Iowa Beef Collective

Will Taylor is the current Livestock Judging Coach for Iowa State University. If your son/daughter has ever participated in a contest, or is considering ramping up their interest in live animal evaluation, this episode is for you. We detail what livestock does for young people professionally (organization skills, defending opinions, making decisions, public speaking, confidence, etc.) Taylor also...

Collegiate livestock judging teams have competed for a coveted prize and title for decades: National Champion. Many teams try, few succeed, but the relationships built in the process of competing last forever. Two individual guests on the Iowa Beef Collective team up for this episode. Their memory of the team, its members, the places they travelled, and the value it brought them professionally is...

Sometimes you just have to follow your gut and seize the opportunity to talk with a legend…in an industry you know little about. Everyone at the stock dog trials told me to get Ron Kilstrom, and he didn’t disappoint. Learn how trials work, how they’re judged and scored, and how stock dogs are selected, trained, and used. Most importantly, he describes their value in an industry short on good labor...

Bryan Whaley, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association CEO, has undoubtedly had an interesting fall. While riding the price wave of beef, the challenges of responding to unforeseen shocks to the market…and the media spin from them is daunting. Listen in as Bryan describes pushing policy efforts on behalf of Iowa beef producers, while navigating the murky waters of recent news cycles. -------------------------...

Certainly a legend among two groups: livestock judges and Shorthorn breeders, Dr. Bert Moore describes his Iowa roots, his long career at North Dakota State University, and his love for the Shorthorn breed. Moore is a wealth of knowledge regarding the history of the Chicago International Livestock Exhibition and its transition to Louisville, KY. We talk briefly about the book he co-authored coveri...

The Iowa Cattle Industry Convention will be held Dec 16, 2025 in Altoona, IA. Join Casey Anderson, Iowa Beef Industry Council and Bryan Whaley, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association , for a dive into the educational program offerings, what to expect at the event, and the vast opportunities to network with friends and industry allies from the ranch hand cow punch to the mom blogger foodie & chef. Regist...

Feedlot Management: Some Things Never Change With over 20+ years in the cattle feeding industry, Andy Montag lays out the challenges facing the feedlot sector, both past and present. We discuss how the basics of managing a feedlot largely remain the same. Environmental regulations, risk management programs, larger carcass weights, and record-high prices are some of the many topics covered in this...

Iowa State University Extension Cow-Calf Specialist Randie Culbertson discusses the path that led her to Ames, Iowa. Growing up in New Mexico, her perspective on environment is far different than the Midwest. She discusses her research efforts and the challenges facing new faculty, plus the knowledge she gained through her time at the American Simmental Association.  Transcript -------------------...

Parenting is hard; raising children that want to participate in competitive athletics alongside 4-H & FFA is even harder. Emily Hartzell-Rogers and Patrick Wall discuss raising competitive athletes, including nutrition and physical fitness coupled with spending ample time on livestock projects. As a mom, Emily discusses embracing the chaos that’s required to get children to all the events they...

Merck Animal Health is certainly a familiar name within the beef industry, but most producers likely limit their scope to vaccines and treatment drugs. In reality, Merck has invested and expanded into many other facets of management and production. We detail how some of these products can help solve one of the largest challenges in livestock production agriculture: labor.  Transcript -------------...

We chronicle the history of Wiese & Sons Herefords of Manning, Iowa. Dave discusses the marketing avenues that have worked best for them and how his sons returning to the operation has changed things. Surviving multiple years of drought conditions, reducing the herd size as a result, yet remaining consistent with breeding objectives are all covered. This operation is a staple in the Hereford b...

Transcript⁠ One of the greatest events of every Iowa State Fair is the Governor’s Charity Steer Show to benefit Ronald McDonald Houses of Iowa. The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and the Iowa Beef Industry Council team up to host this event. Jenna recaps the most recent auction as well as the special recognitions given during the show. We detail how families and sponsors can get involved, how celebr...

Steve Radakovich is one of the industry icons, certainly in Iowa, regarding cattle breeding philosophy. His unique approach to crossbreeding to address weaknesses in one breed and strengths in another made him a pioneer in the production of composite bulls. Radakovich Cattle Company has been transitioned to a long-time partner in the operation; he describes how mutual trust is key to any business...

Aimee Wertz-Lutz began her role as director of the Iowa Beef Center on July 1, 2025. Join us as Aimee details her education and employment history that lead her to this new role. Learn about her roots in ag, how ruminant nutrition sort of found her as a career, and how the decision to leave industry for administration and education wasn’t easy. Transcript S1:E1

Join host Patrick Wall to learn more about the Iowa Beef Collective video podcast and preview upcoming episodes. We'll cover topic areas, scheduled guests, and a general feel for what drives the show. Subscribe and join us! This podcast is produced by the Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University. For more information visit https://www.iowabeef.org Transcript S1:E0