From the Newsletter Publisher
As 2008 comes to a close, we can't help but feel it’s been an amazing year for the Day of the Cowboy! This is the first year the Cowboy Day resolution has passed in both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate. It also passed in a state legislature, that of Arizona, for the first time. Thank you Wyoming U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, Arizona U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and Arizona State Representative, Jennifer Burns, for your invaluable assistance in bringing recognition to the invaluable contribution of America’s cowboy and cowgirl to the development and sustainment of our country. 
        
Also in 2008, NASA Commander, Mark Kelly, carried the National Day of the Cowboy Flag to the International Space Station aboard the Discovery Space Shuttle. This is not just a first for our flag, it's a first for the Cowboy and the planet. The Cowboy flag traveled an unbelievable five million miles at the incredible speed of 17,000 miles per hour! The spectacular NASA photo above, presented to us by Congresswoman Giffords, features Commander Kelly floating weightless with our flag inside Discovery. Yup, that’s Earth the window. We also received a certificate from NASA verifying that the flag did indeed journey to the space station. Giffords returned the space-cowboy flag to our organization after she carried it on horseback in the Rex Allen Days parade. On behalf of all the Cowboys and Cowgirls past and present, we thank you Congresswoman Giffords and Commander Kelly for shining the international spotlight on our work and the Cowboy Flag, and for strengthening the connection between the old frontier and the new frontier. 

This year too, we were privileged to bestow the National Day of the Cowboy Cowboy Keeper Award upon famed songwriter-singer Michael Martin Murphey, upon Arizona’s esteemed U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and the Rex Allen Museum’s own Delcie & Larry Schultz. Each year we give The Keeper to those we feel have made a substantial contribution to the preservation of our Cowboy and Western heritage. The 2008 Cowboy Keeper Awards all featured the art of Arizona artist and ranch woman, Jennifer M. Ward.

Thanks to editor Jennifer Dennison of Western Horseman Magazine, the August 2008 issue included a story on Murphey receiving our award at the Birthplace of John Wayne in Winterset, Iowa. Also thank you Currents Magazine for featuring us on your summer cover, to NAVA Magazine for publishing the story about our flag, to the Range News and Carol Broeder for her many articles informing readers about the National Day of the Cowboy, and to RFD-TV Magazine for letting folks know about our efforts and our Hatch Show Prints. Thank you as well to Margo Metegrano for featuring Jennifer Ward’s artwork on the Cowboy Poetry website. Most of all, thanks to all of you who became supporting members of the National Day of the Cowboy and to those of you who take the time to read the National Day of the Cowboy News and forward it to neighbors and friends.

As the end of this intensely eventful year draws near, we are extremely grateful for all that has been accomplished on behalf of this worthy quest and for everyone who has had a part in helping us keep it alive. We want to take a moment to thank each of you for your support and to wish you Happy Holidays, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  

The National Day of the Cowboy 
       Board and Volunteers 
             Wish you ALL
   Peace, Love, and Joy in 2009!

Talking with Willie about the National Day of the Cowboy

The British Cowboys in Arizona

International
Day of the Cowboy 
We had a ball hosting the British Cowboys when they visited the USA for the 4th Annual National Day of the Cowboy. The "wild bunch" from Western Trails' London ranch, Kevin, Crissy, Charlotte, and Mitch, traveled through Texas, New Mexico and Arizona while they were here, checking out as many ranches and historic western places as they could jam into their schedule. We all rode in the parade for the Apache Junction/Pinal County NDOC event held at Goldfield Ghost Town where historic reenactor Lee Anderson carried our flag and I was honored to be the Grand Marshal. Check out Western Trails' Myspace, where they've posted photos showing some of the fun we had together! The photo above is Kevin, Crissy, Charlotte, Scottsdale City Councilman, Tony Nelssen, Mitch, Amy Ganley and Bethany Braley. Sincere thanks to Amy Ganley who provided the horses for the Cowboy Brits to ride and a special thanks to Jim Coplin for inviting us to participate in the Apache Junction event.

National Day of the Cowboy 2006 Hatch Show Print

Western Mercantile
We have the second printing of the 2006 "Saddle Up & Ride" Hatch poster, featuring the artwork of cowgirl Jennifer M. Ward, back in stock. The copyright mark on the second printing is “2008,” so folks will be able to distinguish the first printing from the second. Hatch posters are all made by hand, just as they have been since 1879, so no two Hatch posters are ever they same, but I know supporters will want to know which printing they have purchased. The National Day of the Cowboy Hatch posters are $15 each, 2/$29, and 3/$42.

We're elated to tell you Christina Holmes, a gifted California watercolor artist whose work will be a part of the prestigious annual Cowgirl Up! exhibit in Wickenburg, Arizona, in March 2009, is developing the graphic for our 2009 National Day of the Cowboy Hatch show print. Once Christina's artwork is complete, we'll send it to Hatch where it will be carved into a plate for our commemorative poster. The 5th Annual National Day of the Cowboy will be Saturday, July 25, 2009, but we're working together to have the 2009 Hatch available for purchase in February.

Our heartfelt thanks to benefactors Cathi and Tim Fitzpatrick, owners of the Pony Espresso Café in Prescott Valley, Arizona, whose generous donation made it possible for us to increase our supply of Hatch posters.

We are now accepting orders for the National Day of the Cowboy flags. If you hope to have one before 2009 events kick in, please get your order in as soon as possible. The flag ordering is a long process because we need to have a predetermined number of orders before we can place the order with the flag company and the turnaround time for getting them made once the order is placed is usually three to four weeks. The Cowboy flag is red, white and blue nylon, measures three feet by five feet and comes fringed, or with grommets and no fringe.  

Montana Silversmiths makes our official, elegant and eye-catching, National Day of the Cowboy belt buckle. It’s a custom made collectible piece which never fails to elicit compliments. Email orders@nationaldayofthecowboy.com to purchase the 2007 or the 2008 NDOC buckle.

2008 Montana Silversmiths National Day of the Cowboy buckle

Volunteer Ranch Hands
We have a pressing need for a graphics artist volunteer. We've missed several opportunities to create ads and marketing pieces because we don't have the resources to capitalize on the opportunities when they arrive. If you would be willing, able and interested in helping us on a regular basis of perhaps eight hours a month for a year, we would love to hear from you.

Our loyal and talented Myspace volunteer, Cheryl Harvey Hill, continues to amaze us with her dedication to our cause. She is still in "recovery mode" from a very serious illness, yet she works on keeping our Myspace as current and active as she possibly can, and in our opinion, she does a great job of it too!

"Longhorn Buddies" painting by Zane Mead (Raffle item)

Western Connections 
      & Bunkhouse Culture
 

2008 NDOC Membership Pin by SymbolArts

Membership Program
Special Newsletter Offer!
We'd like to offer you the opportunity to join the National Day of the Cowboy 501(c)3 at a special holiday discount rate. Throughout the month of December, the individual Outrider membership level may be purchased for a $20 donation. That's a ten dollar savings off the regular rate! The two person, Brushpopper membership level may be purchased for $40, a savings of $15 off the regular rate. By becoming a supporting member, you help defray our monthly operating costs. Member benefits include a beautiful new pin each year, a membership card, a 20% discount on all of our products (except the flag), and a 10% subscription discount for Chronicle of the Old West. If you appreciate the work we are doing and would like to see us continue in our quest to promote Cowboy values and preserve this unique element of our heritage, please consider helping us grow and move forward by making this financial contribution today. As a special incentive to join now, we'll also include one of the 2006 membership pins with your 2008 membership, while supplies of the 2006 last or until the end of December. You may also purchase the 2006 pin by itself for a $5 donation. Membership expires twelve months from enrollment.

Email info@nationaldayofthecowboy.com to join as a supporting member and help us continue our efforts to preserve pioneer heritage and the Code of the West. Dues are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

The SASS Gang in New Hampshire

Swing Riders
SASS helps us out   
We recieved a donation from the Pelham Fish & Game Club in New Hampshire thanks to the efforts of Steve "Ranger Sebec" Ellinwood and the SASS club there. Steve suggested we send a signed print of Zane Mead's Cowboy Keepers home with him to be auctioned at their National Day of the Cowboy event with the proceeds from that piece coming back to us. Thanks so much Steve for supporting us in this way. I’m thrilled the idea worked so well and I hope other organizations and events will consider doing the same type of thing to help us raise funds. We plan to join SASS with part of the proceeds. Thanks to Cathi and Clay Dustin, the NDOC is also now a member of the Willcox Cowbelles. We are also members of the Rex Allen Museum. 

A unique way to celebrate the National Day of the Cowboy!

On the Event Trail
Here is a one special way to celebrate the Cowboy Day! Lacey Lack and Mike Magoffin are the bride and groom who were married on the National day of the Cowboy July 26, 2008, in Cochise, AZ. They married on the NDOC even though they had a choice of weekends! Mike, a five generation Cochise County rancher in Arizona married Lacey whose family has been involved in ranching and agriculture in both Arizona and New Mexico. They love the 2008 National Day of the Cowboy poster they received as wedding gift knowing it will serve as a special reminder of their anniversary every year!

While we’re on the subject of weddings, best wishes to our good friends and longtime supporters, Chris Watson and his partner, Millinda. Chris and Millinda of Mountain pass Builders were married in October at their new ranch in Show Low, Arizona. We were so sorry we had to miss their wedding.
 

Ran into many longtime friends at the New Mexico cowboy symposium. Zane Mead was there to help us out. We were stationed next to all the great music and heard the awesome sound of the Quebe Sisters for the first time. These young women are dynamite on fiddle with vocal harmonies, reminiscent of the Andrews Sisters or the Lennon Sisters! While at the Symposium, cowboy poet and saddle maker, J.W. Beeson, stopped by and signed the Hummingbird guitar for us. My Texas chuckwagon friends Wayne Calk and Skip fed me cow-camp breakfast on Sunday morning. Love that campfire coffee served with hot biscuits and gravy. It was good to see Zane again as well and to have his help and support throughout the entire weekend. 

Had a rollicking good time as Grand Marshal at the Goldfield Ranch National Day of the Cowboy celebration. The people of Apache Junction put on a wild weekend for the Cowboy. With over 8,000 attendees they ran out of food and parking, but they're already planning to expand their celebration again next year. They are wondering if anyone out there had a higher attendance for their National Day of the Cowboy event? If you think you did, send me an email with a few details and I'll forward it to Jim Coplin in Apache Junction.

Lee Anderson cut a majestic figure representing us at the annual Rex Allen Days in Willcox. Lee rode Dusty and carried the NDOC flag elegantly. Dusty obviously loved prancing for the crowd while the cowboy flag waved overhead. Congresswoman Giffords also carried a National Day of the Cowboy flag on horseback, both in the parade and in the Grand Entry of the rodeo. Giffords and I were subsequently interviewed by Jeff Sutherland and Dakota Livesay. Had fun meeting Jeff Connors and Lorenzo Lamas, as well as Charlie Rich Jr., Johnny Western and Pedro Gonzales Gonzales Jr. He's a very talented pan player! Zia Bischoff brought her Turquoise Nugget cowgirl trailer which we pulled in the parade as we blasted Cowboy music from the CD player.

I finally made it to Red Steagall’s Cowcamp in Fort Worth, Texas, where Brenda treated me to a margarita at her store, The Cross-Eyed Moose, as a gang of us watched the chuckwagon parade go down Main Street. While in Fort Worth, I was fortunate to meet the gracious, Peggy Schaffer, of the National Bit, Spur & Saddle Collectors Association.

Dan and Connie Finck, of Bisbee’s historic Copper Queen Hotel, held a fundraiser for the National Day of the Cowboy in a lovely park setting in the historic section of Bisbee. Heather Stroud and NDOC board member, Zia Bischoff, lent a hand at the festivities while famed cowboy poet, Bud Strom, handled the Master of Ceremonies duties. It was good to see our friends from the Cowgirl Historical Foundation on such a beautiful fall day too.

Historic Reenactor Lee Anderson and Dusty

Cowboy Keepers