About
The Story Behind Highland Spice
When Angie was in 5th grade, she read an article about Highland cattle in one of her dad’s regional ag papers. Her father, Bryan Long, was always a supporter of anything related to agriculture. He encouraged Angie to call the author, who recommended they attend the National Western Stock Show and Sale in Denver at the end of that week. It would be revisionist history to say that the whole family was as intrigued by the Highlands at the show as Angie was… but her dad decided they were more practical than pot-bellied pigs and other “cute” animals girls like, so Highland Spice was born. The two heifers Angie purchased at the 1992 NWSS Sale were just the beginning.
To build the first Highland Spice herd, the Long family traveled from coast to coast, putting together a nice herd of about 50 registered Highland cattle. That was hard to do in the early 1990s. Adrian “EZ” Braun of EZ Acres was essential to this mission, as he knew every Highland cow and Highland owner in the USA, or so it seemed. The first Highland Spice herd became a reality with the fortunate purchase of HRH Attilah the Hun, a stunning bull with unique genetics from John Eaton in Ontario. After winning multiple National Champion and Reserve banners, the first Highland Spice herd was sold to put Angie through college.
Years later, Angie moved back to Wyoming and began collecting the best Highland cattle she could find – many from the genetics of the original Highland Spice herd (with a few special import genetics sprinkled in). Highland Spice, the company, was born with the mission to breed pretty, useful Highland cattle for show, breeding, and for fun!
Angie’s father developed a great love for Highland cattle and used registered AHCA bulls in his commercial crossbreeding program for many years. At one point, he had over 30 registered bulls. Out in the hills eating “sagebrush and scenery” and breeding cows in big pastures was a good test for some “famous” lines. Some came in fleshy and bred their cows; some did not. Highland Spice benefited by being able to pick the best from Bryan’s bulls to put on its registered cows. Bryan has passed, but his influence and “type of cow” will always be the standard Angie and her family strive to breed at Highland Spice.
