Jot Hartley of Vinita, Okla., was elected president of the American Angus Association at the group's 123rd annual convention in November at Louisville, Kentucky. The Oklahoma rancher succeeds Ben Eggers of Mexico, Missouri.
Hartley will represent the association members from more than 40 states.
With his wife Renee, Hartley owns and operates Spur Ranch at Vinita, along with their sons with the ranch. The operation started by Jot's grandfather has been in the family since the 1930s, and his dad introduced Angus cattle to the herd in the 1950s. Spur Ranch, a diversified cattle operation consisting of both purebred and commercial Angus cows and stocker cattle, hosts a production sale each fall.
The national organization's new leader is a former director and past president of the Oklahoma Angus Association, and a member of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association. He also is a former director and president of Oklahoma Beef Incorporated, a highly successful, producer-owned bull test station.
Hartley holds a degree in finance from Oklahoma State University and a law degree from the University of Oklahoma. He is a licensed attorney, admitted to practice in several state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
As association president, Hartley will serve as chairman of the executive committee and work closely with all directors to lead the board during the next year.
Meanwhile, Steve Olson of Hereford, Texas was elected to serve his first term on the board. He returned to Hereford after college, where he and his family began their diversified agricultural operation. Olson's herd consists of 200 Angus cows. He has been involved in many leadership positions, including serving on the Texas Angus Association Board. He and his wife, Ginger, also served as Texas Junior Angus Associations advisers. He will work with the Activities & Events, and Industry Relations committees.