2015 Iowa Beef Quality Assurance Award Application
Beef producers believe that giving cattle the care, handling and nutrition they deserve is an obligation, not an
option. Producers understand that animal care and raising cattle go hand-in-hand and by treating animals the
right way, they are setting the stage to produce high-quality, safe and wholesome products.
By focusing the producer’s attention to daily production practices that influence the safety, wholesomeness and
quality of beef through the use of science, research and education initiatives, the Iowa Beef Quality Assurance
(BQA) program strives to maximize consumer confidence in and acceptance of beef.
The beef industry has a very positive story to tell; however, this story isn’t being heard by all consumers. Let’s
work together, through BQA, to tell our story and the story of America’s 750,000 cattle farmers and ranchers.
About the Award
Quality beef begins with quality care and the Iowa BQA Award recognizes producers who diligently care for
and properly handle cattle in order to provide consumers with safe, wholesome, and healthy beef. These
outstanding beef producers incorporate BQA practices each day on their operations. This award is open to all
commercial cow-calf, seedstock, stocker, and/or feedyard operations.
The winners will be selected based upon their commitment to BQA while operating sustainable cattle
operations. A common trait among all prospective winners will be a strong desire to continually improve BQA
on their operations while successfully encouraging others around them to implement BQA within their
operations.
The Iowa BQA Award recipient is selected annually by a committee of representatives from universities, state
beef council and affiliated groups of the beef industry. Nominations may be submitted by any organization,
group or individual on behalf of an Iowa beef producer. Please take this opportunity to nominate a beef
producer and assist the beef industry in presenting a positive story about cattlemen’s contributions to the Beef
Quality Assurance Program.
Questions regarding the BQA award application process should be addressed to: Doug Bear, BQA
Coordinator at doug@iabeef.org or 515-296-2305.
Please submit an electronic copy of your application directly to: Doug Bear at doug@iabeef.org.
Nomination Process
Any individual, group or organization is eligible to nominate one individual/business who raises, feeds, and/or
handles cattle. Individuals and families may not nominate themselves; however, it is expected that the nominees
to be involved in the preparation of the application.
The full nomination application with additional directions for its completion is below. Along with the typed
application, one nomination letter and three letters of recommendation highlighting the nominee’s leadership in
BQA are required.
Application for the 2015 Iowa Beef Quality Assurance Producer Award is due on November 13, 2015.
Note: All sections must be completed and the completed application is not to exceed eight pages in length
including the nomination letter (1), recommendation letters (3), and written application and photographs. The
2015 Iowa BQA Producer award application should include the following components and details:
Section 1. Nomination Letter
The nomination letter should highlight:
 Reasons why the candidate is being nominated (not to exceed one page).
 The name of nominator (your organization or group).
 Contact person, address, phone, fax and e-mail.
Section 2. Recommendation Letters
Three (3) letters of recommendation are required emphasizing the nominee’s leadership in BQA from fellow
cattle producers, local or state organizations, national organizations, neighbors, or friends. These letters should
be no longer than one page each.
Section 3. Official Written Application (Please complete all the fields below – 80 points)
Please answer the following questions within a total of no more than four typed pages. This four-page limit
includes any documentation, but does not include photographs. Please attach all photographs to email when
application is submitted. Applications should be typed in 12-point, Times New Roman font.
Section 1 - Nomination of the Operation
Specify Award:
Cow/Calf
Feedyard
Dairy
Nominating Organization:
Nomination Letter:
Nominating Contact Person:
First Name:
Last Name:
Address:
City, State, Zip Code:
Country: United States
Phone Number:
Email:
Letters of Support (3):
Letter 1
Letter 2
Letter 3
Attach up to six high resolution photographs of the following (5 points):
Photo 1 of the nominee(s):
Photo 2 of the nominee(s):
Photo 1 of the operation:
Photo 2 of the operation:
Photo 3 of the operation:
Photo 4 of the operation:
Name of Nominated Business:
Name of Individual/s to be recognized:
Address:
City, State, Zip Code:
Country: United States
Phone Number:
Cell Phone Number:
Email:
1) Describe your business (commercial cow calf, seedstock, stocker, feedyard, dairy)
2) Provide a brief history (length of ownership, herd numbers, business structure and other
pertinent facts)
3) Are you or your employees BQA certified?
4) What are the management accomplishments and goals of your business specific to BQA
guidelines? Supporting information, benchmark data and measured results are encouraged.
Please be specific. (20 points)
5) Describe specific, innovative BQA practices in detail pertaining, but not limited to, on-site
implementation, employee training, transportation, etc. Be sure to focus on what makes this
operation unique. (10 points)
a. If Dairy, what role does Beef Quality Assurance play in your operation and what
importance is paid to beef as a byproduct of the dairy farm?
6) How does BQA make your operation more successful? (10 points)
7) How does your business contribute to a positive public perception of the impact of BQA in the
beef industry? Has there been involvement in cooperative research, demonstration, education or
industry programs that promote BQA? (15 points)
8) How does the operator encourage other producers to implement BQA programs? (8 points)
9) List the leadership activities and involvement in BQA efforts that improve consumer demand and
acceptance of beef. (7 points)
10) Has the operation/operator been recognized for BQA achievement? (5 points)