Snapshots of History by Mike Avitt
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By Mike Avitt
Many years ago, the Mount Ayr Depot Museum was gifted a scrapbook from the Ringgold County Cattlemen’s Association. I can no longer locate that scrapbook, but I had some success searching different words and phrases on the digitized newspapers. Let’s take a look at the beginning of that association.
The August 22, 1974 Record-News announces an organizational meeting for a Ringgold County branch of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association to be held at the Ringgold County Courthouse assembly room on at 8 p.m. August 26. The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association was established in 1972 with the merging of the Iowa Livestock Feeders Association and the Iowa Beef Producer’s Association.
Craig Elliott was acting as the temporary president and Frank Hunt as acting secretary at the first meeting with approximately 60 members signed up, with associate memberships available to those who support this effort but do not raise cattle. The agenda focused on the election of officers and goals for the association.
By the end of August the association had Craig Elliott as president, Wendell Jackson as vice president and Frank Hunt as secretary and treasurer. The board consisted of Ivan Dolecheck, Terry Barnes, Melvin Gray, Dick Weehler, Bob Andrews, Joe Klejch, Jr., Phil Foltz and H. K. Lorimor.
The newly-formed board of directors met November 27, 1974 and agreed to participate with Taylor and Union Counties in a cow herd management meeting to be held in Lenox. Plans were also made for an annual association meeting every March.
The first annual Ringgold County Cattlemen’s Association Banquet was held March 8, 1975 at Diagonal with 280 people in attendance. Guest speaker was television and radio personality Red Blanchard. Secretary Frank announced the membership at 78. Admission to the event was $1.
A board meeting on April 22, 1975 resulted in an effort with the CowBelles, an auxiliary association, to sponsor a booth at the Ringgold County Fair. Also, collection of annual dues was being pursued.
The second annual meeting was held in Mount Ayr in January 1976 with about 120 in attendance. Wendell Jackson was now president and Joan Jackson was CowBelles President. Guest speaker was Rusty Caldwell with Horace Daggett and Arlo Hullinger as special guests.
On March 18, 1976, the association sponsored a bus trip to beef-related facilities in eastern Nebraska.
In August 1976, a group of Cherokee County cattle-raisers toured the cattle operations of Sam Sickels, Phil Foltz, Junior James, Darrell Stewart, Ralph Brammer, Graham Brothers, Herb Jackson, Dean Jackson, Lowell Hickman and Dr. Mitchell. This was a two-day event.
About 100 endured very cold temperatures in January 1977 for the 3rd Annual Meeting of the cattlemen’s association. Frank Hunt was now president with Doyle Richards as secretary and treasurer.
Lois Hunt spoke on behalf of the CowBelles. Guest speaker was Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Robert Lounsberry.
Information about the association trails off a little in 1978, but I want to point out the information in previous years was submitted to the Record-News by the association, the Extension Office, the Ringgold County Fair Association, 4-H groups, et al. If that info had not been submitted, I wouldn’t have been able to look it up. So, I ask my readers to provide the Record-News with info about your group. It’s quite possible someone will want to look it up in 52 years.
