The Oklahoma Cattle Women annual Convention will bring together producers, industry leaders and members from across the state this week for a mix of education, fellowship and leadership development. According to Oklahoma Cattle Women President-Elect Kelli Payne, the annual event offers attendees an opportunity to strengthen relationships while discussing issues affecting the state’s beef industry.
“It’s going to be a great deal of fun and education,” Payne said. “As someone who’s attended both OCA and OCW convention, it’s great to have the camaraderie between both associations and being able to see our friends from across the state.”
Payne said the convention provides more than formal meetings and policy discussions. “Besides just catching up on current events and looking at policy, it’s just good to see everybody,” she said. “You always get the hay updates and the livestock updates and rain updates too from visiting with our friends across our very diverse state.”
Inaugural Sip and Shop Offers Fellowship and Fundraising
One of the biggest additions to this year’s convention is the inaugural Sip and Shop event, scheduled for Friday evening. Payne said the Oklahoma Cattle Women designed the gathering to create a relaxed atmosphere where members can connect while supporting the organization. “The cattle women are very excited about this inaugural event,” Payne said. “We invite all the ladies, whether you are a current OCW member or not, to come for just a fun-filled hour and a half.”
The event will feature gently used and new business attire, jewelry, accessories, hats, purses, belts and other clothing items donated by members. “We find ourselves as members sometimes not near an urban area,” Payne explained. “When we’re looking at doing closet cleanout or some spring cleaning, there may be some wonderful items that we found, but we’re too far from somewhere to donate.”
Rather than letting those items go unused, members decided to share them with fellow cattlewomen. “You may have admired someone’s great jacket in the past,” Payne said. “That may be an offering in there. Just have a light refreshment, socialize and do a little shopping for yourself.”
While purchases are not required, attendees will have the opportunity to support the association. “If you feel so inclined to make a cash donation back to OCW to further our outreach, we would gladly appreciate that as well,” Payne said.
Building Leadership and Mentorship
Payne emphasized that the event is about much more than shopping. She said it reflects the Oklahoma Cattle Women’s commitment to leadership development, networking and mentoring within the beef industry. “One of the things that’s really important to us as cattle women is to mentor and lead and be there for each other,” Payne said. “We feel like this event really checks a lot of boxes.”
She noted that the gathering will help welcome new members while providing opportunities for experienced leaders to connect with the next generation. “We have a lot of ladies that hold leadership positions, not only in OCW but in other groups or even in their field,” Payne said. “Besides networking or mentorship and shopping, it circles the whole wagon, if you will, of all the things that just getting some ladies together for fellowship.”
Payne also thanked Kinnunen Sales and Rentals of Stillwater for sponsoring the inaugural event. “We’re just really excited to see where this event goes in the future,” she said.
Busy Fall Focuses on Beef Promotion and Education
Following convention, Payne said the Oklahoma Cattle Women will continue a full schedule of educational and promotional activities throughout the fall. “This group is really knocking it out of the park,” Payne said of the organization’s leadership. “The Behind the Gate series, the educational series that they have developed, has been very well received.”
Another Behind the Gate educational program is planned for October, along with the Oklahoma’s Best Beef Competition, which will showcase branded beef programs from ranchers and farmers across the state. “That’s going to bring together some teams from across the state that have ranchers and farmers that have their own branded beef line,” Payne said.
She said the association also remains active in agricultural literacy through Ag in the Classroom and praised members for their dedication across Oklahoma. “This leadership team has done a fantastic job, and we have a lot of strong members,” Payne said. “We’ve got some great county organizations that are doing super work in their parts of the state, as well as some new collegiate cattle women groups that are coming on board.”
Payne encouraged anyone interested in learning more about the organization to stay connected throughout the year. “A lot is going on,” she said. “We just encourage everybody to attend as many as they can.”
