Safe to Fail vs. Jumping in with Both Feet — Barb Downey Shares Approach to Business, Breeding and Life

The balance between applying the gas pedal and the brake — that’s what Barb Downey has spent her career as an Angus breeder perfecting. She and her family ranch near Manhattan, Kan., where they work hard each year to make their “built for the long haul” tagline true. The cattle they breed have to last, and their business plans ensure their ranch will, too. Downey talks about her “safe to fail” approach to innovation, why being replaceable is a good thing and the key to being a good business partner.  HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCullyGUEST: Barb DowneyBarb Downey and her husband, Joe Carpenter, manage a family Angus seedstock operation near Manhattan, Kan. A graduate of Kansas State University, Barb has served as president of the Kansas Livestock Association and president of the Kansas Angus Association.At Downey Ranch Inc., they focus on using science-based tools, conserving their resources and leading their customers toward meeting the beef demand of the future. They are founding members of U.S. Premium Beef, 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award Winners and were named Beef Improvement Federation’s Commercial Producer of the Year in 2010.RELATED CONTENT:The Symphony's Final NoteFire: An Ally to Flint Hills RanchersSPONSOR:Join Cardinal Cattle Company on Dec. 13, in Wyoming, Ill., for their annual Program Female Sale. At Cardinal, the emphasis is always on all-around quality, longevity and balance. They’ll offer 105 premium bred females at their all-new sale facility. Learn more at cardinalcattlecompany.com 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.