2022 Cowbelle of the year award

Congratulations to our 2022 AES Cowbelles of the year, Pam Benson & Judy Allen!!
 

This year was an amazing year! We had some wonderful nominations that came down to a strong tie between two ladies who personify all the qualities that this honor holds. Our first recipient, photographed on the right is a long-time member of AES Cattlewomen, Judy Allen. Judy is a fourth generation Cattle Rancher in Amador County. In 1961 She and her husband lived in Ione, Ca and raised Red Shorthorns. In the late 60’s they then moved to their Tonzi Road Ranch where they began adding in and raising Red Angus to their herd. At 85 years old she still goes out in her truck and feeds them daily. She is someone that we all look up to and hope that we are as steadfast on our endeavors as she is in hers.

Our second recipient photographed on the right is Pam Benson. She got her start in AG as a FFA member in High School where she raised Lambs and Rabbits. She has had horses off and on for most of her life. In more recent years she has been helping out with cattle on the Vicini Ranch. Pam has jumped into our organization with both feet. She has been present at almost all of our major event in the last two years at our local branch and at the state helping out with Ag Day at the Capitol, FFA State Conference and Farm to Fork. She is our AES Ag in the Classroom Chairman. During Covid, Pam along with 2 other members of AES worked with the UCC Cooperative Extension to create a 20-minute video that 4-H has shared across the state of California to 3rd graders who

were unable to attend Farm Day.