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Washington Evening Journal
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Jefferson County residents participate in Iowa Cattlemen Leadership Program
FAIRFIELD – A couple of members of Jefferson County Cattlemen are helping to promote the beef industry at the highest levels thanks to their participation in the Iowa Cattlemen Leadership Program.
Ashlynn Jones and Brandon Taglauer applied to be part of this leadership team last November, and discovered that they were chosen for the honor. Since January, they’ve been meeting monthly with 14 other cattlemen across Iowa to discuss beef advocacy, travel to the capitol, visit the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and visit the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Headquarters in Denver, Colorado.
The Iowa Cattlemen, Iowa Beef Council and Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation are responsible for creating this leadership program. One thing the group is learning about is where the Beef Checkoff dollars go, which receives $1.50 for every head of cattle sold in the state. Fifty cents go to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and $1 stays in the state. Money goes toward beef education, advertisements for beef, and promoting beef recipes, among other things. Taglauer noted that the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is responsible for making these recipes tried and true. The association has been posting recipes for the last 12 years, and the No. 1 most searched for recipe is meatloaf.
Residents might recognize the bumper stickers produced by the Iowa Beef Council that say, “Seven days without beef makes one weak.” When Taglauer and Jones toured the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Headquarters, they saw the association’s state-of-the-art kitchen where they test out 1,300 beef recipes, including a smashburger meal that they got to eat.
BRANDON TAGLAUER
Taglauer was born and raised in Jefferson County. His grandfather on his mom’s side raised Registered Black Angus cattle for over 47 years until he stopped in 2021. Taglauer’s dad bought his first farm in 1994, the year Taglauer was born, and got started raising Black Angus Cattle from his grandfather.
“I grew up around Black Angus Cattle,” Taglauer said. “Farming was in my blood, and I always knew that was what I wanted to do.”
Taglauer showed cattle at the fair, and when he graduated from Fairfield High School in 2013, he bought half a dozen heifers from his grandfather. Four years later, he ventured out on his own, and now does row crops plus a 70-head beef cow operation. He also raises bulls for breeding to sell to other producers, and sells females for replacements.
ASHLYNN JONES
Jones did not grow up on a farm, but her grandparents did and they still live on their farm. She grew up showing a species of cattle called Salers, and showed them at county, state and national competitions.
“That’s where I got started in leadership roles, being on junior boards and doing things that had me in the public eye promoting beef,” she said.
Jones went to college at DMACC to study Applied Science in Agribusiness, then got her bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science from Northwest Missouri State University in 2019. In 2022, she completed her Master of Science in Agricultural Leadership, Communications, and Leadership from the University of Missouri. She is currently in her fourth year of teaching as an Agricultural Education Instructor and FFA Advisor at Fairfield High School. Her husband, Matthew Jones, is the Ag teacher at Pekin, and he is a third-generation farmer. He and his grandfather raise Red Angus Cattle.
Jones said she’s felt her whole life that she would end up in agriculture. The only time she had any doubts was in college, but those doubts lasted just one semester.
“Ag is a big part of my identity, and the beef industry is an even bigger part,” she said. “It’s something I’ve always enjoyed doing, and now I’m able to do it as an adult.
BEEF INDUSTRY LEADERS
Jones said she was interested in joining the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association’s Leadership Program last year, but just missed the deadline for participating that year.
“I knew that I didn’t want to miss it next year,” she said. “It’s obviously a good time when you can hang out with a bunch of cattlemen. It’s cool to build that network and create a larger group of friends. I love being a part of ag and getting to meet people who have the same passion.”
Taglauer said he’s attended the Jefferson County Cattlemen’s Annual Banquet for many years, though he hasn’t been involved in the organization as much as he hoped because family matters have taken priority. A woman named Landi from Hoover Angus in Tingley, Iowa, whom he has bought bulls and replacements from, texted him to tell him about this leadership opportunity with the Iowa Cattlemen, and that intrigued Taglauer because he wanted to do more in the industry.
“It’s been more than I thought it would be. I’ve learned a lot,” Taglauer said. “When we met for our third time in Denver, it felt like we had known each other our whole lives.”
Jones echoed that sentiment, saying, “You would not have realized we had only known each other 60 days. We’re fortunate we all get along. It’s nice to have another group of people you can rely on, and you know they’re going to have your back.”
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
