A Pella Middle School student has received recognition for her efforts in working with cattle.

Sarabeth Decious, daughter of Peter and Kelly Decious, of Tracy, has been chosen as the 2021 recipient of three registered Simmental heifers awarded by the Iowa Beef Breeds Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation.

Initiated in an attempt to help young Iowans begin foundation beef herds, this is the eleventh year of the Iowa Foundation Heifer Program. Sarabeth was chosen from a group of well-qualified applicants. She is a 7th grader at Pella Middle School, where she is active in basketball and choir. Decious lives with her parents and her older sisters, Taylor and Raegan, on a farm near Tracy. She is currently serving as team captain of the Marion County Livestock Quiz Bowl Team. Sarabeth is a member of the Iowa Junior Beef Breeds Association, the American Jr Hereford Association and the American Junior Chianina Association. She has participated at local, regional and national events.

Her recommendations describe her as a student with leadership qualities whose work ethic and aptitude are very obvious in her responsibilities at school, community and church. She has a passion for the cattle business and has chosen Simmentals as her breed of choice, and Decious is excited to begin her duties as the new owner of three Simmental heifers.

Those heifers were purchased from VanAernam Simmentals (Gale and Andy VanAernam, Exira, IA) by the Iowa Beef Breeds Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation. At the end of 5 years, when she graduates from high school, Sarabeth will help further fund the project by contributing $6,000.

Sarabeth and her family will be honored at the grand finale of the evening at the IA Beef Expo Annual Kick-off Party by the Iowa Beef Breeds Council as a future seed stock producer.