Association Focus

Paul Walker, Illinois Beef Association President

The Illinois Beef Association is doing great things and already has many accomplishments in 2022. So far this year IBA leadership has helped to prevent five proposed bills — detrimental to cattle and beef production in Illinois — from becoming legislative acts by the general assembly. IBA leadership was instrumental in supporting the Illinois Department of Agriculture in securing $750,000 in the state budget to provide additional field veterinarians and proactive foreign animal disease prevention measures necessary to protect the Illinois livestock industry.

IBA has expanded the office team to six staff members — up from four — with four new hires to compliment the work of Betty Haynes, publications and promotions manager, and Josh St. Peters, executive vice president. These new hires enable IBA to offer office and administrative support more effectively in five program areas: publication and promotions; public relations, marketing campaigns and junior programs; member services; programs, conferences and outreach activities; and financial operations. We welcome Devin Bollman, Mary Faber, Olivia Hoots and Annie Schoetmer. Find these employees highlighted on pages 36 through 39 of this publication. While we are excited to welcome these new hires, we are saddened that Mareah Rauch has accepted a new position with Kent Feeds. Our loss is their gain.

Mareah was a motivating force for IBA. Her tireless work ethic and upbeat attitude will be missed, but we are excited for Mareah in her new career adventure. As a professional within the beef industry, we will continue to expect great accomplishments from Mareah on behalf of IBA and Illinois. It goes without saying that the IBA Board of Governors views all of the IBA staff as valued assets whose individual successes also, are considered IBA successes. Good luck at Kent Feeds, Mareah.

Lately, IBA members and the Board of Governors have been “in the news” promoting cattle production and beef advancement. Dave Duzan was interviewed by the Brownfield Network. In the interview he provided information on the Cattle Market Transparency Act. Justin and Ellen Rahn were interviewed by Illinois Farmer Today as a young couple actively involved in promoting the cattle/ beef industry. Shannon Welsh and his family were featured in Illinois Farmer Today as a family doing what we all do best — raising wholesome, nutritious, tasty beef in a sustainable way. Betsy Pech was featured in the Ag Update regarding her lifetime achievements educating young people about agriculture and her time on the IBA Board promoting the beef/cattle industry. Wes Hornback was interviewed by Champaign WCIA-TV highlighting his farm-to-fork retail beef sales program. The Head family was interviewed for the RFD Livestock Report providing an interesting overview of their operation and their involvement in the beef cattle industry. Larry Martin hosted a TV crew from WCIATV for an intereview in support of the Illinois cattle industry. Cattleman and farm broadcaster Ron Syverson interviewed Alan Miller and Al Lyman, along with IBA’s Josh St. Peters, during the NCBA Convention in Houston. Joan Harrison and Cori Malone were featured on WMBD-TV representing Women in Agriculture as a mother-daughter duo sharing their experiences and successes within the cattle industry. This list goes on because those within the beef cattle industry have great stories to tell. Keep the IBA office informed whenever you are interviewed whether it is for local, state or national media. Your successful story is IBA’s successful story.

Illinois had a great 2022 Illinois Beef Expo. While always striving to make our best better the Expo committee, represented by Wes Keller, the Expo management team, represented by Josh St. Peters and IBA, represented by Paul Walker, held a conference call with the eight Illinois beef breed association presidents to discuss Expo improvements for and potential changes that could be beneficial to helping each breed association promote their cattle breed. This teleconference proved most beneficial, with great interaction from all participants. The consensus was that holding Expo in February is the most opportune time. Each breed president will be seeking feedback from their breed’s membership about Expo offering two new sale concepts, i.e., a muti-breed genetic sale and a multi-breed live lot sale with a similar format to the Illinois Performance Tested Bull video sale conducted this year, as well as whether to offer individual breed sales. Several other suggestions were considered for Wes and Josh to discuss with the Expo committee.

Yes, May is National Beef Month, but did you know it is also National Salad Month. Beef and salad do go well together. We all know the west was not won on salad and “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner.” but, I have never seen a grocery store feature salad as a draw to entice customers to shop in a particular store. There is nothing that excites people like beef on sale. Yes, the cup is half full for the beef cattle industry.