IOWA BEEF QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM
BQA Online Certification
Are you looking to get BQA Certified,
but want to do it from home? Do chores have you too busy to come to town for a
BQA training event? Online training options are now available from anywhere,
and Iowa qualifies! Get started today.
Iowa BQA Regional Educators
Iowa BQA Coordinator - IBIC Director of Industry Relations | 515-296-2305
Iowa Beef Specialists
Region 1 Educator - Beth
Doran, ISU Beef Specialist
Region 2 Educator - Russ
Euken, ISU Beef Specialist
Region 3 Educator - Denise
Schwab, ISU Beef Specialist
Region 4 Educator - Erika
Lundy-Woolfolk, ISU Beef Specialist
Region 5 Educator - Chris
Clark, ISU Beef Specialist
Region 6 Educator - Patrick Wall, ISU Beef Specialist
Upcoming BQA Events
Earn your BQA Certification at one of our upcoming BQA Workshops.
Are you looking to get BQA Certified, but want to do it from home? Online training options are now available from anywhere, and Iowa qualifies! Get started today.
Cascade, IA
wednesday, february 11th 2026 | BQA training 6:30 pm
Cascade Livestock Auction
743 IA-136
Cascade, IA 52033
For more information: RSVP appreciated by contacting Todd Bergfeld at the Cascade Livestock Auction at 563.852.3533.
Contact: Region 3 Educator - Denise Schwab, ISU Beef Specialist
Thank you to Cascade Livestock Auction for sponsoring this training.
waterloo, IA
thursday, february 12th 2026 | BQA training 2:00 pm
Hawkeye Community College
Room 122, Bremer Hall
Waterloo, IA 50701
For more information: Contact the Benton Co Extension Office to register at 319.472.4739
Contact: Region 3 Educator - Denise Schwab, ISU Beef Specialist
Thank you to Hawkeye Community College for sponsoring this training!
Lime Springs, IA
Monday, february 16th 2026 | BQA training 4:30 pm
Lime Springs Community Center
201 Center St.
Lime Springs, IA
For more information: Contact the Upper Iowa Beef main office to rsvp at 563.566.2202
Contact: Region 2 Educator - Russ Euken, ISU Beef Specialist
Thank you to Upper Iowa Beef for helping make this possible!
Beef Quality Assurance
Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) works to protect consumer confidence in our beef supply and to return more profits to producers. All individuals who have the opportunity to influence the quality and handling of cattle are encouraged to become certified.
BQA Transportation Program Shows Industry Commitment to Responsible Cattle Production
By Chase DeCoite, Director of Beef Quality Assurance, National
Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the beef checkoff
The
checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program recently launched a
training and certification program for cattle transportation. The program,
known as Beef Quality Assurance Transportation (BQAT),
provides cattle producers and haulers with comprehensive training based on
their roles in the cattle industry. Online training launched in November 2017
and has quickly amassed over 700 enrollments by producers and cattle haulers
from across the country. Additionally, Cargill is supporting in-person
training programs through the network of BQA state coordinators.
National Beef Quality Audit
The National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) is a beef checkoff-funded evaluation that documents the progress the industry has made over the last five years. Additional NBQA information can be found here.
Iowa BQA Award winners
2025 Iowa BQA Marketer Award
Equity Livestock Cooperative from Waukon, IA prioritizes BQA principles to ensure customer cattle are represented in the best light possible.
2025 Iowa BQA Educator Award
Dr. Cole Burrack goes above and beyond when it comes to helping the next generation of young producers learn about BQA.
2025 Iowa BQA Feedlot Award
Meet multi-generational feedlot J.W. Fruend Farms, Inc. from Lewis, IA and learn how their feedlot prioritizes BQA principles.
2025 Iowa BQA Cow-Calf award
Jane Russell is respected as a voice for beef advocacy and is deeply passionate about low stress cattle handling.