Hello Fellow Cattlemen & CattleWomen, as we move to the end of 2020, we see a very different world then it was a year ago. I believe no one could have ever imagined the changes that have taken place in the last twelve months. Through all this uncertainty many things have remained the same, one being our commitment to keeping BEEF the most wholesome commodity in the world. For our industry to achieve the success of having a strong and secure commodity, we must have strong and principled leaders to lead the way. To be strong and principled, leaders must be humble enough to be of service to others.
“Being of Service to Others” is an important virtue many leaders should have in the forefront of his or her minds to be a positive role model to their association. As Steve Errey writes: “You can’t truly be of service to something unless it aligns with what truly matters to you and it’s alignment that allows you to give simply, because it matters.” As many of you know, this association means the world to me, some would say, “Casie, sure has drank the Kool-Aid.” Well to answer that question, any leader worth his or her character, should be the first person to lead the charge of being of service to others. We must all strive to better our industry and our world, by being willing to serve others.
Some of the sweetest ladies you would
ever want to meet Muriel Corbin and
Sharon Sumner of Townsend Livestock
Market in Madison, FL. Pasco County
CattleWoman, Ashley Bischof and
myself spent the day selling Florida
CattleWomen’s Raffle Tickets at
Townsend Livestock Market.
A great turn out of Florida CattleWomen at the October 24th, Florida CattleWomen’s
Fall Ranch Tour Series.
Many friendships have been made on
the Florida CattleWomen’s Fall Ranch
Tours.
Had a great time visiting with the Gator
Collegiate CattleWomen’s Association.
So many new faces, getting involved
with the Florida Beef Industry.
Florida CattleWomen had many in
depth questions about cattle health at
the October 24th Florida CattleWomen’s
Fall Ranch Tour, at Cracker Land and
Cattle Company, Lake City, FL.
A special thank you to the Ketcham
Family for their hospitality at the October
24th, Florida CattleWomen’s Fall Ranch
Tour.
Moving along, Florida CattleWomen Inc. (FCW) members have been out and about around Florida, moving and shaking, and not afraid to approach you anywhere we might catch you, and that anywhere has been everywhere, as we have been hot on it, selling FCW Raffle Tickets for some lucky winner to win a $1,500.00 credit for Powder River Livestock Equipment. FCW sincerely appreciates the support everyone has given us. I am sure some of you have gotten a laugh in our “sales spiel” as we were trying to sell Raffle Tickets to you. Just remember your help in buying a raffle ticket helps FCW further along our mission of fostering the Beef Industry and for that we greatly appreciate your support. We are looking forward to the Raffle Drawing at the Florida Cattlemen & CattleWomen’s December Quarterly in Highlands County, FL.
As I mentioned in my November Article, FCW is in full swing with our Florida CattleWomen’s Fall Ranch Tour Series. Florida Cattlemen and CattleWomen, if you ever want your young daughter to have some inspiration, have them go visit Luci Rogers-Ketcham, of Cracker Land & Cattle Company, Lake City, FL. Arky and Debbie Rogers, you should be immensely proud of the daughter you raised. Luci, lead the Ranch Tour at her facility, at the October 24th Florida CattleWomen’s Ranch Tour. To say, she made an impact on every lady who attended that tour, would be an understatement. Luci was beyond inspirational and had a gleam in her eye of the passion she holds for the cattle industry that would make every city dweller want to become a Cattleman or CattleWoman. Luci was engaging, approachable, and made every lady there, feel that they all played a role in the Beef Industry. Luci, is the true role model of what “Being of Service to Others” is all about.
On November 14th, we had our third ranch tour in the Florida CattleWomen’s Fall Ranch Tour Series, in Okeechobee, FL. FCW is so thankful to Lauren Dillard-Butler, of Okeechobee County Cattlewomen for putting this tour together. Florida CattleWomen toured the Buck Daniel Ranch, Pelaez and Sons, and Flying G Ranch while in Okeechobee. FCW is eternally grateful for these fine ranching families opening their ranches to us. These ranch tours have been very beneficial to the ladies and gentlemen who have attended and allowed them to see firsthand how cattle operations differ around the state. One of the best reasons for having these ranch tours is most people learn best by seeing something in action and being present to visually experience it. I look forward to sharing more highlights of the Okeechobee Ranch Tour in my January article.
Our final Florida CattleWomen’s Fall Ranch Tour will be Saturday, December 5th, at Kempfer Cattle Company, in Deer Park, FL. FCW is looking forward to having our Florida Cattlemen’s Sweetheart, Sally Kempfer, guide us on her family’s ranch. Please let us know if you would like to attend by emailing floridacattlewomen@yahoo.com
I spoke last month about the exciting formation of the University of Florida, Plant City CattleWomen, beginning their first chapter in a long and successful story of promoting the Florida Beef Industry, as a Collegiate CattleWomen’s Association. The UF, Plant City CattleWomen, had a successful Zoom Meeting in the latter part of October. So many great ideas came out of that meeting, from talks about developing Beef Related Videos, Speaking to FFA Chapters, to presenting Beef Cooking Demonstrations at the Florida Strawberry Festival. So many great ideas from so many energetic young ladies, this is where “Being of Service to Others” and helping these ladies realize their goals comes to fruition. During that meeting the ladies expressed a desire to meet the Men and Women who make up the Hillsborough County Cattlemen and CattleWomen. With those desires and the generosity of the Swindle Family, FCW was able to host a “Welcome Reception” to get those groups acquainted. I look forward to sharing the highlights of that great night with you in my January article.
As we move into December, I am excited for all the great things going on with FCW this month. At the beginning of the month, I am looking forward to getting FCW business accomplished at the December Quarterly. I would like to personally thank the Highlands County Cattlemen and CattleWomen for hosting the Florida Cattlemen & CattleWomen from around the state. I know personally what type of long hours and monetary contribution goes into hosting a quarterly, and FCW greatly appreciates your generosity.
FCW is looking forward to helping the children of Hope Children’s Home have a Christmas through the generous generosity of FCW Members (and others) throughout the state. A special thank you goes out to Debbie Gill for chairing this very important FCW committee. FCW is praying especially hard for the generosity of our membership, as we will be collecting monetary funds that will be converted into Beef Certificates, so that Hope Children’s Home can include healthy beef in the children’s diet throughout the year. If you can donate to this important cause and be of service to others, please let us know, as all involved would be eternally grateful for your support. Please email: floridacattlewomen@yahoo.com if you would like to contribute to the cause.
I am looking forward to the rescheduled December 10th, Coast Guard Appreciation Luncheon, at the Port Canaveral Coast Guard Station. Florida Cattlemen & CattleWomen will be showcasing to our boys and girls in uniform, what a great steak tastes like, teaching them the fine art of consuming frog legs. In addition, the Gator Collegiate Cattlewomen will be instructing them on what it takes to rope a “roping dummy.” What will probably bring memories of their home, for our service men and women will be the abundance of homemade desserts, that FCW members will be bringing from near and far to thank them for all they do, protecting our country.
Another special project, FCW has taken on this year, is partnering with Wreath’s Across America, as we honor, remember, and teach, by working to secure sponsorship of wreaths of fallen soldiers and veterans grave sites located at eight National Cemeteries throughout the state of Florida. On December 19th, we will be out in force placing wreath’s on grave sites and being a role model to our children as we teach them that our freedoms are not free. From Penascola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Gotha, Bushnell, St. Petersburg, Fort Myers, to Lake Worth, FL, our members will be at National Cemeteries honoring and remembering those who gave their lives, so we can enjoy a life of being a Cattleman or CattleWoman. If you would like to volunteer to help place wreaths on grave sites at one of the National Cemeteries please email: floirdacattlewomen@yahoo.com
Lastly, I want to remind everyone that the Florida CattleWomen’s Fun Shoot is fast approaching on Saturday, January 9th, at Quail Creek Plantation, Okeechobee, FL. If you have never been to Quail Creek Plantation, you are missing out, please make plans to attend this great event and venue. We are very thankful to Fred & Maria Fanizzi, for letting us have the FCW Fun Shoot at their facility. Sarah Childs and her committee members put on an incredible shoot each and every year and I encourage everyone to join us on January 9th for a fun filled day. Please contact Sarah Childs at: 863-441-0105, for more information.
In closing, one of the best gifts to mankind we can give, is to be of service to others. It is with greatest sincerity that I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas & a better New Year for mankind. May we all rely more on our faith and teach our children the importance of having a faith-based foundation to carry them throughout the good times and hardships of their life.
Blessings,
Casie Holloway
Florida CattleWomen
