Mark Crowley ~ GrEAt family MaN, CoWboY, 'neighbor' to aLL

The following article was previously published in the November 2010 Washington Cattlemen's Association periodical, The Ketch Pen. This article is dear to my heart for a few reasons. Mark was the first person to contact me after my very first foray into WCA involvement and ultimately the cattle industry.He graciously "welcomed" me to the fold and small gestures like that are rarely forgotten. Also, this article was "anonymously" written by our then-president's wife, Paula Coon. Paula and Mark share a humility that I great admire and continue to be humbled and inspired by the work they accomplish through their strong dedication to the industry and its people.Paula lent these words after I ingquired about posting this piece, "Mark is one of the many who live quietly and are the backbone of their communities, where their contribution is felt, but sometimes unrecognized." 

The kind of person who holds our world in place....

Mark Crowley

Veteran Secretary of Board

A native of Kansas, Mark Crowley, has served as WCA’s secretary for six out of the last eight years. Working with Sid Viebrock, Jim Sizemore, and now Dick Coon he takes care of recording the minutes of the meetings.

Mark served four years in the Army stationed at Fort Lewis and reaching the rank of Sergeant and serving as Squad Leader. A major in Agriculture Economics with an Animal Science minor he’s a 1992 WSU grad and a loyal Coug. He was hired by Gerry Pittenger, who raised Wagyu cattle. Mark had experience working under Dan Coonrad at WSU. “It was a big change for me and Gerry was pretty patient with me right out of school.” “Those nine years with Pittenger and that job provided me the opportunity to get involved in the cattleman’s association.”

He met his wife, Raquel, in Ellensburg. She is the Vice Principle at the Granger High School, and they have three children: Jessica, 21, Elizabeth, 20 who both work in Ellensburg, and seven year old Wyatt.

Using the Internet to find job leads is a modern day trend and that’s where Mark found his present employment. Mark works at the Kittitas County Conservation District as Resource Technician where he works mostly with irrigation but also fills in with many other aspects of the Conservation District’s mission. “It was a steep learning curve to catch up on water rights and irrigation design. It was on the job learning.” They deal mostly with endangered species issues and water quality and quantity.


Like so many of the ranchers I’ve been privileged to visit with, Mark enjoys working with the youth in his community. He has led the Get Up & Go 4-H Club for sixteen years. He’s a past president of the Yakima Valley Team Penning Club, current president of the Cascade Team Penning Association as well as an an event announcer for them. YVTPC has eight events a year. This February a cowboy event, Californios (http://www.thecalifornios.com/), a companion to Spirit of the West is something Mark is looking forward to. It’s described as a ranch roping and stock horse competition involving working and doctoring cattle comprising the least amount of stress.

Mark sees the new HSUS invasion into our state as something to watch out for. HSUS has eight ‘Grassroots Meetings’ scheduled in Washington in October and November. He adds, “Water issues are central because you can’t live without water; both stock water and irrigation. WCA does what it can but unfortunately many cattlemen are not members of the WCA and don’t get the information about some of the important impending issues that will affect them. It’s essential; educating other cattlemen to realize how important these issues are, even team penning members should support these things or they won’t have cattle to pen. Everyone I work with, all types, need to be paying attention and helping out too. I always wanted to be a cattleman”, Mark notes, “cattlemen are steady people, they are people you can count on, the ‘go to’ people of the community.”

(Article written by Paula Coon)

Man's Best Friend

I thought today's post would put a smile on most y'all's faces! Perfect picture to take us into this holiday weekend and discuss a lil love for animals A gal I work with obliges me with photos of her adorable, quirky dog TuCkEr! She got him from the pound 2.5 years ago. I've heard rescue pets can have quite the personality and I'd say Tucker fits the bill. Chasing animals on tv, floating the river, and other tasks are among his favorite pasttimes.

Anyone who's been in the ranching world understands sentiment towards that one animal we all have had that just has a personality for days. Those are the animals that hold a soft-spot in your heart for years or practically have a place in the family. :) That older horse that has a way of buttering you up even as it unties itself or opens the gate, the cow dog who doubles as a sleepy house dog, or the old mama cow or sheep that has practically babysat your kids some days! :) Fluffy, was our ewe that held that role in our family. When Fluffy was in her elder years she just roamed around with no worries of needing to be fenced in. She gave my brother twins or triplets almost every year but her value was more than her high mothering ability. My strong and tough rancher dad was who nurtured her through every delivery and nurtured her through her older years.
(My dad, below, knew a good partner from early on.)

Animal Welfare activists make most ranchers I know just scratch their heads. Those tough, mustached, weathered cowboys will be the first to tear up if they lose a favorite animal or even come across that just delivered calf. Of course, you'd never get them to admit and I'm sure you'll hear, "Dang hay blew in my eye again." You don't spend 365 days a year taking care of your pride and joy cow herd for career status thats for sure. Ranchers spend night day in 100 degree to sub zero temperatures because they are some of the only people in this world that have a love for cows and horses that is truly unmatched. The difference is in their RESPECT for their animals. A horse and a dog are truly both a ranchers best friend and business partner. They will spend more time with their cattle, horses, and dogs than they will with their wife and children guaranteed....thats why you better value "quality time" as what you have during a nice bumpy pickup ride or accept "loving chats" as the hollering back and forth between feed wagon and tractor. Otherwise your husband will be out there discussing his life problems with that ole mama cow chewing her cud.