Beef Industry's Best Honored at Awards Banquet

The Indiana Beef Cattle Association (IBCA) honored the state’s top cattlemen and women during their Annual Convention in Indianapolis on Saturday, January 21st at the Sheraton North, Indianapolis.

The IBCA Friend of the Industry Award was given to Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council. This award is given to a group, an individual or a company who has stood out in their support of the beef industry either through financial support or other promotional and marketing efforts. Both organizations support Hoosier cattle producers through research and sponsorship of their key annual events. Accepting on behalf was Dr. Paul Hodgen, President of Indiana Corn Marketing Council.

Honoring cattlemen and women who possess beef management skills and leadership abilities, the IBCA awarded the 2022 Outstanding Cattleman of the Year to Tim Schwab of Batesville. He works as the farm manager of Kopp Land and Livestock in Batesville. They farm about 600 acres of row crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, and about 1200 acres of pasture. They background about 500 head of feeder steers each year and the farm maintains about 200 to 250 cows. Two club calf sales and a bred heifer and cow sale take place each year. Through these sales they have sold cattle which have won champion honors at the North American International Livestock Expo, American Royal, National Western, California State Fair, Wyoming State Fair, North Carolina State Fair, Hoosier Beef Congress, Ohio AGR and AGS shows, Kentucky Beef Expo and many local and county fairs. He is proud of breeding and raising the promotional sire Hi Ho Silver.

The most esteemed award each year is the coveted Robert C. Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award. This year the IBCA awarded the 2022 honor to two very deserving recipients: Steve Gunn of Greensburg and Bob Bishop of Leesburg. For 20 years, Steve Gunn and Bob Bishop served as the co-chairs of Hoosier Beef Congress. Steve was the HBC committee chair and Bob was the junior show chair. In the beginning, there were about 600 head in the show. When they turned over the reins in 2012, there were close to 1500 head. Both have served as President of IBCA and are active leaders in their local communities.

The Indiana Beef Cattle Association congratulated all the award recipients and was proud to honor them for their work and commitment to the Indiana beef industry and agriculture.