Unkrich, Moeller gain top awards at banquet

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

Nearly 400 Henry County cattlemen and friends of the industry congregated in Manning Hall, in Mt. Pleasant, Thursday night for the annual Henry County Cattlemen Banquet.

Merle Unkrich and Darrell Moeller were presented with the evening?s prestigious awards ? both being named a Henry County Cattleperson of the Year.

Sparky Wellman, a former district director for the Iowa Cattlemen, took home the Friend of the Industry award.

Four students, who graduated in 2015, received $1,000 cattlemen scholarships. The students are Hannah Wickham, Mt. Pleasant Community High School; Marcus Moothart, Mt. Pleasant Community High School; Kerry Davis, Winfield-Mt. Union High School; Samatha Jamison, Winfield-Mt. Union High School; and Alex Sandeen, Mt. Pleasant High School.

The county-raised heifer award went to Loyd Shorthorns. Grace Conwell received the county-raised steer award.

Bob Quinn, WHO Radio farm broadcaster, provided the evening?s address. Rather than talk about beef issues, Quinn told humorous stories from his nearly 40-year career in radio in both Ottumwa and Des Moines.

Quinn, an Iowa State University graduate, began working at an Ottumwa radio station in 1978 before moving to WHO-Radio in 1983. He currently hosts the ?Big Show,? which is a farm broadcast Monday through Friday over the noon hour.

He said he rises at 3 a.m. Monday-Friday and generally begins his work day at 4 a.m. Asked once about whether he thinks about retiring, Quinn said, ?Yes, every day at 3 a.m.?

Growing up on a farm near Des Moines, Quinn said he went to college ?to get away from agriculture? and ended up back in the field he wanted to leave. He graduated from ISU in 1978, owing just $600 for his education. Tuition when Quinn went to college was $1,800 per year, he noted.

The broadcaster said he has had a great career. ?I grew up listening to Lee Kline, Keith Kirkpatrick and Harb Plambeck. I have gotten to know and work with a bunch of great people.?

Craig Grothe serves as president of the county cattlemen. Other officers are Thom Miller, vice president; Lloyd Bank, secretary; and Eric Rawson, treasurer.

Directors include Kenneth Campbell, Keith Denning, Wayne Fuller, Carl Lund, Jeff McGohan, Ryan Meyer, Joe Miller, Mike Moothart, Adam Smith, Marcus Smith and Chris Kelly. Tom Allender retired from the board after 24 years of service.