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Copper Cowbelles Honors 2015 Cowbelle of the Year

2015_CowBelle_of_the_Year

From left are Bobbie Neal-Little, 2015 Cowbelle of the Year, and 2015 Copper Cowbelles President Jo Ann Miller. (Courtesy Photo)

This annual award is bestowed on a member for outstanding service to the organization and to the promotion of the ranching way of life. Bobbie Neal-Little exemplifies this honor. She has served over 15 years as a Copper CowBelle and although she stays quite busy with her family, she always makes time to help a neighbor and support local youth.

Bobbie has been instrumental in assisting the Silver City Museum with “Trunk lessons” on ranching as well as collecting artifacts and histories for an upcoming ranching exhibit. She works hard to promote the fundraising efforts for the Copper CowBelles with the annual Shindig, coming up April 30, as well as the annual Grant County Fair booth and other venues which fund scholarships for Grant County students majoring in Agricultural fields.

The local chapter of the New Mexico CowBelles organization, Copper CowBelles, began September 1976. The Copper CowBelles, with members from all walks of life, have made themselves known as a group of women who want everyone to know the importance of the beef industry to Grant County and The State of New Mexico.

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March 2016 – Meeting

The Grant County Copper CowBelles met March 22, 2016.  President Kim Clark opened the meeting.  The Pledge, creed and cowbelle prayer were read by hostesses Kathy Davis and Judy de Pedro.  Guests were introduced as FSA County Executive Director, Mackey Irwin and trainee Shelby Johnson.  There was discussion about partnering with the local rodeo association to sponsor Penny Conway who runs a program called Cowboys and Kids.  She visits schools and shares information about rodeo animals and how well they are treated.  She also provides booklets about rodeos.  The decision was tabled until the next meeting.  Our cowbelle sign at the rodeo arena has been displayed for several years with no fees being charged.  All signs are coming down this year to be redone and only put back up if box seats are purchased at a minimum of $800.  It was decided that this was cost prohibitive unless enough members wanted to go together and buy the tickets for personal use.  

Bobbie Neal Little announced that the ranching exhibit at the Silver City Museum has been postponed again due to the retirement of the director.  She is certain that it will eventually be opened.  A tally was made of the members who intend to go to Margie McKeen’s Ranch Days April 19th and 20th.  Pat Hunt will call her to say who is volunteering to help.  Pat Hunt made a report about attending the District III meeting held in Las Cruces on March 17th.  

The upcoming Shindig was discussed for the remainder of the meeting.  Committee chairs are making progress but the biggest concern is obtaining items for the silent auction.  Tickets were distributed to the members for them to sell.

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Copper CowBelle Shindig Information

Fiesta de Mayo – Dinner, Dance and Silent Auction

Saturday, April 30, 2016 at the Flame Convention Center, Piños Altos Road, Silver City, NM.

Doors open at 6 pm. Beef Brisket dinner will be served from 6 pm to 7 pm. The Silent Auction will be held from 6 to 8:30 pm, past silent auction items have included western prints and furniture, wildlife décor, Iron work, handmade crafts and gift baskets.

Kick up your heels to the western music of the Yarbrough Band. The band starts at 7 pm and ends at 11 pm.

Tickets: $30 advance purchase and $35 at the door. Get them at Aunt Judy’s Attic, Western Bank, Farm Bureau Insurance–Susan Sumrall, or from a Copper CowBelle member.

No host bar – No one under the age of 21 will be admitted. Seating is limited! Reserved seating is open to the public at 6:45 pm.

Proceeds from this event help fund scholarships, beef education and promotion. More info at www.coppercowbelles.com.

“Join us for an evening of dinner, dancing, making new friends
and renewing old acquaintances!”

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Ranching Exhibit Coming to the Silver City Museum.

The Copper CowBelles held their meeting today at the Silver City Museum Annex.

The museum will begin a two room exhibit in November about Ranching. We are looking for local ranching family histories, and loaned artifacts to be displayed. Contact Bobbie for more info: littlebobbieneal (at) gmail.com.

We also made a donation to the Annual Ice Cream Social that the museum holds every Independence Day.

(As a side note: Bobbi Neal-Little was also named Volunteer of the Month for June 2015 – she is a CowBelle and pictured on the left)11426384_982620415104208_2289785231216750024_n