It’s just past 7 a.m., and Chase Pladsen is grooming the family’s Red Angus cattle for the 8:30 a.m. show. In the next stall over, Bill Schermer helps the Nolin family put the final touches on their heifers and bulls before the upcoming show.

The show prep is just one piece of the Iowa Beef Expo, which was held at the Iowa State fairgrounds last week.

Cattle raisers from around the state say the show not only helps purebred raisers...