Michelle Winkie crowned as Allamakee County Beef Queen

The Allamakee County Cattlemen's Association crowned the 2013-2014 Allamakee County Beef Queen and Princesses Saturday, November 2 at its annual Purple Ribbon Prospect Sale held at Northeast Iowa Sales Commission north of Waukon. Being crowned as the 2013-2014 Allamakee County Beef Queen was Michelle Winkie of Waukon, with Lexie Bieber and Shelby Troendle being named Allamakee County Beef Princesses. Biographies of all three young ladies appear below:

Michelle Winkie -

Michelle Winkie is the daughter of Brad and Linda Winkie of Waukon, and her sponsors are Jets Meat Processing and Innovative Ag Services.

Michelle is a member of the Little Switzerland FFA chapter, where she has served as a secretary and currently serves as the vice president. In FFA, she has been involved in several contests, including Agronomy, Meats Evaluation, Greenhand Quiz, Chapter Quiz and Chapter Display. Her honors include being the 2013 State Champion Agronomy individual, a member of the 2013 State Reserve Champion Agronomy Team, the 2011 Meats Evaluation fourth-place team, and the 2012 and 2013 Diversified Livestock Production chapter winner.

Michelle also was a member of the Ludlow Future Farmers 4-H club for six years. She is a member of the Waukon High School Student Council, National Honor Society and school honor rolls, as well as a member of the Allamakee County Cattlemen's Association.

Michelle enjoys showing beef and hogs at the Allamakee County Fair each summer. She has had many Beef Champion honors, including being crowned the Senior Beef Showmanship winner at the 2012 Allamakee County Fair.

As a member of the Zion United Church of Christ, Michelle has served in various offices and helped with Sunday School, Bible school and church suppers. In the community, she has volunteered at the Hay Expo, the 4-H food stand, pedal tractor races, fair clean-up and Sweet Corn Days.

After graduating, Michelle plans to attend Iowa State University in Ames to major in Agricultural Business and minor in Agronomy, and she would like to be a part of the livestock evaluation team at Iowa State to gain some experience in judging livestock. Her future career aspirations include returning back to this area to work at a farm lending institution as either a loan officer or crop insurance specialist. She would also like to judge beef cattle at 4-H, FFA and open shows across the state. Along with her career, she would like to have a commercial beef cattle operation and would also like to have a small show cattle herd.

Lexie Bieber -

Lexie Bieber is the daughter of Ed and Amy Bieber of Waukon, and her sponsors are Waukon Veterinary Service and Innovative Ag. She is an active member of the Allamakee County Cattlemen's Association and will continue her current reign as Allamakee County Beef Princess.

Lexie is on the Waukon High School Student Council, serving as President. She is a member of the West Ridge Riders 4-H club, serving as vice president, and is also captain of the Waukon High School varsity football cheerleading squad. Lexie is also a member of the Little Switzerland FFA chapter, serving as historian, and is a current member of the Allamakee County Youth Committee, the Iowa Cattlemen's Association and the Iowa Angus Association. She enjoys showing cattle through 4-H at the Allamakee County Fair and Iowa State Fair.

Lexie is a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, American Legion Auxiliary and has been a volunteer for the Iowa Special Olympics Cheer Squad. She was honored with a position on the Iowa All-Star Cheerleading Squad, Iowa Honor Squad, National Cheerleading Association All-American Squad and Universal Cheerleading Association All-American Squad. She is also on the Waukon High School Honor Roll and the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Dean's List.

Lexie's future plans are to attend the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls to attain a bachelor degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Coaching. She plans to come back to the local area to teach, stay involved in the local 4-H program, and, hopefully, farm. She intends to continue to help her younger siblings with showing their family beef cattle at local shows.

Shelby Troendle -

Shelby Troendle is the daughter of Kerry and Tammy Troendle of Waukon, and her sponsors are K-T Cattle and Top Sires beef semen company. Shelby is a member of the Little Switzerland FFA chapter, where she participates in CDE contest and Leadership contest, and is also in the West Ridge Riders 4-H club.

Shelby shows cattle and participates in photography, and she is also a member of the 4-H County Council and takes part in various group activities. She is a member of St. Mary's Hanover Church, where she volunteers to serve during Mass, and she helps clean the Hanover Church and helps with lawn care at the West Ridge Church. Shelby's future plans are to attend Iowa State University in Ames with a major in Agricultural Business or Animal Science.