2009 CattleWoman of the Year
Chris Jennings

This year the San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen’s Association is very proud to honor Chris Jennings as their CattleWoman of the Year. The award was presented to Chris at the Cattlemen and Farmers’ Day, at the Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles.

"It's a tremendous honor to be chosen," Chris said. "I grew up in the cattle industry, and it's been a good opportunity to give back to the community , the county and to educate people about positive aspects about the beef industry."

Jennings, a member of the CattleWomen for eighteen years, has chaired the Beef Ambassador contest, Environment and Animal Care committee and currently serves as Chairperson for the Grants and Scholarships committee. She has also served on the SLOCW board of directors since 1994.

Besides being active in the cattle industry all her life, Jennings has also played an active role in education. Educating the public about beef safety, beef by-products and all aspects of the beef industry,, Jennings volunteers numerous hours to educate the county's elementary school students during the CattlWomens' fourth-grade field trips and the Agriculture Education Committee's Great AGventure held each October.

Jennings was born in California and raised in east Paso Robles by parents Dough and Jan Edwards, along with younger brothers Tim and Toby and younger sister Holley. She graduated from Paso Robles High School in 1985 and Cal Poly in 1990.

While at Cal Poly, Jennings was involved with the Bull Test, the Escuela Cow-Calf Project and many other Beef Unit activities. She graduated with a degree in Animal Science. She landed her first industry job at Loomix in Arroyo Grande and for the past seventeen years Jennings has been employed at the Farm Supply Company in San Luis Obispo as a Purchasing Agent and Pest Control Advisor.

Shortly before graduation from Cal Poly, she met Neal Jennings and they were married in 1992. Chris and Neal made their home and are raising children in Atascadero.

-story adapted from the Paso Robles Press, article dated 7/28/09