Awards, music offered at Beef Banquet
A Jones County Cattlemen Hall of Fame induction, Al Lubben Memorial scholarships presented to three students, and the second edition of the Jones County Idol karaoke contest were all part of the annual Jones County Beef Banquet Saturday, March 17 in the Berndes Center.
Ron Nowachek of Wyoming was inducted into the Cattlemen Hall of Fame for his many years of raising cattle and service to the organization and the community.
Nowachek started farming with his father, Robert, as a young child. Together they raised and finished hogs, took care of a cow/calf herd, and fed out about 300 head of fat cattle per year on the family farm, a land that saw many changes over four generations of Nowacheks.
He showed calves many times at the Jones County Fair while in 4-H. As an adult, Nowachek joined what was then called the Jones County Beef Board, and served for more than 35 years.
Nowachek left the farm in 1972 for a short stint when he entered the service. He completed a six-year hitch with the Army Reserves in Cedar Rapids, returned home to the family farm, and has remained there since. He continued to increase his cow herd and feeder operation to 1,000 head per year.
He married his wife Carmie in 1973, and their three daughters showed many times at the fair. Ron still spends time in the beef barn helping his grandchildren during their 4-H calf adventures.
Receiving Al Lubben Memorial Scholarship Awards at the banquet were Nick Welter of Cascade, $1,000; Holly Beringer of Cascade, $500; and Sydney Heims of Monticello, $250.
Phil Knuth of Anamosa won the second annual Jones County Idol karaoke contest, receiving $500.
Andy Petersen of WMT Radio served as master of ceremonies, Jennifer Fischer of Jones County Extension and Outreach delivered the invocation, and JanLee Rowlett of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association provided an update on that organization.
The Jones County Cattlemen also held their annual live and silent auctions, with Ivan Kurt serving as auctioneer. Door prize drawings were conducted as well.