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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.

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Iowa BQA Regional Educators

Iowa BQA Coordinator - IBIC Director of Industry Relations | 515-296-2305 

Iowa Beef Specialists
 
Iowa BQA Regional Director - Dan Loy, ISU Beef Specialist 
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.

*Iowa & Missouri CO-Host BQA Mtg.

Maryville, Missouri

thursday, June 1st, 2023 |  1:30 p.m. BQA 

Northwest Technical School Commons
1515 S Munn Ave.
Maryville, MO 64468

Contact: Casey Anderson, Iowa BQA State Coordinator at [email protected] or Chris Clark at [email protected]

Sponsors: Iowa Beef Industry Council and Missouri Beef Council

pocahontas, IA

thursday, June 15th, 2023 |  10:00 - 12 noon BQA 

Pocahontas County Extension
305 N. Main Street
Pocahontas, IA 50574

For more information: Please pre-register by June 13th by calling the Pocahontas County Extension Office at 712.335.3101. 

Contact: Region 1 Educator - Beth Doran, ISU Beef Specialist 

Optional lunch following - $5 per person. 

Sponsors: Pocahontas County Cattlemen's Assoc. and Palo Alto and Pocahontas County ISU Extension and Outreach

kalona, IA

tuesday, June 27th, 2023 |  10:30 Am BQA Certification 

Kalona Sales Barn  
121 9th St.
Kalona, IA 52247

For more information: RSVP to  by June 20th by calling Rochelle Mullet, Kalona Sales Barn, Inc. at 319-656-2222.

Contact: Region 6 Educator - Patrick Wall, ISU Beef Specialist 

castana, IA

tuesday, June 27th, 2023 |  1:00 - 3:00 Pm BQA Certification 

ISU Western Research & Demonstration Farm 
36515 Co. Hwy E34
Castana, IA 52247

For more information: Please pre-register by June 23 by calling the Monona County Extension Office at 712.423.2175.

Contact: Region 1 Educator - Beth Doran, ISU Beef Specialist 

No fee to attend. Light refreshments. 

Sponsors: ISU Extension & Outreach Monona County and ISU Western Research and Demonstration Farm

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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. 

Learn More

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. 

Read More

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

2021 Feedyard Award

Congratulations to Hadwen Kleiss (Stardell Farms) of Fredericksburg, Iowa.

Learn More >

2021 Cow-calf award

Congratulations to Wiese and Sons of Manning, Iowa.

Learn More >

2021 Marketer Award

Congratulations to Todd and Karen Bergfeld of Cascade Livestock Auction.

Learn More >

2020 Awards

  • Iowa Feedyard Award was awarded to Mogler Farms - Alvord, IA
  • Iowa Cow-Calf Award was awarded to David Bruene - ISU Beef Teaching Farm
  • Iowa Marketer Award was awarded to Dunlap Livestock Auction

2019 Awards

  • Iowa Feedyard Award was awarded to Steve Rehder- Hawarden, IA
  • Iowa Cow-Calf Award was awarded to Bruce Rivers - Maquoketa, IA
  • Iowa Educator Award was awarded to Katy Lippolis - Iowa State Extension Beef Specialist in Ames, IA
  • Iowa Marketer Award was awarded to Sheldon Livestock Sales Incorporated - Sheldon, IA

2018 Awards

  • Iowa Feedyard Award was awarded to Kennedy Cattle Company, Atlantic, IA
  • Iowa Cow-Calf Award was awarded to Peterson Farms, Eddyville, IA 
  • Iowa Educator Award was awarded to Denise Schwab- NE Iowa Beef Specialist- Vinton, IA

2017 Awards

  • Iowa Feedyard Award was awarded to Jim and Julie Christensen, Christensen Feedlot and Royal Beef - Royal, IA
  • Iowa Cow-Calf Award was awarded to the Peters Family - Bellevue, IA
  • Iowa Educator Award was awarded to Dr. Leo Timms - Iowa State University Extension in Ames, IA

2016 Awards

  • Iowa Feedyard Award was awarded to Kent Pruismann of Rock River Feeders - Rock Valley, IA
  • Iowa Cow-Calf Award was awarded to Brenda, Leah, Lauren, Jim, Norvel, and Esther Mosher - Liscomb, IA
  • Iowa Educator Award was awarded to Dr. Beth Doran - Iowa State University Extension & Outreach in Orange City, IA

2015 Awards

  • Iowa Feedyard Award was awarded to Justin & Amber Reiter, R Land and Cattle LLC - Bernard, IA
  • Iowa BQA Award was awarded to Scott Birker, Birker Family Farmes - Vinton, IA
  • Iowa Educator Award was awarded to Dr. Jason Hall and Dr. Skylar Speer, Summit Veterinary Service - Winterset, IA

2014 Awards

  • Iowa BQA Award was awarded to Nodaway Valley Feeders - Nodaway, IA
  • Iowa Marketer Award was awarded to Tama Livestock Auction - Tama, IA

2012 Awards

  • Iowa BQA Award was awarded to Gregory Feedlots - Tabor, IA
  • Iowa Marketer Award was awarded to Knoxville Regional Livestock Market - Knoxville, IA   

2011 Iowa BQA Award was awarded to Couser Cattle Company, Nevada, IA

2010 Iowa BQA Award was awarded to Morris Larson, Spencer Livestock Sales, Spencer, IA