May Beef Month is putting a spotlight on Iowa’s beef industry

Huntsman said the organization stays active throughout the year, handling roughly 20 to 25 grilling events annually. Those efforts help support scholarships for students with ties to the beef industry and agriculture. She said the group typically aims to give out $8,000 to $10,000 in scholarships each year, though this year it is awarding $5,000. According to Huntsman, the top scholarships this year are $1,500, with smaller awards also available.

She said local fundraising is driven by grilling events and the group’s banquet, which includes sponsorships and an auction. Huntsman said the banquet regularly draws support from more than 110 to 120 sponsors, making it the organization’s main scholarship fundraiser.

Huntsman also explained how Iowa’s beef organizations are structured. She said the Iowa Beef Industry Council is funded through the $1-per-head beef checkoff collected when a beef animal is sold in Iowa. That funding supports beef promotion, education, nutrition information and research. Huntsman described beef as a nutrient-dense food and said the council uses the phrase “ZIP” to teach that beef is a source of zinc, iron and protein.

On the policy side, Huntsman said the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association focuses on legislative and lobbying work that the checkoff cannot fund. She said local members and producers can raise concerns through Iowa Cattlemen staff, including district contacts in their area. Huntsman said policy decisions can have major effects on producers, pointing to costly operational changes tied to outside regulations.

She also highlighted efforts to bring younger people into the beef industry. Huntsman said a new next-gen membership through the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association is available for people age 22 and younger for $40. She said the industry needs more young producers and acknowledged that startup costs remain a major challenge, especially for first-generation farmers and cattle producers. Even so, she said financing and educational programs are available for those trying to get started.

Huntsman said the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of Iowa beef production, offering scholarships and youth development opportunities. She pointed to the group’s Beef Extravaganza in Ames, where students take part in educational and judged activities, and also mentioned heifer programs designed to help young people build breeding and market-animal experience.

At the local level, Huntsman said supporters can connect through the Mills-Montgomery Cattlemen Facebook page or through board members. She said people can also find more information through the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association website and the Beef Checkoff’s online resources.

As May Beef Month continues, Huntsman encouraged people to fire up their grills and enjoy beef while also learning more about the producers and organizations behind the industry.