(Wiota) Ross Havens of Wiota, Iowa, has been appointed to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB). The CBB is responsible for guiding the national Beef Checkoff Program.
Havens is a graduate of Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science. He has held multiple positions in the cattle industry but has served as the marketing coordinator for Nichols Farms in Bridgewater, Iowa since 1994. In his role at Nichols Farms, Havens works to produce and market beef genetics that will add value to his commercial customers’ herds and meet today’s consumer demands.
Havens has been active in numerous beef industry associations since 1994, including the Cass County and Iowa Beef Producers. Over the years, he served as the secretary, president and state representative for the Cass County Beef Producers, and he also coached the Cass County Beef Extravaganza from 2001 to 2006. Havens was a member of the Iowa Cattlemen Merging Leader Class in 2003, and he’s a member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Havens represented District 13 for the Iowa Cattlemen’s Board of Directors from 2007 to 2009, and he was the organization’s president from 2011 to 2012. He also serves as a director of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation. From 1999 to 2012 Havens served as Wiota’s mayor, and he also serves on the local fire department.
“Ross’s knowledge and years of expertise will be a valuable addition to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board,” said Jared Brackett, 2020 CBB chairman. “We’re looking forward to having him as an active member on the board.”
The CBB consists of 99 members, including domestic beef, dairy and veal producers, as well as importers of beef and beef products. Forty-two states have individual members serving on the Board. The remaining states are divided into three regions. Each Beef Board member is appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture from nominations submitted by certified nominating organizations that represent beef and dairy producers in each state or region. Importer appointments are drawn from nominations by importer associations.
For more information about the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, the Beef Checkoff and its programs –promotion, research, foreign marketing, industry information, consumer information and safety – visit DrivingDemandforBeef.com.
