Oklahoma CattleWomen headed down south to attend the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans, LA last month. While there OCW members networked and learned alongside their fellow American National CattleWomen to become better advocates and ranchers. I continue to be in awe of the presence and impact of OCW on the national stage.

We were proud to once again see two CattleWomen from Oklahoma installed on the ANCW Executive Team. Ddee Haynes has rejoined ANCW leadership as the Region IV Director. In this position she will continue to be a direct line of communication between ANCW and the three states in our region: Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. I have enjoyed working closely with her on the Region IV Meeting & WIRED event coming up on May 5^th & 6^th!

Past OCW President, Ruth Coffey, transitioned out of the position of ANCW Vice President and into President-Elect! Over the next year, Ruth will support the initiatives of ANCW along with fellow officers President Pam Griffin of Arizona and Vice President Nikki Weston of Utah. I want to take a second to thank Jill Worthington and Tammi Didlot for a job well done as they transition off the ANCW Executive Team as the Business Manager and CFO respectively. Tammi has held a seat on the ANCW Executive Team for 11 years and has done an excellent job representing Oklahoma CattleWomen on the national stage for over a decade!

I am excited and humbled to share that I was named the 2023 ANCW Beef Promoter of the Year! What a surprise! I truly did not see it coming so hats off to everyone that helped coordinate behind my back (including my sneaky husband!). I have a profound joy for promoting the beef industry and have loved being able to use my platform as the OCW President and ANCW Public Relations Chairman to do so. CattleWomen has helped formed who I am as an advocate and producer, and I am incredibly thankful to the women of this organization that have become so much more than friends.  I am even more excited to share that all three ANCW awards were presented to CattleWomen of Region IV this year!

Past OCW President and current ANCW Region IV Director, Ddee Haynes, was named the 2023 ANCW Educator of the Year. In her 25 years of service to both the OCW and ANCW, Ddee has served in a variety of leadership positions with education of the foremost importance. Her most notable position, one that she currently still holds, is that of the OK Beef Advocate Co-Chair. In this position Ddee has assisted in the creation of hundreds of beef advocates from elementary children to collegiates. Of these students, many have gone on to serve in the National Beef Ambassador Program.

A member of both the Oklahoma CattleWomen and Texas CattleWomen, Desta Crawford was named the 2023 ANCW Outstanding CattleWoman of the Year! Desta is a prime example of a lifelong CattleWoman. She has held several notable positions within ANCW as Region IV Director and Membership Chairman and twice served as the ANCW Secretary under Jill Ginn and Evelyn Greene. She gave her all to each of these positions but what I find most valuable is her continued work in-between these positions.

I am beyond honored to be included in the same award class as these incredible CattleWomen and am still shocked to have stood beside my mentors with award plaque in hand. Thank you just doesn’t seem to cover it! While I am sharing my appreciation, I want to say a big THANK YOU to my Presidential travel sponsor Shorty’s Caboy Hattery for their continued support. Without their contributions I wouldn’t be able to travel around the state and nation promoting and supporting CattleWomen! Make sure to give them some love online at shortyscaboyhattery.com or when you are down in the Stockyards in OKC.

Of all the ANCW meetings I have had the privilege to attend, this year’s was by far the most impressive with captivating speakers and engaging learning opportunities. If you are not yet a member of ANCW, I highly encourage you to check out their website at ancw.org and/or plan to attend a future meeting. If you have any questions, please consider reaching out to one of the ladies mentioned above or myself and we will be happy to help in any way that we can!

Until next time, I wish you plenty of beef and blessings!