Brian Whaley, who is the CEO of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association was the featured speaker.

Scholarship recipients were named for 2025-2026. Those were awarded to McKenna Miller, a freshman at Simpson College in Indianola; Bobby Tapper, a sophomore at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, and Beau Klaver, a senior at Iowa State University in Ames.

Throughout the evening, many door prizes were presented. The annual auction of the Beef trophy/banners were held, with the trophies auctioned at prices from $200 to $975.

The highest auction item was a quarter beef fully processed that was donated by Jeremiah Hall of the Gowrie Sale Barn and Boone Hay Sale. This final sale price of the quarter was $1450.

Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Kolleen Taylor
Bryan Whaley, CEO of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association, talked about the various programs available to cattlemen in Iowa, and upcoming legislative issues.

The annual dinner raises money that helps fund all the activities they sponsor and support throughout the year. The auction creates the funds to allow them to give cash awards, presentation of trophies, or in reality banners, and help fund different needs of the fairgrounds.

“When we do this, we auction off the banners,” explained Jennifer Hay, board treasurer. The banners she explained, replace the trophies given in past years. “The banners have the name of the sponsor, and they have the option to come to the ring and present the winners.”

“It’s a fundraiser for all the kids at the fair,” said President Darrell Hay. “We are a promotion board, but we do a lot of different things throughout the year.”

In addition to the events at the fair, the cattlemen also sponsor the Iowa Junior Beef Breeds Association Junior Beef Show on March 29. They also help with the Kent Habbinger Memorial Cattle Show which is held on March 28, an event sponsored by the Algona Cattle Association. Both events are held at the Hamilton County fairgrounds.

In addition to their own events, they also will be cooking for the Hamilton County Pheasants Forever Banquet, and the State 4-H Youth camp in Ames.

The cattlemen know how to cook their meat, as evidenced in the meal that was prepared last evening. The prime rib dinner was enjoyed by all, prepared by members of the Cattlemen’s Association, guided by the steady hand, and grill of President Hay. Side dishes were prepared by The Bakin Diner out of Stratford.

Other officers recognized were Vice President Grant Carlson, Treasurer Jennifer Hay, Secretary Joey Koop and directors Larry Benda, Shayla Mickelson, Bart Olthoff, Todd Pille and Brayden Evans.