President Cyndi Donovan called the meeting to order at noon on April 25.  There were 8 members present. We recited the Pledge of Alliegance, Creed and Prayer.  Minutes and Treasurer’s report were submitted.

Pat submitted a note from the Biebelle family, thanking us for serving the meal at Joyce’s memorial service.  Our state officers sent us a note of thanks for hosting the Western District Workshop last week. Carol Crosley also sent a thank you note for CowBelle of the Year designation.

Kathy gave a report on the progress of our CowBelle sign on Hwy 180. The 8’X16’ sign will have 16 panels on which to advertise brands.  She will soon have stats so that we can sell brand spots to cattle growers.

We discussed our Western District Workshop this past Saturday. It was a successful and enjoyable day. Thirty-two meals were served and the venue worked out well. Next time we might arrange tables so that it’s easier to interact with other attendees. Our drawing was held for the CowBelle Scholarship basket and the winner was notified. Thanks to all who donated items for it!

Ranch Days are quickly approaching on Tues. April 29^th and Wed. April 30^th. Michelle will do the Beef By-products presentation and Cyndi and Leslie will do their Butter presentation. Pat will be working on providing biscuits for the butter! This is a fun day and there’s always to do, so let’s show up big time! We should be there by 8:00 a.m. so please know there is highway construction going on out there.  Add 30 minutes to your regular travel time to Alma!

Kathy encouraged us to build our membership numbers back up by inviting friends and folks we meet. Many ladies may not be able to attend meetings, but they can help our cause by responding to “Calls to Action” for or against legislation.  Our phone calls to legislators really do work!

Meeting was adjourned at 1:00 pm. Thank you to Kathy, who somehow found the time to decorate the tables in a Spring/Easter theme and provide sweet treats!

By Carol Crosley

Next Meeting:  Tuesday, May 21, 2025

 COMING SOON:  Ranch Days – April 29^th & 30^th at McKeen Ranch, Alma NM

  W.A.L.C. Meeting:  Wed & Thurs, April 30^th – May 1^st in Ruidoso NM

Cliff/Gila Grant County Fair:  September 17^th – 20th   

President Cyndi Donovan called the meeting to order at noon on March 18.  There were 10 members present. We recited the Pledge of Alliegance, Creed and Prayer.

Minutes and Treasurer’s report were presented. Pat suggested a spread sheet be kept for expenditures made for Western District Workshop, so that we can stay aware.

Dear to Our Hearts discussion about a death in the family of a fellow Belle and recent passings of ranchers in our area.

Cyndi called for committee reports on our upcoming NMCB Western Districts Workshop on April 5^th. Michelle said that our 5 state officers will arrive on Friday, April 4^th. It was decided that a potluck welcome meal will be held Friday evening for the officers at Misty’s home.

We will convene early Saturday 4/5 to decorate the venue at Cross Point Church. CCB members will provide a light breakfast bar: yogurt, bagels n cream cheese, fruit tray, granola bars, etc. Coffee, tea and juice will be served.  Name tags and gift bags will be given to attendees at a registration table. A beef taco lunch will be served mid-day. During the day we will do our raffle for the CCB Scholarship Bucket. Members are asked to sell all of our tickets and turn in money and stubs that morning.  Door prizes brought by local clubs will be awarded during the day. This will be a fun and informative day!

McKeen Ranch Days will be presented on April 29^th & 30^th.  Lots of help needed. Michelle will do the Beef By-Products presentation. Cyndi and Leslie will do their butter presentation. (Always a kid favorite!)

NMCB still taking nominations  for the Diamond in the Rough award. If you have suggestions, please give her a call.

This meeting was adjourned at 1:20 p.m.

Thanks to Hostesses Joan and Carol for the Irish ambiance and Irish Shortbread cookies!

By Carol Crosley

Coming Events:

Next Copper CowBelle Meeting:  April 15, 2025

NM State CowBelles Western District Workshop: April 5, 2025 at Cross Point Church in Silver City

Ranch Days: Tues. April 29th and Wed. April 30^th.

WALC Convention: Wed. April 30th & Thurs. May 1st, 2025  

Registration is open for the NMCB Western Districts Workshop on April 5 in Silver City, hosted by the Copper CowBelles with the program presented by the NMCB Executive Officer Team. You can register online at the link below with the option to pay with card or in person with cash or check. https://newmexicocowbelles.wildapricot.org/event-6089850 You can also print and mail the attached form:  West District WS Reg Form1.docx Registration is open to all New Mexico CowBelle members. Please submit your registration by March 20. See you in Silver City!

President Pat Hunt called the meeting to order at noon on October 15. There were ten members present. We recited the Pledge of Alliegance and Pat Hunt read the CowBelle Creed. Carol Crosley gave the prayer.

Minutes of the August 20th meeting were approved. The Treasurer’s Report and it will be submitted for audit.

Pat Hunt received a note from Annette George, expressing her appreciation for keeping her in the loop.

We received thank you notes for serving the meal at Joyce Biebelle’s celebration of life: one from the Biebelle Family and another note from her daughter Marlene. We hope the family and her friends were blessed by our participation in honoring Joyce.

Special thanks to Lori Nell Reed for heading up the celebration of life for Mary Jo Hooker and to all the CowBelle members who provided food and served.

Leslie Crumbley reported that she has responded to several requests for CCB Scholarship Applications, but has not received any completed new applications as yet.

We discussed updating of the CCB highway signs on U.S. 180. Kathy Davis will chair this committee and asked that we share any ideas we have with her. She will set a committee meeting.

Many of us were able to participate in the NMCB Zoom meeting on Thurs. Oct. 10th. It is always interesting to “meet” members at the state level, even if just on line. Michelle Greeman caught us up on important dates coming up.

Members willing to serve as officers for 2025 are as follows: President, Cyndi Donovan, Vice President, Leslie Crumbley, Treasurer, Misty Pugmire and Secretary, Carol Crosley. Kathy Davis made a motion that we accept this roster of officers for Copper CowBelles 2025. Joan Dewbree seconded the motion, all present agreed and the motion passed.

Michelle Greeman passed a message to Pat Hunt from the Deming Main Street Project folks. They’ll be presenting “Old West Days” on November 16th & 17th at the Luna County Fairgrounds and hoped we’d be willing to do an educational booth. They will also have a barrel race, team sorting, team penning, a fashion show and a dinner. After discussion, we decided that a number of our members will plan to attend this event on Saturday 11/16 from 11am to 4pm, presenting a booth on Beef By-products and/or Brands. We will also bring our photo backdrop, the corn hold board and sell our scholarship raffle tickets at this event. This is a good opportunity to educate folks and to add to our scholarship funds.

We talked about the success of our CowBelle pursuits at the recent Grant County Fair. Our beef burritos were greatly appreciated by livestock show participants and crew. Thanks to Cliff School Home Ec Dept. teachers and students, who assembled the burritos! Thanks to Misty Pugmire for coordinating this well-received event and helping us purchase the supplies for this outreach and to Michelle Greeman for designing CCB labels to place on the burritos! Autumn Robertson’s Farm Bureau Ag Days was well received on Friday of Fair. Thanks to members who assisted her with special thanks to Cyndi, Alena, Jennifer and all of our members who worked the CCB Booth and covered the Grant County Extension Service booth! Thanks also to Vivian who sold an astounding number of NM Beef license plates!

Our congratulations to Gage Greeman, who won the NM Cattle Growers’ Heritage Buckle for Grant County with his essay on local Beef Marketing!

Pat distributed more raffle tickets for our scholarship bucket and chances to win Claudia Toenie’s beautiful quilts. We hope to “beef up” our scholarship fund.

2025 CCB dues are past due! Some of us paid dues at this meeting. Part of this $35 goes for NM CowBelle membership and includes a monthly copy of New Mexico Stockman magazine.

Jessica Swapp-Massengill noted that the Grant County Extension Service is currently interviewing for the position of FCS (Home Economist).

The meeting was adjourned at 1:10 pm.

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 19th at 11:30.

Dates to Remember:

Old West Days at Luna County Fairgrounds, Deming – November 16th & 17th
NM State CowBelles/Cattlegrowers Annual Meeting – December 11th – 13th
Monthly State CowBelles Zoom Meeting: 2nd Thurs at 7pm. (11/14/2024)

By, Carol Crosley