Meetings

August 2026 CCB Report

September 8, 2026 KClark

Copper CowBelles gathered on August 18, 2026, for their regular meeting, with President Cyndi Donovan calling the group to order at 12:05 p.m. The meeting opened in familiar CowBelle tradition with the Pledge of Allegiance, Invocation, and CowBelle Creed. With no guests to introduce, members moved on to regular business and approved the June 16 minutes without changes.

Kathy Brooks shared the treasurer’s report, noting that the savings and scholarship amounts had been transposed and were corrected before the report was submitted for audit. Kathy is completing Misty Pugmire’s treasurer term.

Several updates brought good news and momentum to ongoing projects. Members were happy to hear that Joan Dewbre is getting around better. Kathy Davis reported that a new brand sign has been completed and installed on Highway 90, and the Cliff Highway 180 sign is expected to be ready before the County Fair. The group also talked about celebrating the project with a ribbon cutting, inviting local press along with Freeport, Cattle Growers, and Farm Bureau, who helped make the signs possible.

Scholarship news was another bright spot. Leslie Crumbley presented an application from Kassidy-Dawn Victoria Harris, a sophomore at NMSU who plans to become a veterinarian and is currently interning with Dr. Allred. Members voted to award her a scholarship. The group also clarified that applicants pursuing AutoTech studies are eligible for scholarship consideration.

Cyndi also shared that she has accepted a nomination to serve as New Mexico State CowBelles Treasurer and assured everyone that the role will not interfere with her Copper CowBelles responsibilities. Looking ahead to October, members discussed the proposed officer slate of Cyndi Donovan for President, Leslie Crumbley for Vice President, Kathy Brooks for Treasurer, and Pat Hunt for Secretary. There is still time for anyone interested in serving to step forward before the vote.

The meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m., with the report submitted by Pat Hunt for Carol Crosley.

Dates to remember: New Mexico Cowbelle Monthly zoom meeting Time: August 13, 2026 at 7 pm and Cliff/Gila Grant County Fair September 23 to September 26, 2026. Admisssion is free this year thanks to several sponsors.

Meetings

June 2026 Copper Report

July 7, 2026September 8, 2026 KClark

President Cyndi Donovan called the June 16 meeting to order at noon. There were 11 members present. We recited the Pledge of Alliegance to our flag, the CowBelle Creed, and Cyndi gave the prayer. Tammy Ogilvie and Alena Johnson were our hostesses and they “made our hearts beat true” with lots of red, white and blue!

Minutes from our May 19^th meeting had been distributed electronically for our review and the motion to approve passed.

Misty Pugmire presented her last Treasurer’s Report which will be submitted for audit. Kathy Brooks offered to cover the Treasurer position until our next election of officers.

Under Dear to Our Heart, we heard of health concrns for Joan Dewbre and Carol Crosley. Keep these needs in your thoughts and prayers please.

We received a report on the Mid-Year Meeting in Ruidoso. Quite a few of our members were able to attend and all seemed encouraged by positive information shared. Meteorologists reported a very good chance that we will have a strong monsoon season with the trend continuing in years to follow. Other important issues were also covered: Market report, Heritage Waters needs our support, Cattle theft is on the rise and the Feds are opening up more grazing allotments.

Silver City Museum has again asked for our help in supplying cakes for their July 4^th Cake Walk. Several of the ladies are planning to provide cakes and label them with our Copper CowBelle stickers, taking the opportunity to spread our name and goal.

Kathy Davis reports that our new CowBelle signs on US180 are closer to completion. She and Lori Nell planned to meet with Brett and Amanda Welch later in the week and should have a cost nailed down. They’ll be proof reading the brands and hoping to have signs in place before the fair.

Leslie Crumbley has sent out new scholarship applications recently. The new basket for our scholarship fundraiser raffle is beautiful and is coming together nicely. Now it is up to all of us to sell those tickets! We plan to draw the winning ticket at fair time. If you are still finding items to tuck into the basket, you can drop them off at the Extension Office.

We talked about the Shindig Fundraiser again, looking at possibility of using the theater at Ft. Bayard. This will be discussed further at our next meeting in August. No meeting in July. Cliff-Gila Grant County Fair will be held on September 23rd thru 26th.

Our meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.

By Carol Crosley

News

2026 Quilt Winners: Scholarship Fundraiser

October 24, 2025 KClark

The Copper CowBelles drew the winning tickets for our scholarship raffle during our recent meeting.

Leslie Crumbley is the winner of the larger southwest quilt and JoAnn Miller won the wall hanging.

The quilts were designed and sewn by Claudia Toenies who donated them for our fundraiser. We thank her for her generosity and also the many people who purchased chances on the quilts.

Copper gives scholarships to local students pursuing academic degrees and students receiving training in fields of trade careers.

Community

We Are Updating Our Highway Signs!

September 22, 2025September 22, 2025 KClark

The Copper CowBelles will be replacing and updating our Brand Signs with brands located in Southwest New Mexico. Signs are located along HWY 180coming from Cliff/Gila and HWY 90 coming from Tyrone.

The replacement material will be expanded metal and metal brands in hopes these signs won’t be blown down. There is limited space on the Highway Brand Signs, if you would like to have your Brand on these signs, please fill in the form and return with payment. $50 per sign, and you can chose one or both.

Offer ends this Fall!

2025 CCB Brand Sign Form here!

Thank you!

PS: Plans are underway to repaint the brands on the Deming Highway sign as well.

News

2024 CCB President’s Message

February 1, 2025 KClarkLeave a comment

We had a great 2024 and I thank you all for your ongoing help. I want to sincerely thank my team, Leslie Crumbley, Cyndi Donovan and Carol Crosley for all their help.

Sadly, we hosted two luncheons for members lost but we really pulled together and made memorable events. Our efforts at Ranch Days, Ag Days and the County Fair (including giving out burritos!) were amazing. We truly worked well together to make an impact on behalf of agriculture in our part of the State. And it was an honor to have the President of the NM CowBelles, Michelle Greeman, be from our group.

I am so pleased to see us elect some wonderful officers for 2025 and I am looking forward to seeing Cyndi Donovan guide us through another great year.

Thank you for the honor of being your President and especially for the beautiful bracelet you have given me. I wear it with pride.

Patricia E Hunt

Meetings

November 2024 CCB Report

December 10, 2024February 26, 2025 KClarkLeave a comment

President Pat Hunt called the meeting to order at noon on November 19. There were 8 members present. We recited the Pledge of Alliegance to our flag and read the CowBelle Creed. Cyndi Donovan gave the prayer.

Pat Hunt received a kind note from Shirley Franks along with a donation toward expenses incurred in serving meals in honor of Mary Jo Hooker and Joyce Biebelle. There was also a package of delightful thank you notes from the youth participants in Southwest Horseman’s Assn. Junior Rodeo.

Leslie Crumbley made a motion that we make a donation to the Pat Nowlin Scholarship Fund in honor of Joyce Biebelle and the motion passed.

We did not receive any new scholarship applications. However, it was encouraging to learn that former CCB Scholarship recipient, Dr. Sabrina Theurauf, is now working for Dr. Allred. She is manning the T or C Clinic 2 days a week and putting our scholarship funds to good use.

After some discussion, we decided to hold our Family Christmas Party/Installation of Officers on Friday, January 10^th 2024 at the Grant County Extension Office. This will be a potluck meal, so some main dish items will be appreciated. There will be a short business meeting if it becomes necessary at that time. No December meeting (but always subject to change.)

The Deming “Old West Days” planned for November was postponed until April.

Thanks to Pat Hunt and Leslie Crumbley for hosting this meeting.

This meeting was adjourned at 12:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Carol Crosley.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

NM State Cattlegrowers Annual Joint Meeting – December 11^th thru 13^th, 2024

NM CowBelles Past President’s Reception – December 12^th – 4:00 to 5:50 P.M.

NM CowBelles General Meeting – December 13^th at 7:00 A.M

News