2026 BQA Awards Announced at CattleCon

Winners recognized for outstanding beef and dairy production practices

Feb. 5, 2026 at 7:39pm

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The winners of the 2026 Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards were announced at CattleCon 2026 in Nashville. The annual awards recognize beef and dairy producers, marketers, and educators who demonstrate exceptional animal care and handling as part of their daily operations.

Why it matters

The BQA program promotes industry-wide standards for animal welfare and sustainable production practices. Recognizing leaders in the field helps drive adoption of BQA principles and highlights the benefits of responsible cattle farming and dairy operations.

The details

The 2026 BQA Award winners include: East Foundation Ranches (Cow-Calf Award), Singing Brook Farms (Dairy FARM Award), Ordway Cattle Feeders (Feedyard Award), Sysco Corporation (Marketer Award), and Jerry Yates of West Virginia University (Educator Award). The awards are sponsored by Cargill and Sam's Club, and winners are selected by a committee of BQA-certified representatives based on their commitment to BQA practices, industry leadership, and promotion of the BQA message.

  • The 2026 BQA Awards were announced this week at CattleCon 2026 in Nashville.

The players

East Foundation Ranches

Winner of the 2026 BQA Cow-Calf Award, located in Hebbronville, Texas.

Singing Brook Farms

Winner of the 2026 BQA Dairy FARM Award, located in Imler, Pennsylvania.

Ordway Cattle Feeders

Winner of the 2026 BQA Feedyard Award, located in Ordway, Colorado.

Sysco Corporation

Winner of the 2026 BQA Marketer Award, headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Jerry Yates

Winner of the 2026 BQA Educator Award, from West Virginia University in Wardensville, West Virginia.

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What they’re saying

“BQA standards give us tools to ensure that we're creating healthy animals that thrive, which then translates into profitability.”

— Greta Halahan, Singing Brook Farms

The takeaway

The BQA Awards highlight the importance of responsible cattle farming and dairy production practices that prioritize animal welfare and sustainable operations. By recognizing industry leaders, the program helps drive broader adoption of BQA principles and demonstrates the benefits of this approach for both producers and consumers.