Mike Gothard was raised in a small town in Northern Illinois. He grew up showing Angus cattle at a local, regional and state level.

After graduation, Mike participated in the American Angus Associations’ internship program, spending his summer working at an Angus and Thoroughbred farm in Northern Virginia. He remained at this farm and gained experience for three years working with the show cattle as well as the entire cow herd. Being involved with the show cattle, Mike took part assisting with many championships around the country.

Mike then work at Premier Angus, Inc. in Indiana for one year in the show barn with both the Angus and Charolais show cattle. After the dispersal of the Premier herd, he moved back to Virginia to manage a small Angus operation outside of Richmond.

Mike went on to serve as Executive Director of the Virginia Angus Association from 1995 through June 30, 2000. While at the Virginia Angus Association, he was involved in running the day-to-day operations as well as their sale management division. In his tenure, the Virginia Angus Association expanded it sales management operation to not only working with Virginia breeders throughout the state, but managing and assisting on sales in Maryland and New York. In the long and storied history of the Virginia Angus Association, many milestones and records were set from 1995 to 2000, including sales records that stand today.

In July 2000, Mike joined the staff at Cotton and Associates’ livestock marketing firm.