Iowa Leaders Elected to National Leadership Roles

Producers, advocates, students and organizations representing the best of the beef industry were present for the annual National Cattle Industry Convention, held February 1-3, 2023, in New Orleans. The Iowa Beef Industry Council is proud to announce three Iowa leaders were nominated and elected to represent Iowans in national leadership roles.

HAVENS ELECTED TO CBB EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Ross Havens of Wiota, Iowa, was elected to serve on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board Executive Committee. Havens has been a past president of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and currently serves Iowans as a leader on the Iowa Beef Industry Council board. He has held multiple positions in the cattle industry but has served as the marketing coordinator for Nichols Farms in Bridgewater, Iowa since 1994. In his role at Nichols Farms, Ross works to produce and market beef genetics that will add value to his commercial customers’ herds and meet today’s consumer demands.

Birker Elected to Beef Promotion Operating Committee

Jenni Birker, Garrison, Iowa, was selected as a Federation of State Beef Council Representative to serve on the Beef Promotion Operating Committee. She also sits on the Beef Checkoff’s Consumer Trust Committee. Jenni and her husband, Scott, and their three kids raise commercial Angus cattle and grow crops as well. Jenni also works for an agriculture brokerage firm serving farmers across several industries. 

The Beef Promotion Operating Committee makes the final recommendation on the budget for the national Beef Checkoff; this includes 10 producers elected by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and 10 producers elected by the Federation of State Beef Councils. The Act and Order requires that the Beef Promotion Operating Committee contract with national, non-profit, industry-governed organizations to implement Beef Checkoff programs.

Moss Serves as New Cattlemen’s Beef Board Representative

Hayley Moss from Hull, Iowa, was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to represent Iowa beef producers on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. Moss and her husband, Craig, farm in Sioux County where they grow corn and soybeans while raising hogs and cattle. Together they have two young boys, Merritt and McCoy, and operate alongside Craig’s parents on the family's fifth generation farm. Hayley succeeded Jenni Peters of Bellevue, as her term has now expired.

The board is authorized by the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 and is composed of 101 members representing 34 states and 5 units. Members must be beef producers or importers of beef and beef products nominated by certified producer organizations.

The Checkoff has 6 primary committees that will engage with contractors. This year three Iowans served as co-chairs. David Bruene serves as co-chair of the Safety and Product Innovation Committee, Ross Havens for International Marketing, and Dan Hanrahan for Domestic Marketing. Also serving as committee members and with a record of leadership in their own right are Dean Black, Scott McGregor, and Kent Pruismann for the Federation of State Beef Councils, and Mike Holden for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board.

Additionally, Janine Moore serves as Region III Vice President for the Federation of State Beef Councils. In her role, Janine supports five states (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin) as a regional liaison and works closely with state beef councils, coordinates regional activities, facilitates Federation Division regional elections and champions Checkoff efforts within the region, especially state beef council engagement in the federation.

Iowa beef producers can feel confident knowing that their fellow beef producers represent their interests at the highest level, with leading roles in the industries most robust beef promotion organizations. To learn more, Iowans can visit iabeef.org or beefboard.org.

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About the Iowa Beef Industry Council: The Iowa Beef Industry Council is funded by the $1-per-head National Beef Checkoff Program and the $0.50-per-head Iowa State 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.