Cattlewomen have their luncheon and fashion | Barton

Tehama County CattleWomen was chartered in 1953, and it has been a tradition to have a luncheon and fashion show each year.  (They also used to have an afternoon tea in a member’s home for the membership.)

Last Saturday was the first since the pandemic, thanks to Joan Growney Blakesley for reviving a fun social event for everyone, called INDIAN SUMMER.

The luncheon was dedicated to the Memory of Betty Peek.  “Born into a ranching family, Betty was a true promoter of the cattle industry.  With her husband, Ellington, they started in business in 1956 at the Shasta Livestock Auction.  The business expanded to include Shasta Western Shop.  “Tornado Betty” was a dynamo in business and her personal life.  She loved spending time at the family ranch in Calaveras County and at a cabin near Mineral.   But most importantly, Betty was a real friend to hundreds of people in her community.  Her generosity, wisdom and smile will be missed.”  Betty was CowBelle of Year in 2013.

The Cowboy Pantry was revived, in memory of Judy Chamberlain and Pem Lester, and Cathy Tobin had made Patty Kelly’s Buttery Peanut Brittle.   There were fresh persimmons, but we missed the tomatoes Anne Read used to bring.

I didn’t get the names of the people who made the jams, jellies, breads, cookies, Lemon Meringue Pie, or the various sewing items. Sue Knox, Linda Walker, Kelly Ryan, and Laurel Walker were handling sales.

I lost my notes of the Boutique vendors’ names, but there were many nice things available. Red Bluff Kiwanis had Bloody Marys, Mimosas, and wine available for purchase. The first two items were made special for the ladies’ luncheon.

Etched in Elegance Catering, Redding, had a delicious plated beef salad for the guests to enjoy.  There were mixed baby greens with sliced top sirloin, pears, Gorgonzola, candied pecans with a delightful brown sugar brandy dressing.  Rolls and butter, while dessert was individual cheese cakes with cherry,  iced tea or water.  Los Molinos FFA were the servers.

A bag of TLC Kettle Corn was at each place setting as a thank you for joining us, and a ‘Confident Cooking Beef’ booklet from Beef It’s What’s For Dinner.   The centerpieces were assorted large pumpkins, with succulents and flowers in the center, created by Red Bluff FFA Floral Department.  Small gourds and Eucalyptus leaves surrounded the pumpkin on the cream colored table cloths, and burgundy napkins.  Yellow programs created by John Gentry and Impressive Print.

Mistress of Ceremonies was Linda Durrer, who introduced 2023 CowBelle of Year Kendra McCluskey, and Kendra presented our 2024 CowBelle of Year Cindy McCarthy.

Past CowBelles of year were 2022 Mandi Selvester-Owens, Shelley Macdonald, Jane Daugherty; 2019 Linda Johnson, Linda Borror, Kari Dodd, Irene Fuller,  Charlene Priest,  Kelly Mouton, Jeanne Smith, Betty Peek, Cathy Tobin, Ruth Flory, 2009 Sue Knox, Barbara Frost-Kloose, Jackie Baker,  Shelley Macdonald,  Joyce Bundy,  Renee Ewing,  Jere Lee Hale, Phyllis “Pem” Lester, Shirley Davis, Linda Walker;  1999 Patty Kelly, Carol Mieske, Flora Turri,  Joan Hemsted, Thelma Owens,  Vicki Henderson,  Judy Chamberlain, Fay Andreini, Gusti Kerstiens, Jean Barton;  1989 Maxine Davies, Rosemary Jackson, Beth Chaney,  Janice Knight, Lois Cook,  Barbara Keeler, Constance Crowder, Waynette deBraga, Mary Turri, Anne Read;  1979 Sharen McKenzie-Finn, Jeanne Burch-Hubbard, Linda Jenkins, Catherine Richardson, Ruth Murchison, Romayne Brown, Bertha O’Brien,  Mabel  Luther, Betty Alford, Mary Miller;  1969 Virginia Martin & Jonnie Lancaster, Freda Owens, Anne Willard.    CowBelle Moms:  1963 Josephine Owens, 1964 Bernice Alford, 1965 Loretta Flournoy. 1966 No recipient.

Kelley Dolling thanked Tehama County CattleWomen for their community involvement since we have partnered with Downtown Business Association for 14 years with the Beef ‘n Brew.

In the early days, the fashion show was produced by Osher’s in Chico, but they have closed. We are grateful to have The Loft at Reynolds Ranch and Farm Supply and Red Bluff Round Up Mercantile Store show their western wear.

Erin McCarthy Bianchi, 7-year-old Renata, and 6-year-old Emilia modeled for The Loft. Erin is the daughter of Cindy McCarthy, our CowBelle of Year and owner of the recently remodeled Triangle Motel in Red Bluff.

Debbie Camacho and her grandson Katch,  young son of Brittnay and Colby Camacho.  Vicki Kerstein Mahoney, a longtime Tehama County Cattlemen and CattleWomen member.

A special surprise was 19-year-old Mason Peek, who was modeling good-looking western clothing for men. He is the son of Andy and Rhonda Peek, and we learned he was named after grandfather Ellington’s mother, Dolly Mason. It was his modeling debut, and we enjoyed his antics.

Red Bluff Round-Up Mercantile on Main Street had Taylor Collins Bunn modeling with her six-month-old son, Cal, and three-year-old Stevi Birt. They showed us western clothing for young children as well as adults. Stevi’s parents are Brian and Lynsie Birt. Taylor works in the Round-Up office. She and her husband Chase have a cow-calf ranch in Cottonwood.

Kathy Sibert has worked at the Red Bluff Round Up office for 23 years and enjoys crocheting, knitting, walking, and cooking.

All the models showed two or three different outfits, and then it was time for our special entertainment. Instead of the Native Pow Wow Dancers, we had a Jingle Dress Dancer, 18-year-old Mickaela Watkins from Corning.

Mickaela’s mother Colleen Watkins explained that there are 500 tribes in the US, and when they meet, it is called a Pow Wow.  We are invited to come watch the Pow Wow in Redding, next October.  The clothing they wear is called Regalia, and we were asked to ask them, if you want to take a photo.  Mickaela said we could take her photo.

The drummer, singer was Mickaela’s father Irvin Watkins and he sang a song to the CattleWomen, but I couldn’t understand his language since he was Absentee Shawnee.

Colleen told us the Jingles on the dancers clothing used to be rolled Copenhagen lids, but now they are commercially produced.  She also told us a story about Tan Oak Trees.

After Mickaela danced, she invited the audience to join her for a fun conclusion to the luncheon, fashion show, and entertainment. I’m looking forward to next year.