FLORIDA CATTLEWOMEN’S ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT:
Denise Colgan By Robbi Sumner
Serving as the newly elected President of the Florida Cattlewomen’s Association seems like a perfect fit for Denise Colgan. One of four children born to J.C. and JoAnn Bass, Denise grew up on the family ranch located in the rural community of Basinger, just north of Okeechobee where several family generations have been involved in beef cattle production. She was active in 4-H and FFA, although she and her sister Marcia chose to show dairy cows instead of beef, much to her dad’s chagrin! Denise’s husband Jim was previously employed in the Aeronautical industry and they lived in the Orlando area for a number of years, before returning to Okeechobee with daughters Audra and Cassie in 2005.
She joined the Okeechobee and Florida Cattlewomen’s Associations in 2006. “I met Jan Dillard while attending a Quarterly meeting and we became friends. She then asked me to serve as Chaplain during her year as FCW President, which began my service on the Board.”
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Cattlewomen typically serve in seven positions prior to becoming President, although extenuating circumstances of other officers led to Denise bypassing terms as Parliamentarian and Treasurer. “I’ve learned so much from the other members and serving in various positions like Chairperson of the Promotions Committee,” she shares. Denise has also been active on the National Beef Cook-off Committee, attending the Metro Cooking and Entertainment Show in Washington, DC and Houston, Texas, as well as the Southern Women’s Show in Orlando, where she was a CoCommittee Chair in 2013. The purpose of such events is to educate consumers and encourage beef consumption.
The Cattlewomen stay busy throughout the year with other projects and events like the upcoming March Quarterly meeting held in Tallahassee each year, including the “Hats on the Hill” street party. This provides opportunities for industry leaders to meet with legislative members and share the word about Beef. In December, members continued their tradition of supporting the Hope Children’s Home in Tampa by using personal funds to purchase gifts for the youth February 2014