Cattlewomen go over the top

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

If there was any doubt as to "where’s the beef" of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, it was put aside at the association’s annual convention Feb. 17 at the Cattlemen’s Center in Montgomery.

The Pike County Cattlemen were recognized as having the largest Cattlemen’s association in the state with 480 members.

Both the Pike County Cattlemen and Cattlewomen went over the top in membership for the year, meaning their membership has increased over the previous year. The Cattlewomen have a record high membership for their association at 94.

Betty Hixon, president of the Cattlewomen, said it is difficult to separate the Cattlemen from the Cattlewomen because they work so closely together.

The biggest project to date is the proposed Cattleman Convention and Exposition Center, which is planned as a multi-purpose facility designed to accommodate rodeos, horse shows, livestock, concerts and a variety of community, church and family activities. Nearly $600,000 has been pledged, raising hopes that the Center will soon be a reality.

The Cattlemen sponsor an annual professional rodeo Memorial Day weekend which attracts hundreds of rodeo fans to Pike County. They sponsor several youth programs including the annual Steer and Heifer Show. The Cattlemen also fund the Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarships annually.

The Cattlewomen assist the Cattlemen by cooking the beef for the rodeo and sheer shows. They also sponsor the annual beef cookoff for Pike County youths and present the Father of the Year award each year. They also award the Winnie Lee Memorial Scholarship to a deserving youth each year.

This year the Pike County Cattlemen and Cattlewomen took great pride in that two Pike County youths received scholarships offered through the association.

Luke Flowers, an Auburn University junior in agriculture engineering, was awarded the $1,000 WAX Scholarship provided by the WAX Grass and Grain Company.

Lauren Davis, a sophomore nursing student at Auburn University, received the $1,000 Tagged for Greatness Scholarship which is funded by the sale of agriculture vanity tags.

Luke is the son of Jackie and June Flowers of Brundidge and Lauren is the daughter of Wayne and Peggy Davis of Troy.

"We are extremely proud of these two young people," Hixon said. "They are very deserving and will be productive citizens and successful at whatever they chose to do."