On Dec. 5, the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association (MSCA) announced Richard “Dick” Pesek as the 2025 Minnesota Cattleman of the Year during the Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention in St. Cloud. This award recognizes Pesek’s nearly 50 years of service, leadership and unwavering dedication to advancing Minnesota’s beef industry through his local and state cattlemen’s associations. 

Pesek’s journey in the cattle community began in his early twenties, when he attended local cattlemen’s meetings simply to listen and learn. Deeply influenced by the wisdom of respected leaders in the industry, he carried their values forward, eventually becoming one of those dependable, respected figures himself. Known for his humbleness, steady presence and dedication, Pesek has long embodied the quiet strength that holds Minnesota’s beef community together. 

Throughout his decades of involvement, Pesek has served in numerous leadership roles, including cow-calf chair, feedlot chair and regional director at the state level. But his greatest impact has been felt locally and regionally, where his boots-on-the-ground leadership, generosity and readiness to serve have impacted many. If there is a beef event that needs help – whether a school lunch, community celebration, church dinner, a county fair or the Minnesota State Fair’s Purple Ribbon Auction – Pesek is one of the first to show up and the last to leave, working without fanfare. 

Pesek has been a long-standing and valued member of the MSCA Farmfest team, working side by side with leaders from across the state to elevate our industry’s visibility and connection with the public. He played a central role in organizing regional cattlemen’s tours – including hosting the tour at his own farm twice. Despite his extensive service, Pesek is quick to credit others and remains grounded in what matters most: his family. 

The MSCA is honored to recognize Richard “Dick” Pesek as the 2025 Minnesota Cattleman of the Year – a tribute to his lifetime of leadership, generosity and belief in the future of Minnesota’s cattle industry.