Tag: New Mexico

Meetings

August 2026 CCB Report

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

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 19th 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 4th 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

Copper Cowbelles Award Scholarship to Cliff High Graduate Brennan Shock

KClark

The Copper Cowbelles are pleased to announce that Brennan Shock, a graduating senior from Cliff High School, has been selected as a recipient of Copper Cowbelles Trade Scholarship. Brennan will be pursuing training in the HVAC/Plumbing trade at the New Mexico State University Dona Ana Campus beginning this fall. Along with this training he will also be taking classes in general business to help prepare him in his endeavors.

2026 Scholarship Award Brennan Shock

The Copper Cowbelles are proud to support students like Brennan who choose to develop valuable skills that benefit our community. Brennan’s commitment to a career in the skilled trades reflects the values of hard work and dedication that we need in our area. He states that during COVID he and his friends “offered construction services” to help out. During this experience he recognized a need, and states that he plans to “serve New Mexico and offer affordable but quality HVAC and plumbing services.”

The Copper Cowbelles congratulate Brennan Shock on his achievements and look forward to seeing his future contributions in the HVAC and plumbing fields.

CowBelles is a non-profit organization whose purpose is providing educational information about the beef industry and preserving the heritage of the West. We offer these scholarships to encourage the continuation of our western heritage in all areas of agriculture and rural life. “We believe that supporting education in the trades is essential for the future of our rural communities,” said a spokesperson for the Copper Cowbelles. “We wish Brennan all the best as he begins his journey at NMSU Dona Ana Campus.”

Community

We Are Updating Our Highway Signs!

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

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


News

Working Together to Promote Beef!

Grant County Copper CowBellesLeave a comment

Every year brings a unique partnership to the Cliff-Gila Grant County Fair as the Grant County Cattle Growers and the Grant County Copper CowBelles combine finances to purchase a beef during the Junior Livestock Sale.

This year the partnership was expanded to include the 5R Travel Center located in Deming. The Cattle Growers and 5R purchased the market beef from local 4-H student, Samuel McDonald and shipped it to the Wilcox Packing Plant in Arizona. The processing fees are always paid by the CowBelles. The meat is then divided between 5 schools in Grant County to provide students in Home Economic and Culinary Skills type classes the opportunity to cook with beef cuts of meat.

This year the beef was awarded to Stephanie Tedford of Cliff High School, Mrs. Flores of Silver High, Misty Pugmire of the El Grito Head Start, Mrs. Liebhart of Snell Middle School in Bayard and Mrs. Smith at Calvary Christain.

Pat Hunt, Copper Cowbelles

News

Copper Cowbelles Honors 2015 Cowbelle of the Year

Grant County Copper CowBellesLeave a comment

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.