By:
Tom

Source(s):
Marlene Strickland AMSANCW@aol.com, (941) 371-1771
Marcia Morris mmorris@scgov.net, (941) 861-9814

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SARASOTA, Fla. — As a 4-H leader, Marlene Strickland helped build a program so popular there’s a waiting list to join — now she hopes to bring similar results to the nation’s largest beef industry organization for women.

In February, Strickland took office as president of American National CattleWomen Inc. (ANCW), a national, nonprofit group of about 2,000 women involved in ranching and related agribusiness. She will guide the organization for one year, and plans to boost membership using what she’s learned during three decades leading a Sarasota 4-H club with her husband, Don. The two are business owners and part-time ranchers.

“My 4-H experiences have given me ideas, hopes, goals and training, which assisted me in reaching this level in the beef industry,” she said.

The Stricklands lead the Ridin’ Rednecks, a Sarasota 4-H club that boasts about 55 members, so many that newcomers are admitted only when previous members depart, she said. Like all clubs in the Florida 4-H Youth Development Program, it’s administered by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The Stricklands became 4-H leaders in 1975, because their daughters were involved in the club.

Though their children have long since grown up — 4-H membership is open to youth ages 8 to 18 — the Stricklands enjoy the work so much that they’ve stayed on. For Marlene, running the club was invaluable preparation for her new role.

“Planning meetings, agendas, trips, assigning committees, raising funds, recognizing achievement, these are all goals which should be common to any organization,” she said. “And through 4-H I was able to meet many people in livestock, agriculture and the legislative arena.”

One of the most important lessons Strickland took from 4-H was that organizations stay strong by reaching out to members, she said. This spring, she’s putting the concept into practice by crisscrossing the nation to visit ANCW members in Washington state, Washington, D.C., Oklahoma, Arizona, Alabama, Colorado and North Dakota.

“I have been revitalized by visiting all these states and seeing where our members live, getting a glimpse of their lifestyles and problems, and getting their feedback,” she said.

Part of the reason for Strickland’s hectic travel schedule is that her presidency coincides with an effort by ANCW to determine how the organization can best help its members keep pace with the industry, she said.

Founded in 1952, ANCW has witnessed, and encouraged, expansion of the opportunities available to women in agribusiness. Consumer education and beef promotion are the backbone of ANCW’s public outreach efforts, Strickland said. The group’s best-known projects are the National Beef Cook-Off recipe contest and the National Beef Ambassador Program, a public speaking competition for teenagers.

ANCW boasts 26 affiliate organizations, including Florida CattleWomen, a statewide group Strickland joined in 1987. Though she grew up on large commercial cattle ranches in Florida and Arizona, as an adult Strickland has raised cattle largely as a hobby. Marlene and Don Strickland operate an electrical contracting business, Land Electric, but began keeping a few head of angus beef cattle at their family farm in 1970 because they wanted their children to enjoy the educational opportunities ranching brings.

“My family background and membership in Florida CattleWomen taught me about the cattle business in Florida,” Marlene Strickland said. “We have continued raising cattle because it helps us stay abreast of everything happening in the industry, like inoculation and marketing, and we can teach our 4-H kids what we learn.”

Strickland’s involvement in the beef industry at a national level began via Florida CattleWomen and the ANCW National Beef Ambassador Program, she said. In 1991, Florida CattleWomen asked her to help a Florida youth compete in the ambassador program’s national finals and Strickland found the program to be an ideal way to help teens develop self- confidence and leadership skills. In the mid-1990s she was twice elected president of Florida CattleWomen, which enabled her to attend national ANCW meetings, where she learned more about the program and began promoting it more in Florida.

In 1999, Strickland began serving on a national committee for the ambassador program, and also became a regional director for ANCW. In 2003, she was elected ANCW vice president and the following year was selected president-elect at the ANCW national convention in Phoenix.

Despite her responsibilities with ANCW, Strickland spends as much time as ever with the Ridin’ Rednecks, said Marcia Morris, a UF extension agent working for the Sarasota County 4-H program. The two have been acquainted for five years.

“Marlene hasn’t slowed down one bit,” Morris said. “She’s also very involved with her family, her business and her church. She does so much, it’s almost like she has a twin.”

Strickland says her leadership philosophy can be summed up in a phrase she uses as the theme for her ANCW presidency, “spread a little sunshine, each one reach one.” She believes communication and cooperation are crucial to any organization’s success, and sees 4-H promoting those values within families.

“4-H provides entertainment, education and something where a family can work together and see progress,” she said. “In 4-H, winning is nice but it isn’t everything. Participation is more important.”

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