Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA), the leading grassroots organization supporting Iowa’s beef
cattle industry, named the 2025 Producer of the Year and 2025 Hall of Fame award winners at their annual convention in
mid-December. It is with great pleasure that they announce Dennis Clarahan from Keokuk County as the 2025 Producer
of the Year. Beth Doran, retired beef specialist in northwest Iowa with the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach,
was inducted into ICA’s Hall of Fame for 2025.
Producer of the Year
Dennis Clarahan is the fifth-generation of Clarahans to raise cattle in Keokuk County. Clarahan Farms is located in
Harper, Iowa, and run by Dennis and his wife, Sheryl, along with their two sons, Ryan and Neil. The operation consists of
both cattle and crops. Clarahan Farms earned its Century Farm title in 2023.
Dennis’s family shared that he got his start like most rural children, showing cattle in 4-H and FFA. Dennis has fed cattle
since he was seven years old, proudly telling anyone who will listen that he has been in the business for over 60 years.
The cattle operation is very focused on carcass quality, as apparent by Dennis’s dedication and participation in the ICA
annual Carcass Challenge. Starting with an Angus cow base, they use Chianina genetics on the bull side, which has led
to high-yielding, high-quality carcass characteristics.
In the application, his family shared that Dennis’s herd has shown continuous improvement over the last several decades
in key performance indicators, thanks to sustained selection pressure, careful management, and data-driven decision-
making.
These improvements have contributed directly to an increase in the total pounds of beef produced per acre for the
operation. By tracking individual performance, monitoring herd health, and maintaining detailed enterprise records,
Clarahan Farms has been able to identify strengths, address weaknesses, and continue building a more productive and
efficient cow herd.
Dennis is a leader – not only within the operation, but within the industry and his community. Dennis served two terms as
a district director on the ICA board. He also served two terms with the American Chianina Association. He has hosted
several tours of the farm as well as freeze branding clinics for local 4-H clubs. Dennis was recognized as the 2024
Commercial Cattlemen of the Year through the American Chianina Association. Last year, he and Sheryl were also
recognized for being 40-year members of that association, too.
The ICA Producer of the Year nomination is meaningful as it must come from another ICA producer member. This year,
Bob Noble submitted the nomination and worked with Ryan Clarahan to complete the official nomination form.
Some words shared to describe Dennis are that he is noted for quality bulls and hospitality at his sales. Bob shared that
he has quite the operation and welcomes you right in. Other board members recognize him as a friendly face. In the
nomination form, his family said that Dennis has instilled a love of cattle in his sons and all seven of his grandchildren.
At the Iowa Cattle Industry Convention in December, his granddaughter Reagan shared a few words and spoke to his
dedication to their family farm. Words like consistency, integrity, doing things the right way, and commitment were used.
In Reagan’s words, “Beyond the cattle and the land, my grandpa has also been a teacher and a role model. He has taught
our family the value of hard work, perseverance, and how to take pride in what you do. He leads by example, showing us
that success isn’t just measured by awards, but by the legacy you leave behind and the people you impact along the way.
Grandpa, we are incredibly proud of you. Thank you for everything you’ve taught us, for the lessons you may not even
realize you’ve given, and for showing us what it truly means to be a producer.”
Hall of Fame
Beth Doran’s passion for the cattle industry stemmed from 4-H, where she spent nine years as a youth exhibitor at a
young age. This is where she began her passion for showing livestock and custom fitting. According to her brother, Gene
Doran, Beth was one of the best showmen.
Beth was also scholastically talented. She has a bachelor’s degree in home economics and one in animal science. From
there, she went on to get her master’s degree and doctorate from Oklahoma State in feedlot nutrition. She then took an
extension livestock position with Michigan State University, where she says she learned a lot, particularly about water
quality and the impacts of environmental pressures. Beth attributes much of her success to the numerous mentors she
was exposed to throughout her education journey and during the early years of her career.
In 1993, Beth joined ISU Extension and Outreach in a new position — a beef specialist in northwestern Iowa. Beth said
that originally it was meant to have a focus on feedlots, but having her background of showing and raising cattle on her
family’s cow-calf operation, she covered both. In this role, she served 17 counties and worked directly with beef producers
in the industry, supporting them with problem-solving, information, and resources.
Beth also noted that she not only worked with producers, but with the strong ag business industry in the area. She said
that Northwest Iowa has a tremendous infrastructure in terms of all the goods and services that support the robust cattle
industry in that part of Iowa.
One of Beth’s main contributions in this role revolved around continuous education, and some of her larger
accomplishments included planning and executing Iowa’s Feedlot Forum, which is held each winter in the northwest part
of the state. She has put on and delivered numerous other courses and learning events for cattle enthusiasts of all ages.
At the core, Beth said it was the people with whom she had the opportunity to work with that kept her so passionate about
her job. She said that the producer’s passion is contagious and that her producers were very committed to what they do
and how they can keep on the cutting edge.
Beth recently retired after nearly 27 years of selflessly serving producers. She said that she is currently working on getting
moved back to central Iowa to be closer to Gene and the family farm. She said she’ll remain involved in the industry, but in
a different way that she’ll need to figure out.
Beth was inducted into the ICA’s Hall of Fame at the 2025 Iowa Cattle Industry Convention held in mid-December. One of
the most special components of this award is that the nomination comes from peers, and for Beth, it came from a group of
cattle producers from Northwest Iowa who came together to recommend her for this award.
ICA congratulates both Dennis and Beth as winners of this year’s Producer of the Year and Hall of Fame and thanks them
for their commitment and dedication to bettering Iowa’s cattle industry.
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About Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA): Iowa Cattlemen’s Association represents nearly 8,000 beef cattle producer
families and associated companies dedicated to the future of Iowa’s beef industry. ICA’s mission is “Grow Iowa’s beef
business through advocacy, leadership, and education.” www.iacattlemen.org.
Enclosure: Pictures as labeled of Producer of the Year winner Dennis Clarahan, Hall of Fame winner Beth Doran, and her
brother Gene Doran.
