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clipping expertise, each experience added another layer to his skillset. Today, Jess is pouring that knowledge into his family’s operations: Recknor Show Cattle and Purple Ribbon Beef. He and his wife Ashley married in 2012 and now raise their daughter Rylan, age 8, on their farm in Britt, Iowa. Recknor Show Cattle launched its first sale on Show Circuit in October 2024, with the next slated for fall 2025. Their cattle program focuses on quality and integrity— developing females and show prospects that families can trust in and win with. While Ashley leads the charge at Purple Ribbon Beef, Jess is an integral part of the operation, raising dry-aged, premium Iowa beef that ships nationwide. “Ashley is the heartbeat of the beef business,” he says, “but we do it together—it’s about building something lasting.” Jess credits much of his journey to the people who guided him. His father, Greg Recknor, who laid the foundation. Pete Hunter, his father-in-law, John Hagie former owner of Cyclone Trace, and mentor John Sullivan all left deep marks on his career and character. Along the way, cattlemen like Duane Hilbert, David Bradford and others helped shape his fitting technique. “Deb Vorthman and Josh Elder probably taught
me more about clipping breeding cattle than anyone else,” Jess jokes, “but seriously—every detail matters.” That mindset fuels him to this day. Whether fitting heifers or finishing beef, Jess constantly analyzes, tweaks, and improves. “Good is never good enough,” he says. “There’s always a better way if you’re willing to look for it.” Outside the barn, Jess is a man of simple passions: good food, golf, Iowa State basketball, and cooking a five-star steak. But at his core, he’s about hard work, attention to detail, and being surrounded by good people. He’s grateful for the friends and supporters he can always call on—Josh Elder, Nate Tice, John Elder, Brian Chamra, and his wife Ashley among them. “You’re only as good as the people around you,” he says. “And I’ve been really fortunate over the years.” As Recknor Show Cattle continues to grow and Purple Ribbon Beef gains momentum, Jess stays focused on what’s always worked: keep learning, care about the little things, and surround yourself with people who push you to be better. Because in the show ring and in life, it’s the details that define champions. ●
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