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History

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Marands Angus namesake originated in 1977 with the marriage of two – 3rd generation Angus breeders: Andy McCurry (KS) and Mary Elizabeth Smith (TN). They met at Kansas State University where Mary was finishing up her M.S. degree in Food Science/Meat Science and Andy had returned to complete his B.S. in Animal Science, having left the McCurry Bros. family operation in 1975 to pursue his own dreams –something he could
call his own.

Not knowing where they would eventually settle, it was decided their new herd name would be MARANDS –the first 3 letters of MARY and the first 3 letters of ANDY = MARANDS. Even though MARANDS is often mis-pronounced, they have stayed true to their original name. The “outline” of the logo comes from the shape of the state of Tennessee, their first home.
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Operating on almost 1,300 acres of sandhill pastures near Hutchinson, KS, Marands Angus is a family owned cow/calf operation that focuses on raising and developing bulls for the commercial rancher. Our enjoyment of helping new Angus breeders and 4-H/FFA members with Angus projects has also created a market for Junior heifer prospects. We run a fall calving herd of 200 females and a spring herd of 100 Angus-based recipient females.

Converting a sandy, blowing row crop farm to a fertile haven of both cool and warm season grasses can be attributed to Andy’s love for developing pastures to support a forage-based environment for our cowherd. This twenty year conversion process has earned our family the Reno Co/KS “Grassland Award” while also hosting multiple KSU Extension grass tours.

The pastures on the home place have been developed by Andy to compliment the fall calving herd of approximately 200 females. Wrangler & Guymon Bermuda grass, Tall Hosea Wheat grass (for alkaline soils), brome and fescue run the gamut. Each have a place in the rotational grazing program and were selected based on soil type and annual rainfall limitations. The spring herd consists primarily of 100 commercial cows used as recipients for the donor program and are run on native pastures.

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The background of these two newlyweds parallels – both were 3rd generation Angus breeders – one from KS and one from TN. Their story reads like this:

Andy’s grandfather
Walter and Cora (Workman) McCurry purchased their first two Angus heifers from his brother-in-law, Johnson Workman, in 1928. Workman was a noted pioneer in agriculture and the Angus breed, having started his registered herd in 1913 in Kansas. The Workman cattle won many Champion Carlot shows at the American Royal and International Stock Shows in the 1920’s. Johnson Workman was firm in his belief that fads and fancies were detrimental to a sound breeding program.

Johnson Workman carlot of Angus steers

Andy’s father
A.J. McCurry is the oldest of the five “McCurry Bros.” Each brother carried a responsibility in keeping this family operation moving and the compatibility of these five brothers, working as a team, has been the source of amazement for people who have known them for many years. Each brother was suited to a different task. AJ was in charge of alfalfa production, maintenance and hog operation, Odell the row crop, Bob wheat farming and show cattle, Dale, the cow herd and show cattle and Cecil operated the grain elevator and took care of the books.
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. . . . .............................Left to Right: A.J., Dale, O'Dell, Bob and Cecil McCurry

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Mary’s grandfather
John Mathews Smith was a successful farmer and stockman near Jackson, TN. He ran a commercial herd and utilized registered Angus bulls beginning in the 1950’s. His two sons, John and Neil Smith, attended the University of Tennessee, were on successful livestock judging teams and were WWII veterans. Each continued their love of farming and
raising cattle. Neil joined his father’s operation and Mary’s dad, John Sanford Smith, purchased his own farm in 1953 after serving as a Tennessee Ag Extension Agent.

Mary’s father
An unfortunate farming accident in 1955 left John Smith with one arm, thus necessitating the dispersal of his dairy herd. One year later, after rehab in a VA hospital in Memphis, TN, John returned to his farm and began purchasing registered Angus females at dispersal sales throughout the South and started his cow/calf operation. His herd grew as did his three daughters involvement in Junior Angus activities, both on a state and national level. Two daughters were crowned National Angus Queens: Mary in 1971-72 and Beverly in 1975-76. Daughter Sue was a National 4-H Winner in the Veterinary Science project in 1972. The family was named Tennessee’s first Angus Family of the Year in 1973.

John was a past president of the Tennessee Angus Association, Tennessee Livestock Assn, named Mid-South Ag Press “Man of the Year” and was a member of the American Angus Association Board of Directors from 1972-1978 (need to verify these years). It was during his service on the board that the Certified Angus Beef program was initiated as well
as many other programs that set the Angus breed apart.

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Left to Right: A.J. McCurry, John Sanford Smith, Andy McCurry and
John McCurry exhibiting his first bred and owned heifer. June 1988.