April FCW Report

Hello Fellow Cattlemen and CattleWomen, Hope everyone is having a productive spring, full of blessings, accomplishments, and new beginnings. Florida CattleWomen has been steady at it everyday, working to accomplish the Florida Cattle- Women’s goals set forth. Florida CattleWomen is asked constantly, “Why do you all work so hard to promote the Beef Industry?” Well the answer is very simple; “Because it is Important.” I know everyone has heard the statistic over and over; “There is over 1,000 new residents moving into the state of Florida everyday.” Well you can bet, those 1,000 new residents moving to our state each day, does not know a beef industry exists in the state of Florida, let alone, has no idea where to begin on how to prepare a simple hamburger for dinner. Think, I am kidding you on that last statement, think again, go ask some of the younger generation how do you prepare a hamburger and watch their reaction, they do not have any idea what the first step is, from turning on the stove, what a frying pan is, let alone to what temperature the hamburger needs to be cooked too. So, “Yes Sir and Ma’am,” it is important to be out there helping one new or longtime resident or many new and longtime residents, understand the importance of the Beef Industry and where the stove is located in their homes.

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Florida CattleWomen has been hot at this past month, from a very successful Florida CattleWomen’s Workshop and General Membership Meeting at the Florida Cattlemen’s Office in Kissimmee, FL. A special thank you goes out to the Florida Cattlemen’s Water Manager, Benita Whalen and Florida Cattlemen’s Executive Vice President, Jim Handley, for giving great lectures to our membership on “Best Management Practices” to use on our ranches, to “Key Ways Of Communicating With Our Politicians.” Our membership was very responsive to the valuable information shared as shown in the “question and answer” time during the presentations. Being informed is one the best assets as an association to be viable in sharing about the Beef Industry throughout the state.

Florida CattleWomen was so blessed to have a very successful Ranch Tour this past March at Adams Ranch in Fort Pierce, FL. We had ladies come near and far, some drove over 5 hours to be in attendance on that beautiful Saturday morning. When your membership goes to those lengths to be a part of an event, you know it is important to them, and therefore needs to be important to your association, as a service to our membership. Getting back to our Adams Ranch Tour, what a day it was, as Mike Adams and Leanne Adams- Simmons took Florida Cattle- Women on a great tour, through Cabbage Palm Hammocks, showcasing two year old Braford Heifers in pristine pastures, to showcasing the little things that matter to all CattleWomen, learning what a Straggle Fig can do a Cabbage Palm, smelling the distinct odor of an Artesian Well, in the middle of the ranch, to learning about Seminole Indian, Polly Parker, who once lived among this beauty that makes up Adams Ranch. Those events on this tour is something you cannot erase from memory and therefore makes this Florida CattleWomen’s Ranch Tour and all Ranch Tours that has come before and in the near future so important as a learning tool to our membership and those who have an interest in being a part of the Florida CattleWomen’s Association. Thanks Again, to Mike, Leanne, and Lee Adams for the giving of your time and demonstrating a love of stewardship for the land. Florida CattleWomen, please mark your calendars for the next two Florida Cattle- Women’s Ranch Tours: Saturday, April 24th, at Blackbeard Ranch, Myakka City, FL and Saturday, May 15th, Deseret Ranch, St. Cloud, FL. Ladies, if you have not had an opportunity to join us on one of the ranch tours, please make plans to join us, as these tours are very rewarding and also offers a chance for you to become friends with great like minded people. Please reach out to floridacattlewomen@yahoo. com, to reserve your space in any upcoming Ranch Tour.

This spring Florida CattleWomen has embarked on a great Beef Promotion, as we honor First Responders throughout the state of Florida. Florida Cattle- Women has been active serving Firehouses great Beef Lunches, as a way to show our appreciation of the service and protection Fire Fighters offer to it’s citizens on a daily basis. I cannot express enough the appreciation of gratitude these First Responders share with us, every time we enter through the station doors with a piping hot Beef Meal. These Beef Meals vary from one county to the next, from Meatloaf being served by the Sarasota County Cattle- Women, Steak being grilled by the Pasco County Cattlewomen to the Pasco County 2020 Fire Crew of the Year, to delicious home cooked Lasagne being served by the Jackson County CattleWomen, to the Marianna, FL, Fire Station. The meals have all been made from Love, Tender Beef, and Much Appreciation to a group of men and women that is invaluable to our state as a whole. At each fire station around the state, two questions are constantly asked: “Who are the Florida Cattlemen and CattleWomen, and what do they do?” and “How do I prepare this Beef Recipe?” Yes sir and ma’am, another reason why it is so important to be visible around our state. I look forward to sharing more great stories of our visits to firehouses around the state in the next issue of the Florida Cattlemen’s Livestock Journal.

One of Florida CattleWomen’s everyday goal is to be an inspiration to young women. With those thoughts in mind, Florida CattleWomen has established a relationship with the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council. For the next three months Florida CattleWomen, along with the help of many Florida Cattlemen, will be holding ranch tours for Girls Scouts around the state, from Cracker Land and Cattle, Lake City, FL, Diamond D Ranch, Jacksonville, FL, Gizmo Angus Farm, Molino, FL, Great Mark Western, Monticello, FL, to Uncle Ben’s Farm, Graceville, FL, our goal is to open the eyes and minds of young women of the importance for how the Beef Industry plays in her everyday life. It is very important to start young in one’s life to leave a lasting impression. I look forward to sharing the many heartwarming stories that will come from these Girl Scout Ranch Tours.

If you have not already made reservations for the upcoming Florida Cattlemen and Cattleto the longevity of our associations. Florida CattleWomen will be having many great events that I encourage all ladies to get involved in, from the opening reception, featuring many Florida CattleWomen members from around the state, make sure to attend and find out what their favorite things in life are, got your interest up, didn’t I? Come join us as we discuss Florida CattleWomen business, as many new projects are currently in the works. Lastly, to celebrate a year that has thrown more then a few lemons at us, and by the grace of God, Florida CattleWomen has been able to make some sweet lemonade with those lemons, Florida CattleWomen from all over the state will be in attendance at the Florida CattleWomen’s Breakfast, Thursday, June 17th, each sporting the Kentucky Derby inspired, “Kentucky Derby Hat.” Yes ma’am, ladies are already on the prowl, looking for that on one of a kind “Kentucky Derby Hat.” Oh, what a fine morning, June 17th is going to be, I encourage all ladies to join us that morning.

May we all keep what is important in our lives on the forefront of our minds everyday, our Faith, our Family and Friends, our Community, State, and Nation, and the Beef Industry.

Blessings,

Casie Holloway
Florida CattleWomen.