CALIFORNIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION FAMILIAR FACE WITH NEW FOCUS REMINDS WE ARE STRONGER AS ONE by CCA Second Vice President Sheila Bowen
It is a tremendous honor to serve as a second vice president in the California Cattlemen’s Association. I’d like to introduce myself to those of you I ‘ve not yet had the pleasure of meeting. My name is Sheila Bowen. My husband, Jeff, and I live on the Carver Bowen Ranch near Glennville, in Kern County. We met at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, when we were both ag management majors. Jeff and his sister, Cindy, manage the ranch which is a cow/calf operation headquartered in the foothills of the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. We have four children: Pascoe Bowen (Kelly), Meghan Dresselhaus (Dan), Alicia Niesen (Justin) and Matthew Bowen (Leanne). In addition to our children and their spouses, we are blessed to have 12 grandkids that represent the 7th generation of California cowboys and cowgirls in our family tree. “We’re Stronger Together,” could be the tagline for why I got involved in the various associations, organizations and councils in which I have served. Growing up in a family of seven kids, we all worked together on our family’s farm/ranch to get the work done. We were taught to respect, support and encouraged each other in work and in play. The idea of working together to accomplish a task was a seed that was planted at an early age. Working cattle and growing crops was a family affair that mixed work and fun to get the job done. Cooperating, learning from each other and working as a team is what led to success at the end of the day. The same could be said for our industry. We have a number of organizations that work on behalf of cattle producers to insure that we continue to be successful. I am a member of local, state and national cattlewomen organizations. In 2015-2016 it was my great honor to serve as president of the California CattleWomen. CCW has the largest membership of any state cattlewomen
organization in the nation. Our members are some of the finest women I know. As a member of American National CattleWomen, I am finishing up my second year as the chair of the board of directors. This organization has afforded me the opportunity to meet women ranchers from across the United States who are smart, hardworking and are passionate advocates for the cattle industry. In 2017 I began serving as an alternate on the California Beef Council and sit on the board as a voting member today. Attending these meetings has given me an appreciation for all that is accomplished when we pool our dollars and set to work promoting our product. Together we accomplish so much good, none of which one rancher, feeder or dairyman could do alone. As an alternate on the California Cattle Council (CCC), I have expanded my knowledge and skill set. This council tackles issues in ways that others cannot. It has hit the ground running despite it’s first year of operation coinciding with a pandemic. The accomplishments of the CCC have already been impactful. The cattle ranchers I know love working outdoors while caring for the livestock and providing for their families. They appreciate each season, and each new crop of calves. Ranchers tackle the challenges they face and do not shirk from their duties. There are times when we need to band together to face those challenges because we are stronger together and when we stand together we stand a chance. I look forward to serving on the CCA Officer team, digging deeper into issues that affect producers, learning from our
membership and offering my perspectives. May the new year be prosperous and full of blessings for you and your families.
SERVING CALIFORNIA BEEF PRODUCERS SINCE 1917 Bolded names and businesses in editorial represent only current members of the California Cattlmen’s Association or California CattleWomen, Inc. For questions about your membership status, contact the CCA office at (916) 444-0845. The California Cattleman (Publication #8-3600) is published monthly except July/August is combined by the California Cattlemen’s Association, 1221 H Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, for $20/year, or as part of the annual membership dues. All material and photos within may not be reproduced without permission from publisher.
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