WAIMEA – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has announced Parker Ranch as the winner of the 2025 Beef Quality Assurance Cow-Calf Award.
Each year, the BQA awards recognize outstanding beef and dairy producers, marketers, and educators who best demonstrate animal care and handling principles as part of the day-to-day activities of their respective operations.
The Cow-Calf Award is one of five national awards presented by the BQA, a nationally coordinated, state-implemented program that provides U.S. beef producers guidelines and certification on how to raise cattle under optimum management and environmental conditions, according to a press release.
Parker Ranch acknowledged the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, Mele Oshiro and the University of Hawaii Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, Dr. Lisa Wood of Veterinary Associates, and the Hawaii cattle industry as a whole for their support of the BQA program.
“Most importantly, we must recognize the crucial role of Paka Paniolo, the cowboys of Parker Ranch, as well as the administrators, truck drivers, maintenance team, stock tenders, and all those who play a role in bringing Hawaii’s cattle to market,” Jacob Tavares, livestock business operations manager of Parker Ranch, said in the press release. “Without their steadfast commitment to the cattle business and the BQA program, we would never have received such a prestigious recognition.”
Established in 1847, Parker Ranch is one of the oldest and most respected cattle ranches in the United States, spanning approximately 135,000 acres of diverse landscapes on Hawaii Island. According to the press release, Parker Ranch’s relationship with the land is deeply rooted in Hawaiian values and culture, giving them a long history of embracing the BQA stewardship and husbandry principles.
Keeping with longstanding tradition, Parker Ranch ensures its animals receive the best care and nourishment. The natural, stress-free environment provided by the ranch’s pasture-based operations ensures the well-being of the cattle, resulting in consistently high-quality beef.
