of Wyoming with a degree in Agricultural Communications and a minor in Farm and Ranch Management. During her time at UW, she has competed on the rodeo team, further strengthening her connection to the livestock industry.
Nestled at the northernmost edge of the Shenandoah Valley, Audley Farm is a 3,000-acre estate defined by rolling pastures, rich history and sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Uniquely excelling in both horses and cattle, Audley is home to world-class Thoroughbred breeding, purebred Angus cattle and premium beef sales. With a legacy that traces back to Sir Barton, America’s first Triple Crown winner, Audley Farm continues a tradition of quality, stewardship and innovation while honoring its historic roots and shaping the future of agricultural.
Ava Kerns | Mead Farms
A sophomore majoring in agricultural studies at Iowa State University, Ava Kerns is gaining hands-on experience in purebred cattle production this summer at Mead Angus, based in Barnett, Missouri. Raised on her family’s cow-calf and row crop operation in Edgewood, Iowa, Kerns also has firsthand farm-to-table experience through her family’s ownership and operation of the Edgewood Locker meat processing plant.
Led by Alan Mead and family, Mead Angus has a legacy dating back to 1942 and is recognized for producing practical, performance-driven Angus cattle. The operation emphasizes fertility, growth, genomics and sound maternal traits, while standing behind its cattle through a commitment to customer success. Through its proven breeding program and performance-tested bull sales, Mead Angus continues a long tradition of positively impacting commercial cattle operations across the country.
Brittanie Smith | Double M Ranch
An animal science and sustainable agriculture major at East Texas A&M University, Brittanie Smith is spending the summer gaining hands-on experience at Double M Ranch near Harrison, Nebraska. Originally from Slocomb, Alabama, Smith said she is eager to learn from a large-scale Angus operation while building relationships with producers across the industry.
Owned by Mike and Margaret Smith, Double M Ranch is a family-centered operation known for its Angus program and diverse ranching approach. Running approximately 600 head, the operation combines cattle production with artificial insemination (A.I.) and crop production typical of a working ranch in the Nebraska Panhandle. Built around functional cattle and hands-on management, Double M Ranch focuses on raising Angus cattle that perform in real-world conditions.
Keala George | Wye Angus
A student at Iowa State University majoring in animal science with a pre-veterinary emphasis, while also pursuing a minor in agricultural business and earning a beef certificate, Keala George is spending her summer at Wye Angus. Raised on an Angus cow-calf operation in southern Wisconsin, George developed a love for the breed at an early age and has since built her own small herd of Angus and Red Angus females. With plans to attend veterinary school and focus on animal medicine, she said she is eager to gain insight into Wye Angus’ unique genetics throughout her internship.
Wye Angus is managed by the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station within the University System of Maryland, which oversees the herd’s daily operations and its role in advancing beef cattle research. Since the herd was gifted to the university, animals exceeding research needs have been made available to the public through an annual production sale held each April since 1978.
Samuel Jordan | Henning Farms/Blueprint Genetics
A freshman at Redlands Community College in El Reno, Oklahoma, pursuing an associate degree in animal science, Samuel Jordan is spending his summer gaining experience at Henning Farms and Blueprint Genetics in Janesville, Wisconsin. Raised in Savannah, Missouri, on his family’s registered Angus cow-calf operation, Jordan developed a passion for livestock production at an early age. Jordan’s growing involvement in his family’s embryo transfer program sparked an interest in reproductive technologies, leading him to seek hands-on experience in donor and recipient management, as well as ET and IVF procedures.
Henning Farms is a family-run Angus operation with more than 15 years of experience producing high-quality cattle with elite phenotype, proven cow families and practical value for the beef industry. Known for nationally competitive Angus cattle, the operation continues to grow through both cattle production and a supporting hay and silage enterprise. Also based in Janesville, Blueprint Genetics LLC is a donor housing and ET/IVF service operation established in 2017. The business provides advanced reproductive services to help progressive seedstock producers maximize genetic potential. Recognized for its high-quality cattle care, customer service and proven results, Blueprint Genetics plays a key role in advancing genetic progress within the beef cattle industry.
Candace Lein | Bar 69 Angus
A junior majoring in animal science at Iowa State University, Candace Lein is spending her summer gaining hands-on experience at Bar 69 Angus near Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Originally from Almond, Wisconsin, Lein grew up on her family’s 450-head dairy farm and has been actively involved in 4-H since third grade. Her involvement in the program helped foster a passion for the beef industry, leading her family to establish an 80-head cow-calf operation. Following graduation, Lein plans to pursue a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition.
Owned by Craig and Deb Kukuchka, Bar 69 Angus is a family-centered ranch focused on raising practical Angus cattle suited to their environment and real-world ranch conditions. Since relocating to South Dakota from Montana in 1988, the Kukuchka family has built a respected program grounded in cow families, sound dispositions and maternal functionality. In addition to the Angus herd, the family also manages a large sheep operation, reflecting a diversified, hands-on approach rooted in stewardship and hard work.
Colby Grayson | Basin Angus Ranch
A student at East Texas A&M University, Colby Grayson of Dekalb, Texas, is spending the summer gaining hands-on experience at Basin Angus Ranch in Reed Point, Montana. Raised around Angus and Brangus cattle, Grayson has been involved in agriculture since an early age through work on his family’s ranch and exposure to a wide range of farming and ranching operations.
Owned and operated by Doug and Sharon Stevenson, Basin Angus Ranch carries forward a long-standing Angus legacy in central Montana. Established in 1972, the ranch is widely respected for producing functional, maternally sound cattle backed by influential cow families and proven genetics. With deep family involvement and a focus on cattle suited for real-world ranch conditions, Basin Angus Ranch remains a trusted name within the Angus breed.
Bryce Hoeltzel | Nelson Angus Ranch
A student at Kansas State University, Bryce Hoeltzel is spending his summer gaining hands-on experience at Nelson Angus Ranch in Salmon, Idaho. Originally from Olsburg, Kansas, Hoeltzel helps operate an Angus-based cow-calf operation with his family, which is where he developed an interest in seedstock production. At Kansas State, he is an active member of both the livestock judging team and the meat animal evaluation team.
Nelson Angus Ranch is a multigenerational Angus operation rooted in Clyde Nelson’s original registered Angus herd and now operated by Steve Herbst and family. Located in the rugged, high-elevation country of central Idaho, the ranch is known for producing functional seedstock through annual production sales, with an emphasis on genomics and PAP testing. Centered on practical Angus genetics, family involvement and service to western cattle producers, Nelson Angus Ranch has built a respected reputation within the breed.
Evan Foust | Vision Angus
A student at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville majoring in agricultural business with an emphasis in marketing and communications, Evan Foust is spending his summer gaining hands-on experience at Vision Angus in Amherst, Colorado. Originally from Bernard, Iowa, Foust has an interest in the livestock industry and agricultural marketing.
Led by Brent and Tina Vieselmeyer, Vision Angus is a family-centered program recognized for balanced, predictable Angus genetics and a focus on maternal quality. The operation emphasizes sound structure, performance and cattle that function well in real-world commercial settings. With a hands-on, team-based approach to breeding decisions, Vision Angus has built a program centered on customer service, functional cattle and long-term consistency.
Nate McGarry | TWG Ranch
A sophomore at Iowa State University majoring in animal science, Nate McGarry is spending his summer gaining hands-on experience at TWG Ranch near Elizabeth, Illinois. Originally from DeWitt, Iowa, McGarry grew up on his family’s row crop and small cow-calf operation.
TWG Ranch is a growing Angus operation built around practical, high-quality cattle and long-term genetic value. Home of the Woodhill Farms herd, the ranch utilizes proven cow families, genomically enhanced EPDs, DNA testing, artificial insemination, embryo transfer and ultrasound technology to develop cattle with longevity, structural integrity and real-world usefulness.
Hunter Bloodworth | Koupal Angus
A senior majoring in animal science with a concentration in livestock production, Hunter Bloodworth is spending his summer gaining hands-on experience at B&B Koupal Angus near Dante, South Dakota. A resident of Wilcox County, Georgia, Bloodworth was raised on his family farm and represents the fifth generation involved in a commercial cow-calf operation.
Led by Bud and Bernie Koupal, B&B Koupal Angus is part of a multigenerational ranching legacy built on the foundation of the Koupal Angus program. The operation is known for producing practical, functional Angus cattle backed by proven cow families, with an emphasis on maternal strength, structural soundness and consistency. Centered on hard work, good cattle and service to fellow cattlemen, B&B Koupal Angus continues to carry the family tradition forward in South Dakota.
Lindsey Washburn | Bruner Angus
A sophomore at the University of Wyoming majoring in ranch management and agricultural leadership, Lindsey Washburn is spending her summer gaining hands-on experience at Bruner Angus Ranch. Originally from Elsie, Michigan, Washburn grew up on her family’s sixth-generation crop farm, where working alongside her parents shaped both her work ethic and passion for agriculture. While still in high school, she launched her own freezer beef business, 821 Cattle Co., starting with 10 head and finishing cattle for direct-to-consumer sales within her local community.
Bruner Angus Ranch of Drake, North Dakota, is a fourth-generation family operation founded in 1952 by the late Frankie and Cecilia Bruner. What began with 25 Angus cows has grown into a registered cow-calf program of approximately 400 head, along with 100 commercial cows used as recipients in an extensive embryo transfer program. The ranch utilizes synchronized A.I., embryo technologies and feed efficiency to maximize genetic progress. Today, multiple generations of the Bruner family remain actively involved in all aspects of the operation, from daily cattle care and herd management to marketing and sales.
About the Angus Foundation. Established as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1980, the Angus Foundation supports Angus education, youth and research. Since 1998, the organization has distributed more than $5 million in youth scholarships and has invested more than $4 million in beef cattle research during the past decade. For more information, contact the Angus Foundation at 816-383-5100.
