About the Award

Now in its sixth year, the National BQA Award recognizes outstanding cattle producers, from across the country that incorporates BQA principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their operations. The award is open to the following segments of the industry: commercial cow-calf, seedstock, stocker/backgrounder operators. The winners will be selected based upon their commitment to beef quality assurance while operating sustainable cattle operations.

A common trait among all prospective winners will be a strong desire to continually improve BQA on their operations while successfully encouraging others around them to implement BQA at their operations.

The National BQA award winners are selected annually by a committee of representatives from universities, state beef councils and affiliated groups. For guidance, judges will consider adherence to “on-site” BQA principles, leadership activities and the sustainability of the business as a whole.

The Beef Quality Assurance Awards are sponsored by:
Beef, Dairy & Marketer Awards				Educator Award

Award Categories
Beef Quality Assurance Award
The Beef Award recognizes outstanding cattle producers, from across the country that incorporates BQA principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their operations. The award is open to these segments of the industry - commercial cow-calf, seedstock, stocker operators. The winners will be selected based upon their commitment to beef quality assurance while operating sustainable cattle operations.
Award Application

Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Award
The Dairy Award recognizes outstanding dairy beef producers, from across the country that incorporates BQA principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their dairy operations. The award is open to all dairy operations. The winners will be selected based upon their commitment to beef quality assurance while operating sustainable dairy cattle operations.
Award Application

BQA Marketer of the Year Award
This award is open to livestock markets, cattle buyers and supply chain programs that promote BQA to their customers and supply opportunities to get them certified. Examples of ideal candidates include livestock markets that hold training and provide special BQA sales to get buyers and seller of BQA managed cattle together as well as supply chain programs where the program is committed to high quality practices and implements BQA certification into their program.
Award Application 

BQA Educator of the Year Award
This award is open individuals or companies that provide high quality and innovative training to individuals that care and handle cattle all throughout the industry chain. This person could be a BQA state coordinator, trainer, vet, nutritionist, industry service provider, or university professor that goes above and beyond the call of duty to help producers and their employees provide the best training programs and create a culture of continuous improvement centered on BQA. This person should be committed to improving the industry and providing innovative opportunities to move the industry forward as a whole.
Award Application

Nomination Process

Any individual, group or organization is eligible to nominate one individual/business who raises or feeds cattle. Individuals and families may not nominate themselves, however we expect the nominees to be involved in the preparation of the application.

Previous applications are kept on file for 3 years.

Applications Steps
Your 2014 National BQA Award application should follow the outline provided by the online form. All questions can be viewed prior to starting the online form by downloading the PDF version of the form. Please make sure you address each question individually and directly.

Overall Tip: The key to a successful application is providing specific examples, data and results of on-site BQA practices.

Following the format and answering each question will account for 5/100 points.

1. Nomination Letter
The nomination letter should highlight:

• Reasons why the candidate is being nominated (not to exceed 1 page)
• Include: the name of nominator (your organization or group), contact person, address, phone, fax and e-mail

2. Recommendation Letters
Two (2) letters of recommendation are required emphasizing the nominee’s leadership in BQA from fellow cattle producers, local or state organizations, national organizations, neighbors, friends, or others involved in BQA. These letters should be no longer than 1 page each. It will not help you to submit more than two letters. Your nomination letter also does not count as a recommendation letter. Please have three separate letters from three separate individuals/companies.

3. Official Written Application

 

Applications for the 2014 National BQA award are due by July 1, 2013.
LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY REASON!

Selection Process
After the application deadline, the National BQA Award Selection Committee will meet and select the winner in August 2013. The award winners will be announced at the 2014 Cattle Industry Annual Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

Winners and their nominators will be contacted upon selection. A film crew will then set up a time to visit your operation in the following weeks. The shoot typically last one day.

Winners will become spokespeople for our industry, carrying forth the BQA message. With that, it is essential that nominees are willing to convey to the public and the media how their quality assurance programs have resulted in increased production and profitability while improving public perception of the beef industry.

Non-winners and their nominators will be notified by mail.

Judging
Applications will be judged on the following criteria (100/100 points):

• Following proper application format (5/100 points)
• Section 1 - Nomination (5/100 points)
• Section 2 - Recommendations (5/100 points)
• Section 3 - Description of Operation (5/100 points)
• Section 4 - BQA Practices and Operational Management (45/100 points)
• Section 5 - BQA Leadership within the Community and the Industry (35/100 points)

Award Applications must be submitted via this online form.

Questions regarding the award application should be addressed to:
Lauren Dever, 303-850-3459 (office), 970-310-0830 (cell), ldever@beef.org