2011-2012 CattleWoman of the Year
Debbie Twisselman

Debra Twisselman has been a member of the San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen since 1985. She has been dedicated and involved in the promotion of the beef industry ever since. Debra and her husband, Joel, live on the Carrisa Plains and have raised three children, two sons, Ethan and Garrett, and a daughter, Kiah. They enjoy living and working on the family ranch where they raise cattle and run an Ag mechanics and fabrication business. In her free time she enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, archery and working with kids.

Debra Twisselman was born in San Luis Obispo in 1962 to her parents Jimmie and Joan Smithen. When she was very young her family moved to Los Osos. She credits her parents with her love of God, the outdoors, how to work with kids, parents, and to give back to the community. Her father, who passed when she was 17, was a great influence on her life and was her 4-H leader. Her love of livestock and agriculture developed through her involvement in 4-H and FFA. Debra showed her first lamb at the SLO County Fair in 1972. She continued to show sheep and later showed steers and heifers through 4-H and the Morro Bay FFA.  She showed a beef replacement heifer in the first beef replacement heifer class at the SLO County Fair. She remembers being judged by a panel of judges made up of local cattlemen.  She also became involved with the Junior Fairboard at the age of 16 where she met her future husband, Joel.

Debra attended Cuesta College and Cal Poly where she was an Animal Science major.  Debra and Joel were married in 1984 and moved to the Carrisa Plains where she became actively involved with the family farming and ranch operation as well as her husband’s custom harvesting and Ag mechanics business. She loves the ranching business, the family traditions and values that it promotes. She began working at the Carrisa Plains Elementary School in 1995 where she continues to work in special education and is the school librarian.

Debra became involved with the San Luis Obispo CattleWomen (SLOCCW) when she was introduced to the organization by her mother-in-law, Nola Twisselman, twenty-six years ago. Over the years she has been a director for 15 years. She has been the chairman of the Local Bred and Fed Committee for 11 years and has been the Beef Promotion and Fundraising chairman. Debra believes that education is the best tool that we can give others to help develop an understanding of our industry.  Ag education is essential. We must continue to educate ourselves, our youth, be advocates for education and support those we educate.

She has served on numerous committees with the SLOCCW promoting education including Ag Education, Internet, Grants and Scholarships, SLO Children’s Museum as well as the Field Trips for 4th graders at Madonna Inn, F. McLintocks, Paso Robles Pioneer Museum, Paso Robles Inn, Baur Speck School and the Great AGventure. She has served on many fundraising committees, attended State CattleWomen’s meetings and conventions, and was the CattleWomen’s representative to the SLO County Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy.

Debra is also involved in the California Mid-State Fair where she is the Junior Fairboard Advisor, the Department Coordinator of the Industrial Arts Department and holds the successful Industrial Arts Auction on Cattlemen and Farmers Day. She also works in the livestock area and has been a 4-H leader for 31 years as a sheep and shooting sports leader. She is involved in FFA Ag Boosters, Atascadero High School Ag Advisory Committee, Carrisa Plains Heritage Association, Carrisa Women’s Club, Parent Teachers Association, Safari Club, Women in the Outdoors and California Bowmen Hunters.

Debra says, “I will continue to work in and promote agriculture. My philosophy is, there is no greater reward in life than love of God and to see kids, crops and critters grow.” - story submitted by SLO Farm Bureau with Joni Ketchum media contact for SLOCW