“Most mornings were spent from the top of the old log round pen, taking in the soft, warm light of sunrise. From there, I hoped to absorb Amber’s knowledge as if it rose up from the ground with the dust. Day in and day out, she worked with horse after horse, giving each one as much time and attention as it needed to progress in her training program. Whether it was one of her own or a client’s, every horse was met with compassion, and despite the array of challenges, her confidence always remained steady and strong. There’s a beauty in her wisdom, one that can be seen in the fluidity of her movements as she communicates with the slightest cues, and all the while the horse’s attention remains fixed … Read entire article »

9th Annual Chandler, Arizona Chuck Wagon Cook-off! November 10, 2018     What: 9th Annual Chandler Chuck Wagon Cook-off When: Saturday, November 10, 9 a.m.-5p.m. Where: Tumbleweed Ranch at southeast corner of Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen, Chandler AZ 85286 Cost: Free admission, $15 meal ticket Contact: Chandler Museum, 480-782-2717 Website:  https://www.pardnersoftumbleweedranch.orgDescription: Experience a rare, up-close look at Western history during this FREE, family-friendly culinary event.  Authentic 1880s chuck wagon teams from around the West use historic cooking methods to create the best meals fit for the trail. Wagon teams win prizes in various food categories and the public can purchase these unique chuck wagon meals.  Saturday lunch meal tickets are $15 and go on sale at 10 am, November 10.  Meal tickets sell out quickly! In addition, advanced tickets for a chuck wagon-style meal from a local eatery available … Read entire article »

33rd Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering &  Western Music Rendezvous August 16-19, 2018,  Lewistown, MT        MontanaCowboyPoetryGathering.com Or call:  406-538-4575 Saturday Grand Stage Show Starring SUZY BOGGUSS – Tickets and info. at: MontanaCowboyPoetryGathering.com, at The Lewistown Art Center, 323 W. Main,  406-535-8278 or by phone at 406-538-4575. Cowboy Poet & Western Musican Performers, please contact Charlotte Carroll, charlihawk@gmail.com Western Ware Vendors & Food Vendors, please contact Karen Kuhlmann, kbkuhlmann@midrivers.com Tour Groups, PRESS, please contact Karen Kuhlmann at kbkuhlmann@midrivers.com Day Headquarters Fri. & Sat. at Fergus High School, 70 cowboy poets and western musicians 50+ hours of entertainment, Western Art & Accessory Vendor Show Fri. & Sat. Friday night Jam ‘n Dance, Friday night Charlie Russell Chew Choo dinner train, Saturday Presentation:  “Ghost Towns & Gold Mines”, Saturday Performance by the Judith Mountain Players Saturday Panning for Yogo Sapphires, Saturday night concert starring … Read entire article »

12th Annual Mesquite Western Roundup Cowboy Poetry and Traditional Western Music Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, 7:00 PM Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, 1:00 PM & 7:00 PM Mesquite Community Theatre, 150 N Yucca St. Mesquite NV Contact Russ Westwood, 385-241-1123 or visit our website at mesqiutewesternpoetry.com … Read entire article »

Fine and functional art of the American cowboy featured at the 26th Annual Trappings of the American West Exhibition & Sale Sept. 2-30, 2017 SEPT 2-30, FLAGSTAFF, AZ – Celebrate the time-honored tradition of Western craftsmanship at the 26th Annual Trappings of the American West Exhibition & Sale, Saturday, September 2 through Saturday, September 30, 2017 at the Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA), 3101 N. Fort Valley Road in Flagstaff. This event is presented in partnership with Dry Creek Arts Fellowship (DCAF). The exhibition features new work by 80 of the country’s top artists from 15 Western states including members of the Cowboy Artists of America, Traditional Cowboy Arts Association and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Trappings showcases the talents of master painters, sculptors and photographers, along contemporary … Read entire article »

  OKLAHOMA CITY, OK October 18 — Cowboy Crossings, one of the nation’s foremost annual Western art sales and exhibitions, is now open to the public at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. During opening weekend, Oct. 13-15, gross sales exceeded $1 million, with a portion of those proceeds benefitting the Museum’s educational programs. The exhibition offers a unique combination of more than 130 pieces of working art with fine art, featuring the Cowboy Artists of America (CAA) as well as the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association (TCAA). Eighty eight paintings and sculptures by 19 participating CAA artists, and 44 traditional working art pieces by 15 participating TCAA artists are on display. “We are always pleased by the tremendous support for Western art from across the country,” said Museum President and CEO Steven Karr, … Read entire article »

    PRESCOTT, AZ-Cowboy poetry was once again in Prescott as the 29th Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering in Prescott, Arizona, on August 11, 12, and 13, 2016, continued the tradition of sharing the poetry and music with neighbors and friends. Poets, musicians, and audience certainly had a marvelous time during this fantastic weekend. The Gathering poster’s artwork Dogies ‘n’ Dust by Marcia Molnar.   This year over 50 poets and musicians celebrated the twenty-ninth gathering with the multiple day sessions on Friday afternoon and all day Saturday and three ticketed evening shows on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The evening shows were held in the Performing Arts Center at the Yavapai College Prescott Campus. The all-volunteer Gathering crew once again made it a seamless event for the public. The program was dedicated to 17 … Read entire article »

Les Buffham’s Buffononery!!! by (more or) Les Buffham, ESQ! (To acquaint the new reader, Les Buffham is a well known established writer who travels around the country, due to his immense personal wealth recording interesting people, places and things.  He usually travels in a luxurious motorhome or exotic one of a kind automobile.  We will, from time to time show you some of his traveling devices and companions.  We hope you will enjoy his sense of humor and writings, as we certainly do.  Below is one of his one of a kind automobiles and a hitch hiker he just picked up.  I’ll bet they were sure shooting the bull as they traveled down the road.   In the Saddle, On the Desert Trail . . . But wait! It certainly is a saddle and there … Read entire article »

      CHANDLER,AZ–7th Annual Chandler Chuck Wagon Cook-off,  Friday, November 11, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, November 12, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Where: Tumbleweed Ranch at southeast corner of Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen, Chandler AZ 85286 Cost: Free admission, $15 meal ticket Description: Experience a rare, up-close look at Western history during this FREE, family-friendly culinary event.  On Friday, youth compete in the Jr. Cook-off while entertainers, vendors, and small plates are available throughout the day.  The evening concludes with a family campfire.  On Saturday, authentic 1880s chuck wagon teams from around the West use historic cooking methods to create the best meals fit for the trail. Wagon teams win prizes in various food categories and the public can purchase these unique chuck wagon meals.  Saturday lunch meal tickets are $15 and … Read entire article »

APPLE VALLEY,CA-Silver Screen Legend XIX is dedicated to Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys! This magnificent matched pair of consecutive serial numbered Colt Single Action Army revolvers are in .45 Colt caliber. These guns are exquisitely factory engraved, silver plated with gorgeous ivory grips. These working guns direct from the Colt Custom Shop are engraved with Happy Trails on the ejector rod housing, Roy’s Double R Bar brand behind the hammer at the top of the backstrap and Silver Screen Legend XIX down the backstrap, with additional scrolls and vines. The Hollywood style double Buscadero belt and holster rig is masterfully hand carved with sterling silver spots and buckle sets in the style of Roy Rogers favorite rig. This is truly a museum quality cowboy collectible that anyone would be … Read entire article »

Aug. 11-14, 2016 Thursday-Sunday – Lewistown, MT LEWISTOWN, MT-MontanaCowboyPoetryGathering.com  Featuring: 100+ cowboy poets, musicians & artists;  50+ hours of cowboy poetry & music; FREE Western Art & Vendor Fair; Welcome Chuck & Mini-Show; American Flag Retirement Ceremony; Charlie Russell Chew Choo dinner train;  Jam ‘n Dance featuring gathering pickers; FREE Street Dance at The Yogo Inn;   Main St. Re-enactment of “Shooting of Rattlesnake Jake,” Judith Mtn. Players      Q & A with RIDERS IN THE SKY             Cowboy Church Sunday Day Headquarters Fri. & Sat.:  Fergus High School Info., 4-day schedule and gen. ad. tickets     for RIDERS IN THE SKY (RITS) available at:  MontanaCowboyPoetryGathering.com      Reserved tickets for RITS, pin passes and more info. at 406-538-4575.    About MT Cowboy Poetry:      2nd oldest gathering in the country…..      2015 Inductee into the MT Cowboy Hall of Fame      Lewistown designated “one of the most            beautiful towns … Read entire article »

SEGUIN,TX-“A celebration of the American Cowboy and the western way of life through music, stories and poetry” September 17, 2016.   Featuring R. W. Hampton, Mike Blakely, Mikki Daniel, Allan Chapman & Rodeo Kate, Jill Jones & Three Hands High, Billy Mata & The Texas Tradition plus other great performers.  Proceeds benefit The Irma Lewis Seguin Outdoor Learning Center.  Visit website http://www.seguincowboygathering.com  For questions contact seguingathering@gmail.com or call (830) 491-8888 or (830) 379-7652.  The location is 1865 Highway 90 E of Seguin, TX. … Read entire article »

  30th Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering  By Nika Nordbrock Over the weekend of February 25-26, 2016, the cowboy poets, storytellers, and musicians gathered in Alpine, Texas, to help celebrate the 30th year of the Gathering. The steering committee members (Lynne Baldwin, Bill Brooks, Don Cadden, Gail Collier, Pam Cook, John Davis, Jane Garrett, Ida Hoelscher, Paul Loeffler, Joel Nelson, Shelly Rogers, and Nelson Sager) once again put many long hours into seeing that all the poets and musicians were well cared for with West Texas-sized hospitality for this very special gathering. As many poets said, “We never thought when we started that we would still be doing this gathering thirty years later!” The many sponsors who have supported the Gathering over the thirty years deserve and standing ovation and a big thank you. … Read entire article »

APPLE VALLEY, CA-The dazzling EARLY JW SADDLE is almost an exact replica of saddles used in the early days of silent and sound westerns in Hollywood in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Leading cowboy heroes of the era such as Bob Steele, Tom Tyler, Tom Mix, John Wayne and others used similar saddles in their exciting movies. It is also a close replica of a saddle shown and described on pages 62 and 63 of the book Saddles of the West by David R. Stoecklein. This spectacular saddle has 266 hand-set nickel spots plus sterling silver conchas on the fenders and skirts. On the back of the seat is a sterling silver plate with the Happy Trails logo and the words leather by JS Saddlery and Silver by C. S. Anderson engraved … Read entire article »

LOVELAND,CO-The 11th Womens’ Ranch Rodeo Finals were held in Loveland, CO, Oct. 16-17, 2015. For information about rules and winners, go to the Women’s Ranch Rodeo Association website. For a great time, go to one of their rodeos next year. 18 teams of four women apiece competed against each other in 5 events. The events are jobs which are done on the ranch; branding, cutting, sorting, doctoring and mugging. Three separate rodeos are held, all lasting about 3 hours, action packed. Women came from Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Florida, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and South Dakota. I hear a lot of thanks you’s and see the respect the contestants have for each other. These photos don’t do the event justice, but all I can say is, go next year, you won’t be disappointed. … Read entire article »

The Grandaddy of ‘Em All Over This Year Winning Overall Johnson Ranch WICHITA FALLS, TX-It was another action packed weekend at the Texas Ranch Roundup, the third weekend in August every year, for the fans, the cowboys and everyone involved .             Second Place went to Tongue River        Third went to Circle Bar Ranch When the dust settled the Johnson Ranch took home the top honors, while the Tongue River finished second and the Circle Bar rounded up the top three. 1-Remuda Award-Pitchfork Ranch 2-Wild Cow Milking-Johnson Ranch 3-Calf Branding Pitchfork 4-Penning-Tongue River Ranch In addition to the ranch competition, things heated up in everything from chuckwagon cooking to photography. In the Chuckwagon cooking, the Meat went to WT Waggoner 2-RA Brown and 3-Johnson. Vegetables 1-Tongue River 2-Rocker B 3-Pitchfork. … Read entire article »

  PRESCOTT, AZ-Cowboy poetry was once again in Prescott as the 28th Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering in Prescott, Arizona, on August 6, 7 and 8, 2015, continued the tradition of sharing the poetry and music with neighbors and friends. Poets, musicians, and audience certainly had a marvelous time during this fantastic weekend. The weather was dry and hot, but a shower late Friday afternoon was very welcomed. Ranchers always appreciate rain and a new calf. The storytelling tradition was depicted in the Gathering poster’s artwork Tall Tales by Steve Atkinson. (Left to rt) Mary Abbott, Jan Flake, Rolf Flake and Tom Weathers This year over 50 poets and musicians celebrated the twenty-eighth gathering with the multiple day sessions on Friday afternoon and all day Saturday and three ticketed evening shows on Thursday, Friday, … Read entire article »

ENCAMPMENT, WY-For a town of its size (450), Encampment, WY, has many different events during the year. The 13th Annual Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering was held July 17-19, of this year. Besides hosting, a group of fine cowboy poets and musicians, it has a dutch oven cookoff, stick horse rodeo, and all star cowboy poetry and music show, a dance and a campfire jam session. 1-Laurie Vanous   2-Young cowgirl getting ready to ride 3-Sam Platts & Kootenai Three 4-Jim Jones The weather was beautiful, the crowds receptive and the entertainment was great. Many of the entertainers are pictured here. 1-Thatch Elmer              2-Sandra Johnson              3-Daron Little                     4-Doug Figg  1-Dave & Tris Munsick     … Read entire article »

BUFFALO, WY-The 11th Annual Big Horn Mountain Festival was held July 10-12, at the Johnson County Fair in Buffalo, WY. The weather was beautiful, performers were great and the audience showed their appreciation. A great time was had by all. (corny, but true)                                                                                         The Class of 2015 I have included some photos of some of the performers. For more info, go to the website for Big Horn Mountain Festival. This year, I would like to write about three things which bear mention.,  1-Organizer, Paul Jarvis  2-Home of the Big … Read entire article »

CHUGWATER,WY-Chugwater, WY, is a town of about 212 people and also the scene of the 30th Annual Chugwater Chili Cookoff, June 20.  1-Heavenly Fire Chili Cookers 2-Hillbilly Island Cookers 3-One of the many vendors 4-A Vietnam Vet and friend 1-Rocky Mountain Roadrunner Cookers 2-Grant Street Grocery Cookers 3-Colorado Chili 4-Some more cookers Chugwater is also the home of Chugwater Chili, a chili mix sold internationally. It was started by five ranching families with help from the Wyoming Economic Commission. They started selling a mix which was an award winning chili made by a Cheyenne resident. The Chugwater Chili Office and sign 3-One of the cookers 4-Duelin’ Peppers Cookers   1-Cajun Cookers 2-Mean Green Cookers 3-4 A couple of colorful chili cookers What a great day I had. I am sorry I took so many years to … Read entire article »