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From the Publisher
Here come the holidays and where did the time go? Looks like we've pony-expressed our way through another year watching more and more exciting new Cowboy Day events spring up, not just all over the country, but all over the world. We've experienced some very special highs and we've weathered a few bumpy spots on a short stretch of rugged terrain, but the important thing is, like any good Cowboy, we're still moving forward on the trail.
We are sad to report to you that the champion of the Cowboy Day resolution, Wyoming's U.S. Senator, Craig Thomas, passed away in June. He will most certainly be missed by all who knew him and by all who appreciated his efforts to preserve this unique thread of America's cultural fabric. I first began working with Senator Thomas and his staff on the National Cowboy Day campaign in the fall of 2004. His team then worked diligently through January and February to line up the number of co-sponsoring senators needed to be able to introduce the resolution. Senator Thomas sponsored the initial Cowboy resolution in the United State Senate in March 2005. He remained a sincere and enthusiastic advocate for the preservation of our Western heritage, sponsoring a successful resolution again in 2006 and 2007. Senator Thomas was respected by all who knew him. Our sympathy and condolences go out to his wife, Susan, their extended family, and to the Senator's devoted staff. We will always be grateful for his support and dedication to this cause and I feel personally blessed to have known a man of his high caliber.
Wyoming U.S. Senator, Mike Enzi, who always partnered with Senator Thomas on the Cowboy resolution, has stepped up to keep this effort going in honor of Craig Thomas and the legacy he left behind for those of us who treasure our western heritage and love the Cowboy way. Please contact Senator Mike Enzi and let him know you value his support and are behind him in his efforts to perpetuate the Day of the Cowboy.
We have spectacular news on the campaign front! Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, agreed to sponsor a 2008 Cowboy Day resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives. We asked for her help because it seemed like such a natural fit; Tombstone and Bisbee, both registered historic western landmarks, are within her congressional district. With the help of Congresswoman Giffords we've increased the odds that we can get the Cowboy Day passed permanently by Congress. It's extremely important to let her know with a phone call or an email that you appreciate her support on this resolution (especially if you live in her congressional district). Also, you can help Giffords' staff garner the requisite co-sponsors by letting your own U.S. Representative know you would like them to co-sponsor her Cowboy Day resolution.
What's New?
Artist Zane Mead, recently created a special oil painting, Longhorn Buddies, which depicts the beloved longhorns owned by some of his New Mexico friends. He has generously offered to donate 25% from the sale of this piece to the National Day of the Cowboy to grubstake our building fund. Longhorn Buddies is priced at $2,500. If you are interested in purchasing Zane's artwork to help our organization, please email info@nationaldayofthecowboy.com. Zane's art has been featured in Western Horseman, Vamanos!, Kudos, Southwestern Art and many other fine publications. In addition, his artwork is carried by the prestigious Joan Cawley Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona, and exhibited at the Hubbard Museum. As a thankful member of a ranching family, Zane frequently donates his art to benefit nonprofit organizations working to preserve Cowboy heritage. Zane Mead's original oils typically sell for $3,000 or more.
We are currently working out the details of moving into a vintage building located in Willcox, Arizona's Historic Railroad District. The building will serve as our office, museum, archive display space, and as a home for radio broadcasts of live music and interviews. We would be sharing the block with the legendary Rex Allen Museum and we've heard that the Marty Robbins Museum will be relocating to the same friendly downtown community. What a privilege it will be to be neighbors with folks like Delcie, Larry, and Juanita, whose two organizations pay tribute to such world renowned entertainers. Having an office also means that if you're traveling to Willcox, Tombstone, Tucson, or Bisbee, you can easily stop in to say, "Hello".
We're rebuilding our website, and, for those of you who tell us our Events Calendar is sorely missed, take heart. A comprehensive and active events calendar is still a priority for us so it will be an important element on our new site. In the meantime, you'll find photos and information at www.myspace.com/nationaldayofthecowboy while our site is under construction, and more photos at PictureTrails, all thanks to the generous volunteer work of the talented Cheryl Harvey Hill. If you have any events planned for 2008, please email us that information so we can post it in December. Send the event name, location, brief description, dates and contact information to info@nationaldayofthecowboy.com. Subject: Event.
The Secretary of our board, Gloria Duncan, obtained a 2007 Cowboy Day proclamation from her Governor in Maine, thus proving once again that there's as much love of "The West" east of the Mississippi as there is west of it. Hallelujah! So, in addition to the Senate resolution for 2007, there are proclamations from the governors of New Mexico, Arizona, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, and Georgia. If you want to request a proclamation for a Cowboy Day from your Governor for us, we can provide you with sample text if you like. Just email us at info@nationaldayofthecowboy.com. Obtaining a state proclamation is generally fairly simple to accomplish.
My sincere thanks to Bronco Sue (a.k.a. Lu Lyn Bratcher) for the fabulous, snowy white cowgirl hat trimmed in red leather whip stitching she built just for me. I feel like rodeo royalty whenever I wear it! Lu Lyn also crafts the spectacular hats worn by Royal Wade Kimes, one of our national spokespersons. Be sure and stop by Lu Lyn's store when you're in Ruidoso Downs or Tularosa. If you can't get to New Mexico, you can always order a hat from Lu Lyn at www.broncosue.com. Please let her know we sent you! Bronco Sue is the official hat maker for the National Day of the Cowboy.
On the Event Trail
Wyoming photographer, Matt Idler, snapped an inspiring image of Senator Thomas for us at Cheyenne Frontier Days in July 2006, capturing the senator on horseback in front of the Wyoming State Capitol carrying the National Day of the Cowboy flag. Zane Mead then applied his artistic gifts and created a majestic portrait of the senator based on Matt's photograph. On July 28, 2007, Steve Kuivenhoven and I were honored to present the Senator's portrait, "Heritage Sentinel," to Susan Thomas and the late Senator's extended family at the opening of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. We presented the painting to Mrs. Thomas on behalf of Zane and the National Day of the Cowboy organization. Susan and her family were visibly touched by our demonstration of gratitude. They were also all astounded by Zane's ability to capture Craig Thomas's image so perfectly. A sincere tip of our best Cowboy hat goes to Matt Idler and to Zane Mead, both of whom willingly donated their considerable artistic talents on behalf of the National Day of the Cowboy organization in order to help pay homage to the late Senator. (Jim Lynch was kind enough to send us the above photo he took of the "Heritage Sentinel" presentation at CFD.)
The Reel Cowboys - The Silver Spur Awards
I traveled to Studio City, California, in October, to attend the glamorous 10th Annual Silver Spur Awards Dinner and Auction for the Reel Cowboys, and I must admit, I was not prepared for the intensity of Cowboy heart present in the ballroom that evening. Every speaker and presenter at the event expressed their sincere desire to see our precious western heritage preserved for future generations. I felt privileged to be among such a prestigious group from the cowboy movie and TV industry and to present our Cowboy Keeper Award™ to the Reel Cowboys, an organization deeply deserving of recognition for its lasting worldwide contribution to the image and lore of America's Cowboy, as well as for its work in contributing to local charities.
I also presented our Cowboy Keeper Award™ for individuals, to Ms. Julie Ream, the hard-working, dedicated woman who does such an excellent job of producing the Silver Spur Awards. Julie Ream, cousin to multi hall-of-famer Rex Allen, and a tireless advocate for western preservation, has also become a devoted supporter of our organization. It was Julie who introduced us to the wonderful folks in Willcox and we owe her a debt of gratitude for the work she has done on our behalf and for the encouragement she continues to send our way.
The Prescott Regulators and the Shady Ladies held two days of historic reenactments on infamous Whiskey Row in Prescott, Arizona, for their National Day of the Cowboy celebration on July 28, 29. If you missed their event, be sure to watch for it next July.
Kissimmee, Florida hosted a big National Day of the Cowboy celebration and rodeo where they proudly flew their new National Day of the Cowboy flag.
The San Angelo, Texas, Cowboy Day festival included events at Fort Concho National Historic Landmark, one of the best preserved frontier forts west of the Mississippi. San Angelo and Fort Concho celebrated on July 28, with living history re-enactments and a children's activity area. A special evening campfire concert in the Barracks Courtyard was hosted by San Angelo's favorite western singers, "The Pards." Roger Banks and Hayden Whittington headed up the program.
The Chuckwagon Cook-off was sold out by the time I arrived at the October Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, but I had a wonderful time anyway. Zane Mead was there to help man our booth and we both appreciated the opportunity to get acquainted with so many of our loyal fans and supporters and to make new friends at the same time.
Folks in Bristow, Oklahoma, held a Cowboy Day chuckwagon cook-off on historic Route 66, with appearances by The Texas Playboys, Billy Parker, Billy Mata, and David Ingles.
Jo Baeza helped put together Pinetop, Arizona's second annual Cowboy Day event with cowboy poetry and Western music, all of which they dedicated to our Desert Cowboys. We loved their idea of filming the event then arranging to send the DVD to the Cowboys in Iraq. Thanks so much for doing that Pinetop.
International Day of the Cowboy!
National Day of the Cowboy events and festivities took place all over America in 2007 but they also celebrated in countries as far away as England and Wales. In early July, I was thrilled to mail an order for a National Day of the Cowboy flag to the Western Trails Ranch outside London, England, for their first National Day of the Cowboy celebration. But, I was even more excited when I arrived there in August to meet them all. Who could have ever imagined being picked up at an English train station by two handsome, smiling, cigar smoking, boots-and-hat cowboys, sitting on the tailgate of a turquoise blue, extended cab dodge pickup truck with a TEXAS license plate on the front and a steering wheel on the right? Kevin and Mitch assured me I'd recognize them when I arrived at the station and they were right!
They drove me straight to the Western Trails Ranch where I was greeted by ten more friendly cowboys and cowgirls, all dressed head to toe in wranglers, boots, pearl snap shirts and cowboy hats. I had a wonderful weekend at the ranch where regular activities include singing country and western songs, a barbeque and horseback riding. I even had my own private bunkhouse complete with pictures of Augustus McCrae and John Wayne!
I was also fortunate to be able to travel from London to Cardiff, where I met the esteemed Senior Horticulturist of Wales, Bob Priddle. Bob won the Silver Gilt award for his National Day of the Cowboy Tribute Garden at the Royal Welsh Garden Show. With over 200,000 visitors, the Royal Welsh is the largest livestock and horticulture show of its kind in the United Kingdom, and the Silver Gilt Medal is the highest award bestowed. Bob's amazing "garden" included a chuckwagon (he built from barn wood), blooming Texas wildflowers, dutch ovens, kerosene lanterns, branding irons, prickly pear cactus, panicum grass, and a dedication sign featuring the National Day of the Cowboy logo. Bob was even interviewed by the BBC about his unusual choice for a garden theme. Words cannot begin to convey our thanks to Bob Priddle for helping us in the continuing quest to engage people everywhere in National Day of the Cowboy celebrations.
Thanks to Western Trails cowboys-at-heart the world over, like Bob, Carol, Kevin, Christine, Charlotte, Clive, Lorraine, Ray, Brian, Tony, and Mitch, we've officially established the 1st International Day of the Cowboy! I suddenly realized there was a need to include the International Cowboy last April when, almost simultaneously, I received emails about National Cowboy Days from folks in Italy, Spain, England, Calgary, the Netherlands and Wales. As the current Cowboy resolution notes, the love of the cowboy "transcends ethnicity, gender, and generations." However, it's clear that love also transcends geographic boundaries. There are just not that many things people around the world can share a love of, but I'd say the Cowboy is one of them.
Jack Weil, at 106 the senior most CEO in America, recently commented on this growing international phenomenon as well. After 60 years with Rockmount Ranch Wear, the wholesale western wear business he founded in 1946, Weil still delights at the universal fascination with the West and almost can't believe the distance that customers will travel for the Rockmount brand. "The surprising thing is the number of people that come into our place from all over the world," Weil says. "There's something about cowboys, I guess."
We'd love it if you would send us your Cowboy Day photos and stories (whether national or international) for our PictureTrails webpage or www.myspace.com/nationaldayofthecowboy. Don't forget to include names, dates and descriptions!
The National Day of the Cowboy flag now flies in eighteen states and three countries (including Iraq), but our goal is to have it waving in all 50 states and as many other countries as possible before the 4th Annual Day of the Cowboy, July 26, 2008.
Email info@nationaldayofthecowboy.com to order the official Cowboy Day flag for your ranch, business, or Cowboy event. Every time the flag is displayed, it sends a message of support to the Cowboys and Cowgirls.
Western Mercantile
We're proud to be hitching up our cowboy belts with the spectacular limited edition belt buckle designed and produced for us by Montana Silversmiths. I wear mine everywhere I go and it never fails to draw compliments. The sterling silver buckle retails for $140 and can be ordered by sending us an email at info@nationaldayofthecowboy.com. Proceeds from the sale of the buckles support the work of the our organization.
Congratulations to Rockmount Ranch Wear! The New York Times recommended their store as a special destination when the Democratic National Convention meets in Denver in 2008. Rockmount made the official tie for the National Day of the Cowboy organization, which features our logo and classic western artwork "Bustin the Paint" by the late Joelle Smith. We have a few of these ties remaining in stock if you are looking for a great holiday gift.
You can email info@nationaldayofthecowboy.com to order the Rockmount tie, our official 2005 and 2007 Hatch Show Prints, Cowboy Keepers, tee-shirts or the National Day of the Cowboy flag. We auction most of our promotional products on eBay as well, but if you can't find them there, just send us an email. Product sales help defray our costs for printing, office supplies, event expenses, bank fees, phone bills, shipping supplies, internet charges, newsletter service, etc. In addition, we've started a building fund in hopes of one day have our own museum.
National Day of the Cowboy Projects
Two of our biggest and most loyal supporters, artists Zane Mead and Jennifer Ward, gave us the seed for a National Day of the Cowboy "Cowboy Heritage Art Project™" (CHAP) which is designed to benefit and promote Western art, Western artists, and Cowboy history. To set the stage for the art project, Mead traveled to several New Mexico ranches where he collected historical photographs of the ranchers at work. He then incorporated those images into his painting, "Along the Cowboy Trail," which has become part of the permanent collection at the Hubbard Museum of the American West in New Mexico. Watch for details about the CHAP in an upcoming announcement.
A limited number of "Cowboy Keepers," prints, Zane Mead's first tribute to the National Day of the Cowboy, are available for purchase by emailing info@nationaldayofthecowboy.com or by watching our auctions on eBay.
We're working on preliminary plans for "Cowboys at Heart," a fun and entertaining Valentine event to be held on February 9, in Willcox, Arizona. A screening of "Let 'er Buck" and a silent auction at the Rex Allen Theater, followed by a progressive dinner, will all be included in the evening's festivities. Let us know if you'd like to help get this off the ground or if you'd like to attend.
2007 Limited Edition Teal Blake's National Day of the Cowboy Hatch Show Print $12
Volunteer Ranch Hands
Janis Rowe, Graphics and Marketing Director for the Hubbard Museum of the American West, loves designing media. Janis volunteered to created a brochure for us and her impressive tri-fold piece is complete at last. This is a benchmark for us and we are truly grateful for Janis Rowe's talent and support as well as the support of the other staff members at the Hubbard. Our official brochure will soon be available as a pdf for downloading.
Writer, Cheryl Harvey Hill, our Nevada volunteer, maintains www.Myspace.com/nationaldayofthecowboy for us while we orchestrate a new website. Visit Myspace for more information about our work, pictures of events and fans, or to sign up to be our saddle pal.
New Mexico volunteer, artist Kay Cochran, will be helping us organize better support for our troops. In the past, we collaborated with Fastback Ropes, Western Jubiliee Recording, Royal Wade Kimes and Dakota Livesay to have ropes, western music, and western publications mailed to our Desert Cowboys in Iraq. With Kay's help we can also help troops in Afghanistan who've told us the one thing they want more than anything are prepaid phone cards for calling home. If you'd like to help support our any of Desert Cowboys, send an email to info@nationaldayofthecowboy and we'll put you in touch with Kay.
Like many nonprofits, we are fortunate to have dedicated, effective volunteers, but we do have a wish list for more. Our current dreams include a website photo editor, a public relations expert, folks to help us with publicity, marketing, Western heritage education projects, technical support, legal counsel, fundraising wizards, grant writers, accountants, radio people, TV and photography personnel. We are also hoping to line up a few volunteers to help man our museum in Willcox.
Email info@natioaldayofthecowboy.com if you'd like to help us grow by volunteering your skills or expertise.
Western Connections & Bunkhouse Culture
We recently discovered a fantastic rodeo documentary called "Let 'er Buck! Rodeo - The Early Years," which records the development of rodeo from its earliest beginnings as friendly competition between working ranch cowboys through its wilder heydays in the 1940s. The Emmy-nominated film was researched and produced by Lance Valdespino. DVDs of "Let er Buck" can be purchased on eBay where 25% of the proceeds from sales will be donated to our organization.
Brenda Watts, the leather artist who crafts those beautiful, hand-tooled National Day of the Cowboy handbags (which you can order stamped with "Cowgirl" if you prefer) has begun designing leather cuffs. We're looking forward to seeing new examples of her beautiful work.
Zane Mead has begun work on his 2008 tribute painting for the National Day of the Cowboy. Watch for its arrival in early 2008. We are also planning to make prints of Heritage Sentinel, Zane's inspiring portrait of Senator Thomas.
New Mexico writer, Julie Carter, has a new book out entitled "Cowgirl Sass & Savvy." If you get yourself a copy of this little jewel, you'll find that it is filled with funny, touching and insightful observations straight out of her real cowgirl life.
James P. Owen, a 35 year veteran of Wall Street, brings the code of the cowboys into the unlikely world of the stockmarket, in his book, Cowboy Ethics. Using words and images, Cowboy Ethics explores the life and code of the working cowboy as a source of inspiration pointing the industry to a viable way out of its troubles.
Membership Program
Board member Gloria Duncan is also our Membership Chairperson. Gloria resides in Caribou, Maine, with her husband and two quarter horses. She holds positions as state representative of the National Association of Competitive Mounted Orienteering and Executive Director of Cowboy Heritage Trail Riders. Her great organizational skills has put our membership program into high gear.
Our 2007 membership form can still be downloaded from our Myspace site. Membership benefits include a 20% discount on all of our products (except the flag), a 10% discount on subscriptions to Chronicle of the Old West, an official membership card and a striking 2007 membership pin created by Symbol Arts. Contact Gloria to join us as official supporting member.
Musicians' Campfire
Joyce Woodson's excellent Western CD, "If I Hadn't Seen the West," has been in our CD rotation ever since we received it. This is one of the finest collections of Cowgirl Western music to ever come down the trail. All of the tracks are original compositions by Joyce whose stellar vocals are backed up by excellent musicians and impeccable production work. If you love fine Western music, don't let this one get by you!
When we stopped in to visit our good friends Scott, Kathleen and Victoria at Western Jubiliee Recording this summer, they gave us a copy of "Warehouse Tracks, a recently released collection recorded live on the stage of their Western Jubilee Warehouse Theater. There is no better place to enjoy a western performance than in this retro warehouse room in my opinion, and this CD is a true reflection of that quality. It is a great collection of the finest music, songs and poetry from some of the best western artists around. You'll definitely want to add Warehouse Tracks to your music library.
For one of the best ways to stay on top of the happenings in Western music and Cowboy entertainment, we recommend you subscribe to Bobby Newton's Rope Burns. Bobby's quarterly publication is filled with all the latest events and entertainment news, and the subscription price is a real bargain. Give Bobby a call at 580-389-5350 to start your Rope Burns subscription today.
Swing Riders
Thanks to Amy Ganley of the Apache Peak Equestrian Center in Scottsdale, for loaning me Belle, one of her favorite horses to ride in the Cave Creek parade last spring. Thanks too to those great young ladies of the Cowgirl Historical Foundation for the awesome red, white and blue chaps and shirt they had made for me. They left no doubt that I was riding for the National Day of the Cowboy!
Contact Info:
National Day of the Cowboy · PO Box 2069 · Carefree · AZ · 85377 |
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