AMES, Iowa — During the Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit held on December 7 in Ames, IA, the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) recognized Christensen Feedlot / Royal Beef, Peters Beef Genetics, and Dr. Leo Timms of Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach in Ames for the 2017 Iowa Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards. The three recipients exemplify continual improvement for the beef industry, encourage fellow producers to implement BQA practices, operate sustainable cattle businesses, utilize low-stress, effective stockmanship handling practices, and display the beef industry’s daily commitment of proudly producing safe, wholesome and healthy beef.
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 of Royal, IA. 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 (SOPs) throughout their family’s operation with the BQA Feedyard Assessment, working closely with their local veterinarian, and sharing information with surrounding beef producers.
Jim and Julie Christensen of Christensen Feedlot and Royal Beef in Royal, IA were the recipients of the 2017 Iowa BQA Feedyard Award. Pictured (L-R): Doug Bear, IBIC, Jim and Julie Christensen.Peters Beef Genetics, owned and operated by Charlie and Jenni Peters of Bellevue, along with their four children, Mathias, Michael, Samuel, and Miranda, received the 2017 Iowa BQA Cow-Calf Award. Their family’s mission is to provide food and fiber and taking 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.
The BQA Educator Award winner included Dr. Leo Timms of ISU Extension and Outreach in Iowa. Timms 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.
Dr. Leo Timms (left) received the 2017 Iowa BQA Educator Award.“The BQA program’s mission is to build beef demand by maximizing consumer confidence in beef while exceeding their eating expectations,” said Doug Bear, Director of Industry Relations for the Iowa Beef Industry Council and State BQA Coordinator. “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. It is imperative that we recognize the practices and stewardship that is 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, please visit www.iabeef.org.
— Iowa Beef Industry Council
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