It takes less time to do a thing right,
than it does to explain why you did it
wrong. — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow |
It's not what you look at that
matters, it's what you see. — Henry
David Thoreau |
Charm is the quality in others that
makes us more satisfied with
ourselves.
— Henri Frédéric Amiel |
|
|
|
NATIONAL DAY OF THE COWBOY
The big news today is that on Friday, January 23, 2015, Virginia
became the 9th state to pass
the National Day of the
Cowboy in perpetuity. This
is the result of the work of
a very recent NDOC
volunteer, Darrell Wyatt of
Amelia, Virginia. His
sponsor for the bill was VA
Delegate, Tommy Wright,
so if you would, please take
a moment to let Delegate
Wright know you
appreciate his support and
that of the Virginia
legislature which passed the
bill unanimously.
On that same note, the community of Amelia, Virginia is hosting
its first National Day of
the Cowboy celebration on
July 25, 2015. I am honored
to be the Grand Marshal of
their inaugural event and
invite you to attend if you
can make it.
Also on January 23, 2015, WA Senator Sharon Brown, introduced
the National Day of the
Cowboy bill in the
Washington Senate. They have
not voted on it as yet, but
she did sponsor it as a
permanent bill. You might
recall that Washington has
passed it twice previously
as a resolution. In Texas,
the NDOC bill is being
sponsored by Representative
Joe Pickett so it seems
Texas will also soon be
joining the growing list of
states deeming the 4th
Saturday in July as a day to
celebrate this culture and
its heritage. Representative
Tom McKee will again be
sponsoring it in the
Kentucky legislature. If you
live in KY, TX or WA, it's
important to let your
representative know that you
support this bill.
HATCH Poster Series
We just received the
2011 National Day of the
Cowboy Hatch poster. It
is quite stunning and
because of the colors we
used, already looks vintage.
Thanks to Peter Hiller, this
poster features Jo
Mora's iconic "Sweetheart of
the Rodeo" image. The theme
is "Wrap Your Heart Around,"
and the colors are bright
pink and bright yellow. The
GoFundMe project enabled us
to go back and create a
poster for the one year we
were missing in our
series. A special note of
gratitude goes
to original Byrds' member,
Chris Hillman, for
offering to sign a limited
number of the Sweetheart
posters for us. The posters
signed by Chris will go very
quickly (3 sold within the
first 2 days of the project)
so send an email to
orders@nationaldayofthecowboy.com if
you hope to own one.
Cowboy Keeper Awards
We are currently accepting nominations for the
2015 Cowboy Keeper Awards.
These awards go to people,
organizations, and projects
which support the
preservation of our cowboy
and pioneer heritage.
NDOC Flags
If you're planning to order a
National Day of the Cowboy
flag this year, we do
currently have some in stock
so there's no wait time. The
sale of the flags helps us
keep our work moving forward
and it brings attention to
the national campaign. NDOC
belt buckles make great
prizes for your NDOC event
winners too.
Events
There were well over 50 NDOC events held last year and we want to
see that number continue to
grow. Also, many of the
annual events, saw a huge
leap in attendance, which is
so very gratifying to those
of us who've been working on
this for the past 10 years.
If you're planning an event
of any size, please remember
to send the details to
events@nationaldayofthecowboy.com
so we can support your
efforts by posting your
event on our calendar. Of
course, we're happy to post
other western style events
too, so send them along as
well.
Newsletter Sponsorship
We now have 4,000 names on our newsletter list and we'd like to
revive our official NDOC
News which we used to send
10 times per year. We need a
newsletter sponsor in order
to do that, but you would
need to commit to sponsoring
6 issues at a time at a
sponsorship rate of $65 per
issue which is what the news
service charges us. Keep in
mind that the 4,000 names we
have are people who
personally signed up for the
news and who are very
interested in all things
western. Any sponsors would
receive prominent placement
in each issue. Please
contact
info@nationaldayofthecowboy.com
if you'd like to receive
this kind of exposure for
your product or business at
such a very minimal rate!
Membership
I'm proud to say our membership base also continues to increase.
If you've not already
joined, we hope you'll think
about doing that. It's still
only $20 for an individual
membership which includes a
membership card and
a limited edition membership
pin. We also have many other
levels of support available,
including a lifetime
membership and a corporate
membership.
Amazon
Another way you can help us raise revenue, but at not cost to
you, is if you are an Amazon
shopper, shop through
AmazonSmiles and chose the
NDOC as your charity. Then,
each time you make a
purchase, Amazon will
donate a percentage of that
sale to us.
We're expecting to make tremendous headway this year as more and
more people learn about this
effort and decide to support
it in some way. I want to
again thanks again to all of
you for your continued
support and interest in this
important campaign to
protect and preserve cowboy
traditions and pioneer
history.
July 25, 2015 - 11th Annual National Day of the Cowboy. Don't
forget to celebrate!
Hats off to the cowboy,Bethany
Bethany Braley, Executive Director & Publisher
National Day of the
Cowboy 501(c)3
PO Box 25298
Prescott Valley AZ 86312-5298
928-759-0951
bethany@nationaldayofthecowboy.com
www.nationaldayofthecowboy.org
Like us on
Facebook National
Day of the Cowboy
11th Annual National Day of the Cowboy - July 25, 2015
The 2014 Hatch
poster features the art of
Oklahoma's Tyler
Crow. The 2006, 2008,
2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and
2014 National
Day of the Cowboy Hatch Show
Prints are $20 each +
$5.50 S&H for one poster;
any 2/$38, 3/$56,
and 4/$75 + $6.50 S&H to one
address. Artist
hand-signed 2009,
2012, 2013 & 2014 posters
are $35, +
$5.50 S&H.
Order your National
Day of the Cowboy Flag
before the next National Day
of the Cowboy - July 25,
2015.
2014 numbered Gist
NDOC belt buckles are $140
each + $10 S&H.
Become a
Supporting Member - We
need your involvement to
secure permanent passage of
the NDOC bill in every
state.
|
30th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Focuses on
the Next Generation of Rural Westerners
|
Elko, Nevada—The
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
is turning 30 in 2014, and the nation’s
greatest celebration of the American
West, its people, culture and
traditions, will turn its focus to the
future of the region. Between January 27
and February 1, in Elko, Nevada, the
Gathering will present poetry, music,
fine western gear, films, workshops,
dances and discussions with a clear
focus on encouraging the next generation
and working together to ensure the
sustainability of the occupational and
artistic traditions of the rural West.
The theme of the 30th
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
is
Expressing the Rural West—Into the
Future! Through
performances of poetry and music,
thought-provoking films and fruitful
discourse, artists and audiences of all
ages will share their art and their
opinions on meeting the challenges of
rural life in the modern West. In
particular, the next generation of
cowboy artists will present their work
and discuss their brand of ranch
life—with one hand on the reins and the
other on the cell phone.
More than 50 poets, musicians and
musical groups from the U.S. and Canada
will perform on seven stages at four
different venues. The 30th Gathering
line-up includes cowboy poets Baxter
Black, Paul Zarzyski, Waddie Mitchell,
Yvonne Hollenbeck, Joel Nelson, Doris
Daley, Pat Richardson, Randy Rieman and
many others. Music is as integral to the
Gathering as poetry; the musical line-up
includes Ian Tyson, Michael Martin
Murphey, Riders In The Sky, Don Edwards,
Dave Stamey, Jeffery Broussard & the
Creole Cowboys, Caleb Klauder Country
Band, Martha Scanlan and more. Scroll
down for a full list of participating
artists and their hometowns. Visit
www.westernfolklife.org for
full bios.
Special guests this year include
renowned animal welfare advocate,
professor and author Temple Grandin, who
will deliver the keynote address, and
Stephanie Davis and her
Trail’s End Ranch Radio Show,
broadcasting poetry, humor and wisdom
from a fictitious radio station on the
range. A special exhibition will
celebrate the new renaissance of western
artistry among young gearmakers and
visual artists.
The Gathering also features hands-on
workshops in traditional western arts
such as rawhide braiding, cinch-making,
hat-making, silverwork, Dutch-oven
cooking and more. It also offers three
western dances, film screenings, panel
discussions and open-mic poetry and
music sessions. Tickets to the 30th
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
can be purchased at
www.westernfolklife.org,
by calling 775-738-7508, toll-free
888-880-5885, or by stopping in to the
Western Folklife Center’s ticket office,
501 Railroad Street, Elko. Western
Folklife Center members can purchase
tickets beginning at 9:00 am Pacific
Time, September 3, 2013, and non-members
can purchase tickets beginning Thursday,
October 3.
The 30th
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
is produced by the Western Folklife
Center and supported by NV Energy,
Barrick Gold of North America, Nevada
Humanities, Nevada Arts Council,
National Endowment for the Arts, Elko
Convention and Visitors Authority, the
City of Elko, The Bretzlaff Foundation,
WESTAF, The Reno Rodeo Foundation, and
many more foundations, businesses and
individuals.
The
Western
Folklife Center
is dedicated to exploring, presenting
and preserving the diverse and dynamic
cultural heritage of the American West.
We celebrate the wisdom, artistry and
ingenuity of western folkways through
exhibitions, educational programs,
national radio and television programs,
research and preservation projects, our
website, and our premier event, the
National
Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
We nurture connections among rural and
ranching cultures globally, exploring
universal themes in working traditions
and artistic expression, which we
believe are vital links to the past,
present and future of the American West.
Photos available on request.
|
***
|
30th National Cowboy Poetry
Gathering Poets and Musicians
|
|
Brigid Reedy and Glenn
Ohrlin at the 29th
National Cowboy Poetry
Gathering. Photo by
Charlie Ekburg.
|
Gary Allegretto,
Los Angeles, CA
Amy Hale Auker,
Prescott, AZ
Mike Beck,
Monterey, CA
Baxter Black,
Benson, AZ
Dave Bourne,
Agoura Hills, CA
Jerry Brooks,
Sevier, UT
Jeffery Broussard & The Creole
Cowboys,
Opelousas, LA
Walt, Bimbo" Cheney,
Spring Creek, NV
Doris Daley,
Turner Valley, AB, Canada
John Dofflemyer,
Lemon Cove, CA
Carolyn Dufurrena,
Winnemucca, NV
Don Edwards,
Hico, TX
Richard Elloyan,
Dayton, NV
Dick Gibford,
New Cuyama, CA
Gillette Brothers,
Crockett, TX
DW Groethe,
Bainville, MT
Wylie Gustafson,
Conrad, MT
Gary Haleamau Family Band,
Las Vegas, NV
Kristyn Harris,
McKinney, TX
Barry & Joe Hertz,
Calgary, AB, Canada
Brenn Hill,
Clinton, UT
Yvonne Hollenbeck,
Clearfield, SD
Linda Hussa,
Cedarville, CA
Chris Isaacs,
Eagar, AZ
Caleb Klauder Country Band,
Portland, OR
Ross Knox,
Midpines, CA
Marley's Ghost,
Washington, California and
Montana
Deanna Dickinson McCall,
Timberon, NM
Waddie Mitchell,
Twin Bridges, NV
Michael Martin Murphey,
Pueblo, CO & Red River, NM
Joel Nelson,
Alpine, TX
Rodney Nelson,
Almont, ND
Dale Nystrom,
New Rockford, ND
Glenn Ohrlin,
Mountain View, AR
Lisa Quinlan,
San Acacio, CO
Vess Quinlan,
San Acacio, CO
Henry Real Bird,
Garryowen, MT
Brigid Reedy,
Boulder, MT
Pat Richardson,
Merced, CA
Riders In The Sky,
Nashville, TN
Randy Rieman,
Dillon, MT
Martha Scanlan,
Birney, MT
Frank Schweighart,
Brashear, TX
Trinity Seely,
Alcova, WY
Sean Sexton,
Vero Beach, FL
Georgie Sicking,
Kaycee, WY
Jesse Smith,
Cora, WY
Dave Stamey,
Orange Grove, CA
Gail Steiger,
Prescott, AZ
Trail's End Ranch Radio Show
with Stephanie Davis,
Bozeman, MT
Ian Tyson,
Longview, AB, Canada
Jessie Veeder,
Watford City, ND
Paul Zarzyski,
Great Falls, MT
|
|
***
|
Western Folklife Center • 501 Railroad
Street • Elko, Nevada • 89801 •
775.738.7508
dminter@westernfolklife.org
www.westernfolklife.org
|
Six recipients honored with
2013 Cowboy Keeper Award®
In
2006, the National Day of the Cowboy nonprofit began
a tradition of formally recognizing individuals,
organizations, and projects that contribute
significantly to the preservation of pioneer
heritage and cowboy culture. The six 2013
Cowboy Keeper
Award
honorees are R.J. Vandygriff, American Chuck Wagon
Association, Phil Spangenberger, New Mexico History
Museum, Bob Fox, and the late Mary Ann Goodnight.
Phil
Spangenberger is not only a western history expert
and meticulous re-enactor, but a man who embodies
the ethos and persona of the cowboy in his everyday
life. He is internationally recognized for his
expertise and knowledge of the world of the "Old
West." Fellow
Spirit of the West Rider, Brent Slutsky,
declares, “If you’re making a documentary, writing a
story, or need to know how it was in the older days
of the cowboy, Phil is the man to see as a reliable
source of accurate information, be it guns, ammo,
tack, clothing or the feel of the cowboy lifestyle.”
Indeed, as Marshall of the “Spirit of the West
Riders,” 20-plus years in the Tournament of Roses
Parade, Phil’s charge is to bring to the world a
group of riders accurately and colorfully depicting
our Old West, by ensuring every horse and rider
displays authentic period dress and tack.
Another riding pal, Larry Brady, says of
Spangenberger, “I have known, worked, and ridden
with Phil for over 20 years and I’m here to tell you
if you want it done right, you call on Phil
Spangenberger as your technical advisor.” As a man
who has coached A-list actors on wardrobe,
deportment, and gun skills, he also produces
American Adventure Wild West Shows, known to excite
crowds worldwide with horsemanship, gun handling,
and Californio lancing, while he wows ‘em, riding
and shooting, guns in both hands and the reins
between his teeth. On the History Channel Old West
re-enactments, he works his magic, both on screen
and behind cameras. He has unlimited knowledge of
firearms, period clothing, horses and tack; from the
time man first used a gun to today’s modern Old West
clones. He has devoted his life to the lore, legend
and reality of the American Cowboy past and present.
He is an award winning horseman and a prominent
consultant on authenticity and gun coaching in the
movie industry, recognized with the prestigious
Golden Boot
Award in 2005. Phil has helped immortalize the
Cowboy, as a professional writer in books and
magazines, serving as Black Powder Editor for
Guns and Ammo
magazine and currently serving as Executive Editor
for the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association’s™
Rundown.
He provided the inspiration for the sport of Cowboy
Mounted Shooting™ with his Wild West Show mounted
shooting demonstrations, has been inducted into the
Cowboy Mounted Shooters Hall of Fame, and has served
as a member of their Board of Directors since its
inception in 1994. These are but a few of Phil
Spangenberger’s accomplishments that have
contributed significantly to the immortalization of
the Cowboy.
Award winning singer, songwriter, poet, actor,
playwright, and genuine real-deal cowboy, R.J.
Vandygriff, hails from Lipscomb,
Texas. He grew up riding
horses and strumming a guitar and includes bareback
and saddlebronc riding on his resume, as well as
rodeo clown and bullfighter stints. As an actor,
R.J. had a recurring role as Ranger Mike for seven
years in the hit series ''Walker,
Texas
Ranger,'' and has appeared in movies and numerous
regional and national commercials. He’s performed
his songs and poetry for Americans from shore to
shore, and in Canada
and Europe. His tour
offerings include a highly acclaimed, one-man,
one-act musical comedy, ''The Cowboy Ain't Dead
Yet!'' which has taken on legendary status in its
own time. In it, R.J. plays one of the most
fascinating character to ride through history; the
American Cowboy. As cowboy Joe Texas, R.J. tells the
true story of the cowboy from the 1860s to present
time, through songs, poems, and stories. Renowned
cowboy poet and author, Baxter Black, declares the
play, “The best one man show since Churchill swam
the English Channel."
R.J. also offers
Cowboy 101,
a concert/lecture on the life of the cowboy. He
frequently performs concerts featuring cowboy songs,
poems, and stories. R.J. was the winner of a 2004
Will Rogers Award, and the 2012 Wrangler Award for
Outstanding Original Composition. He’s been
described as both a soulful balladeer and a comedian
of impeccable timing. R.J. has been selected for the
Texas Commission of the Arts 2014 Touring Roster,
where he’ll be showcasing
The Cowboy
Ain't Dead Yet!, as well as another of his
entertaining programs,
Cowboy ABCs.
Colorado Public Radio’s Western Belle, Barb Richhart,
said it this way, “Consider R.J. Vandygriff for the
Cowboy Keeper
Award! His one-man play is a delightful and
positive portrayal of cowboy way of life. As
evidenced in his music and stories, R.J. is an
extraordinary example of the Cowboy Code he lives
by. The quality and tone of his writing, singing and
teaching make him a guiding light to old and young
alike.” RJ is proof positive of the good news we
always love to hear, “The Cowboy indeed, Ain’t
Dead!”
In
1996, at an Amarillo,
Texas, chuck wagon competition, a group of
Old West enthusiasts and wagon masters talked about
an association whose mission would be to preserve
the heritage of the chuck wagon and the story of its
use in the short, but significant, era of the cattle
drives. In 1997, by-laws and articles were adopted
and the American Chuck Wagon Association was born.
It has since expanded to a world-wide organization
preserving the American past through competitions,
demonstrations, charity and school events, and
participating at variety of other venues. Today,
there are members in 31 states, as well as in
Canada,
Germany and
Switzerland.
Current President, Wayne Calk, proudly describes the
ACWA this way, “We hold the spirit of western
heritage in high esteem and want others to
experience that same feeling, so we banded together
with a common goal to preserve and share a heritage
that the pioneers helped create.”
The
chuck wagon is the central element used by the chuck
wagon cook to focus on preserving the spirit of the
Old West.” Chuck wagon cook-offs are by no means the
only way enthusiasts portray the cowboy spirit.
Members gather at locations around the country,
cooking the chuck wagon way for service men and
women and their families. There are also ACWA
individuals who provide wagons and fare for the
Wounded Warriors Program. Others take wagons or
Dutch ovens to schools and provide school children
with a living history demonstration. Members
participate in various museum functions, parades and
cowboy days. Association members recognize that
youth are our future and support numerous activities
directly involving young people, even including them
in their cooking crews at cook offs. Another way
they involve and educate youth is with
demonstrations where host wagons share their camps
with students, telling them the history of the chuck
wagon and trail drives. The ACWA offers a
scholarship to selected individuals each year and
they honor a young cook with the
Rookie of the
Year award.
On
Memorial Day weekend 2009, thousands of people lined
the streets of Santa Fe,
New Mexico, waiting for a first glimpse of
its New Mexico
History
Museum. A 96,000 square-foot
building, the museum significantly expanded
New Mexico’s ability to
share stories that made the American West. The
museum’s main exhibit,
Telling New
Mexico: Stories from Then and Now, attempts to
do that by sweeping across five centuries, telling
tales that include a rich cache of information about
cowboys, trail riders, and outlaws.
On
April 14, 2013, a new exhibit,
Cowboys Real
and Imagined, opened. The exhibit impresses upon
visitors the myriad details of what was (and is) a
dangerous and often low-paying job. It begins with
the Spanish Vaqueros and the introduction of horse
culture to the American Southwest, and carries them
through the role cowboys played in healing our
divided nation after the Civil War.
Cowboys Real
and Imagined includes rare archival footage,
oral histories, musical performances, and a
programming series that includes screenings of
classic western movies filmed in
New Mexico. The exhibit
anchors the cowboy story in the
Land
of Enchantment,
a place that helped give birth to the real thing.
The goal is to capture and convey the many images of
the cowboy—from itinerant hired hand to outlaw,
movie star, rodeo athlete and radio yodeler. It
includes cowgirls and cowboys who are Spanish,
Mexican, African American, Native American, and
Anglo, and in the end, emphasizes that true blue
cowboys and cowgirls still ride the open range.
California PRCA legislative consultant, Bob Fox,
works closely and continuously with the California
Cattlemen’s Association, the Farm Bureau, the
California Veterinary Medical Association, American
Quarter Horse Association, Friends of Rodeo, and
other western and rodeo related organizations, to
diffuse legislation that would restrict the use of
livestock in rodeo, and to provide accurate
information that addresses and dispels some of the
myths advanced by animal rights activists. He works
tirelessly to educate legislators and the public
about the welfare of rodeo animals in an effort to
promote and protect the sport of rodeo.
Along with other supporters, Fox also represented
the National Day of the Cowboy bill in the
California Legislature and protected it from
unwanted modifications when it went to committee to
be considered for permanent passage. After working
with other NDOC volunteers to successfully guide
California
into becoming the second state to pass the NDOC in
perpetuity, Fox continues to support the national
crusade by promoting display of the NDOC flag at an
untold number of rodeos and western related events
in California
and Nevada,
including the California State Fair Rodeo. He often
arranges to have rodeo royalty carry the NDOC flag
at major rodeos and he provides NDOC details to
rodeo announcers around the country in the form of
scripts to be shared with the public. Fox also
enlisted a campaign volunteer in
Nevada, providing him with
pertinent NDOC information, in order to secure a
proclamation from the Governor of Nevada in 2012.
Bob Fox goes out of his way to ensure the NDOC
receives photos of the flag flying or being
presented at these rodeos and that the NDOC
organization receives positive publicity in quality
publications such as
Pro Rodeo
Sports News, thus helping others to learn about
the campaign and furthering the NDOC mission to
preserve pioneer heritage and promote cowboy
culture.
The
late Mary Ann Dyer was fourteen when her family left
Madison County, Tennessee, and moved to
Texas. After her parents
died, she worked as a schoolteacher and raised her
five brothers. In 1870, at age 31, she married
legendary Texas
rancher, Charles Goodnight. In 1876 the Goodnights
and another couple established the vast JA Ranch in
the Texas Panhandle, still the oldest ranch
enterprise in the Panhandle. When the other couple
left the area, Mary Goodnight (Molly) became the
only woman on the ranch, which occupied the entire
Palo Duro
Canyon (1,500 ft deep, 10 miles
across, and nearly 100 miles long).
As
surrogate mother, sister, friend, homemaker, and
nurse to the area's cowboys, Mary Ann Goodnight soon
became known as “Mother of the Panhandle.”
Experiencing long periods with little companionship,
Molly's life centered on the traditional chores of
ranch life, however, her interests quickly extended
to protecting baby buffalo left to die after
commercial hunters ravaged the Plains herd. Through
rescuing and raising orphaned buffalo, Mrs.
Goodnight helped establish the Goodnight buffalo
herd, which became well known throughout the world.
Goodnight devoted herself to saving baby buffalo of
the southern herd of bison. She is credited with
saving the herd from extinction and her orphaned
buffalo produced the Goodnight buffalo herd. Today,
the State of Texas
owns the descendants of the Goodnight’s rescued
animals and cares for them at
Caprock
Canyon State Park.
In September 2011, 80 descendants of that great
southern plains bison herd were released to roam an
initial 700 acres of grasslands in the park, where
from a safe distance, visitors can see these
indigenous animals in their native habitat. These
bison are the only vestige of a herd that once
numbered an incredible 3.5 – 4 million strong. Now,
as the official Texas State Bison Herd, they are
being restored to their native habitat, fulfilling
Mary Ann and Charles Goodnight’s vision of saving
this herd of pure Southern Plains bison from certain
extinction.
The
artist image chosen for the 2013
Cowboy Keeper
Award is “The Weathered Wheels,” the work of
gifted watercolor and acrylic Canadian artist and
author, Val Moker. Phil Spangenberger, R.J.
Vandygriff, Bob Fox, the American Chuckwagon
Association, the New
Mexico
History Museum,
and the late Mary Ann Goodnight, are the outstanding
recipients of the 2013
Cowboy Keeper
Award. All six honorees have demonstrated a
heartfelt, effective commitment to the preservation
of pioneer heritage and cowboy culture. The National
Day of the Cowboy tips its hat to each of these
highly deserving recipients.
Hats off to the cowboy,
Bethany
Bethany Braley, Executive Director & Publisher
National Day of the Cowboy 501(c)3
PO Box 25298
Prescott Valley AZ 86312-5298
928-759-0951
bethany@nationaldayofthecowboy.com
www.nationaldayofthecowboy.org
Like us on
Facebook National
Day of the Cowboy
9th Annual National Day of the Cowboy
- July 27, 2013
Esteemed recipients of
the 2011 Cowboy
Keeper Awards
announced
The
National Day of the Cowboy 501(c)3 and its Board of
Directors have chosen eight individuals and
organizations to receive its 2011
Cowboy Keeper
Award. Selection for the annual award is based
on the level and significance of contributions to
the preservation of pioneer heritage and cowboy
culture. Inspired by artist Joelle Smith, the award
was conceived in support of the NDOC’s mission to
increase awareness for and celebration of the annual
National Day of the Cowboy resolution.
The
2011 Cowboy
Keeper Award recipients are;
Westernaires,
a mounted precision drill organization comprised of
Jefferson County,
Colorado,
youngsters age 9 to 19. Since its founding in 1949,
Westernaires has provided training to youth in
western riding, precision drills, and horse care.
Members develop qualities such as self discipline
from years of weekly training to achieve promotion
to the organization’s top teams, a respect for
teamwork through riding week after week with fellow
horsemen working together to execute a well polished
performance, a sense of responsibility from caring
for horses, and intense community pride through the
cultivation if a shared appreciation for western
heritage.
Successful Florida rancher and Cracker cowboy,
Pete Clemons,
is a famed former rodeo star who for over 50 years
has been the owner/operator of the Okeechobee
Livestock Market which became Florida’s premier
cattle market under his leadership. He is held in
high regard for his friendliness, honesty, and
genuine desire to help people. In the early 1980s,
he served as chairman of the Florida Beef Council
and, for the last 40 years, Clemons, who at 81 still
lives life in the saddle, has served as a board
member or officer of the Okeechobee County
Cattlemen’s Association. Pete Clemons is considered
by many to be the best-known and best-loved
cattleman in the entire State of
Florida.
In 1975,
multi-Cowboy Hall of Famer and legendary calf roper,
Cleo Hearn,
designed and founded his historic
Cowboys of
Color Rodeo to highlight the cultural diversity
of African American, Native American, and Hispanic
rodeo cowboys and cowgirls while providing family
fun for all. His National Finals brings together top
ranked Indian, Black, and Hispanic participants to
compete and exhibit in bull riding, calf roping, and
other traditional rodeo events, providing history
lessons with the entertainment. Cultural elements
abound, such as an Hispanic female drill team riding
sidesaddle, and tuxedoed riders strutting Tennessee
Walking horses to BB King music. Cleo's organization
aims to engage and educate young people, thus there
are performances and stories about Mexican charros,
Indian traditions and
Buffalo
soldiers between events. Hearn, himself half African
American and half Indian, was the first African
American to attend college on a rodeo scholarship,
and in 1970, was the first African American to win
the calf-roping event at a major rodeo. He’s
competed at all major rodeos for 36 consecutive
years, joining the Rodeo Cowboy Association in 1959,
and he has a star on the Texas Trail of Fame.
Throughout his career he’s won ribbons, trophies,
buckles, saddles and thousands in cash prizes.
Cleo Hearn
and his Cowboys of Color Rodeo represent the
largest, most significant, multi-cultural rodeo
circuit in the country.
“America’s
favorite cowboys,”
Riders in the
Sky, have been entertaining and educating
audiences with their musical talent and comedic
flair for over 30 years. Two-time Grammy winners,
for the
Riders,
there is only one way and, “It’s the
Cowboy
Way.”
Ranger Doug, Too Slim, Woody Paul, and Joey the
Cowpolka King, have over 5,400 concert performances
under their hats and have starred in their own TV
and radio shows. They are beloved members of the
Grand Ole Opry (since 1982) and they brought western
music to the White House. Billboard magazine's Jim
Bessman counts
Riders
as “one of the most historically significant
acts in the history of American music." Mission
Control even played their cut "Woody's Roundup," to
wake up NASA's own riders in the sky.
Tom
Bishop Sr.'s
father arrived in
Canada
a Scottish orphan filled with dreams of the
frontier. A city boy with no skills, he nearly
starved homesteading Canadian winters in a sod
dugout hut. When he saw Buffalo Bill’s Wild West
Show, he knew it was what he wanted to do, so he
began to put on Wild West shows at local fairs.
Tom
Bishop Sr.
has continued his father's traditions and has taken
his own Wild West shows to the next level, one of
many ways he preserves pioneer heritage. Tom’s
father was one of five founding members of the
Western Horsemen’s Association of Ontario, which Tom
has continued to support throughout his own life. In
the 1960s Tom and his wife, both expert trick riders
and trick ropers, traveled to
England
to perform at the “Canadian
Way
of Life” Exhibition. Tom went on to produce rodeos
and eastern
Canada’s
only Wild West shows, inspiring many others to rodeo
or perform. A horse coordinator for TV and film, he
provides the horses and wagons for
Canada’s
TV show “Murdoch Mysteries.”
Tom owns over 50 wagons and carriages he's
preserved. He was one of the original Canadian
stuntmen when the film industry came to
Canada
in the 1950s, and has doubled many actors. Recently
nominated “Entrepreneur of the Year” for the
Niagara
region, people there are fascinated by his
one-of-a-kind lifestyle. Said to personify “Code of
the West” tenets,
Tom Bishop
Sr. is characterized as tough but fair, firm but
quiet, and well respected by all. A modern day
cowboy, he represents the second generation of a
Canadian family devoted to maintaining the tradition
of Wild West shows.
Nevada’s
National
Cowboy Poetry Gathering, a week-long celebration
of cowboy and ranch life, features contemporary and
traditional arts arising from lives lived caring for
land and livestock. Showcasing the finest cowboy
poetry and western music, it also includes workshops
in arts such as rawhide braiding and saddle making.
During the gathering, Elko overflows with cowboys
and cowgirls, poets, musicians, artisans, rural
people and city folk, those new to these historic
genres and those already captivated by them.
Produced by the
Western
Folklife
Center,
the National
Cowboy Poetry
Gathering
was started in 1985 by a group of folklorists and
poets. It is now an annual ritual for thousands who
value and practice the artistic traditions of
ranching heritage and are concerned about the
present and future of these traditions. Hundreds
more cowboy poetry gatherings have taken root over
the last 27 years as the Elko Gathering revitalized
a literary art that remains a vital part of the
lives of ranchers and cowboys. In 2000, a U.S.
Senate resolution recognized the cultural value of
this art form and the event responsible for its
renaissance, by naming the Elko Gathering the “National”
Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
California rancher, cowgirl, and pickup “man,”
inducted into both the National Cowboy Hall of Fame
and the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame,
Bertha
Kaepernik Blancett is said to have been set
astride a horse at age five and told to ‘stay
aboard’ and keep the cattle out of the garden. She
became an expert horsewoman and saddlebronc rider
and in 1904, at age 25, was the first woman to ever
ride a bucking bronc in the open men’s division at
Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. She was such a force
in early rodeos that in 1914, she came within 4
points of winning the Pendleton Round-Up’s “All
Around Cowboy” title. In 1915, the Round-Up
committee changed the rules so cowgirls could only
compete for second place. She married cowboy Del
Blancett, whom she met while performing for the
Miller’s 101 Wild West Show. It is said of
Bertha
Blancett, “There wasn’t a horse she could not
nor would
not ride.”
Dubois
Main Street
works to promote and preserve the unique cultural
and western heritage of Dubois, Wyoming, by
fostering and supporting activities such as their
annual 3-day National Day of the Cowboy event. The
organization goes all out to involve the whole
community in celebration.
Their heritage based event, now in its third year,
offers something for everyone, including horse
clinics, a cowboy parade, family activities, equine
theater with roman riders, rodeo, a presentation
about early women in rodeo, mutton busting for young
cowboys and cowgirls, cowboy storytelling, lessons
and demonstrations in western crafts, an art gallery
walk, a barbeque by local restaurants, country
dancing, celebrity look-a-like contests, the
National Day of the Cowboy flag, concerts by local
musicians, and a western costume contest for local
merchants with National Day of the Cowboy
buckles and flags as prizes.
Dubois
Main Street
delivers on its promise to its growing legion of
NDOC attendees, “Join us and you’ll experience the
cowboy way and see his imprint on the forging of
this country."
The
National Day of the Cowboy organization is honored
to spotlight the efforts and accomplishments of
these eight exceptional 2011
Cowboy Keeper
Award recipients. Each one represents a powerful
element in the preservation of pioneer heritage and
an energizing force in the ongoing expansion of the
world’s cowboy culture.
The
image for the 2011
Cowboy Keeper
Award is the work of legendary artist, Till
Goodan, whose authentic renderings of the West are
easily recognized by all. In addition to the framed
award, Dusty Hart donated eight bronze ‘let ‘er
buck’ sculptures derived from vintage molds he
unearthed which were created by his late
grandfather, William Hartnell.
Past
Cowboy Keeper
recipients include U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle
Giffords, U.S. Senator Craig Thomas, Cheyenne
Frontier Days Committee,
Old
Cowtown
Museum,
Dorothy Wood, Julie Ream, Margo Metegrano, Dakota
Livesay, Doc Stovall, Don & Sharon Endsley, Scott
O’Malley, Kathleen Collins, Michael Martin Murphey,
and the Desert Cowboys. The 2011
Cowboy Keeper
Awards will be presented throughout the year,
including one on July 23, 2011; the 7th
Annual National Day of the Cowboy.
|
|
|
National Day of the Cowboy News
- June 2010
From the Publisher
Not long after arriving in sunny
Arizona, my family moved across the
street from South Mountain Park, the
largest municipal park in the United
States. It was there that my dad
sometimes rented horses for us on
beautiful Saturday mornings at one
of the two riding stables, the
Ponderosa and the South Mountain,
near the park entrance. Back then,
the rustic character of the park
included a classic old trading post
build from mountain rocks, picnic
ramadas, incredible desert plants, a
bar and grill ominously dubbed
“Scorpion Gulch,” well worn hiking
trails displaying ancient
petroglyphs, and boundless room to
ride horses freely wherever one
wanted.
Sadly, my father passed away in
March. He was barely 83. One of the
pictures mom displayed at pop’s
memorial service was this image of
dad from one of our Saturday trail
rides. Seeing the photo reminded me
of how much I loved those hours of
riding with pop in the park. I
realized as I gazed at the
photo though, that although I had
learned to ride from dad, I have no
idea where he learned to ride
himself, or what led him, a young
transplant from a Michigan city, to
wear cowboy boots and a Stetson hat
at every opportunity. All I know for
sure is that he took us to local
gymkhanas and to our first rodeo,
and that he loved horses and he took
us kids horseback riding as often as
he could. Although my dad was a
carpenter by trade, he was a Cowboy
at Heart, and teaching us to ride
was his personal contribution to the
preservation of this wonderful part
of our heritage.
Cultural Tragedy
It was devastating to receive
the news that Dusty Rogers found it
necessary to permanently close the
Roy Rogers - Dale Evans Museum. He
locked the gates on December 12,
2009 and auctioned off parts of the
family collection at the High Noon
Show and Auction in January. More of
the collection will be auctioned at
Brian Lebel’s auction in Denver,
Colorado, in June, never again to be
viewed or enjoyed in its entirety.
This tragic loss should be a wake up
call to all who believe the current
cowboy culture and its rich history
need to be protected for current and
future generations. It's
heartbreaking evidence that
preservation cannot be taken
lightly, nor can it be viewed as a
hobby or simply an engaging way to
pass the time.
The closing of such a significant
American museum was disturbing in
itself, but consider this recent piece
of alarming information gleaned from the
USDA - The first year I gathered
statistics for Senator Thomas for the
Cowboy resolution was 2004. That year,
the USDA stated there were 800,000
ranches contributing to the economy of
every county in the country. Checking on
the data for the 2008 resolution for
Enzi and Giffords, the USDA told me
there were then 727,000 ranches. When I
called for numbers for the 2010
resolution, the woman I spoke with told
me we were down to 656,000 ranches in
America. This drastic decline is
shocking to me. Something has happened
to nearly 150,000 cattle ranches in only
six years. Have they been absorbed by
other ranches? Sold off to developers? I
don’t know the answer, but I do know I
hear many stories about ranchers
fighting for (and losing) their water
rights or losing their land and their
grazing rights. If we continue to lose
30,000 ranches per year (and remember
this is just ranches, it does not take
into account how many farms we’re
losing), that means we’re on track to
see all ranches vanish from the American
landscape in less than 25 years, and
we’ll be importing virtually all of our
beef from other countries.
|
What's New?
Guitar Fundraising
The winning bid for our autographed
1970 Hummingbird guitar came from
Terry “T-bird” Arnold. Our thanks to
guitar donor, Kip Calahan, all the
generous signers, and to Brian
Lebel, who donated a spot for us at
his Old West Show & Auction so we
could auction the guitar and further
advance the quest for a Cowboy Day.
And thanks of course to T-Bird who
called in his bid all the way from
Texas. Lots of interested folks
stopped by to check out the guitar,
enjoy the photos of the celebrity
signers, and pick up information
about the pursuit of permanent
status for a National Day of the
Cowboy.
We now have a second guitar!
A new Yamaha acoustic was donated to
us by singer/songwriter Jeff
Connors. Jeff is one of Chuck "The
Rifleman" Connors’ sons. This guitar
has been signed by country superstar
and CMA award winner,
Jamey Johnson,
Michael Martin
Murphey, The
Quebe Sisters Band, Ray
Benson and Asleep at the Wheel,
Johnny Bush, Joe Stampley, Johnny
Lee, Jon Chandler, Gary McMahan,
Jeff Connors,
Billy Joe Shaver,
Joyce Woodson, Leona
Williams, Ron Williams, Mandy
Barnett, Eddie Stubbs, Dale Watson,
Bryan Kennedy, Deryl Dodd,
Juni Fisher, Jeff Griffith, and
Larry “Murder on Music Row” Shell.
We have pictures of many of them
signing it too, although a few times
the camera choked when we needed it
most.
We’ll be at the
Old West Show and Auction in
Denver again this year, June 25-27,
to auction this guitar. I’ve heard
gold album artist Jamey Johnson’s
signature is worth $300 on a photo
alone! Stop by our table at the show
to see the guitar and signers’
pictures and to and say “hello.” If
you'd like to bid, but can't make it
to the show, email
orders@nationaldayofthecowboy.com,
subject: "Guitar bid." Include your
name, a phone number where you can
be reached that day, and your
maximum bid amount. Bidding for this
fundraiser guitar starts at $750.
Email bidding will close at 1PM
on Sunday June 27, 2010.
The winning bidder will receive the
autographed acoustic guitar, a soft
guitar case, photos of many of the
celebrities as they signed it and a
Certificate of Authenticity
verifying the signatures.
The
NDOC Organization
Eddie Kilroy, an American radio
personality of iconic stature and a
well respected Texas horse rancher
to boot, joined the Board of
Directors of the National Day of the
Cowboy nonprofit organization. “I
don’t believe we could have asked
for a better addition to our board,”
observed Corene Schwab, the NDOC’s
vice-chairman and CEO of AhHa
Entertainment, regarding Eddie
Kilroy’s election.
Kilroy and his wife, Elizabeth, set
up a ranch in Texas as their home.
They have a tremendous love of
horses and their entire ranch is
dedicated to enjoying them. Away
from the ranch, they lead an active
life, enjoying riding, exploring,
working cattle, roping, ranch
rodeos, and anything equine. As busy
as he is, Eddie Kilroy is excited
about working with the National Day
of the Cowboy organization and looks
forward to making a contribution to
its continued success. When asked
why he wanted to be a part of the
organization, he didn’t hesitate to
answer, “America’s Cowboy was a
major factor in the early days of
our country and still is, and I
wanted to be a part of the National
Day of the Cowboy’s effort to have
cowboys recognized and honored for
their contributions and lifestyle.
Cowboys are my heroes!”
Desert
Cowboys Express
The Desert Cowboys Express event,
honoring SFC Russell Anderson and our
Desert Cowboys aboard the Rio Grande
Scenic Railroad, and the Wild Rags &
Wranglers Dinner which we had planned in
the spring, have both been postponed to
a yet to be determined date in 2011.
|
International Cowboy
The
NDOC flag is in Lebanon
One of our wonderful spokespersons,
Hotshot Johnny Tuscadero, is putting
together the largest rodeo to ever
take place in the Middle East. He's
working on the event along with the
El Rancho Dude Ranch in Lebanon. The
great news is, thanks to Hotshot, a
National Day of the Cowboy flag will
be flying there! Can't wait to see
the pictures Hotshot sends back to
us. This means the flag is now
flying in 5 countries outside the
USA.
Hotshot Johnny who also happens
to be the SASS 2010 World Champion
Gun Spinner, puts in a lot of hours
at the El Rancho Dude Ranch, just
outside Beirut. He tells us they’re
looking for a dude ranch or
community in American interested in
celebrating the National Day
of the Cowboy with them
simultaneoulsy via big screens.
Contact Hotshot if you can help him
find a partner for El Rancho.
We’ve got volunteers looking for
Cowboy Day sponsors in Portugal,
Canada, Lebanon, and Australia.
Also, thanks to the staff at the
PRCA, we learned about a cowboy
magazine published in Italy
entitled, “American West.” Its
publisher, Fabrizio, put us on his
mailing list and we’ve got copies in
hand, and although we can’t read
Italian, it’s easy to see it’s a
cowboy publication about all things
western here in the states and in
Italy as well.
Western collector, Master Gardener,
and friend of the NDOC, Bob Priddle,
sent us pages from his old
collectible Rawhide cowboy
comics, all the way from Wales. Each
page is framed in a red mat and is
accompanied by a Certificate of
Authenticity. What a great way to
preserve some of these iconic
examples of cowboy lore.
The
Wild West in the Middle East!
(by Hotshot Johnny)
Bethany here at the NDOC asked me to
put some words down about my recent
adventures, cowboyin' in the Middle
East. So... let me give you a little
news from the Perpetual Motion
Ranch.
My travels have taken me all over
this beautiful globe. The rock we're
on is an amazing place and
everywhere ya go, people love
cowboys. For the last 9 months I
have been performing at a ranch
outside Beirut in Lebanon. Yeah, I
know! Wild, huh? Lebanon is
a beautiful place with great people,
friendly and welcoming in every way.
It is kind of party-central for the
Middle East during the summer,
almost doubling in size as tourists
come from all over Arabia, Europe
and Asia.
The ranch I work on is up in the
green mountains about 40 Minutes
from Beirut. As you go north from
Beirut on the coast, it looks like
California - beach towns and green
covered mountains. El Rancho Western
Park is a working ranch with horses
and cattle, a resort with luxury
camping and bungalows and a theme
park with steak house, games and
entertainment. All this rolled into
over one hundred acres of mountain
terrain. And it is more of a ranch
than many of the ranches I've worked
at in the states. Producing raw-milk
cheese, quail and quail eggs,
chicken eggs, doing trail rides,
arena shows, rock climbing, archery,
paintball, dinner shows, etc. I was
hired to do a show and quickly
became Entertainment Director,
helping them develop the venue as a
tourist attraction. Last summer we
produced a popular 3 day Wild West
Festival and this summer we are
adding a 5 day rodeo to the
festival. The Cedar Stampede will be
the 1st rodeo in the Middle East,
ever. For a region that has such a
long and rich tradition and history
with horses, this proves to be an
amazing prospect.
Contrary to what you might see on
the news, Lebanon is a fun place,
safe and friendly. If there are any
riders out there that would like to
compete in a once in a lifetime
rodeo experience, please get a hold
of me and I'd be happy to give you
more info. In fact, depending on yer
skill level, we might even take care
of your expenses here in Lebanon if
you can get yourself here.
The Cedar Stampede Rodeo & Wild West
Festival is August 18 - 22, 2010. We
are inviting riders from the USA,
Europe and anywhere else to come. If
you can swing the travel cost we
will take care of you. Come early
and prep on our horses and compete
in the 1st western rodeo in the
Middle East!
Ain't
it the truth
“There is very little difference between
working cowboys in Arizona or Canada.
The international border does not
matter. Sure there is different horse
gear used in different parts of the
country, but they are all cowboys at
heart.” Canadian cowboy, singer,
songwriter, and performer,
Ian Tyson.
|
Western Mercantile
Kick
it up a Notch!
National Day of the Cowboy 2010
Florida artist,
Jim Harrison, created the
graphic for our 2010 Hatch
Show print. Jim’s
graphics captured our attention
while we were on the website for the
2010 Elko Poetry Gathering, as Jim
created the art for their 2010 event
poster. We’ve had such great luck
finding wonderful artists willing to
create images for our Hatch posters
each year, beginning with
Jennifer Ward 2006,
Teal Blake 2007, Zane Mead 2008,
and
Christina Holmes 2009.
Jim has also offered to sign and
number the first 25 posters that
come off the press. If you’d like to
place an advance order for one of
the signed posters, they will be $25
each plus $5.25 S&H. Orders for the
signed posters will be filled in the
sequence in which they are received.
The theme for 2010 is “Kick it up a
Notch.” The piece will be in deep
purple and metallic silver. They’ll
be in stock on June 30, but you can
place your order today by emailing
orders@nationaldayofthecowboy.com.
Last year
Christina Holmes provided art
for the first NDOC poster to have
more than one original image. Jim
Harrison is blazing a new trail too,
by creating our first poster with a
color separated image.
With phone bills, internet services,
web-hosting, business cards,
membership pins, printing,
brochures, and event fees, it costs
a minimum of $10,000 a year to keep
this effort going. But, if you’re
not of a mind to make a tax
deductible donation to help with
expenses, consider purchasing one of
our Hatch Show Prints (five of which
feature the original art of western
artists from five different states),
or the custom made Montana
Silversmiths NDOC Buckle, a print of
Cowboy Keepers, or an NDOC flag or
Rockmount’s National Day of the
Cowboy silk tie. We have our
signature red white and blue bumper
stickers in stock again too which
make an economical way to help us
keep going and at the same time tell
the world the cowboy will have his
day.
Enter
To Win
In an effort to generate operating
funds, we’re offering
150
tickets to enter a drawing for a Set
of the National Day of the Cowboy
Hatch posters, 2005 - 2009.
That’s five fabulous NDOC posters,
four of which feature original art.
Tickets are a donation of
$10
each (less than the
price of one poster). The drawing
will be held as soon as 150 tickets
are sold.
Email
orders@nationaldayofthecowboy.com if
you'd like to make a donation to enter
the Hatch drawing.
|
Cowboy Keepers
Cowboy
Keeper Awards 2009
The outstanding
recipients of the 2009 Cowboy Keeper
Award were Dakota Livesay, Publisher
of Chronicle of the Old West, Margo
Metegrano - the extraordinary force
behind the Bar-D Cowboy Poetry
website, and Fort Worth’s Texas
Trail of Fame Organization.
Dakota Livesay, a writer,
historian, western promoter
extraordinaire, and on-air radio
personality, is aptly described by
some as “a one-man Old West reality
show.” Among his endeavors Dakota
publishes Chronicle of the Old West,
a monthly newspaper comprised of
actual 1800’s articles, which he
developed in an effort to teach
people about the real cowboys versus
the ‘reel’ cowboys.
Award recipient
Margo Metegrano is a beloved and
dedicated trailblazer in the
promotion of cowboy poetry. Through
her website, Cowboypoetry.com,
thousands of visitors learn about
cowboy poetry or submit their own
work. Margo is the site foreman,
headquartered at the mythical BAR-D
Ranch, a project of the Center for
Western and Cowboy Poetry, a
non-profit she created and directs
in California.
Fort Worth’s
Texas Trail of Fame organization
was established to honor those
who’ve made a significant
contribution to the Western way of
life. The TTF created a trail of
bronze markers throughout the
Historic Fort Worth Stockyards
District, placed there “to form an
imposing glimpse of a wide
reflection of North America’s
Western Heritage, encouraging
visitors to reflect on the lives and
deeds of the men and women who made
indelible marks on the trails of
history, as well as to focus on the
ambitions of the current generation
of pioneers.”
“She’s a Hand,” the art for the 2009
Cowboy Keeper Award, is the
work of renowned Oregon artist, the
late
Joelle Smith, whose exquisitely
impressive renderings of the West
she loved so much, graced the cover
of Western Horseman Magazine three
times. Another of Joelle’s
renderings, “Bustin the Paint,” is
featured on the NDOC tie designed by
Steve Weil, President of Rockmount
Ranch Wear. Margo Metegrano also
used this art for her 2010 Art Spur
contest on the
Cowboy Poetry website.
A special thanks to Dr. Buck
Montgomery and the generous folks at
SASS and
WWPAS who arranged for us to
present Dakota Livesay with his
award at their annual convention in
Las Vegas. What a wild time we had!
Having Hotshot Johnny and Dr. Buck
riding shotgun over our presentation
was very reassuring. If you’ve not
been to a SASS convention, you’re
missing out on costumes, characters,
parties, vendors, performers,
workshops, and so much more. We’re
proud to be SASS member #85767.
2010
Cowboy Keeper Awards
Artwork chosen for
the upcoming 2010 Cowboy Keeper
Award is “Simple Things’ by Kansas
artist,
Jim Clements. Clements’ stated
desire to ‘honor the spirit of the
west in all of his paintings” is
evidenced in this quietly inspiring
work. The five winners of the
National Day of the Cowboy’s
2010 Cowboy Keeper Award
will be announced on July 24, 2010,
the Sixth Annual National
Day of the Cowboy.
WWPAS
If you don’t know
about WWPAS, it’s the "Wild West
Performing Arts Society," an
organization dedicated to keeping
the heritage of the performing
skills of the old west alive, like
trick roping, gun twirling, knife
throwing – in other words, all the
exciting stuff. Will Rogers and
Buffalo Bill would be proud of this
group, as would every Cowboy who has
stood around a campfire on the range
and cracked a whip or spun a gun.
Don and Sharon Endsley’s
Great American Wild West Show
showcases all of this action in
their Buffalo Bill Cody style old
west extravaganza which I catch
every year in Denver during the
National Stock Show.
Renowned spur maker, Bill Adamson
has been working to bring attention
to the life and story of Crockett
Spur Founder, Brice Crockett…There’s
a dedicated group of folks in Texas
working on enhancing the Chisholm
and Western Trails now that Congress
has deemed them as National Historic
Trails….Congratulations to the
poised and beautiful Taryn Brady
(sister of NDOC spokesperson Kelsee
Brady Bradshaw). Taryn won Ms. Rodeo
Arizona and Runner-up to Ms. Rodeo
America. Taryn and I had lunch
together two years ago at the
Gilbert Days Rodeo in Arizona where
I was captivated by her intelligence
and grace.
“Kill
Nashville Pop”
Well, that’s about preservation too.
The fearless leader of this Facebook
page, Larry “The Rev” Shell,
believes country music made
Nashville what it is today (not the
other way around), so he and his
organization are trying to get the
powers that be in Music City USA, to
not only acknowledge that fact, but
to actually honor it and promote it.
In the process, KNP, with 2,000
members and growing, has chosen the
NDOC as their Cause on Facebook and
we’d like to thank its members for
the donations they’ve sent to us.
While we’re on this subject, perhaps
it’s time we hung some of Shell’s
“Kill Nashville Pop” banners at the
big rodeos and ‘country’ music
festivals. Didn’t they book Western
and Country performers at those
events once upon a time?
(“Today’s ‘country and western’ is
neither of either.” Don Edwards).
If you’ve not seen “Dirt the Movie,” a
documentary that covers the relationship
between the earth’s living soil and that
of the human race, make it a point to
view it.
|
Volunteer Ranch Hands
Desert
Cowboys Express Volunteers
Ed Ellis, John Thomas, Larra
Atwater, Diane Tribitt, Julie Ream,
Fred Hargrove, Debra Goodman, Dakota
Livesay,
SFC Russell Anderson, and many
others, worked hard to bring the
pieces together for the Desert
Cowboys Express, scheduled to
take place on the
Rio Grande Scenic Railroad on
Memorial Weekend. Unfortunately, due
to unforeseen circumstances, the
DCE had to be postponed, but it will
be rescheduled for the 2011 season
on the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad.
Volunteer Lacee Muller created a new
NDOC Facebook page for us.
Larra Atwater, owner of Atwater Hay
and Livestock, and a former CFO,
keeps all of our accounting, IRS
reports, and corporate filings.
Thanks to all the dedicated NDOC
volunteers, without whom this effort
could not continue to grow.
|
Western Connections & Bunkhouse
Culture
Tin
Pan South 2010
Thanks to 2009’s stellar
performances by Joyce Woodson,
Murphey, Juni Fisher, and Jon
Chandler, Western music was invited
back to NSAI’s renowned Tin Pan
South songwriter festival. The 2010
songwriter round of Campfire
Cowgirls & Cowboys featured
Joyce Woodson, Juni Fisher, and Ray
Doyle. Murphey hoped to complete the
circle again this year, but his
schedule logistics made it
impossible to work that out.
Songwriters are not paid to perform
at TPS, so we and the songwriters
appreciate Stellar Oilfield
Services’ Terry Arnold of Texas, Pam
Nance of North Carolina, and Ohio’s
Paula Bondy for donating to the
songwriter round on behalf of the
National Day of the Cowboy. We
believe it’s important for cowboy
music to be represented at Tin Pan
South because the more people
exposed to quality cowboy music, the
more people will take an interest in
pioneer history, events,
organizations, and preservation.
New Music
Gary McMahan,
Fred Hargrove,
Juni Fisher, and
Ray Doyle have all released new
CDs you’ll want to add to your music
collection. Check out Ray Doyle’s
music video “Emigrant Trail” on
YouTube too. How did he get it to
look so real?
New
Books
Can't wait to get a copy of the new
book all about cowboy china, by
Corinne J. Brown, coming in the
fall. Come and Get It -The Saga
of Western Themed Dinnerware,
includes images of some extremely
rare patterns. Author John O. Baxter
stopped at the National Day of the
Cowboy to sign copies of his new
book, Cowboy Park,
published by Texas Tech University
Press. It’s about the years when
steer roping was illegal (yup –
against the law) in Texas, Arizona,
and New Mexico. John Conley’s new
book, Heart of a Cowboy - Vol I,
is slated to be released in
September. John included a chapter
about the National Day of the Cowboy
- Bless his Cowboy heart! Moonlight
Mesa Publishing out of Wickenburg,
Arizona, is set to release a book on
Casey Tibbs.
More
Cowboy Culture
Did you notice all those Rockmount
shirts in Crazy Heart? Jeff
Bridges, as Bad Blake in the movie,
alternately channels Waylon and
Kristofferson in his role as a
country singer who’s veered way off
track (no pun intended). It’s eerie
watching him do that, but it
certainly brings back fond memories
of the days when country music was,
well, still Country.
Melody
Ranch Studio
Julie and Bob Ream took me on my
first visit to
Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio,
the movie lot where many Gene Autry
westerns were filmed, as were
western TV staples like The Lone
Ranger, and Annie Oakley.
Monogram Studios made 750 westerns
there before they sold the ranch to
Gene Autry in 1952. Since 1915, when
the studio was first opened for
business, a long string of hard
riding shoot-em-ups have been
produced there. Iconic cowboy
actors, including William S. Hart,
Tom Mix, Roy Rogers, Bill Boyd, and
John Wayne filmed their westerns at
MR until 1962, when a fire swept
through Placerita Canyon, destroying
the main western street. Gene
maintained the rest of the ranch for
his horse Champion until the horse
passed in 1990. He then put the
ranch up for sale and the Veluzat
brothers purchased it.
Thank goodness Melody Ranch has since
been brought back to life with the
restoration of that famous western
street. Melody Ranch Studio features a
massive western town with interiors in
the saloon, bank, jail, general store,
hotel, church, school, livery stable,
and theatre. Bob and Julie and I shared
our saloon table with ranch owner,
Renaud Veluzat, and friends Nokie and
Judy Edwards (Nokie was lead guitarist
for The Ventures). Out on the street,
under the California moon, dinner guests
watched High Noon. Imagine what fun we
all had eating dinner and watching High
Noon in exactly the same spot the movie
was filmed over 50 years ago!
|
Membership
Bull
rider supports the cause
Singer-songwriter and former
professional bull rider, Jeremy Larsen,
is the first Cowboy to join the NDOC at
the Round-up Captain level. We met up
with Jeremy in Santa Clarita, where he
insisted on paying his membership dues
in front of Gene Autry (well, the bronze
of Gene) at the Autry National Museum in
Griffith Park, Los Angeles. True to his
new membership title, Jeremy has already
rounded up new members. We’ve come to
realize that it’s cowboys with a
commitment like his who will be the
mainstay of this effort. We want to
thank Jeremy for his enthusiasm and
dedication to the cause, and thanks to
our good friend Lucky, for telling
Jeremy about the NDOC.
AZ Sun Mercantile adds to list of
benefits
Ron Southwick, from
Arizona Sun Mercantile is offering a
10% discount on his products to NDOC
members AND he donates 10% of his eBay
sales to us, in an effort to encourage
more folks to become supporting members.
Ron and his wife, Carol, make leather
hatbands, knife sheaths and holsters.
They also offer old west style men’s and
ladies’ clothing and anything you might
need to be an active member of SASS or
WWPAS.
|
Swing Riders
Allen
Wilkenson is our Boot King!
We had a great weekend at the NBSSCA
show in Waco, Texas, thanks to
founding member, the
Boot King, Allen
Wilkinson. Allen donated one of his
reserved spots for our use. While we
were at the show handing out
information about the NDOC and the
Cowboy Day campaign, Allen
introduced us to Jeff Trammel, just
as Jeff was about to host the grand
opening celebration of the new
Western Heritage Gallery in
Denton, Texas. Thanks to Brett
Jones, Jeff Trammel, and Allen, we
had a table at that event too. I can
testify firsthand that if you’re
looking for really fine, unique, or
rare cowboy collectibles, you’ll
want to make this gallery a frequent
destination. It started with over
5,000 square feet of cowboy
“everything,” including art, boots,
books, clothes, hats, jewelry,
spurs, furniture, saddles and
dishes, and it’s been such a success
- they’ve already expanded!
Abbie Caplin of Abbie
Caplin’s Frontiers in
Payson, Arizona donated a table for
us at Red Steagall’s Cowboy Camp in
the Fort Worth Stockyards. It’s
critical for us to be at as many
events as possible to spread the
word about the Day of the Cowboy
campaign, but many times we can’t
come up with vendor fees or travel
expenses necessary to participate,
so we really appreciate backing from
friends like Abbie, Jeff, Brett,
Brian, and Allen.
Cowboy
Code advocates
Dakota and Sunny Livesay now
offer a certificate to anyone
willing to make a formal commitment
to living by the Cowboy Code.
Dakota tells us thousands of people
have already requested the document
and it’s now hanging on the walls of
barns, homes, offices, classrooms
and even prison cells, around the
world.
Cowboy
Flag Update
Thanks to Brenda and
Jim Pense in Washington, the
National Day of the Cowboy flag
flies proudly in twenty-six states.
We’re finally over halfway to our
goal! We need someone from just
twenty four more states to throw
their hat in the arena to reach
fifty. If your state is not on the
flag list, consider becoming state
number twenty-seven and order your
flag today. Don't be left out in the
pasture! We’ve also sold a flag in
Lebanon and we’re thrilled to report
that renowned Colorado equestrians,
the Westernaires, will now be
carrying a National Day of the
Cowboy flag during their shows.
Don’t forget if you do have the
Cowboy Flag, send a picture of it
flying.
Watch the video on YouTube of the
ceremony at which U.S.
Congresswoman Giffords returned
the NDOC space flag to us.
Elizabeth Trevino is a winner
Texan Elizabeth Trevino held the winning
ticket for “Longhorn Buddies,” the
painting donated to us for fundraising
by New Mexico artist Zane Mead.
Elizabeth is the wife of Texas performer
Justin Trevino and declares she’s never
won anything in her life. She made the
trip from Brady, Texas, to the National
Day of the Cowboy office in Fort Worth
to pick up her treasure in person. (Pic
of Elizabeth)
|
|
|
Gene Autry's Cowboy Code
1. The Cowboy must never
shoot first, hit a smaller
man, or take unfair
advantage.
2. He must never go back on
his word, or a trust
confided in him.
3. He must always tell the
truth.
4. He must be gentle with
children, the elderly, and
animals.
5. He must not advocate or
possess racially or
religiously intolerant
ideas.
6. He must help people in
distress.
7. He must be a good
worker.
8. He must keep himself
clean in thought, speech,
action, and personal habits.
9. He must respect women,
parents, and his nation's
laws.
10. The Cowboy is a patriot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Day of the Cowboy
Resolution
|
|
Cowboy Day Resolution
Whereas pioneering men and
women, known as cowboys,
helped establish the
American West;
Whereas the cowboy embodies
honesty, integrity, courage,
compassion, respect, a
strong work ethic, and
patriotism;
Whereas the cowboy spirit
exemplifies strength of
character,
sound family values, and
good common sense;
Whereas the cowboy archetype
transcends ethnicity,
gender,
geographic boundaries, and
political affiliation;
Whereas the cowboy is an
excellent steward of the
land and
its creatures;
Whereas the cowboy lives off
the land and works to
protect
and enhance the environment;
Whereas cowboy traditions
have been part of the
American
culture for generations;
Whereas the cowboy continues
to be an important part of
the
economy, through the work of
approximately 656,000
ranchers in all 50 States,
and contributes to the
wellbeing of nearly every
county in the Nation;
Whereas annual attendance at
professional and working
ranch rodeo events exceeds
30,000,000 fans, and the
rodeo is the 7th most
watched sport in the Nation;
Whereas membership and
participation in rodeo and
other organizations that
promote and encompass the
livelihood of
the cowboy spans race,
gender, and generations;
Whereas the cowboy is a
central figure in
literature, film, and
music, and occupies a
central place in the public
imagination;
Whereas the cowboy is an
American icon; and
Whereas the ongoing
contributions made by
cowboys and
cowgirls to their
communities should be
recognized and
encouraged:
Congress, Governors, and State
Legislatures encourage the
people of the United States to
observe the day with appropriate
ceremonies and activities.
|
|
|
|
NDOC Spokeserpersons
Kelsee Brady Bradshaw
Julie Ann Ream
Lee Anderson
Hotshot Johnny Tuscadero
Dr. Buck Montgomery |
|
|
|
NDOC Board of Directors
2010
Jane Bischoff, AZ –
Treasurer
Gloria Duncan, ME –
Secretary
Eddie Kilroy, TX - 2nd
Vice-chairman
Corene Schwab, TX -
Vice-chairman
Bethany Braley, AZ - Board
Chairman
Volunteers
Larra Atwater - Accountant
Cheryl Harvey Hill - MySpace
Trailboss
Lacee Muller - Facebook Wrangler
|
|
|
|
National Day of the
Cowboy News Sponsor
The June 2010 National Day
of the Cowboy News was
sponsored by The Boot
King, Allen Wilkinson
of Parsons, Kansas. Allen is
a dealer of vintage Western
and Americana collectibles.
Email
info@nationaldayofthecowboy.com
if you'd like to sponsor one of
our newsletters. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|