During the Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit Dec. 7 in Ames, the Iowa Beef Industry Council presented the 2017 Iowa Beef Quality Assurance Awards. The three recipients are Christensen Feedlot and Royal Beef located at Royal in northwest Iowa, Peters Beef Genetics at Bellevue in eastern Iowa, and Leo Timms of Iowa State University Extension in Ames.

The three recipients exemplify continual improvement for the beef industry. They encourage fellow producers to implement BQA practices, operate sustainable cattle businesses, use low-stress and effective stockmanship handling practices, and display the beef industry’s daily commitment of producing safe, wholesome and healthy beef, says Doug Bear, director of industry relations for the Iowa Beef Industry Council and state coordinator of the BQA program.

2 families, ISU specialist recognized
The Iowa BQA program is part of a national program that provides cattle producers with information and education on how to produce beef using methods and management that raises consumer confidence through a commitment to quality within every segment of the beef industry.

• Christensen Feedlot and Royal Beef, the 2017 Iowa BQA Feedyard Award recipient, is owned and managed by Jim and Julie Christensen, Wes and Jackie Christensen, and Mark and Lee Pierce. Located at Royal in northwest Iowa, their management and attention to details ensure the highest-quality beef is produced from healthy cattle. Management techniques include, but are not limited to, training of all employees, acclimating calves to their feedyard with low-stress, effective stockmanship handling practices, implementing BQA standard operating procedures throughout their family’s operation with the BQA Feedyard Assessment, working closely with their local veterinarian, and sharing information with surrounding beef producers.

• Peters Beef Genetics is owned and operated by Charlie and Jenni Peters of Bellevue in eastern Iowa, along with their four children, Mathias, Michael, Samuel and Miranda. They received the 2017 Iowa BQA Cow-Calf Award. Their family’s mission is to provide food and fiber and to take care of the land and livestock entrusted to them. The family has a diversified cattle operation including a cow-calf herd, feedlot and a bred heifer business that focuses on longevity, docility and convenience, and performance. The Peters family has implemented low-stress, effective stockmanship handling practices that have been valuable to their family farm. In addition, the Peters family works closely with their local veterinarian on their herd health program.

COW-CALF AWARD: The Peters family of Bellevue receives the 2017 BQA Cow-Calf Award. Doug Bear (left) of the Iowa Beef Industry Council presented the award to Charlie, Michael, Miranda, Sam, Jenni and Mathias Peters.

• Winning the BQA Educator Award, Leo Timms of ISU Extension has hosted BQA educational presentations and workshops for producers to share the BQA Program, which has resulted in a substantial impact on the industry. In addition, Timms continuously strives to educate, demonstrate and promote BQA in all his programming to ensure a safe, high-quality and wholesome beef supply for consumers with area dairy producers.

EDUCATOR AWARD: Iowa State University professor Leo Timms (left) receives the 2017 Iowa BQA Award for Education, in recognition for the programs and information he provides for cattle producers. Doug Bear of the Iowa Beef Industry Council presented the award.

“The BQA program’s mission is to build beef demand by maximizing consumer confidence in beef while exceeding their eating expectations,” Bear says. “The BQA awards are a way for the National Beef Checkoff Program through the IBIC to recognize the outstanding men and women in Iowa who put great tasting beef on our consumer’s plate each and every day.”

Bear adds, “It is imperative that we recognize the practices and stewardship involved within the beef industry on a daily basis. This year’s award recipients are a testament of our beef farmers caring for their land and livestock while being involved in their local communities. Through their leadership and implementation of BQA on their operations, the future of the Iowa beef industry is bright.”

For additional information on the awards or the Iowa BQA program, visit iabeef.org.

Source: Iowa Beef Industry Council