10 minute read
A Life of Service
2023 IBA Member of the Year’s Commitment to Education and Service has a profound Impact on the Beef Industry
By Sara McClendon
Talk to anyone who knows Betsy Pech and you will hear a few words repeated: education, passion, determination and service. That is how she has shown up and made an impact in everything she’s done, from spending more than 30 years as an ag educator to serving in leadership roles within the Illinois Beef Association. It is also why she was honored as the 2023 Illinois Beef Association member of the year.
Growing up on a Hereford farm her grandfather started in the 1930s and showing cattle from that herd through 4-H ignited a passion for beef production that has turned into a lifelong dedication to industry.
“I grew up with two parents who were very involved in the community and volunteered tremendously,” Betsy says. “It was a small community. I watched my parents do these types of things. I feel like it is just like walking. It has always been my calling to be of service to others.”
When Betsy was in high school, girls were not allowed in agriculture programs. However, she knew she wanted to pursue agriculture as a career. In the last two years of college, Betsy decided to follow the path to become an agriculture teacher. After receiving her certification, she applied for a teaching job and became the first female ag production teacher in the state of Illinois. She spent 35 years as an ag educator, 29 of which were at Hartsburg-Emden School District.
“If she is passionate about something, she is all in,” Betsy’s husband, Randy Pech, explains. “The people in Hartsburg and her students saw her commitment and her overwhelming love for the students. And they just fell in love with her. She was so involved and caring in their growth in the school. They knew that she was there for the long haul. That is the way she approaches any job she is asked to do. She is all in.”
After retiring from teaching 9 years ago, Betsy attended an annual meeting for Illinois Beef Association. When a leadership opportunity opened up in her district, she ran for a position. Not too long after she was elected to the Illinois Beef Association board of directors, now serving on the executive committee and board of governors. It combines two of the things she loves - educating and serving others.
An Educator at Heart
“The 35 years I taught, I could not have written a better script for my career,” Betsy says. “There is just something there. Even today, if I can teach somebody something, that is my calling.”
Betsy’s goal as an ag educator was not that every single student pursued a career in ag. Instead, she recognized, despite teaching in a rural district, many of her students did not come from the farm. So, she set off on a mission to educate her students about the industry so they could grow an appreciation for what was happening where they lived.
However, for some students, Betsy’s passion was contagious. In fact, former student Meg Baer credits her own decision to pursue a career as an ag educator to Betsy’s hands-on approach to learning. Meg now teaches agriculture at Olympia Middle School in Stanford.
“I try to model a lot of the things I do after Mrs. Pech, like giving my students hands-on experience,” Meg explains. “I would not be a teacher, if I did not have her.”
Meg says Betsy’s classes focused on experiences for the students, which often resulted in her strongly encouraging students to step outside of their comfort zone. In fact, Meg remembers Betsy handing her the creed speech during her freshman year and telling Meg that she was going to deliver it, despite Meg’s hesitation.
“She is still well known in Hartsburg for being involved in the community and getting the kids involved in the community,” Meg says. “We may not remember everything we learned, but we remember that she cared about us and cared about making us better.”
During Betsy’s time as an educator, she was recognized with the Outstanding Ag Teacher award from the State of Illinois. She also received her honorary American Farmer Degree through FFA. Illinois State University awarded her with their highest honor in agriculture. She even had three students win a national title through the US Department of Agriculture, even though only ten of these titles were given out and Hartsburg-Emden was a small school, with around 75 students.
Passion for the Ag Industry
Betsy’s passion for beef production does not stop with her students. As an Illinois Beef Association board member, she looks for opportunities to provide educational moments to producers in her area. Through organizing informational meetings about topics like pasture management or encouraging the next generation to get involved in IBA, she is always looking for ways to spread knowledge.
She notes the IBA board of governors represent the concerns of Illinois beef producers to legislators. In addition to working with both state and federal governments, Betsy says a large focus of the board’s work is to make sure producers are informed about regulation issues that might impact them.
In addition to involvement with IBA’s board, Betsy serves the industry as president of the Heartland Beef Alliance. She was one of the original members of the IBA affiliate organization, and focuses now on providing programs that educate beef producers.
“I am a teacher by heart,” Betsy says. “So, part of the mission of the Illinois Beef Association is not only promoting beef, but educating. And that is where I feel like I can shine.”
Betsy also took over the day-to-day management of the Illinois Beef Association Ribeye Corral at the Illinois State Fair. She views it as an opportunity to educate consumers on the nutritional benefits of beef and how today’s farm families raise their beef with care for the animals.
Through all of Betsy’s roles in the industry, Randy has been by her side.
“I could not have done it without Randy,” Betsy says. “I do not give him enough credit for all that I do. I drag him along to a lot of places and he just shakes his head most of the time.”
Determination to Do the Right Thing
Jim Lindgren, Betsy and Randy’s neighbor, has known the Pech family for 25 years. He says when he first met Betsy, he could immediately see her passion.
“The impression I had was how passionate she was for her job and how intent she was on making sure that everything was done right, ready to go and organized,” Jim says. “There are so many things you can say about Betsy. She works hard. And when she attacks something, she really goes after it and gets it done, and gets it right.”
Jim notes that Betsy’s involvement in IBA is, like everything in her life, very hands-on. He says she does not just attend board meetings a few times a year, but comes back to her community and gets to work making changes.
Another friend and neighbor, John Fulton, recalls Betsy’s tenacity to create a wide-range of opportunities for ag students, including her work to get a greenhouse added to the school, and development of a small engines program. She worked with the school board, not giving up until those opportunities were provided to the students.
“She is a person of substance and is not going to give you suggestions without following through with it,” John says. “She is dedicated to it and wants it to be the best that she can make it. Betsy is kind of a one-woman show sometimes.”
Servant Leadership Drives Everything
The Pech family is driven by helping others in everything they do. Whether it is a neighbor, a student or an organization like IBA, Randy and Betsy always step up when needed.
Warren Goetsch, a longtime friend of Betsy and Randy, recalls when the family helped clean up after a tornado caused damage in 1993. When high winds came through and caused damage more than a decade later, Randy and Betsy were back at work clearing trees and helping clean up.
“One of the things that always strikes me is how Betsy is always there for her friends,” Warren says. “Any time there was a need identified, she would be there to help you out.”
And for Jim Lindgren, the Pech’s have gone beyond just neighbors. After experiencing serious health issues for the past two years, Betsy and Randy have stepped up to help with Jim’s cow herd. They help with chores around Jim’s place, like offering hay when they are putting hay up for their own cows. It has made a major difference to Jim.
“It is a small herd that was a show herd for the kids, but I would sure hate to give it up,” Jim says. “They help with things I cannot do anymore. If they were not there to do it, I would not be able to have my cow herd which would be hard on me.”
However, Randy explains it is just part of who he and Betsy are. Helping out others comes naturally.
“We have always been committed to helping someone if they need a hand,” Randy explains. “We may almost be to the point of being intrusive in their lives if we want to help. That is the way we were raised. If someone needs a hand, we are there.”
Betsy also has worked to instill the importance of volunteering in others.
“Volunteerism is something I always preached to my students,” Betsy explains, “You have to volunteer to help your communities. They are not going to function without volunteers. This is something that I felt was a part of me. Whether through IBA or my church, or even in the community.”
Inspiring Others to Make an Impact
As Warren Goetch explains, yet another one of Betsy’s superpowers is getting others involved.
“She is very good at showing people what can be done if they really try,” Warren says. “She is never afraid of putting in time or effort to make whatever she is doing successful. I think she is good at transmitting that attitude to others.”
Betsy’s drive and determination inspires nearly everyone she comes into contact with, including her own family.
“We have two daughters, Alicent and Colleen, and those girls are adopted,” Betsy says. “They have been the greatest joy in our life. Randy never showed cattle. So, when I came in to the picture it was, not a rude awakening, but an awakening for him. I told him we are going to get some show calves here and the girls are going to show. And they did through 4H and FFA.”
Now, Betsy’s grandkids are showing through 4H at the county fair, including her youngest granddaughter, Hailey, who Betsy is keeping excited about the industry leading up to her first summer showing.
Betsy’s relentless drive to help others through education and service is why she is the Illinois Beef Association 2023 Member of the Year.
“My first thought was I am not old enough, but then I thought about it and realized I probably am,” Betsy says. “But for the short amount of time I have been on the board, somewhere along the line I must have caused an impact. My focus is education and promotion, and so I’m humbled, overwhelmed and just proud.”
