Barbara Stevenson Jackson

Inducted in 2025

Mar 26

Tucson - Pima County

Inducted in 2025

Barbara was born in Tucson, Arizona, and is the daughter of 2012 Hall of Famer Carl and Pat Stevenson. She joined siblings Thomas, Mary Jo, and David, growing up in a family involved in the beef industry. When she was ten, her family started their 30,000-head feedyard in Red Rock, Arizona.

After attending the University of Arizona, she transferred to Washington State University as a junior. Barbara graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and a minor in Ag Economics.

After college, she spent a year at the family feed yard before beginning a pharmaceutical career with Syntex in 1977. Barbara’s first position was in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah) region then moved to the Texas Panhandle and New Mexico region. In the 10 years she worked at Syntex, Barbara was a highly effective salesperson. She was a sales trainer, the first national accounts coordinator, advertising and public relations director, and the Western region sales manager.

Returning to Arizona in 1987, Barbara met the man she would marry two years later, Tim Jackson. Barbara began a marketing consultation service (TurnKey Promotions) in Tucson, Arizona. Her 10 years at Syntex provided the connections and background for her and Tim to start Animal Health Express in 1990, a mail-order animal health supply business. Tim’s years in the cattle business and education at the University of California-Davis and the University of Nevada at Reno provided financial planning and management. At the same time, Barbara did the sales and marketing. In 2002, they added Vaquero Feed and Livestock Supply, a full-service feed store. The couple’s business success has allowed them to purchase a small ranch in Sonoita in 2014, a dream of theirs.

Barbara has been active in Arizona State Cowbelles and the American National CattleWomen and served as president of both organizations. Following in her mother Pat’s footsteps, they are the only Mother-Daughter to be President of ANCW. Barbara was named ANCW Cattle Woman of the Year in 2007.

The Governor of Arizona appointed Barbara to serve on the Arizona State Veterinary Examiners Board 1999-2004. The US Secretary of Agriculture appointed her to serve two terms (2010 2016) on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. The Arizona Cattle Growers The association named her Top Wrangler in 2018.

In 2010, Barbara and Tim were the recipients of the “Friend of CALS” Award, presented by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) of the University of Arizona. Washington State University named Barbara Animal Sciences Outstanding Alumnus in 2015 and in 2016, the Woman’s Leadership Award. Currently, she Chairs the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) policy committee, Cattle Health and Well Being. “Barbara has helped blaze the trail for women with a passion for the U.S. beef Industry,” said Jill Ginn, past ANCW president. “She is a professional role model, advisor, and mentor doing all she can to support this industry with her passion, experience, and knowledge.”