On a Handshake — Brent Thiel on Partnerships, Progress and Problem-Free Cattle

Brent Thiel was early in his career with the American International Charolais Association when he got a nudge that changed the trajectory for him and his family. He bought a ranch and started a partnership that would span nearly four decades. During that time they grew the Lindskov-Thiel Ranch to become a household name in western South Dakota, with Angus and Charolais genetics that traveled around the globe. In recent years, they’ve amicably split the ranch, providing a model of how to make what started as a handshake agreement work out in the long run. Brent discusses his philosophies on creating functional cattle, building customer relationships and keeping the long game in mind.   HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully   GUEST: Brent Thiel was raised on a sheep and horse ranch near Aberdeen, S.D. He earned an ag journalism degree from South Dakota State University and briefly worked for the Tri-State Livestock News before taking a job as a fieldman for the American International Charolais Association. That job introduced Brent to his wife, Nancy, and they married and moved to South Dakota and started Lindskov-Thiel Ranch in partnership with Les and Marcia Lindskov. That business arrangement would span nearly four decades, growing them into a household name in both the Charolais and later Angus circles, before splitting up the partnership to allow for future growth in different directions. Today, the Thiels raise Angus cattle under the Thiel Ranch banner and take time to visit their two grown children and their families “down South.”   SPONSORS:  Angus Media: A solid herd starts with the cows. Commercial cattlemen need to know that your foundation is built on maternal traits. Tell them in the Female Foundations special section published with the September Angus Beef Bulletin. Get an advertisement, feature and social post all in the same package. Contact your regional manager or our advertising team to learn more. Find them at www.angus.org/angus-media/about/contact-us.  Angus Media: You are the most powerful marketing tool you have. Share your story directly to potential customers with a creative video by Angus Media. Our videographers are also cattle people, so they know how showcase your Angus cattle and can help bring your story to life. Let them put you at ease as you show them around your ranch and explain what sets you apart. Visit AngusMedia.org to get started today.   Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.