Wright County Farm Bureau member Ash­ley Recknor grew up showing cattle across the country, winning multiple awards. She was also raised on a fifth-generation family farm in Clarion. So it's safe to say she knows a thing or two about beef. 

A few years ago, Recknor started noticing an uptick in peoples’ interest in locally grown food and was inspired to contribute to the scene with her family’s premium-quality beef. 

Along with her husband, sister and parents, Recknor launched Purple Ribbon Beef in 2016. They started small by selling beef sticks at the Ames Farmers Market. 

“Then it’s just grown and evolved over time...