NEWS RELEASE
September 28, 2015
Contact: Doug Bear, 515-296-2305, doug@iabeef.org
Nominate beef, dairy producers and marketers for 2015 Iowa BQA Awards
AMES, IOWA – Quality beef begins with quality care. The Beef Checkoff Program wants to recognize
beef producers and marketers who diligently care for and properly handle cattle in order to provide
consumers with safe and wholesome beef. Applications for Iowa’s 2015 Iowa Beef Quality Assurance
(BQA) Awards are now being accepted.
BQA is a national program for beef cattle production that assures the highest standards of animal care and
treatment. It was developed with guidance from leading animal health and well-being experts and outlines
essential elements for cattle care. More than 90 percent of all U.S. beef is raised under the BQA program.
The Iowa BQA program recognizes an outstanding beef producer, dairy producer and/or beef marketer
who best demonstrate BQA practices, including sound animal husbandry practices. Nominees should be
BQA certified and work to continually improve BQA on their operations while operating sustainable
cattle businesses. The desire to encourage fellow producers to implement BQA and communicate what
the industry is doing to ensure quality cattle care is a plus. The award is open to all segments of the
industry – commercial cow-calf, seedstock, backgrounders, feedyards, dairy operations, auction markets
operators/managers, and veterinarians.
“The BQA program’s mission is to maximize consumer confidence in beef while exceeding their eating
expectations,” said Doug Bear, Director of Industry Relations for the Iowa Beef Industry Council. “The
BQA awards are a great way to recognize the outstanding men and women who put great tasting beef on
our consumer’s plate every day and enhance our industry’s reputation”.
Completed entries are due by Friday, November 13, 2015. The Iowa BQA Award winners will be
selected by a committee of fellow cattle producers, veterinarians, pharmaceutical representatives and
others who have a vested interest in the future of the beef industry. Nominations can be submitted by any
organization, group or individual on behalf of an Iowa beef producer or marketer. Individuals and
families may not nominate themselves; however, the nominees are encouraged to be involved in the
application process. Winners will be recognized during the Iowa Cattle Industry Convention held in Des
Moines, IA on December 8-9, 2015.
For further information on these awards or to download the application, please visit
www.iabeef.org/beefqualityassurance.aspx.
###
Producer-directed and consumer-focused, the Iowa Beef Industry Council is funded by the $1-per-head beef checkoff. Checkoff
dollars are invested in beef promotion, consumer information, research, industry information and foreign market development, all
with the purpose of strengthening beef demand. For more information, visit www.iabeef.org.