The year is 1953. Washington is beginning to make a name for itself as a foremost producer of beef and livestock in the Northwestern United States, with Central Washington as the agricultural heart of the state. The vast majority of families in the area put down roots in the previous generation as settlers, growing throughout the early twentieth century into established ranchers and farmers. With the wartime demand for meat, the cattle industry across the state grew exponentially, and upward momentum continued even in the post-war years.
Washington Women Take the Stage
The Washington Cattlemen Association had already been a presence in the industry for nearly 25 years, but it was more than time to introduce another voice; that of the women who were increasingly becoming central players in the Washington beef industry. In October of 1953, at the YMCA of Ellensburg, an enterprising group of 18 local women met to organize the Kittitas County CowBelles, with the primary goal to “assist Cattlemen in their effort to promote the welfare of the livestock industry.” In less than a month, the group had more than doubled in size, and the CowBelles meeting of November 1953 saw 38 women in attendance as new members.
washingtoncattlewomen.org
Growth and Impact Across Kittitas County
The Kittitas County CowBelles quickly grew in notoriety and influence, promoting beef in schools and educating the community on how to recognize and prepare cuts of beef for cooking. Members wrote songs, created radio advertisements, distributed recipes, and hosted booths and floats in local rodeos and fairs, all to promote the use of Washington beef, and to great success.
Charlotte Frye, the current historian of the Kittitas County CattleWomen (renamed in 1986), is from a multi-generational family of CattleWomen. Originally from Kittitas County, she has now “kept the scrapbooks for a number of years,” with “members providing photographs and other items to include.”
Over the years, CattleWomen have grown their influence on the region through creative and impactful projects of all kinds. In 1967, Beef Gift Certificates were distributed at the Ellensburg State Bank and were redeemable at grocery stores and meat outlets across the United States. Beginning in the 1970s and 80s, the women sponsored and hosted community dinners, fundraising initiatives, cooking schools, and educational events.
The year 2010 saw the establishment of the Kittitas County CattleWomen’s Memorial Fund Scholarship, which continues to this day to support local high school seniors who are pursuing higher education in an agriculture-related field, and every year at the Kittitas County Fair, the CattleWomen participate in the Second Harvest distribution of bulk foods and frozen beef to local families in need.
The Heart of the CattleWomen
From its founding days, the CattleWomen have been united by “a love of the people, the livestock, and the land.” Owning cattle is not a requirement for membership, as all a prospective CattleWoman needs is a heart for her community and an excitement for participating in an organization that makes generational impact not just on our cities and county, but also at the state and national level. To learn more about membership, upcoming events, or getting involved, visit the Kittitas County CattleWomen on Facebook.
