About FCW

Recipe of The Month

Sicilian Beef Short Ribs (2009 National Beef Cook Off Winner)

Total recipe time: 2 to 3 hours
Makes 4 to 6 servings

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About The FCW

Founded in 1961 as the Florida CowBelles, Inc., the Florida CattleWomen, Inc. (FCW) conduct and participate in a variety of activities that can be summed up in our Purpose: To foster the well-being of the beef industry through education and promotion, in cooperation with the Florida Cattlemen’s Association and Florida Beef Council. We are also an affiliate of the American National CattleWomen.

 

Events and activities are chosen for their ability to assist in accomplishing our priorities, namely:

• Promote Beef Consumption
• Educate the public about the Beef Industry’s Environmental and Animal Welfare Practices
• Promote Legislative Awareness
• Educate the FCW membership

At the present time some of the major activities are: Southern Women’s Show, Florida State Fair Booth and Beef Day, the Beef Consumer Representative Contest and activities, Ag In the Classroom, education and health conferences, Beef Shortcourse, March legislative visits, providing promotional and educational materials to county groups, the Youth Beef Exhibitor T-shirt program, and recognizing outstanding members. Additionally we support the Agricultural Youth of Florida through UF Scholarships; and 4-H, FFA, and FJCA sponsorships.

 

A note from the FCW President, Sarabeth Barthle-Simmons

Welcome to the Florida Cattlemen Website and our Florida CattleWomen page.  We hope you find information here that will both answer some questions you might have about the CattleWomen and spark some new ones about our activities.  Within the site you can find officer and committee chair information, brief descriptions of our regular activities, newsletters, monthly magazine articles, and details of coming events.  Let me hear from you about what you think and if you have any suggestions for the future.  Thanks for visiting.

 

2013 FCW Clay Fun Shoot

Flyer with more information     Registration Form

 

Left to Right: Sarabeth Barthle-Simmons, Denise Colgan, Melissa Montes DeOca, Wendy Petteway, Megan Murphy-Bronson, Kathryn Metcalf-Thomas, Jan Dillard, Reyna Hallworth, Charlotte Rutledge

 

FCW Officers and Executive Committee

President Sarabeth Barthle-Simmons Lake City, FL Tel:352-585-2130 Email: sarabeth@cse-lc.com	Pesident-Elect, Education Denise Colgan Okeechobee, FL Tel: 863-763-6575 Email: c215denise@aol.com
1st Vice President Reyna Hallworth Dade City, FL Tel:352-226-4730 Email: reynahallworth@gmail.com	Recording and Corresponding Secretary Kathryn Metcalf-Thomas Winter Haven, FL Tel: 863-443-1376 Email: khm1376@earthlink.net
Treasurer Megan Murphy Bronson Avon Park, FL Tel: 863-368-0477 Email: meganmurphybronson@gmail.com	Parliamentarian Charlotte Rutledge Ft. Myers, FL Tel: 863-599-9092 charlotterutledge@westway.com
Chaplain TBA	Florida Beef Ambassador Alex Lucas Tel: 352-304-0522 Email: alexlucas50@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding CattleWoman of the Year

Nancy Phares

 

Many people devote their time, energy, and effort to service groups or associations. And while some individuals become drawn into such groups later in life after finding some sort of common interest, other people are seemingly predestined to the leadership of their family, their livelihood, and ultimately the future of their families. All of these influences taken into account, there is never any question as to whether they will serve, rather it is merely a question of "when".

 

Such was the case for Nancy Phares. After growing up the eldest child of Past FCA President, J.O. Pearce, Jr., Nancy moved away from the ranch and pursed a college degree in education followed by raising her family. Although she may not have been actively involved in the Pearce Ranch operations on a day-to-day basis, she never fully removed herself from ranching. Nancy made certain that her sons spent their summers, weekends, and many vacation days working at the ranch alongside J.O. learning as much as possible about the cattle business and stewardship of resources. Nancy also spent countless hours hauling the three boys to 4-H meeting and livestock judging trips.

 

All the while, Nancy was an active member of the former Florida Cowbelles and its successor, the Florida Cattlewomen Inc. Throughout that time, her sons were not the only kids that Nancy was educating about the importance of Florida's beef industry. She constantly reached out to the youth where she taught school - not just the kids in her classroom, but also those in surrounding rooms - educating them with Ag In The Classroom materials. Nancy's firm belief was that the future of Florida's cattle industry lied in educating young people about the positive attributes of beef and private land stewardship as the best means to protect natural resources.

 

After retiring from the education system, Nancy decided that it was time to give even more of herself to FCW and Florida agriculture. Nancy worked her way through the ranks of FCW culmination with her service as the group's president in 2005. Never one to rest, Nancy was also overseeing the office administration duties of the family-owned agricultural maintenance and construction business, expanding the cattle operations, and providing 24 hours at-home care for her ailing mother, Marian Pearce. Since that time, Nancy has continued her service to FCW as a past-president and has also laid the foundation for her family's continued success in the cattle business by striving to enact and/ or implement a conservation plan along with BMP protocols.

 

 

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Eligibility

Membership in the Florida CattleWomen is open to all women who are interested in the purpose of the organization.  Membership in the FCW is a prerequisite to serving as FCW committee member, on the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.  Contact the State Membership Chair (see committee list) for information.  State dues are $15.00 per year.  Hit the Join Now button to go to online membership form where you can pay online.  Membership in the American National CattleWomen is encouraged but not required.  Pay through your county or go to the ANCW website (ancw.org).  Currently new members pay only $35.

 

Activity Reporting Just Got Easier!

 

Have you recently shared the beef story with kids in the classroom? Have you sampled a delicious BEEF recipe at a local grocery store or health expo? Have you written an awesome blog or Press Release about a hot beef topic? Be sure to tell us all about it! Did you know activities can now be reported online! Just point, type and click! The new activity report can be found on our website under the "applications/forms" heading or visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ANCWactivities
Feel free to share this link on your state CattleWomen sites and you'll receive quarterly reports from ANCW. Let's all brag about our grassroots beef efforts!