KISSIMMEE, Fla. — For more than three decades, Brenda Wilder has quietly dedicated herself to preserving Florida’s ranching heritage, supporting youth in agriculture, strengthening the beef industry, and serving her community without ever seeking recognition. This year, that lifetime of service earned one of Florida’s highest honors.
The Florida CattleWomen, Inc. has named the longtime Osceola County resident the recipient of its 2026 Imogene Yarborough Outstanding Cattlewoman of the Year Award, one of the organization’s most prestigious individual honors recognizing exceptional leadership, volunteerism, and service to Florida’s cattle industry.
Nominated by the Osceola County CattleWomen’s Association, Wilder was selected from among outstanding women across the state whose lives exemplify the organization’s mission of promoting the beef industry through education, advocacy, leadership, and community service.
For those who know her, the recognition simply confirms what they have witnessed for years.
“She puts the needs of others above her own, works tirelessly behind the scenes of several nonprofits, praises the Lord, and loves with a heart of gold,” the Osceola County CattleWomen’s Association shared following the announcement. “She always shows up looking beautiful, smiling big, and asking, ‘What can I do?'”
A Lifetime Dedicated to Service
Wilder’s resume of volunteer leadership spans nearly every corner of Osceola County’s agricultural community.
She has been an active member of the Osceola County CattleWomen’s Association for more than 35 years, helping coordinate fundraising events, supporting the Osceola County Cattlemen’s annual meeting and barbecue, recruiting new members, organizing community outreach efforts, and promoting Florida’s beef industry.
Her service also includes supporting the HOPE Beef for Holidays initiative and helping provide beef donations for community fundraising events benefiting families in need.
For years, Wilder has also been a familiar face at the Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show, where she has served on the Market Steer Committee and encouraged hundreds of 4-H and FFA exhibitors and their families. Her dedication extends to the Silver Spurs Riding Club, where she has volunteered on the Hospitality and Quadrille Committees and was honored with the club’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She is also an active member of the Osceola County Farm Bureau.
Her commitment reaches well beyond the county line.
As a member of Florida CattleWomen, Inc., Wilder has volunteered at the Florida State Fair Beef Information Booth, Tampa Junior League Holiday Market, annual state conventions, educational workshops, trade shows, and helped organize the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Trade Show held in Orlando in 2024.
She has also participated in several Great Florida Cattle Drives, helping preserve one of Florida’s oldest ranching traditions while educating the public about the state’s rich agricultural history.
More Than Six Decades of Advocacy
Founded in 1961 as the Florida CowBelles, Inc., Florida CattleWomen, Inc. has spent more than 65 years promoting Florida’s beef industry through consumer education, agricultural literacy, youth scholarships, legislative awareness, environmental stewardship, and beef promotion.
Working in cooperation with—while remaining a separate organization from—the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, headquartered in Kissimmee, Florida CattleWomen has become one of the state’s leading agricultural organizations. The association also partners with the Florida Beef Council and is affiliated with the American National CattleWomen.
Together, these organizations have helped educate generations of Floridians about responsible cattle production, conservation practices, animal welfare, and the critical role agriculture plays in Florida’s economy.
Few communities have contributed more to that mission than Osceola County.
Long recognized as one of Florida’s historic cattle-producing regions, Osceola County has helped shape the state’s ranching legacy for generations. Families who have worked the land for centuries continue to pass down traditions of conservation, stewardship, volunteerism, and leadership while mentoring future generations of ranchers and agricultural advocates.
Osceola County Leading the Way
Wilder’s recognition comes during an exceptional year for Osceola County’s agricultural leadership.
This year, Debora Whaley of Kenansville assumed the presidency of Florida CattleWomen, Inc., leading the statewide organization into its next chapter.
A seventh-generation Osceola County rancher, Whaley and her husband, Kevin, operate a crossbred beef cow-calf and purebred Brahman ranch in Kenansville. Their family’s deep roots in Osceola County reflect generations of responsible land stewardship and environmental conservation that have helped preserve Florida’s ranchlands and waterways.
Whaley also serves as co-chair of the HOPE Beef for Holidays Committee, helping provide beef to families during the holiday season. Known throughout the industry for her passion for educating consumers, she proudly displays a personalized “BEEF” license plate on her vehicle, using the conversations it sparks to connect consumers with local ranchers and educate them about Florida’s beef industry.
Osceola County’s statewide influence extends even further through Anna Cowell, current President of the Osceola County CattleWomen’s Association, who also serves on the Florida CattleWomen Board of Directors, helping guide statewide educational programs, leadership initiatives, and consumer outreach.
Together, Wilder, Whaley, and Cowell represent the continued strength of Osceola County’s agricultural community and its lasting influence on Florida’s cattle industry.
Leading by Example
Those who know Brenda say her greatest accomplishment isn’t measured by awards or titles, but by the example she has set for others.
Reflecting on Wilder’s impact, Ashley Fluke, Vice President of the Osceola County CattleWomen’s Association, said:
“Brenda’s quiet dedication and servant’s heart have left a lasting impression on me and my generation, inspiring us to serve others with the same joyful spirit and genuine smile. A truer friend you will not find.”
That sentiment echoes throughout Wilder’s nomination, which describes a woman whose faith, humility, compassion, and willingness to serve have strengthened organizations, mentored young leaders, and inspired fellow volunteers for decades.
A Well-Deserved Honor
Brenda Wilder’s selection as the recipient of the 2026 Imogene Yarborough Outstanding Cattlewoman of the Year Award honors far more than an impressive list of volunteer positions. It celebrates a lifetime of servant leadership, unwavering faith, quiet generosity, and an enduring commitment to preserving one of Florida’s oldest and most important industries.
It also reflects the continued leadership of Osceola County within Florida agriculture. With Debora Whaley serving as President of Florida CattleWomen, Anna Cowell helping guide the organization at the state level, and dedicated volunteers like Brenda Wilder setting the standard for service, Osceola County continues to play a vital role in protecting the heritage, traditions, and future of Florida’s cattle industry.
For the countless lives she has touched and the thousands of volunteer hours she has devoted behind the scenes, Brenda Wilder has earned one of the greatest distinctions a Florida CattleWoman can receive—the 2026 Imogene Yarborough Outstanding Cattlewoman of the Year Award—a fitting tribute to a woman whose legacy of service will continue to inspire generations to come.
