Our Cowbelle Mom Chairman, Louise Gorfain, presented beautiful long stemmed roses to our previous Cowbelle Moms who were in attendance at the May meeting.  Then, Louise asked Jean Rotta to announce the 2009 Cowbelle Mom, Darlene Rotta, and to tell about her sister because she knows her better than anyone else!

Darlene was presented with a dozen gorgeous red roses and a beautiful hand tooled leather plaque done by Nola Twisselman with Darlene’s favorites, California Poppies and a hummingbird.

Born in Santa Barbara and raised on the family dairy farm in Santa Maria, Darlene then moved with her family to their Angus cattle ranch in the Huasna Valley, outside of Arroyo Grande.  She then attended college in San Jose and went on to become a teacher.  Darlene taught all kinds of subjects, but would always return home once a month to help out at the ranch and give advice.

Darlene has always been active in the cattle industry.  She was a charter member of Santa Maria 4-H Club at an early age.  For many years the family ranch sold several replacements heifers to youngsters which Darlene purchased back to help the kids with their college education, and to bring the really good heifers back home.

For several years she has helped and been chairman of the 4th grade student field trips at McLintock’s Restaurant in Shell Beach, helping to educate the students about our Beef Industry and everyday happenings on  the ranch.  Darlene has also assisted with the Great Ag Venture in North County, and  been membership chairman where she has brought even more members to the largest county unit in California and the nation.   She has helped with the Madonna Inn field trips, Costco samplings, school ag days, and many other committees too numerous to list.

Darlene has definitely been a huge supporter of youngsters.  Besides being an educator, she also opened her home from time to time to students who needed a place to live.  Still, today, she has managed to encourage one of her former students, Linda Spencer, to be an active member of our CattleWomen group.