Back on Track!

It has been a while since I have posted.  It is amazing how quickly you can let life consume you and totally blind you.  I am happy to announce that I am back and excited to be in Denver for the 2014 Summer Conference of the American National CattleWomen.  There is still time to get here before the events start on Tuesday.  We have a lot to offer to local and state organizations in terms of guidance, and benefits.  Be sure that your state organization is an affiliate with the ANCW and let us know what we can do for you to make things better.

As I said I am back on track.  If you need some help getting your organization back on track let myself or your Region Director from ANCW know what we can do to help.  There are a lot of exciting things to come out of the meetings this week make time to be in Denver!

Awesome Opportunities

I have a passion for working with young people.  When I was asked to Chaperone the National Beef Ambassador team to the Delaware Valley A-Days, I was very excited.  I have watched these two fabulous young ladies interact with all walks of life and grow as young people while they were at it. This has been an absolutely fabulous opportunity, and I have one to offer to all of you, my readers.  We are hosting meeting in Ohio for the American National CattleWomen in Region I, where is Region I you ask?  Region I covers all states from New England to Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana, and north to Michigan.  This meeting is open to anyone, if you love beef, to eat to raise, anything you can come.   We are going to fabulous day filled with tons of information and lots of fun activities.  If you would like to attend we would love to have you.  Below is the registration form and an agenda of events, while the room block has run out there are still rooms available at the hotel and on Expedia they are offering the same price as our block. 

Life of Adventure

Wow, that is all I can say, that is what I have been saying all day.  I have met so many wonderful women, women that I pray I, in five to fifteen years, am half as amazing.  Before I get too far ahead of myself, I am Kayla, I grew up on a small farm in southwestern, Ohio. We raise beef cattle, Angus, Hereford, and Maine Anjou, but I got my start in the business as a 4-H member about eighteen years ago.  I was always a very intrigued youth, and always wanted to be involved.  Seven years ago I had the honor of serving as the Ohio Queen of Beef.  Almost two years ago, I was asked if I was interested in becoming an officer of the Ohio CattleWomen's Association (OCW).  I had no idea what I was getting into, but I thought that as a young person there was no opportunity that I could pass up.  In January of 2013 I attended my first OCW meeting with a nomination on the table to serve as the Vice President.  I was elected first vice president, and boy was I on cloud nine, not thinking anything like what has happened was going to play out.  In May I was invited to an American National CattleWomen's (ANCW) Region I meeting, that was being held in Ohio, as my President was unable to attend.  In a matter of five hours, these women had blown my socks off, the ANCW officers wanted to know me, and my story.  I was totally floored, so I joined ANCW.  The following day, June 2nd, 2013 I received an email from our Ohio President, that due to some family challenges and unforeseen circumstances she would be unable to carry out her responsibilities for the organization.  She felt it best that I step up and take her position.  Of course I said yes, when I accepted office, I was inducted under the pretense that should be unable to fulfill her duties it was my job to step in.  I wasn't sure if I was really ready for it, but I grabbed myself by my bootstraps, and we moved forward.  In January 2014, I was completely lost when it came time for me to plan the annual meeting, but I decided that with my family thinking I was nuts and God on my side I could do it, and we did.  I didn't do it alone, my mother aka editor, my boyfriend for constant support, my dad and brother cheering me on plus my officers I had a support system.  I survived the meeting, was officially inducted as President of OCW, and then it was time to enjoy the perks of that job.  February 4-7th 2014, I packed up and road tripped to Nashville with some great ladies, I accepted a nomination to serve as an ANCW Board of Directors At-Large Member, at the same time our Region Director was named to Vice President.  It was the largest group of ladies that we had, had at a convention with a grand total of nine and three or four collegiate from Region I.  Well in our general membership meeting it was brought up that with Ann as ANCW VP we were going to have a vacant spot at the Region I Director spot.  It was returned to the Region I active members to shout out nominations, and my name was sent forward to the Executive committee to fill that spot and to serve as Region I Director, which brings me to where I am today.  Sitting in a hotel after my first day of my first ever ANCW Executive Committee Spring Leadership Training, and all I have to say is WOW!! This is a fabulous group of ladies, and one said today, "a group like this are the ones that that make it worth while to put in all the effort that we have.  So, as my audience I am putting forth an effort that I will be blogging about my adventures as a Region Director, but also in my adventures as a CattleWomen.  This life is not for everyone, but we are feeding the world. The CattleWomen are more than just wives of farmers and ranchers, we are integral parts of our farms and ranches.  We be sure bellies are full and will remain that way throughout the day, before the sun comes up, we are out whether it's bottle feeding a calf, or  moving the cows before the  next snow storm, just to be in town in time for work.  Of an evening, we are back out checking cows, feeding four legged bellies and two, as well as being sure homework is complete in time for bed to get back up and do it again tomorrow.  Somewhere in there we have also corresponded with a dozen ladies across the U.S. via conference call and email making the events of ANCW come together.  We want you involved too.  We can never have too many involved or on board for the next project.  So how do you get involved.  There are a variety of  ways that you can become involved, go to your state membership and find out if they are affiliates.  If they are not visit www.ancw.org and find out what region you fall in, or ask me and we will get you in touch.  If you reside in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, New York, Michigan, Vermont, New Hampshire or New Jersey you are a member of region I.  You do not have to have an organized CattleWomen's organization to attend our meeting nor do you have to be a national member to attend our meeting.  May 10th there will be a region meeting held in Ohio at the Bob Evan's Farm in Rio Grande.  We will have activities Friday evening May 9th to accommodating those that will be traveling from a distance.  We want you to join us there is no one men or women alike that are not welcome. For information contact me at (937)302-0073 or via email kalivestockservice@gmail.com or visit this link to the Region I information and registration form http://www.ancw.org/region1.aspx.  Hope to see you at one of our region meetings look for more of my travels in the Life of a CattleWoman

http://www.ancw.org/region1.aspx