By Whitney Baxter
Maggie Lupkes is on a mission to help save a draft horse breed whose history is rooted in central Iowa.
Lupkes (’23 animal science) and fellow American Cream Draft Horse Association members will share all about the American Cream Draft Horse during a spotlight event at the 2026 Iowa State Fair on Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. in the Jacobsen Arena. In addition, several American Cream horses will be represented in the Avenue of Breeds west of the Bruce L. Rastetter 4-H Exhibits Building.
“It’s not just a horse but a part of Iowa’s history,” Lupkes said.
Known for its beauty and strength, the American Cream Draft Horse originated in the early 1900s in central Iowa’s Story and Hardin counties. Lupkes said it’s a very versatile breed and was traditionally used as a workhorse before farm tractors became commonplace on farms.
Lupkes’ grandfather began raising the breed as a retirement hobby. Her father also got involved in the breeding process, which is how Lupkes got her start. She said they mostly sell weanlings – horses that are less than one year old. Lupkes and her family screen each potential buyer to be sure their horses are going to a good home. As her father says, “We don’t just sell horses; we place them.”
“We like to find buyers who are interested in the breed,” Lupkes said. “There’s a sense of responsibility that comes with buying one of our horses because you’re inheriting generations of history in this breed.”
Harnessing an interest in animal science
Lupkes, now a third-year veterinary student at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, said a 4-H project led her down the path to becoming a veterinarian.
For the project, her dad encouraged her to track the physiological changes an American Cream mare undergoes in the time between being bred and giving birth. While Lupkes never gave a presentation on her findings, she kept a log of the details she tracked and found the data fascinating.
Combined with her experience reading “All Creatures Big and Small” by English veterinarian James Herriot, Lupkes said her mind was set on attending Iowa State University to study animal science on the pre-vet track.
At Mizzou, she’s finishing a genetics project started by The Livestock Conservancy, exploring breed diversity within the American Creams using microsatellite DNA markers.
With the intent of returning to northeast Iowa to become a large animal veterinarian, Lupkes said she will continue her work with the American Cream Draft Horse Association to get more people interested in the breed.
“The American Cream association members are like a little family,” Lupkes said. “It’s a great group of people, and we enjoy meeting new people and educating them about this critically endangered heritage breed.”