Virginia Angus Topics, the official monthly magazine of the Virginia Aberdeen-Angus Association, began in March 1955 and was mailed by the association each month to thousands of breeders of Angus cattle throughout the United States and Canada. The intention was to publish a magazine which included articles of interest to the entire family covering subjects relative to the home, farm and livestock. It endeavored to be a helpful, informative magazine for every farmer and livestock breeder – one which would be eagerly sought and read from cover to cover. The effort was to promote Aberdeen-Angus catttle and give each breeder a chance to advertise their herds and further promote the great Angus breed of cattle.

Charles M. “Chilly” Peery went to work as editor of the Virginia Angus Topics in the spring of 1958. When the association decided to get out of the magazine business he purchased it and published his first issue in January 1959. Angus Topics went on to be the official publication for 17 state associations in the northeast, mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States.

Chilly owned and edited Angus Topics until 1989, building it to a nationally ranked breeder publication. Health problems took their toll on editor Peery and the magazine was purchased and incorporated in December 1989 by Bingman Publications.

The Premiere issue went out early in February 1990, after transforming a home to an office. The Premiere issue hinted of what the Angus Topics would become – neighborhood chats, bull pens, shows, state reports, sale reports, editorials, extension advice, freelance articles, and catalogs.

The Angus Topics developed an advertising philosophy – we won’t hound, but we won’t stop asking. We think you will see, over time, what the Angus Topics can mean for your sales.

Even though Angus Topics moved to Illinois, advertisers and associations have not stopped seeing a representative from the magazine. About half the time each month is spent traveling and the other half writing about it.

Extra staff was added. Present employee Carolyn Seitz was hired in December 1990. The two-room home office became too cramped for the growing business, so Angus Topics moved to town to a compact office in the summer of 1992. Again, the business outgrew the space and the current building was purchased and completely remodeled in 1996 into a spacious office.

Our readership and advertising coverage has expanded throughout the United States with the employment of Bill Schermer in the Western states and Mike Shanahan in the Eastern region.

Since the purchase of Angus Topics in 1989, we have progressed to the most updated computer programs for publishing and strive to make each issue better than the last.

The Angus Topics continues today to promote the great Angus breed and is eager to help promote your advertising program and association.