The San Joaquin-Stanislaus CattleWomen selected Bobbie Telles as the 2017 Cowbelle of the year earlier this fall at a meeting of the local organization. Telles was given an engraved cowbell and a sterling silver pendant to celebrate her hard work. The award singles out an outstanding member who dedicates a significant amount of time and effort to promote the beef industry.

Ms. Telles has been a member of three CattleWomen’s Units over the past 30 years. During that time she has promoted beef by doing classroom presentations, cooking beef at the California State Fair and Costco, creating displays at county fairs, rodeos, jackpots and San Francisco schools and chairing various committees. She has served in offices at the local and state level and now has been awarded Cowbelle of the year in each of the three Units that she has been a member of – including Cowbelle of the Year, 2017, San Joaquin/Stanislaus; 2001, Glenn/Colusa; and 1992, Alameda County/Contra Costa.

Telles lives on a cattle ranch in Farmington with her husband Clarie. They are both very active members of the Oakdale Saddle Club and the Oakdale Cowboy Museum as well.

Telles was born and raised in California. She attended UC Davis and Fresno State. While she ranched for a short time in Idaho, she quickly returned to California and became very involved with Alameda/Contra Costa CattleWomen. She has and continues to see the ups and downs of the California cattle industry. Her heart and soul lies with the beef industry. It is truly a lifestyle she loves. Over the years Telles could be found in a corral, at a jackpot roping, team penning or roping at the Livermore and Hayward Rodeos. Anywhere that involves the ranching lifestyle.

She has been a member of the support crew for Cal Fire since 2012 and has spent several summers during fire season, camped in her cattle trailer (open air) for weeks at a time, until relieved of her duties when the fire is secured.

Telles and 31 other 2017 Cowbelles throughout California will gather for a recognition luncheon during the California CattleWomen’s State Convention in Sparks, Nevada in early December. There are about 1,800 CattleWomen in California and the San Joaquin-Stanislaus CattleWomen’s Unit has 52 members and is 65 years old.