Stickle is inducted, awards presented at Beef Banquet

Published by admin on Wed, 03/20/2019 - 8:59am

Don Stickle of Anamosa, 94, was inducted into the Jones County Cattlemen Hall of Fame during the Jones County Beef Banquet March 16 at the Berndes Center. (Photos by Kim Brooks)

Four Jones County students were awarded scholarships from the Cattlemen. Winners were, from left: Peyton Lasack of Oxford Junction, $250; Ashley Kurt of Cascade, $1,000; Rebecca Trumm of Cascade, $500; and Austin Timm of Monticello, $250.

Colton McQuillen of Monticello won $500 and the title of Jones County Idol for his rendition of “Sixteen Tons” as part of the banquet’s karaoke contest.

Gathering for their annual photo at the end of the Beef Banquet are the Jones County Cattlemen. They are, first row from left: president Justin Reiter, vice president Steve Barber, treasurer Doug Kurt, secretary Josh Smith, Great Jones County Fair representative Lee Hardersen, membership coordinator Kevin Gassman, District II representative Jason Kurt, and director Neal Grant. Second row: directors Cody Dirks, Ralph Hosch, Ty Jeffery, Andy Jamison, Lance Toenjes, Mike Lynch, Kerry Scharff and Cole Burrack. (Photos by Kim Brooks)
By: 
Pete Temple
Express Sports/Ag Editor

     A Jones County Cattlemen Hall of Fame induction, Al Lubben Memorial scholarships presented to four students, and the third edition of the Jones County Idol karaoke contest were all part of the annual Jones County Beef Banquet Saturday, March 16 at the Berndes Center.

     Don Stickle of Anamosa, age 94, was inducted into the Cattlemen Hall of Fame for his many years of raising cattle and other endeavors.

     Stickle is known for the slogan, “Rent a good bull; it doesn’t cost, it pays!” His story began in the Shellsburg area, where he was born in 1924. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944 to serve in World War II, returning to Iowa in 1946 and moving to Jones County in 1947.

     In 1950 he married Jeanette, his wife of 69 years, and together they raised three sons. His youngest son and granddaughter are now running the family farms, including the cow/calf operation.

     Stickle went into the bull rental business, which grew to having 1,300 bulls at one time. He has bought more than 18,000 bulls in his lifetime.

     He was involved in other endeavors. He bought Quaker food waste product when it was going to the landfill to use it as cattle and hog feed, a business that grew to buying food waste from 60 factories. He used the first highway guardrail for agricultural purposes in 1979, and his farms now have miles of guardrail fencing.

     The cattle on feed grew to 5,000 to 6,000 head on seven different farms in Jones and Linn counties, and more away from home.

     Today, his phone calls at breakfast can range from where to deliver rental bulls to selling a semi load of guardrail or salvaging a submerged barge of corn out of the Mississippi River.

     Receiving Al Lubben Memorial Scholarship Awards at the banquet were Ashley Kurt of Cascade, $1,000; Rebecca Trumm of Cascade, $500; Peyton Lasack of Oxford Junction, $250; and Austin Timm of Monticello, $250.

     Colton McQuillen of Monticello won the third annual Jones County Idol karaoke contest, receiving $500.

     Andy Petersen of WMT Radio served as Master of ceremonies.

     The Jones County Cattlemen also held their annual live auction, with Ivan Kurt serving as auctioneer. A silent auction and door prize drawings were conducted as well.               

 

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