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.
carroll, IA
friday, August 15th 2025 | BQA training 9 am | BQAT 10:30 am
Carroll County Extension Office
1205 West US Hwy 30, Set G
Carroll, IA 51401
For more information: Please contact Carroll County Extension at 712.792.2364.
Contact: Region 4 Educator - Erika Woolfolk, ISU Beef Specialist
le Mars, IA
thursday, August 21st 2025 | BQAt training 1-3 pm
Le Mars Community Center (Lower Level)
251 12th St. SE
Le Mars, IA 51031
For more information: Please contact Plymouth County Extension at 712.546.7835 by August 19th. No charge to attend.
Contact: Region 1 Educator - Beth Doran, ISU Beef Specialist
Tama, IA
Monday, August 25th 2025 | BQA training 6 - 8 pm | BQAT training to follow
Tama Livestock Auction
1908 Eth 5th St.
Tama, IA 52339
For more information: Please contact Tama Livestock Auction at 641.484.3465.
Contact: Region 3 Educator - Denise Schwab, ISU Beef Specialist
Thank You to Tama Livestock Auction for sponsoring this training.
sac city, IA
wednesday, August 27th 2025 | BQAT training 1 - 3 pm
Sac County Extension Office
620 Park Ave.
Sac City, IA 50583
For more information: Please contact Sac County Extension by 712.662.7131 by August 25th. No charge to attend.
Contact: Region 1 Educator - Beth Doran, ISU Beef Specialist
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
2022 Marketer Award
Congratulations to Joe Nelson and Jesse Massman of Decorah Livestock Commission of Decorah, IA.
2021 Awards
- Iowa Feedyard Award was awarded to Hadwen Kleiss of Stardell Farms - Fredericksburg, IA
- Iowa Cow-Calf Award was awarded to Wiese and Sons - Manning, IA
- Iowa Marketer Award was awarded to Todd and Karen Bergfeld - Cascade Livestock Auction - Cascade, IA
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