The Greene County Cattlemen raised more than $27,000 Saturday night at their annual banquet held at Clover Hall in Jefferson. Hy-Vee catered the meal, serving steaks, other sides and desserts.
President Justin Robbins opened the night thanking sponsors and naming 2023 scholarship recipients. They were Autumn Consier, Kaitlin Fields, Bailey Anderson, Emma Hoyle, Parker Fitzpatrick, McKinley Robbins, Grace Curtis and Jacob Brus. In addition, thanks to the funds available, seven 2022 scholarship recipients received an additional award.
Auctioned items included trophies and belt buckles for the fair, gift baskets, pies, photo prints, beef, and sponsorships. The highest bid of the night went to M&W Ag Supply, winning the Grand Champion breeding animal belt buckle for $1,200. The high bid helped M&W Ag Supply claim the traveling trophy for the second year in a row. President Robbins (pictured, left) presented the award to Jason McDowell, who represented M & W at the banquet.
Bids of $1,000 went to Fairview Vet Clinic for the Grand Champion 4-H market animal belt buckle, Greene County Ag for the second Overall Champion 4-H market animal, and Iowa Cover Crop for the Champion educational pen of three. Thorp Land Clearing paid $1,000 for the honor of being the banquet sponsor in 2025.
Dan Laughery of Guthrie Livestock and Austin Schaben of Dunlap Livestock Auction cried the sale. At the conclusion of the evening, Robbins announced that $27,158 had been raised which the Catlemen will return to the community in various ways. A silent auction of several items also raised funds.
Last year the Cattlemen made donations of $31,429. In addition to the scholarships, donations included: purchased FFA jackets for the freshmen members; Greene County ARC, Greene County Clover Kids, Clover Café, 4-H Foundation, Beef Show trophies and banners, Heartland Throwdown, Grand Junction Lady’s Club, Friends of Rippey, 4-H beef ear tags, bedding for the cattle barn, beef certificates during May as beef month, hats and gloves for all fourth graders in Greene County and Paton-Churdan Schools, advertising in local newspapers and radio and more.
The Cattlemen are well known for their grilling expertise. They welcome events to showcase their skills. Last year they grilled at: RAGBRAI, Grand Junction Days, Bell Tower Parade (Pat’s Sliders), Bell Tower Festival, Iowa Cover Crop, GCYAA Baseball and T-ball, Truck Pull, Casino concert, Greene County Fair BBQ, Clover Café on beef show day, Heartland Bank, Cruisin’ on the Square, Farm Bureau Day, Kafer Wedding, Greene County pep rally, Community grill out at Home State Bank, GCYAA football, Relay for Life, Raccoon Valley Mutual Insurance and several high school graduations.
Additional officers of the Cattlemen and directors are Brandon Muir, vice president; Noah Juergensen, treasurer/secretary; Ben Gannon, grilling contact; Jonathan Marshall, Patrick Minnehan, Bill Fields, Ryan Schroeder, Andrew Michaelson, Isaac Hoskins and Jared Taggart. ~ Story and photo courtesy of The Scranton Journal
