The cattle business is a family affair for the Stalcup family near Prescott in Adams County.

James Stalcup started raising cattle in the 1960s and eventually added Charolais bulls and cows to the herd. Now, sons Alan and Craig and their families raise about 350 Charolais cows in southern Iowa. The families work together as Stalcup Farms Charolais.

Last week, Craig and his son Garrett and daughter Makayla exhibited at the Iowa Beef Expo.

At this year’s expo, held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, the Stalcup family exhibited a bred heifer and a bull.

The annual show offers potential awards and the possibility of good auction prices. It also helps the family connect with others in the industry, Craig said. The family said they have a lot to offer other cattle farmers in the state and beyond.

"We’ve been in the seedstock business for 35 years," Craig said. "We try to blend the combination of calving ease with performance to cover a wide base of clients."

Stalcup said Stalcup Farms Charolais is focused on raising quality animals for the commercial calving side of the beef business. They also sell to other purebred seedstock farms as well. In all, the family sells about 125 bulls per year, mostly through private treaty sales on the farm.

For Craig’s kids, Garrett and Makayla, the show is simply as extension of doing what they enjoy. Garrett has returned to the family’s farm to raise cattle and grow crops.

"I’m looking forward to going back to work and doing what I like," Garrett said.

Makayla, a seventh grader, also helps on the farm. But her favorite part, she says, is showing cattle. That includes everything from washing her cattle to leading them in the showring. She recently won reserve champion Charolais show heifer of the year award at a cattle show in Fort Worth.