By Norma Bolton

Grant Lubben, son of Brian and Michele Lubben of Monticello, Iowa, has been chosen as the 2019 recipient of three bred heifers awarded by the Iowa Beef Breeds Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation.

Initiated to help young Iowans begin foundation beef herds, this is the ninth year of the Iowa Foundation Heifer Program.

Grant was chosen from a group of well-qualified applicants. He is a seventh-grader at Anamosa Middle School in Anamosa, Iowa, where he is active in cross country and football. Grant lives with his parents and 16-year-old sister, Grace, on a farm near Monticello. He’s an active member of the Jones County Central 4-H Club, showing both market beef and bucket bottle calf projects. 

Passion for cattle business
A member of the Iowa Jr. Red Angus Association, Grant has participated at county and state events. His recommendations describe him as a student with leadership qualities, willing to volunteer and accept responsibilities in his school, community and church. He’s a competitive, hardworking, enthusiastic young man, willing to help others.

Grant has a passion for the cattle business and has chosen Red Angus as his breed of choice. He’s excited to begin his duties as the new owner of three Red Angus heifers. Those heifers were bought from Nolin Red Angus (Mike Nolin family of Monroe, Iowa) by the Iowa Beef Breeds Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation. At the end of five years, when he graduates from high school, Grant will help further fund the project by contributing $6,000.

Grant and family will be present Feb. 11 at the Iowa Beef Expo annual kickoff party, where he will be honored by the Iowa Beef Breeds Council as a future seedstock producer. The grand finale of the evening will be the presentation of the winners of the Friend of Iowa Beef Expo, Purebred Seed Stock Producer of the Year and Commercial Seed Stock Producer of the Year awards.

Iowa Beef Expo set Feb. 10 to 17
The 2019 Iowa Beef Expo will be from Feb. 10 to 17 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. The expo offers the opportunity for beef producers to make purchases from a wide array of seedstock sales. Several display pens of cattle, as well as equipment and new products in booths, are available for perusal and purchase at this year’s expo. 

The weekend before and weekend after the sales are devoted to the juniors. The weekend before the sales is a livestock judging contest for both college and high school livestock judging teams and a BBQ competition with winners announced at noon Feb. 10. It will be held in conjunction with the Midwest BBQ Association and Iowa Beef Breeds Council. For rules, visit iowabeefexpo.com. The Iowa Junior Beef Breeds Association cattle show will be Feb. 16-17. Admission is free.

The potential of the cattle industry today is strong. Beef always has been the preferred protein source. Exports continue to grow around the world. There is something for everyone from the commercial to the purebred breeder. The Iowa Beef Expo is an event not to be missed.

Bolton writes on behalf of the Iowa Beef Breeds Council.