NMCB Mid-year wrap up

NMCB President Nancy Phelps appointed Deborah van Tellingen as NMCB Secretary

The Beef Fit Fun Run was a success

The 2019 Budget was approved

Nancy Phelps had been preparing to be President for 2019 but was thrown in the position early and some things have fallen thru the cracks, including not notifying the NMCB Man of the Year that he won the award. Madalynn Lee announced that our 2018 NM Cowbelle Man of the Year is 2018 Blair Clavel from Roy, New Mexico. We will re-invite him to Annual to recognize his achievements. President Phelps thanked Casey and Charity for their help in getting up to speed on things and promised to do better going forward.  Nancy wanted everyone to know that she has an open line of communication and is here for us in any way we need her.

NOTE: Debi Rupe, editor of the Wrangler, asked that we tell our locals about the Wild Apricot system and that the email address comes from NM COWBELLES WILD APRICOT EMAIL ADDRESS, not from Debi Rupe. Also, that only 44% of the emails were opened and only 12% clicked on the link to look at the Wrangler. There are also email fails and if the emails go to SPAM. Please check your SPAM boxes. Suggested that we take a computer to our meetings and show the members how it works and how to open an attachment. Also, there is an idea to use the blank space on the paper copy for promotion and ads. All ads must be for beef or ag promotion or industry.

Caren Cowan updated us on current Legislative action. Things look grim at the legislative level unless we get involved.

Dina Chacon Reitzel from the New Mexico Beef Council came to talk to us about NMBC upcoming projects and how appreciative they are of the NMCB efforts for beef promotion.  NMBC will pursue the State Beef Checkoff again thru the legislature

Jennie Hodgen/Associate Director Meat Science Merck Animal Health

Jennie showed us how to cut up a whole strip loin, what consumers think about meat and how we can promote beef.

Consumers are not educated on the cuts of beef

****Leah Tookey/Curator of History-NM Farm and Ranch Museum. Spoke of collaboration that the Museum has with the Cowbelles to document and preserve our history. The goal is to keep the history of farming and ranching alive. Ashley Ivens contacted Leah to archive the Cowbelles items that Ashley was receiving. The museum has 6 boxes of our items and there is a list of items that will be given to current President Nancy Phelps. Any NM Cowbelle can see the collection, but Leah asks for us to make an appointment with her first.****

Amanda Ball-Director/NM Agriculture leadership Program, an 18-month course “The Need for Ag Leadership”. Amanda spoke about the state of Ag today and presented several bullet points about consumer information, genetic information in our food, SNAP program and loss of farmland equivalent to the size of the State of New York from the years 1992-2012. Amanda also spoke on the upcoming opportunities for Ag leadership. Getting involved in policy, telling stories or claiming our seat at the table.

Date to note: December 5-8, 2018 NMCB AND NMCA Annual Meeting Albuquerque, NM