Copper CowBelles had a great year. Our 2022 Christmas Party was postponed to January 6, 2023, and included the installation of our 2023 officers (Pat Hunt, President; Michelle Greeman, VP; Cyndi Donovan, Treasurer and Carol Crosley, Secretary), we had a wonderful potluck supper with 24 in attendance. Kim Clark, retiring President did the installation ceremony and announced Pat Hunt as CowBelle of the Year.

The February meeting included a decision to award a scholarship to Sabrina Thuerauf, a Silver High School graduate now in her final year of Veterinary School. Before the end of the year, we also awarded scholarships to two other applicants: Hattie Dobrinski who was awarded a Copper scholarship and also recommended to State for a Pat Nowlin Scholarship. Kolby Taylor, an Animal Science major at NMSU, was also given a scholarship.

Our March meeting was held on National Agriculture Day and 2 members, Lori Nell Reed and Mary Jo Hooker cooked a delicious lunch for attending members. Michelle Greeman caught us up on the Legislative Session and Bills important to agriculture were discussed.

April was busy as we again participated for 2 days at McKeen Ranch Days in Alma which is supported by Catron County’s Frisco CowBelles. We provided a demonstration on Beef By-products and making butter. Member Lauren Baker represented our club at the Silver City Museum’s “Community Conversations” which was held downtown.

For a change of pace the May meeting was held in Deming with 6 members attending. We toured the Deming/Luna County Museum and had lunch at the Customs House Kitchen.

In June, Kathy Davis and Cyndi Donovan reported on the Mid-Year Meeting in Ruidoso which they attended. We voted to sponsor an award buckle for the Southwest Horsemen’s Youth Rodeo Association. Several members donated cakes to the Silver City Museum’s July 4th celebration, in memory of Bobbie Neal.

September found us at the Grant County Fair and our booth again promoted Beef and sold license plates. We had a candy guess for kids and a drawing for Beef all three days. The Beef is worth $50 and is presented frozen to the winners in a thermal bag. It is a very popular event. In addition to manning our booth we participated in the new Ag Days on Friday, when the school kids are bussed out from town. There were booths from USDA and Farm Bureau and our booth was on the History of Brands. Kids were given choices on which brand they wanted stamped on their hands. This new event is the effort of our member Autumn Robertson and her Farm Bureau office. We are so proud of her for pushing this forward and getting the support of the Fair Board. Copper CowBelles also agreed to once again cover the processing expenses for the steer purchased by the Grant County Cattle Growers. The meat is divided 5 ways among the Home Ec and Culinary Class teachers in Grant County for use in their cooking programs.

The November meeting was postponed until early December due to the Thanksgiving holidays. The agenda includes election of officers for 2024. Installation will again be in January.

Submitted by Patricia Hunt, President