Iowa Cattlemen's Association

What Iowa Cattlemen's Association does

The Iowa Cattlemen's Association (ICA) is a nonprofit membership-based trade association headquartered in Ames, Iowa, representing nearly 8,000 beef-producing families across the state. Established in 1914, ICA's mission is to grow Iowa's beef cattle business through advocacy, leadership, and education. The organization focuses on addressing local, state, and federal policy issues that affect the long-term viability of cattle farming, operating a Political Action Committee (CAPITAL Circle) and engaging in active legislative advocacy, evidenced by the 2026 Iowa Legislative Session outcomes.

ICA's core products center on the monthly Iowa Cattleman magazine (reaching nearly 10,000 members in print and digital formats), the Cattlemen's Compass video series for producer education, and a portfolio of industry programs including the Iowa Cattlemen's Leadership Program, Bull Evaluation Program, Carcass Challenge, Cattle Krush, and a Market Reporting Service. The organization also administers a suite of annual awards (Producer of the Year, Environmental Stewardship Award, Hall of Fame, Iowa's Best Burger contest, Seedstock Producer Award) and produces electronic newsletters (PenCheck, Beyond the Bunk, Cow-Calf Chronicle) plus a podcast ('At The Gate').

ICA's business model combines three revenue streams: recurring membership dues from beef-producing families and associated companies, advertising sold in the magazine and e-newsletters (with reach extended nationally via the Livestock Advertising Network covering 18 state cattlemen associations and over 110,300 producers), and event-driven income from program sponsorships and participation fees. Key partnerships include co-sponsorship of the Iowa's Best Burger contest with the Iowa Beef Industry Council, research collaboration with Iowa State University Extension and the Iowa Beef Center, and conservation program work with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Name

Iowa Cattlemen's Association

Legal name

Iowa Cattlemen's Association

Website

https://iacattlemen.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Iowa Cattlemen's Association is a nonprofit membership-based trade association representing nearly 8,000 beef-producing families in Iowa, providing advocacy, education, the monthly Iowa Cattleman magazine, industry programs, and awards to support the state's cattle industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Trade Association

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Advocacy, Policy & Public Awareness (Animal Welfare) (BPAGAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Livestock & Herd/Flock Operations Management Advisory (Nutrition, Housing, Performance) (AFACAJAL)

Keywords

• Cattle industry advocacy
• Beef producer association
• Agricultural membership organization
• Livestock industry leadership
• Beef cattle education

Headquarters

HQ city

Ames

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ICA generates revenue through membership dues from beef-producing families and associated companies across Iowa. Membership provides access to advocacy, programs, and member communications.
2. Magazine and Newsletter Advertising: The Iowa Cattleman magazine (circulation of nearly 10,000) and e-newsletters (PenCheck biweekly, Beyond the Bunk monthly for feedlots, Cow-Calf Chronicle monthly for seedstock) offer print and digital advertising options to reach ICA's targeted member audience.
3. Event Sponsorships: Programs like BeefMasters Open, Cattlemen's Leadership Program, Bull Evaluation Program, Carcass Challenge, and Cattle Krush generate revenue through event participation fees and corporate sponsorships.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Iowa Cattlemen's Association is a nonprofit trade organization that represents approximately 8,000 beef-producing families across Iowa. It delivers membership-based services including legislative advocacy, leadership development, industry education, market reporting, print and digital media (Iowa Cattleman magazine), cattle evaluation programs, and networking events for the beef cattle industry.

Product overview

The Iowa Cattlemen's Association offers a unified portfolio of advocacy, education, and member services for Iowa's beef cattle industry. The core offering is the Iowa Cattleman Magazine (print and digital, monthly, reaching nearly 10,000 members), supplemented by the Cattlemen's Compass video series for bite-sized producer education. ICA Programs include the Leadership Program, Bull Evaluation Program, Carcass Challenge, Cattle Krush, and Market Reporting Service. The association also operates awards programs (Producer of the Year, Environmental Stewardship Award, Hall of Fame, Iowa's Best Burger Contest, Seedstock Producer Award) and advocacy initiatives including CAPITAL Circle (PAC) and FACT Sheets on policy topics. Events include BeefMasters Open. Electronic communications include PenCheck, Beyond the Bunk, and Cow-Calf Chronicle newsletters. Membership provides access to all programs and the monthly magazine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Iowa Cattlemen's Association Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Iowa has won 16 regional Environmental Stewardship Awards and 3 national Environmental Stewardship Awards since 1991

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Iowa Beef Industry CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the Iowa's Best Burger contest along with ICA. The Iowa Beef Industry Council is funded by the National Beef Checkoff Program ($1/head) and Iowa State Beef Checkoff ($0.50/head), investing in beef promotion, consumer information, research, industry information, and foreign market development.
• Iowa State University ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICA works with ISU Extension and Outreach specialists, particularly for programs like the Iowa Beef Center. Dr. Dan Loy served as director of the Iowa Beef Center from 2010-2023 and was inducted into the ICA Hall of Fame in 2024.
• Livestock Advertising Network (LAN)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLAN is the national advertising representative of 18 state cattlemen associations. The Iowa Cattleman magazine participates in this network, which reaches over 110,300 producers and accounts for nearly 16 million head of beef cattle.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICA works with NRCS on conservation programs. Many Environmental Stewardship Award winners partnered with NRCS on EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) projects for rotational grazing, fencing, ponds, and water systems.
• Farm Service Agency (FSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks with FSA on conservation programs including CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) and farm operation improvements. Award-winning producers have utilized FSA programs for conservation practices.
• National Cattlemen's Beef AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICA members are active members of NCBA. The National Environmental Stewardship Award Program was initiated by NCBA in 1991. ICA Hall of Fame inductees are typically active in both organizations.
• Iowa Cattlemen's FoundationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorICA-affiliated nonprofit foundation supporting education, research, and youth development in Iowa's beef cattle industry. Listed as a linked resource on the ICA website.
• Iowa Beef CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and education center at Iowa State University providing research-based information for the beef industry. ICA collaborates with the Center for producer education and industry information.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Nebraska Cattlemen: State-level cattlemen's association in neighboring Nebraska serving beef producers with advocacy, education, and events; highly comparable in mission, member services, and program portfolio to ICA.
• National Cattlemen's Beef Association: National trade association and ICA's direct counterpart at the federal level; ICA members are typically also NCBA members, and the two collaborate on advocacy and programs like the Environmental Stewardship Award Program initiated in 1991.
• Kansas Livestock Association: State-level trade association representing Kansas cattle producers on policy, education, and marketing; same membership-based operating model and similar program offerings as ICA.
• Texas Cattle Feeders Association: Member-driven cattle trade association in Texas focused on cattle feeding and beef production advocacy; directly analogous membership structure and policy advocacy mission to ICA.
• Colorado Cattlemen's Association: State cattlemen's association representing Colorado beef producers; comparable membership model, magazine publication, and advocacy focus to ICA.
• Montana Stockgrowers Association: Long-standing state cattle association serving Montana ranchers; similar governance, magazine, and policy advocacy model to ICA, though more ranching-focused versus Iowa's mixed cow-calf/feedlot profile.
• Iowa Pork Producers Association: Iowa's analogous commodity producer trade association serving hog farmers; shares the same state-level advocacy, education, and member-services operating model as ICA, but for a different livestock species.
• Iowa Farm Bureau Federation: Iowa's largest general agricultural membership organization; broader in scope than ICA but directly competes for Iowa farmer mindshare, advocacy influence, and magazine readership.

Broad incumbents

• American Farm Bureau Federation: National umbrella agricultural advocacy organization that overlaps with ICA's policy mission at the federal level, though it represents all commodities rather than specializing in cattle.

Emerging players

• Livestock Marketing Association: National trade association for livestock auction markets and dealers; adjacent to ICA's beef producer membership base and shares overlapping market reporting and policy interests.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLriD4chabl1kXqB4h-65b_SmlXtw75DLh
• Xx.com/IAcattlemen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Iowa Cattlemen's Association