Debbie Arnold has been selected as the 2025 CattleWoman of the year by the San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen’s Association. Debbie was born in Walnut Creek, California in 1955, and 4 of 6 raised near Fremont where her father worked as an air traffic controller. After graduating from high school, Debbie moved to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly as an Animal Science major where she lived with her aunt, fellow cattlewoman Susan Jones at her home in Pozo. In 1975, Debbie married Steve Arnold, whose family had ranched in the Pozo Valley for several generations. Debbie describes her life with Steve as an amazing adventure as they had the opportunity to live and work on some of the largest and most beautiful cattle ranches in San Luis Obispo County, where they made lifelong friendships and wonderful memories. In 1978 Steve and Debbie welcomed their son Joey into the world, and in 1980 their daughter Michelle. Today, Joey and daughter-in-law Jessica Arnold, and daughter Michelle and son-in-law Ryan Pascoe live locally and help with ranch operations.
In 1980 Debbie began taking classes at Cuesta College and earned a degree in Early Childhood Education, then opened Small Wonders Preschool in Atascadero where she continued to provide much needed preschool opportunities for local families for seventeen years.
In 2000 Debbie went to work for County Supervisor Mike Ryan as a legislative assistant, and in 2005 for Assemblyman and later Senator Sam Blakeslee as a field representative where she advocated for agriculture and helped to promote policies that would protect the agriculture industry locally and statewide.
Debbie became a member of the San Luis Obispo County Cattlewomen’s Association in 1980 and participated for many years helping with scholarship fundraising and educational activities promoting beef, including displays at the Great AgVenture, Cattlewomen’s fashion shows, Casino night, and Ag Day at the the Fair. Debbie was also active on the Ag Task Force, and served as a bus captain for years for the Paso Robles Agriculture Business Tour Committee.
In 2012 Debbie was elected to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors representing the Fifth District where she used her decades of experience living on working ranches to help educate policymakers and the public about the issues affecting agriculture. Debbie considers it a great honor to have served the citizens of San Luis Obispo County on the Board.
In January 2025 Debbie retired from public office and today stays busy helping her family with their cattle, farming, and Vintage Cowboy Winery business. She especially enjoys spending time with her four teenage granddaughters Laney and Josie Arnold, and Reagan and Emery Pascoe.
The San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen’s Association, local cattle ranchers and producers, and the agricultural community at large, salute Debbie and her family for their contributions to the beef industry, the agricultural community at large, and to the County of San Luis Obispo.
San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen has given the Cattlewoman of the Year award annually since 1965, making Debbie Arnold the 60th person to receive this honor.
