Because California is the world leader in food production, the most productive agriculture region on earth and because; the production of Beef Cattle is California's fifth largest commodity, we, the California CattleWomen will focus on promoting a better understanding to consumers as to where their food originates; the quality controls used towards its safety; the impact the Beef Industry has on the economy of California; and the overall, far-reaching contributions the Beef Industry has to society as a whole.

When I was born in October of 1942, World War II was in full swing, my folks had a large registered Duroc operation in Riverside, and dad farmed with a number of Percheron teams.  Today  I see myself caught between two worlds.  One was the era of crank telephones, party lines, and  East Fork Elementary (one room school, where I rode my horse to school each day).  This new era finds agriculture only 1 ½ percent of the total population and a time of technological gizmos (email, blogs, Face book, and twitter). 

My husband Ken and I have devoted our lives to agriculture, on a small scale compared to many.  We continue to raise Angus and Hereford seed stock for commercial cattlemen and our only diversification are our Suffolk and Hampshire flocks from which we sell range rams and market the rest.  For 38 years we were both 4-H leaders, and I went on to be President of the Northern Region and Secretary of the State Leaders Council.  As Co-Advisors with John and Nancy Hawkins to the California Junior Hereford Association for 18 years, we traveled the states with young people who competed in a variety of contests.  In addition I served a two year term as President of American Hereford Women.

To pay the bills we both taught, in my case for 39 years before “retirement,” whatever that is.  It just means we feed the cows in the daylight, and don’t have to thaw out the irrigation pipe locks with our bare hands because we have to be finished with chores by 7:00 a.m. at which time the bus is driving by.

We are blessed to have our son and his family ranching to the west of Scott River, and that has left us enough for two people on the east side.  For enjoyment I love to drive my Percheron  gelding Handy, and we both spend precious hours with our grandson on the ranch, taking time to do those things we didn’t think we had time for  with our own son.

Today my mission continues to be sharing the story of agriculture, and the Masters of Beef Advocacy program has given me some excellent tools to be more effective in talking with both students and adults.   I firmly believe that if we don’t tell our story someone else will do it for us.

Photo of CattleWomen President,
Melanie Fowle