JINGLE JANGLE
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e’re still here! Funny how agriculture is all of a sudden of super importance to the public. Spoiler alert: we’ve been here the whole time, lol! We’re part of the essential worker crowd that includes your food producers, your feedlot workers, your packing plant employees, your truckers, and your retailers. Yes, we did get hit with Covid in the packing plants a lot faster and harder than those of us horseback moving/checking cattle. It was going to happen, completely unavoidable in large groups of people. And btw, this is the longest “two weeks to flatten the curve” any of us have ever seen. While we’re promoting the beef industry, we should also be educating the public when it comes to ag bonds and agenda items that come before their state and federal governments. Why? If we don’t explain these things to the public in regards to the food on their table, they can and do inadvertently cast votes that harm their food producers. Are we using the correct terminology when addressing the public? While they see “farmers/ranchers have hit hard times” whether it’s due to drought, taxes, or regulations, and don’t understand how it directly affects them, they should read “domestic food producers have hit hard times” so they truly understand what that means to their ability to feed their families. A large portion of the population, that we’ve noted in their confusion about coyotes, doesn’t associate their food sources with American farmers/ranchers. They’re not making that connection. That’s where we come in. Keep sharing your stories on social media, keep opening your mouths when it comes to elections. If we don’t tell them the truth about agriculture, the other side will continue to vilify the ag community. Elections have consequences all the way down to the food on your table. Let’s see how much truth we can blast out there for the last quarter of 2020, shall we? Cowbelles: we will be sending out packets to vote on the budget items and also for state officer nominations, they will be sent out by snail mail since we get very little response to emails. All awards for 2020 have been moved to 2021 and will be cumulative of the two years. All nominations for this year can be
re-submitted for 2021. We will not be having an annual meeting, virtual or otherwise. All communications will come through either email or snail mail. Please contact your local presidents, they have been getting emails. We are in this together, – Charity Ann Saulsberry New Mexico State Cowbelles President The Chamiza CowBelles October meeting was called to order by Vice President, Nancy Phelps, in the Farm Bureau Conference Room where social distancing was adhered to. Minutes from the previous meeting were read. Nancy presented the Treasurer’s report in the absence of Robbie. Both were approved as presented. Nancy read a thank you letter from Suzanne Hopkins for the awarded money to help with her last semester which included her student teaching. Robbie will be mailing out letters to members with renewal membership forms. Please make sure all information is up-to-date and correct. Nancy ordered 50 license plates for a cost of $262.30 which includes the shipping charge. The group decided to postpone election of next year’s officers until the November meeting. Robbie would like to resign as treasurer so keep this in mind. Anyone else interested? In spite of the circumstances brought about by the Covid pandemic, the group is still in hopes to sell 6,000 beef raffle tickets. There will be no booths or vendors at the county fair; nor will the group have a table. Nancy will oversee the drawing on the Saturday
evening of the fair just prior to the livestock sale. Tommie Aber requested she be allowed to purchase the other half of beef from the raffle. The request passed. The Joint Stockmen’s Association meeting has been canceled for this year, which means there will not be an annual CowBelles‘meeting. However, it is hoped members will be able to attend a virtual meeting via zoom in order to vote on new state officers and to present awards. The Stockmen’s Association will also hold a virtual meeting. The out-going State President, Charity Saulsbury, has offered T-shirts from her at her cost. Nancy will confirm and clarify at next meeting. Hopefully the next meeting will again be at the Albert Lyon Event Center. Meeting adjourned at 12:55 pm. Mesilla Valley CowBelles continue to meet virtually through emails. The group did have a number of responses to minutes from the State Executive Committee’s Virtual meeting. Notice has been sent for member dues and t-shirt orders if desired. Submitted by Janet Witte New Mexico CowBelles: Thank you to all who have submitted their news to Jingle Jangle. Please send minutes and/or newsletters to: Jingle Jangle, Janet Witte, 1860 Foxboro Ct., Las Cruces, NM 88007 or email: janetwitte@msn.com by the 14th of every month.
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Custom Slaughtering & Custom Processing Thatcher, Arizona • 928-428-0556 • Call for info & scheduling NOVEMBER 2020
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