Cimeron Frost, of Tallula, has been named the Interim Executive Vice President of the Illinois Beef Association, effective immediately. He succeeds Maralee Johnson, who passed away in March after 13 years as Executive Vice President and 23 years of service to the Illinois Beef Association.

BEEF FOCUSED: Cimeron Frost has been named interim executive vice president of IL Beef.

Frost has a solid history in the Beef business. In 1986, he was appointed to serve on the committee, which created the Illinois Beef Expo. He was appointed Vice Chairperson and Manager of the first expo and has served in this role ever since. Frost was elected to the IBA Board of Directors in 1989, where he was elected Vice President and then was later hired as the Vice President of Member Services in 1994.

Following the consolidation of IBA and the Illinois Beef Council in 1997, he was named Vice President of Producer Services. Since 2001, Frost has worked as the Director of Industry Programs.

As a boy, Cimeron enjoyed the work on his neighbor's Angus Farm in rural Lake County. At 12 years old, Frost became hooked on the cattle business. He made his first trip to Denver's National Western Stock Show at the age of 14 in a box car with ten head of show bulls, owned by Picket Fence Farms of Grayslake.

Frost continued to work in the purebred business until he was drafted into the United States Army, where he served as a Sergeant in the Infantry. Following his return from two years of Military Service, Frost took employment with U.T. Farms of Oklahoma, a purebred Angus herd which provided him with an eye opening perspective and new learning experience within the cattle business. 

In 1973, Cimeron married Rachel Janssen, of rural Tallula, and returned to Central Illinois where they have produced purebred and commercial cattle since. Together, they have raised five children (Erin, Tony, Chelsea, Gretchen and Nathan), along with three grandchildren.

"I'm proud that all of my kids are involved within an industry which has given so much to me,” Frost says. His youngest daughter, Gretchen, is currently studying Large Animal Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State University.

As Interim Executive Vice President of IBA, Frost will serve as the primary office contact for Illinois cattle producers and allied industry businesses. Frost will represent IBA in a number of agricultural executive roles statewide and work to further IBA's priorities of advancing members' economic and legislative interests and building a foundation for a profitable and sustainable Illinois Beef Industry.

Frost can be reached by email at mailto:[email protected] or via phone at 217-787-4280.