Auction nets nearly $20K
It was a profitable and fun evening Saturday when the Greene County Cattlemen’s Association hosted their annual banquet at Clover Hall on the Greene County Fairgrounds in Jefferson. Almost 250 people joined the Cattlemen in raising $19,285 to promote beef products and provide scholarships to local students furthering their education.
President Pat Fields conducted the meeting with the invocation given by Mike Holden. A prime rib meal was catered by Lidderdale Country Store.
Tom Lawton serves as vice president and Tanner Lawton, treasurer. Directors include Holden, Tom Heun, Steve Kennedy, Doug Lawton, Mike Ostendorf, Justin Robbins, Dave Tipton, Mick Towers and Roger Rowles.
Katie Oltoff, communications director for the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, discussed a variety of important topics to beef producers ranging from state and federal regulations, waters of the U.S. (WOTUS), agriculture bills in the legislature, nuisance lawsuits and manure stock piles.
Tanner Lawton explained the ICA Young Leadership Program that he and other Greene County Cattlemen have completed. He highly recommended the experience, citing valuable knowledge he gained.
Scholarship winners from the Class of 2016 were recognized and presented with their checks. Due to a successful year, the scholarships were increased to $750, which delighted the students. 
Pictured are (front, from left) Jolee Wessling, Cassidy Carstens, Lakota Larson and Tori Tucker; and (back, from left) Wyatt Tipton, Macauley Adamson, Maxwell Neese, Kasey Lane, Reilly Niles and Hannah Peterson. Mackenzie Dennhardt and Noah Juergensen were not present.
Jon Schaben of Dunlap Livestock Auction and Dan Laughery of Guthrie Livestock Auction cried the trophy sale. Two homemade pies donated by Brenda Thorp were sold with Hamilton Redi Mix spending $550 to take them home.
There was a running battle between Hamiltons and Hy-Vee to earn the traveling trophy. Hamiltons prevailed with their total of $1,850.
Hy-Vee bid $900 for the Grand Champion 4-H Market Beef award. Several other awards brought more than $500.
Tom Walker of Scranton Machine Shop provided two flower pots, designed for Cyclone and Hawkeye fans. The ISU fans doubled the money on the UI fans with Hamiltons paying $400 for the Cyclone pot while Peter Service Center bid $200.
The Cattlemen recapped a busy year, with the following activities in 2016:
- Worked at Iowa State Fair Beef Quarters
- Purchased 29 FFA jackets
- Donated and cooked for Relay for Life
- Supported Iowa 4-H Foundation
- Helped with 4-H Beef Show, sale and weigh-ins
- Donated to the 4-H Clover Cafe
- Grilled ribeye steak sandwiches at the Bell Tower Festival
- Donated and grilled hamburgers at Greene County Fair, Greene County High School, Greene County football pre-game meal and Greene County Extension centennial celebration
- Cooked for fall Republican fundraiser
- Provided scholarships for senior beef exhibitors
- Purchased ear tags for 4-H beef exhibitors
- Purchased programs for 4-H beef show
- Expanded scholarship program
- Grilled at Greene County Intermediate building, Community State Bank in Paton, Hamilton Redi-Mix 40th anniversary, REG at Ralston, McAtee Tire 50th anniversary, New Way Manufacturing and Fourth Grade Farm Day at the Robbins farm
With the successful banquet, the Greene County Cattlemen are off to another banner year. Weigh-ins of the 4-H animals have been completed as the youngsters and Cattlemen look ahead to the 2017 Greene County Fair. ~The Scranton Journal
