1. Home
  2. Beef Quality Assurance Awards
A fence for cows on the American farm. Author: kavaram

NAtional Beef Quality Assurance Awards

The National BQA Award recognizes outstanding beef and dairy producers, marketers, and educators that best demonstrate animal care and handling principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their respective operations. A common trait among all contest entrants must be a strong desire to continually improve BQA on their operations while encouraging others to implement the producer education program.

How are winners selected?

National BQA award winners are selected by a committee of representatives from universities, state beef councils and affiliated groups. Nominations can be submitted by any organization, group, or individual on behalf of a U.S. beef producer. Individuals and families may not nominate themselves, however, the nominees are expected to be involved in the preparation of the application.

Five National BQA Awards (Cow-Calf, Feedyard, Dairy, Marketer and Educator) are funded in part by The Beef Checkoff program with additional financial support provided by Cargill Meat Solutions. The program promotes beef quality assurance in all segments of the industry, including commercial cow-calf, seedstock, stocker operators, feedlots and dairy operations.


    • Cargill
      •  
    • Beef Checkoff Logo with Tag
        •  
      • Natl_Dairy_FARM_Program
          • Sam's Club Horizontal Logo

            2023 Beef Quality Assurance Award Winners

            Cow Calf Award

            wilson flying diamond ranch, Nebraska

            2023 BQA Cow Calf award winner, Wilson Flying Diamond Ranch, is passionately dedicated to their cattle's well-being. The ranch adheres to strict stewardship principles focused on pasture rotation and year round grazing management practices. Their leadership and outside the box thinking has earned them the BQA Cow calf award.

            Feedyard Award

            Darr feedlot, nebraska

            2023 BQA Feeder award winner, Darr Feedlot, recognizes their responsibility to protect and promote the integrity of the beef industry and meets that challenge head-on by advocating for the adoption and implementation of the Beef Quality Assurance program. From the basics of training employees on the significance of health management to developing facility designs, BQA principles are at the core of daily operations.

            Dairy Award

            temme agribusiness, nebraska

            Temme Agribusiness is the winner of the 2023 BQA Dairy FARM award. The Temme family business started in 1956 and through multiple upgrades and barn additions focused on enhancing cow comfort, the herd has grown to 850 today. Continuous improvement has driven the business to seek more ways to utilize and develop the workforce's talent, which has helped provide the best possible animal care.

            Marketer Award

            fresno livestock commission, California 

            Uniquely positioned in a vibrant agricultural community, the 2023 BQA Marketer award winner, Fresno Livestock, has the notable opportunity to educate and engage with a diverse population. Many of Fresno Livestock's employees are high school students interested in working in the livestock industry. The Tews help mentor these students to ensure when they leave Fresno Livestock after graduation, they understand safe and effective cattle handling techniques that will serve them and the industry in their next role.

            Educator Award

            dr. tom noffsinger, nebraska

            Dr. Tom Noffsinger, DVM, of Nebraska, has been selected as the 2023 BQA Educator of the year. As a long-standing industry leader, and one of the first BQA Trainers in the state of Nebraska, Dr. Noffsinger has a well-established history with BQA. He has driven thousands of miles across the U.S. to teach producers about cattle care and handling, and BQA principles. From speaking to the Academy of Veterinary Consultants and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, to attending national and international cattle industry meetings, Dr Noffsinger uses his platform to educate producers on adopting BQA's best management practices.

            2024 Beef Quality Assurance Award Winners

            Cow Calf Award

            VANWINKLE ranch, COLORADO

            VanWinkle Ranch is dedicated to improving consumer confidence through public engagement. Watch the video to learn more about this 5th generation rancher and how they demonstrate Beef Quality Assurance.

            Feedyard Award

            ADAMS LAND & CATTLE, nebraska

            For over 50 years, family-owned and operated Adams Land & Cattle has been pursuing and implementing industry advancements with science-based production practices and animal well-being. BQA is an important part of day-to-day business.

            Dairy Award

            DOTTERER DAIRY, PENNSYLVANIA

            In the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, family run Dotterer Dairy relies on Beef Quality Assurance and FARM principles to care for over 1,000 milking cows to produce high quality milk and beef. For more than three generations, Dotterer Dairy has been dedicated to land stewardship and cattle care.

            Marketer Award

            POWER GENETICS, NEBRASKa 

            Power Genetics incorporates the BQA program into its management plan to meet its goal of producing a safe, wholesome, high quality beef product by doing things the right way.

            Educator Award

            dr. JOHN WENZEL, NEW MEXICO

            For over three decades, Dr. John Wenzel has promoted the Beef Quality Assurance in his home state of New Mexico, traveling thousands of miles and conducting BQA training sessions for hundreds of beef producers.

            Past Winners

            View more winners from 2021 through 2009. Read their stories and watch their videos.

            Learn More >