Grant County Copper CowBelles 2021 President’s Report

As was 2020, this year has been very trying for Copper CowBelles. We were careful with in-person meetings but still participated in the Grant County Fair in the Fall with a very successful booth and 3-day beef give away. Also at the Fair, the Grant County Cattlegrowers annually purchases a steer. Copper pays the processing fees (now over $1000!) as our contribution to this worthwhile project. The meat is divided 4/5 ways and given to the local Home Economics/Culinary Skills classes so that they have the opportunity to cook with Beef.

In January we had a Saturday zoom meeting that State President Sandra Lacy participated in. We also had a zoom in late February but it was June before we were together again and it was to host a luncheon in memory of our longtime member Bobbie Neal Little who died June 2nd. Lori Nell Reed was the Chair for this occasion.

I attended the Mid-Year meeting in Ruidoso early in June. Members Kathy Davis, Cyndi Donovan and Alida Burchett also attended. Also in June we had a table at the local rodeo and Joan Dewbre and I sold tickets for a beef drawing in honor of “June is Beef Month”. In August we met in person and were able to plan our booth for the Fair and get started on nominating officers for 2022. We were proud to receive word that our nominee, Emilie Gossett, for the Pat Nowlin Scholarship was a successful candidate. Member Linda Pecotte was instrumental in nominating this student. Linda assisted with our Fair booth the week of September 22nd -25th along with Vivian Myers, Leslie Crumbley, Kathy Davis, Alena Johnson and Cyndi Donovan. Tragically, less than a month later, Linda, an avid pilot, crashed her plane and once again we found ourselves helping to host a funeral luncheon.

Our Thanksgiving/Christmas potluck and installation of officers meeting was canceled due to Grant County having a COVID rate that was one of the highest in the country per capita. Installation will have to be arranged by zoom meeting. Our 2022 officers are Kim Clark, President; Michelle Greeman, Vice President; Tenisha Fell, Treasurer and Carol Crosley, Secretary.

Submitted by Patricia E Hunt President 2020-2021

December 14 – 17, 2021
Hotel Albuquerque | Albuquerque, New Mexico.

More info here: https://www.nmagriculture.org/joint-stockmens-convention.html

Thw Grant County Copper CowBelles met on October 19, 2021.

The meeting was opened by President Pat Hunt with a moment of silence for member Linda Pecotte who passed in a plane crash on the 15th.

Cyndi Donovan (Committee Chair, Dear to our Hearts) was asked to send a note to Joyce Biebelle whose brother has died and Carol Crosley who recently lost a daughter. Also it was noted that a donation will be sent to the Pat Nowlin Scholarship fund in memory of Linda Pecotte. A donation was also received from Kathy Davis to the Copper scholarship fund in Linda’s memory.

Hazel Donaldson made a presentation for Heritage Waters Coalition on behalf of our AgVo committee. Proposed display ads in the Daily Press were discussed as well as the need to fill out the survey for the Water Trust Board and comment on the 50 Year Water Plan. Copper will be a part of the display ads and the Treasurer was instructed to write a check to HWC to cover our share of the cost. Hazel also showed a new icon called “Copper and Cattle” that will be used to promote Grant County’s two major industries.

Pat announced that Kurstyn Johnson was awarded a $500 scholarship for her continuing studies in a welding career.

The following officers were elected: Kim Clark, President; Michelle Greeman, Vice President; Carol Crosley, Secretary and Tenisha Fell, Treasurer.

Under Old Business the highway “Welcome to Beef Country” sign was discussed.

The upcoming elections were discussed for the Grant Soil and Water Conservation District and the Grant County Cattlegrowers.

Michelle announced that in conjunction with the Joint Stockman Meeting in Albuquerque the second week of December there will be a NM CowBelles breakfast meeting. Emails will go out shortly with details for an in-person meeting and a zoom call alternative.

Jessica Swapp has produced a video promoting “short-term” volunteers. She needs individuals and groups willing to help with learning experiences for 4-H members in fields such as photography, cake decorating, sewing, canning and anything you have an interest in and think that young people might have an interest too.

Pat Hunt

Copper CowBelles Meeting August 10, 2021

Meeting opened by President Pat Hunt with the Pledge of Allegiance, Creed and Prayer being read. Pat and Kim Clark were hostesses.

It was also decided to send our usual memorial donations of $50 to the Pat Nowlin Scholarship in memory of Bobbie and Carol Baumgartner. We received a check Kathy in memory of Bobbie and Carol as well as a check from JoAnn Miller in memory of Bobbie.  Pat will let the families know that these donations have been received.

Cyndi Donavan agreed to be the new Chair of the Dear to our Hearts committee.  A motion was made and passed to allow the AgVo Committee to speak on behalf of Copper with a 1^st by Tenisha and a second by Cyndi.  Items of particular attention will be joining the Heritage Waters Coalition, fighting the 30-30 Act, wolf populations, lack of diversity in meat packers nationally/the need for local meat processing and the Border Crisis.  Everyone was encouraged to hand out scholarship applications as the deadline is August 27^th. 

Pat requested volunteers for a nominating committee for the upcoming elections but no offers were made.  The Grant County Fair was discussed.  Many expressed a desire to “change things up a bit”.  Pat agreed to co-chair. Need another volunteer. Kathy and Cyndi agreed to help decide what topics we want to highlight this year such as the many beef by-products and a comparison of the components of fake meat vs beef.  (Tenisha will have her sons do an experiment on the ageing process of a beef pattie and a fake meat pattie”-will the fake meat pattie grow mold?”).  We need someone to help with decorating/setup and making phone calls to assure the booth is covered. 

Applications for membership renewals and updating the yearbook information will be mailed.

Pat Hunt

Prize: local natural beef from Michael Miranda’s Prime Angus Beef operation of Mule Creek.

Special thanks to H&S Electric for organizing and facilitating pickup of the award boxes at their store (a place where Miranda’s meat is available M-F 7 to 4.

Winners:  Ronald C Strain and Charnelle Lee each received $75 box of assorted beef cuts.

Copper CowBelles met May 18, 2021

President Pat Hunt opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. The CowBelles Creed and Prayer were recited. The hostesses were Linda Pecotte and Jeanette Hamilton. Guest was Kurstyn Johnson, Pat Nowlin scholarship applicant and Salutatorian of the Cliff High School graduating class.

The Dear to our Hears committee report included well wishes to Mary Jo Hooker and Bobbie Neal Little.

Under new business it was decided to share a booth with the Grant County Republican Women at the upcoming Renegade Rodeo. We will sponsor a “June is Beef Month” raffle for two $75 boxes of locally sourced beef (Angus from Mirandas of Mule Creek). Volunteers are needed to help work the booth from 5 to 7:30, June 11 and 12.

Grant County Cattlegrowers are hosting a BBQ meeting on August 14th and everyone was encouraged to attend.

State CowBelles Midyear meeting is June 7th in Ruisdoso, Pat and several others are attending. She reminded that we will be purchasing more license plates, which is our best seller.

Pat attended a virtual Rotary Meeting at which Ty Bays and Buddy Eby talked about ranching in Grant County. After the presentation, President Bart Roselli commended Copper CowBelles in having been instrumental in helping organize the 2019 ranching exhibit at the Silver City Museum. He said the materials are being preserved in digital form for the museum website and will be available for viewing from now on. Submissions and additional information will always be accepted.

Submitted by Pat Hunt

The April membership meeting was opened by President Pat Hunt with the Pledge of Allegiance, Creed and Prayer being read.

Pat reported that 3 applications were sent to State for the Pat Nowlin Memorial Scholarship. We were instructed to send in all 3 rather than evaluating and picking a nominee. Cursten Blanton, Kurstyn Johnson and Emily Gossett submitted applications. It was noted that it is time to get the Copper scholarship notifications out.

Pat reminded everyone that our State Vice President’s (Vonda Frost) husband was seriously hurt and there is an auction and go-fund me account set up for his recovery. Heritage Waters Coalition has a fund-raiser event scheduled at Los Olmos on May 1st . If you are interested in a casino
themed evening of fun, see Kathy Davis who has tickets. Kim is working on the Yearbook so please send any changes to us. A vote was taken to make Neline Dominguez and Shirley Franks honorary members (requiring no dues).

The organizational meeting for the Legislative AgVo Committee was recently held. Kim Clark is the chair as she has been our legislative coordinator for many years. She will work on the process of updating our by-laws to include this new activity as well as reviewing existing by-laws needing changes. These will be duly published and reviewed for voting. Kim emphasized that the AgVo committee is for educational purposes and “does not speak on behalf of the CowBelles unless directed to do so by a vote of the membership under special circumstances”.
There was no update on the “Welcome to Beef county” sign.

Everyone should be watching their mail for the registration for the Mid-year Meeting in Ruidoso June 7th . The next meeting will be May 18th.

Pat Hunt

Grant County Copper CowBelles met on March 30, 2021.

We had our networking at 11:30 with the meeting starting at Noon. Hostess was Kathy Davis. The Pledge of Allegiance, Creed and Prayer were recited. Linda Pecotte’s guest was Silver High Senior, Emily Gossett. She is a State FFA officer and planning on attending NMSU in Ag education. The February minutes were approved with the addendum that an email vote was taken during the month to sponsor a buckle for the Southwest Horsemen’s Youth Rodeo. We have received a thank you for last year’s scholarship from Seth Neal and a thank you letter from New Mexico Ag in the Classroom for the donation made to this non-profit. We received updated news on Bobbie Neal-Little and it was announced that Neline Dominguez has moved to Las Cruces to be closer to family. Everyone was encouraged to send her a note.

Heritage Waters Coalition is having a Casino Night fundraiser in May. Tickets are limited so get them early it you would enjoy an evening out. Michelle announced that NM CowBelles will be having a meeting in Ruidoso June 6-8 (with the CowBelles probably meeting on the 7th) in conjunction with NM Cattlegrowers’ Mid-Year. Watch for registration forms. The Beef advertisement for the Mimbres Roundup Lodge cookbook is taking shape. There is a regional NM Cattlegrowers meeting in Reserve on April 16th and this information is posted on our Facebook page (Reservations needed for lunch).

The discussion turned to comments about current political happenings locally and nationally and several expressed a desire to form a Committee separate from our monthly meetings. Pat will look for a location and time to hold the first meeting for the as well as the next regular meeting which will probably take place on April 20th.

Submitted by Pat Hunt

Copper met by zoom meeting on February 27th. There were 9 in attendance including Sandra Lacy, State President. The Pledge of Allegiance, CowBelle Creed and Prayer were repeated. Minutes for the January 2021 meeting were approved.

The Mimbres Roundup Lodge auxiliary is creating a cookbook as a fundraiser and a motion was that a full page advertisement be taken in the book with a Beef Promotion themed page. A discussion of the New Mexico Ag in the Classroom program resulted in a motion to donate to the non-profit. Pat will issue a challenge in The Wrangler to encourage other locals to meet or beat Copper’s donation to this worthwhile Agvocacy project.

New projects were discussed as one member is promoting the idea for a ranching museum to be started in the area. Another suggested a Cowboy/girl Hall of Fame and the brand wall renovation inside the Murray Hotel in downtown Silver City. It was pointed out that the Welcome to Beef Country sign on west Highway 180 was blown down last year and nothing has been done about it. Judy O’Loughlin volunteered to contact the Cliff agricultural teacher about the possibility of having students build a metal sign with laser cut brands.

Pat reminded everyone that we still have many boxes of cookbooks and stated that JoAnn Miller has arranged for cookbooks to be sold at Circle S in Deming and Circle Heart in Silver City with the price dropped to $12. This still represents a profit for the group. JoAnn will check with the winery in Mimbres about selling books when they finally reopen.

The next meeting is planned for late March with the hope that it will be held in person.

Submitted by Pat Hunt