Lauritsen named Cowbelle of the year
Cheryl Lauritsen joined Lassen County CattleWomen in 2007. She came from Napa/Solano County and was active in the Napa Unit. When she joined LCCW she jumped in with both feet and has never slowed down.
Lauritsen was born to Jack and Ruby Martin. She grew up in Suisun, California and attended Fairfield High School. During her high school years, she was an active member of FFA showing sheep and in 4-H showing polled Herefords. She helped her parents work the family ranch raising cattle. Cheryl attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where she met and married the love of her life, Bob. She also attended UC Davis and Pacific Union College where she earned a degree in business administration. She later went on to teach in the ROP Agriculture Program and became the FFA advisor at Vintage High School in Napa.
Lauritsen and her husband Bob raised two boys along with working their ranch in Napa County raising purebred Suffolk and Hampshire sheep. In 2007, they decided to move to Standish where they continued raising sheep, cattle, chickens and alfalfa hay. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, canning and baking.
The Lauritsens have two grandsons and three granddaughters and support them in their agriculture-related ventures as well.
With her busy schedule she also works at the Lassen County Department Agriculture and serves as a member on the Lassen County Fair Board.
When Lauritsen joined the Lassen Unit she soon thereafter took on the duties of treasurer, then vice president and president. She was the state chairperson for ag in classroom and continues as our local leader. She has chaired the Lassen County Third Grade History Day for years and has helped with the chili contest, science fair, Mother’s Day recipe contest and Father’s Day beef promotion. She coordinates the entire Kiddie’s Ag Day event for the fair, organized the Jr. Chopped contest featuring beef last year, and has also done the radio ag reports. For our beef and wine fundraiser she gets the majority of the wine donations and whenever else help is needed she is there. This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to listing her accomplishments and beef promotion activities.
Lauritsen’s passion is educating others, young or old, whether it’s about fruit, cattle, sheep or general agriculture; she is always a wealth of knowledge.
LCCW presented Lauritsen with a personalized silver cowbelle necklace, boot vase bouquet, name on perpetual plaque, and from the State California CattleWomen’s a silver CCW cuff bracelet.
Lassen County CattleWomen is proud to have Lauritsen not only as a member, but a true friend. Congratulations to our 2016 Cowbelle of the Year.
