With a creative eye and a heart for the Angus family, Don Denny’s commitment to the breed shines through every project he touches. His unwavering dedication to integrity and excellence earned him recognition as the 2025 Angus Ambassador of the Year, a recognition the American Angus Association® presented during the Angus Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.
As owner of Slate Group, a national printing company based in Lubbock, Texas, Denny built a reputation for excellence by helping Angus breeders and the American Angus Association put their best foot forward, especially on sale day. From his early days as a delivery driver to leading a 140-person team, Denny’s story reflects relationship building, integrity and a passion for helping others succeed.
“What my younger 23-year-old self would tell this old 56-year-old today would be, ‘Wow, you have come a long way,’” Denny said. “I never imagined when I started at 23 years old that one day I would be here. But I have always believed if you do the right thing, treat people with respect and keep your word, good things will come.”
Denny started with Slate Group in 1993 as a delivery driver and worked his way through all departments at the printing company, from bindery to sales.
Under his leadership, Slate Group became the trusted printing partner for hundreds of Angus breeders and the Association. Whether printing 80 different sale catalogs in a month or hand-delivering a last-minute fix, Denny and his team go above and beyond to ensure every detail is right.
Since becoming members in 2015, the Denny family – Don, his wife, Wendy and son, Dylan – have become active members. Dylan served on the National Junior Angus Association Board of Directors, and in 2022, the family hosted the largest Raising the Bar Conference to date, offering juniors a behind-the-scenes look at marketing and print production while encouraging them to think creatively.
“When I got my first catalog job from the Association, I said, ‘We’ve made it big time,’” Denny exclaimed. “We finally did it. I knew if we kept going, doing the right thing and making deadlines, then the rest would be history.”
From the Association’s marketing materials and educational pieces to breeder catalogs, Denny’s fingerprints appear throughout each project. But his personal touch sets him apart. Creatives often receive photos or videos from Denny as their projects roll off the press.
Denny’s approach to business is simple: do the right thing. That philosophy has made Slate Group a trusted name in the cattle marketing industry. From printing innovative marketing materials to producing award-winning annual reports for the Association, the company’s creative print solutions help elevate Angus breeders’ marketing and create meaningful touchpoints for members. Denny’s responsiveness and integrity, whether answering emails or hand-delivering reprints overnight, reflect his unwavering dedication to the breed. His approach made Slate Group synonymous with trust and reliability.
For Don Denny, being an Angus Ambassador means more than printing catalogs; it represents building relationships and helping Angus breeders succeed. His impact is evident in every printed piece, every timely delivery and every moment he helps bring a vision to life.
“I’m humbled and honored to receive this award,” Denny said. “The Angus breed has given so much to me and my family. It has been a great ride and there are many, many more years to come. Thank you all for your support. I am very humbled.”
