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Jim Schaben Sr.
Dunalp Livestock Auction
Jim Schaben served in the Marine Corps during World War II. At the conclusion of the war Jim attended Reppert School of Auctioneering. Jim & Ruth Schaben married in 1948 and to that union 8 children were born. Jim started working at the Dunlap Livestock Auction and with much encouragement from the local bank, Jim & Ruth bought the Dunlap Livestock Auction in 1950.
Jim was active in the Livestock Marketing Association serving as the Iowa President. In 1965 Jim took his passion for community service and furthering the cause of production agriculture to the State Senate in Des Moines. He became the minority leader of the Senate Chamber. In 1974 he became his party’s nominee for Governor of the State of Iowa. After that unsuccessful bid Jim retired from politics. In addition, in 1974 Jim & Ruth built the current Dunlap Livestock Auction facility.
Jon Schaben wrote this about his father back in 1997 for an article in the Iowa Farmer Today as he was honored for being a “Legend in the Livestock Industry”
“Four generations of livestock producers have passed through the doors of Dunlap Livestock Auction, doing business with Jim Schaben Sr. and his family. We can’t think of a better testament to what our father has done here for 50 years.
His love and enthusiasm for this business haven’t diminished one bit, despite the good times and the bad times our industry has seen.
Dad loves the livestock industry, he’s passed that love on to all of his family in addition to hundreds of people who started coming here with their fathers and grandfathers, and now bring their sons, daughters and grandchildren to the auctions each week.
Dad’s love of the land, his belief there is nothing better than cows and calves grazing on a green pasture, is strong. He is intensely loyal to his customers, and for his adult life he’s done what he can to make sure they’re getting the best price for the animals they bring to us.
On behalf of our family, we couldn’t respect him any more as a businessman, a husband, a father or a grandfather. What better legacy could a man leave?