CowBelle of the Year
This award is given to recognize an outstanding CowBelle member for her dedication, service and support to the New Mexico CowBelles.
Congratulations to 2021 New Mexico CowBelle of the Year, Dalene Hodnett!
“We’d like to take a moment this evening to honor someone who is without a doubt a vital part of the New Mexico CowBelles organization. Her work on our behalf speaks volumes about her dedication to our organization, the beef industry, and agriculture as a whole. This year’s honoree is not only active in her local Mesilla Valley CowBelle group, but on the state level as well. She has served as a past president, coordinates our Beef Ambassador program, and has maintained and grown our presence and engagement on social medial by managing the content of our Facebook page. She is a wealth of knowledge to our members and Ambassadors as we carry out our duties as CowBelles. To say “thank you” isn’t nearly enough. She is dedicated to promoting ag awareness to many outside our industry, and as one of our members has said, “we should honor her for all that she has done, and encourage her to continue educating the public like she does, as it is so important. She is our voice to many we cannot talk to.” - New Mexico CowBelles
CowBelle of the Year Application - Nominees to be submitted by the membership and locals to State President no later than October 10.
Past Recipients
1966 Mrs. Albert Harrington (Tommy) –D- Sandia Belles
1967 Mrs. R.G. Monzingo (Peggy)- Powderhorn
1968 Mrs. Malcolm Major (Lily)- Sacaton
1969 Mrs. R.S. Sultemeier(Peggy)- Powderhorn
1970 Mrs. Jack Copeland (Mary Alice) –D- Cattle Capital
1971 Mrs. Bill Benton (Alvera)- Sacaton
1972 Mrs. Tom Grady (Eula) –D- Cattle Capital
1973 Mrs. Jim Harrelson (Netti)- Sandia Belles
1974 Mrs. Earl Plank (Faye) –D- Cattle Capital
1975 Mrs. Troy King (Ida) –D- Totah
1976 Mrs. Benny Fulgham (Wilma)- Cattle Capital
1977 Mrs. Karl Butt (Lava)- Lariat
1978 Mrs. Joe Pankey (Edith)- Chamiza
1979 Mrs. Phil Nowlin (Pat) –D- Silver Spur
1980 Mrs. John King (Sharon)- Lariat
1981 Mrs. Neal Vaughan (Dorothy)- Powderhorn
1982 Mrs. Mac Bell (Betty Ann)- Crown
1983 Mrs. Wayne Raska (Sherrie)- Silver Spur
1984 Mrs. Jerry Brown (Jean)- Sandia Belles
1985 Mrs. Hart Ponder (Linda)- Corriente
1986 Mrs. Dub Martin (Barbara) –D- Silver Spur
1987 Mrs. Bill Sauble (Debbie)- Silver Spur
1988 Mrs. Jerry Witte (Fita)- RoadRunner
1989 Mrs. Jim Wagner (Barbara)- Otero
1990 Mrs. J.W. Pepper (Betty)- Lariat
1991 Mrs. Sarge Moore (Genora)- RoadRunner
1992 Ms. Viola Jeffers –D- Silver Spur
1993 Mrs. Charlie Lee (Jean)- Otero
1994 Mrs. Jack Robertson (Ella) RoadRunner
1995 Mrs. J. Heimann (Owaissa)- Lariat
1996 Mrs. Wally Ferguson (Anne)- Canyon
1997 Mrs. James Sowers (Pearl)- Lariat
1998 Mrs. Bob Marrs (Inez)- Corriente
1999 Mrs. Gayland Townsend (Patty)- Berrendo
2000 Mrs. Wayne Lindsey (Kay)- ChuckWagon
2001 Ms. Evelyn Yates- Sacaton & Copper
2002 Mrs. Jeff Witte (Janet)- Mesilla Valley
2003 Mrs. Brian Green (Lyn)- ChuckWagon
2004 Dr. Kathryn Malcom-Callis- Lariat
2005 Mrs. David Kincaid (Joan)- Yucca
2006 Mrs. Mark Barrow (Toni)- Chuckwagon
2007 Mrs. Leslie Bond (Estelle)- Otero
2008 Mrs. Bob Ricklefs (Rachel)- Silver Spur
2009 Mrs. Phil Bidegain (Yetta)
2010 Ms. Frieda Havens- Broomtails
2011 Mrs. R.L. Posey (Patty)- Otero
2012 Mrs. Hugh B. McKeen (Marge)- Frisco
2013 Mrs. Joe Bill Nunn (Lauren)- BorderBelles
2014 Mrs. Jarrold (Jary) C. Rupe (Debi)- Otero
2015 Mrs. Gary Hathorn (Shelly)- Silver Spur
2016 Mrs. Preston Stone (Willa)- Corriente
2017 Mrs. Carolyn Chance- Chuckwagon
2018 Mrs. Linda Davis- Silver Spur
2019 Mrs. Casey Spradley- Broomtails
2020 N/A
2021 Mrs. Dalene Hodnett- Mesilla
