Nominations Open for 2026 Iowa Beef Quality Assurance Awards

Contact: | Casey Anderson, Director of INdustry Relations, 515-296-2305

The Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Iowa Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards, honoring cattle producers and industry partners who exemplify excellence in animal care, stewardship and continuous improvement.

Nominations are open in four categories: Cow-Calf, Feedlot, Educator and Auction Market, and are due by Friday, November 13. Award recipients will be announced Tuesday, December 15th, at the 2026 Iowa Cattle Industry Convention at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino.

For more than three decades, Beef Quality Assurance has been a flagship program of the Beef Checkoff, equipping U.S. beef producers with science-based best practices related to animal care, food safety and management practices. Today, the program is also utilized to convey to consumers the routine husbandry practices producers implement to raise safe, wholesome beef in a manner that also promotes animal well-being.

"The Iowa BQA awards are our chance to shine a light on the producers who are going above and beyond - the ones their neighbors look to for guidance," said IBIC Director of Industry Relations Casey Anderson. "These nominations come from peers who see firsthand the leadership, innovation and dedication these operations bring to the industry every day. We want to hear those stories."

Since the inception of BQA, improved production standards alongside intentional benchmarking through the National Beef Quality Audit has served as a vessel of continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to increase productivity, meat quality and opportunity for profit at the farm level. BQA awards celebrate the industry's collective achievements and aim to continue driving the needle forward by highlighting outstanding producers.

"It's incredible how producers have harnessed advancements in feed, technology, record keeping, gain and performance and genetics to continue moving the needle forward," Anderson said. "Producers have listened to consumer signals around taste and eating experience, which has resulted in unprecedented demand for beef. Our BQA award winners are proof of what's possible when that commitment is put into daily practice."

Anyone can nominate a deserving producer, veterinarian or auction market for a 2026 Iowa BQA Award. Nominations must be submitted by November 15th by visiting the Iowa Beef Industry Council's website: https://www.iabeef.org/cattlemens-corner/iowa-bqa/bqa-award-nomination.

For more information about Iowa's BQA program and upcoming certification opportunities, visit https://www.iabeef.org/cattlemens-corner/iowa-bqa.

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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 https://www.iabeef.org.