The BC Cowboy Heritage Society
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2008 Festival Entertainers List
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Rising Stars Showcase
Joe Marten Award
Cowboy Country TV
BC Cattlemen Convention
100 Mile Cowboy Concert
Spirit of the West Cruise
Mike's Meadow Muffins

Live in Alberta and want to see the Kamloops Cowboy Festival but don't like the thought of driving in March ... Check out the Bus Tours Here!   There are three tour companies to choose from.

This web site built and maintained by MSR Web Design!

From the Editors
AKA Festival Chair

Kathy and Mark McMillan

What's new for the 2008
Kamloops Cowboy Festival

There's lots new and exciting planned for 2008! I'll touch on them here but have a look through the rest of this newsletter for details ... check out the rest of the web site, too, as you'll find most everything there: bios and photos of all the entertainers, a list of the Western Art and Gear Show exhibitors with a description of their product, a list of the available accommodation including phone numbers, prices, and location with respect to the Festival, information on the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame inductees - for this year and for all past years, and I could go on and on .....

• Don't miss out on a chance to win the new Commemorative Festival Belt Buckle!
• The Western Art Exhibition and Sale sponsored by Canadian Cowboy Country magazine will include Bronzes and Saddles this year!
• The Joe Marten Award For the Preservation of Cowboy Heritage recipient is being kept a secret this year.
• This year, as always we have some terrific cowboys being inducted into the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame and we will also be giving the first annual award for a "Century Ranch".
• Entertainers ... I don't have to tell anyone that's been to past Festivals what the entertainment line will be like ... those that haven't - come and find out why everyone returns and brings their friends with them!
• Watch for the shuttle busses, as we'll be running between venues, to the Horse Barn, and town on a regular basis.
• The Country 103 Rising Star Showcase should be as good as last year with $4000.00 being split between 6 finalists!
• The Cariboo Country Film Festival ... we have over 30 episodes now from Paul St Pierre's CBC TV series and they'll be playing all weekend
• and of course the Western Art and Gear Show with some of the finest western art, cowboy craftsmanship, and western home décor anywhere!

Lets just say you don't want to miss out on the 12th Annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival so book your room and come join in on the fun from March 6th - 9th!

Mark McMillan, Editor
msprings@bcinternet.net
www.meadowsprings.com

From the Desk of El Presidenté

Mike Puhallo

Presidents Report, BCCHS, February, 2008

Celebrating One Hundred and Fifty Years of History and two pickle jars!

Welcome to the twelfth annual, Kamloops Cowboy Festival, This year we are celebrating 150 years of ranching heritage in Canada's original Cow Town!

In 1858 the influx of an estimated thirty thousand prospectors led to the establishment of The Crown Colony of British Columbia. It also sparked the establishment of Cattle Ranching in the BC Interior. Hudson's Bay Company first brought cattle into the Kamloops Area in 1831, but it was the Fraser River Gold Rush that sparked the beginning of large scale cattle ranching.

When Donald McLean was chief trader for the Hudson's Bay Company in Kamloops he began to receive small amounts of gold in trade. When he had accumulated enough to fill two pickle jars with coarse gold, he sent it to his superiors in Victoria. James Douglas sent 800 ounces of gold to the San Francisco mint to be struck into coin and by April 1858 the rush was on. Within two months after the first miners arrived in Victoria, General Joel Palmer crossed the border with a herd of cattle, the first of approximately 25,000 head would pass through Kamloops bound for mining camps. Donald McLean soon left the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company to become one of BC's first ranchers.

One hundred and fifty years after the Crown Colony of British Columbia was founded, Kamloops remains the economic heart of BC's cattle industry and the cattle industry remains as a major cornerstone of the provincial economy! It all started with two pickle jars.

The Pickle Jars of Destiny!

In the Fall of fifty seven,
the story first took hold,
that the sandbars of New Caledonia,
flowed ankle deep in GOLD!

The California rush of forty-nine,
by then, was about played out,
whispered rumours through the winter,
by spring became a shout.

GOLD!

Gold! Along The Fraser!
Gold! In Cariboo.
Gold! In Tranquille River,
the Quesnel, and Horsefly too!

When we look to the very beginning
we'll find the first link in the chain,
was two pickle jars of nuggets,
gathered here by Donald McLean.

Mike Puhallo

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The BC Cowboy Heritage Society

The next meetings will be a 1:00 at Duffy's Pub, up stairs in their meeting room. Noon if you'd like to join us to eat lunch. If you are interested in attending, and would like to be on an email notice list then send an us an email requesting that we let you know about them.
Email: cowboys@bcchs.com

You can see a list of all the board members on the: About Us page.

You can also read all about the BC Cowboy Heritage Society as well as find membership information on the About Us page. You can help support us here at the BC Cowboy Heritage Society by taking out a membership. There are no commitments. We have members all over the world and would love to have more.
It's easy - just fill out a BCCHS Membership Form.

You can get additional information at:
The BC Cowboy Heritage Society
Box 137
Kamloops, BC
V2C 5K3

Phone: 1-888-763-2224, or Email: cowboys@bcchs.com.

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Mark Your Calendar for this Year's Festival!
The 12th Annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival!
March 7th - 9th, 2008!
Plus Thursday night bonus for all weekend pass holders!

Please add 5% GST to the following prices:

• Weekend Pass - $50.00 - Includes everything (except the dinner theatre) all weekend!
  
• Evening Show - $25.00 - Includes regular evening performance and daytime admission!
  
• Fri or Sat Dinner Theatre - $25.00 upgrade - with a weekend pass - Includes dinner!
  
• Fri or Sat Dinner Theatre Only - $50.00 - Includes one evening performance and dinner!
  
• Sunday Dinner Theatre - $20.00 upgrade - with a weekend pass - Includes dinner!
  
• Day Pass - $10.00 - Includes all daytime entertainment, trade show, and seminars!

Please note the addition of the Sunday Dinner Theatre Show

Please add 5% GST to all ticket prices above.

Our headquarters hotel, Best Western Kamloops,
is offering a Sunday night special
you won't want to miss the Sunday evening feature show!
Phone 1-800-665-6674 or (250) 828-6660
Email: bestwestern@kamloops.com

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Parsons Holiday Tours Ltd
Tours Depart Lacombe with pick ups en route.
Parsons Holiday Tours Ltd   1-800-590-9983 or (403)782-6341
Box 6111, Lacombe, AB, T4L 1X5.   parsonsh@telus.net
www.parsonsholidaytours.ca   See Canadian Tours

Anderson Vacations
Tours Depart Edmonton, Red Deer, and Calgary with pick ups in between.
Anderson Vacations   Phone: (403) 245-6200   Toll Free: 1-866-814-7378
Email: information@andersonvacations.ca   www.andersonvacations.ca

A-Star Tours
Tour Departs Edmonton with departures en route to and including Calgary.
Edmonton: (780) 465-9114   Calgary: (403) 262-9234   Toll Free: 1-888-883-9114
Email: info@a-startours.com or view the A-Star Tours Information page including an information sheet and price list.

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2008 Festival performers!

The entertainment has now been selected. We could get a cancellation, so this list is tenative, and subject to change. We've also put together the Show schedule. You can see bios and photos of most of our performers on: Our Entertainers page.

Here's who is on the list:

• Abe Zacharias
• Alan Moberg
• Allen Christie
• BJ Smith
• Brian Salmond
• Buddy Gale
• Bud Edgar
• Butch Falk
• Chelsea Cunningham
• Chris & Sharky Schauer
• Dave Longworth
• Denis Leclerc
• Doris Bircham
• Doris Daley
• Duane Stewart
• Ed Brown
• Ed Peekeekoot
• Eli Barsi
• Frank Gleeson
• Gordie West
• Horse Crazy

• Hugh McLennan
• Ivan Daines
• Jay Snider
• Jeremy Willis
• Jesse Fowler
• Jessica Noad
• Kevin Davis
• Les Folles Jambettes
• Matt Johnson
• Mike Logan
• Mike Puhallo
• Patricia Willestoft
• Phyllis Rathwell
• Riley Tubbs
• Rob Dinwoodie
• Ryan Fritz
• Shirley Field
• Susan Parker
• Terri Mason
• Tim Hus
• Tom Cole

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A Note From the Volunteer Coordinator
Marg Cordonier (she's presuming you'll be there!)

Welcome to Festival 2008. All the planning, adjusting of schedules, prayers said for good weather (which of course means clear roads and skies for out travelling patrons) has been done. Whew! Now we are ready for the first exhibitors and musicians to come through the door. Set up day is extremely busy but exciting as everything comes together almost as it was planned. When we exchange our first weekend pass for a Festival pin we know the fun has begun. Your good impression of Kamloops and our annual festival is why we wind up and do it all over again next year. Look for the red scarf and name tag, our volunteers are ready to help you find your way around. If you're smiling, we've done our job and you'll be back.

Thanks for coming and have a great weekend.

Cheers,
Marg Cordonier
Volunteer Coordinator
(250) 573-3270
Email: cowboys@bcchs.com

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Western Art and Gear Show

Trade Show Hours
• Friday, March 7th, 12:30 PM to 6:45 PM
• Saturday, March 8th, 10:00 AM to 6:45 PM
• Sunday, March 9th, 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM

The tradeshow area will be a little larger this year - all in all it looks like it should be another super Western Art and Gear Show. Here's the 2008 Western Art and Gear Show exhibitors to date:

• BC Cattlemen's Association (AGM Committee)
• BC High School Rodeo
• Cariboo Saddlery
• Cariboo Stirrups
• Chris Kind, Author
• Cowboys' Choice
• Cowboy Classic Equipment
• Coyote Blue
• Coyote Crossing
• David Thompson Resort
• Equine D'Oro
• Grey Wolf Metal Art
• Hope River Metal Art
• Joanne Hay Saddle Blankets
• Kamloops Saddlery
• Kamloops Wish Trail Ride
• Ken Cochrane, Artist
• Kim Rose Western Art
• Laserit Art
• Lazy B Leatherworks
• Medicine Man Gallery
• Mountain Hi Soapworks
• Mountain North Art
• M-TE Stitches
• Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin
• Peter Grauer, Author
• Ranchesonly.com
• Richard Tenisch, Silversmith
• Rivers Edge Logworks
• Sweetwater Bronze
• Tara Gardner, Artist
• West Coast Cowgirls Artists
• Western Canada Heritage Centre
• Wildechoes Art
• Wild Horse Tails Equine Products
• Wild West 5 Rodeo Group
• Willis Entertainment

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Art of the West Exhibition and Sale

This year the Art Exhibition will be held in it's own room, in Forster's Convention Centre - next to the Workshops & Seminars

A big thank you to Canadian Cowboy Country magazine for sponsoring this show. Also a big thank you to Chuck Stormes for agreeing to come and judge the show - as well as agreeing to put on one of the Festival workshops. It's early yet, so we can't give you a list of entries but there has been a lot of interest, from artists, saddlemakers, and bronze scultptures. The addition of the latter two should make for an awesome show! Read the article on Chuck Stormes in this newsletter.

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New for 2008 - Festival Friday morning special ...

The Kamloops Cowboy Festival Shuttle Buses Last year the shuttle service went over really well and was used a lot all weekend. This year we are not only continuing this service but the Horse Barn has sponsored an additional bus. The regular shuttle vans will be available all weekend for hops between the Calvary Church and Forster's Convention Centre. They will also do pickups at the airport, bus depot, and RV park ... if you know when you're going to need a lift let us know and we'll gladly pick you up. The Horse Barn bus will be a larger vehicle and will run between the Festival (at Forster's) and the Horse Barn. The smaller shuttle can also take people to the Horse Barn when necessary and to the Art Gallery and Cowboy Coffee, etc. Friday morning between 9:00 and noon there will be free entertainment at the Horse Barn and the bus will be running back and forth regularly every half hour. If you see a shuttle and need a ride just flag them down - or ask for one at the Info Booth, just inside the main door at Forster's.

The Horse Barn

A special thanks to the Horse Barn for all they do
for the Kamloops Cowboy Festival.
We really appreciate their support and hope that you will support them - head on down to pick up a new cowboy hat, new jeans, a new western shirt, some new jewelry or a belt buckle, and/or a shiny new pair of boots!

Thanks so much you guys!!

Check out the Horse Barn's web site at: www.horsebarncanada.com.

We are so glad to have the Horse Barn as a major sponsor for the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Kamloops Cowboy Festival.

The Horse Barn
517 Mt Paul Way
Kamloops, BC, V2H 1A9
(250) 374-3511

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The Country 103 Rising Star Showcase

CJKC, Country 103 has once again sponsored the Rising Star Showcase. This year there will be two different categories - one for Cowboy Poets and one for Western Musicians. The two categories will be judged separately and there will be separate cash prizes - $1000 for first place and $500 for both second and third place in both categories.

This showcase will take place over 4 different stage performances throughout the weekend. The preliminary rounds will be Friday afternoon, Saturday morning, and again Saturday afternoon, and will

take place on the stage in the Western Art and Gear Show area. The three finalists in both categories will be performing on the main stage at Forster's in a special "Rising Star Showcase Performance" at 3:00 PM Sunday afternoon. At this performance the judges will pick the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. We are thrilled to be able to announce that this main stage performance will be emceed by Alan Moberg and Ed Peekeekoot.

We have a ceiling for number of entries of eight in each category. At the time of this publication these are the people that have entered the contest:

In the Cowboy Poetry Category:
• GaLynne Millard
• Tony Argento
• Mereline Griffith
• Lyn Melnechenko
• Bette Wolf Duncan
• Camel Dave Howell
  
  In the Western Music Category:
• Clint Giesbrecht & Kent Lessing
• Matt Robertson
• Pauline Kyllonen
• Driftin' Doug
• Matt Olah
• Loyd Bishop

Entries will be accepted up until the start of the Festival. There should be some great talent in this showcase - last year the talent was so good that we ended up picking four of the contestants for this year's main stage performer line-up. It's definitely a show you won't want to miss - and it's our future! If you are interested, or know someone that you think might be, simply send us an email, or visit the Rising Star page of this web site for details. Thanks again to CJKC Radio - Country 103 in Kamloops, BC.

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The 2008 Performance Schedules!
All schedules are subject to change

This year the schedules are made up a little differently than in past years and hard to put on a web site (they take up a lot of room). The evening schedules are below and if you want the complete schedules pick one of the following PDFs to download it. They include daytime performances, evening performances, and the workshop schedule on three separate documents - one for each day. There is also a list of entertainers with their scheduled sets beside their name if you're hunting a particular show.

Friday Schedule PDF
Saturday Schedule PDF

Sunday Schedule PDF
Schedule list by Entertainer PDF

Friday
March 7th - Calvary Church
Evening - 7:00 PM!

(MC) Hugh McLennan
Shirley Field
Buddy Gale
Matt Johnston
Mike Puhallo
Ed Peekeekoot
Intermission
Hall of Fame Inductions
Chelsea Cunningham
Doris Daley
Allen Moberg

Saturday
March 8th - Calvary Church
Evening - 7:00 PM!

(MC) Mike Puhallo
Jesse Fowler
Doris Bircham
Ivan Daines
Hugh McLennan
Frank Gleeson
Joe Marten Award
Intermission
BCCHS Scholarship Awards
Mike Logan
Brian Salmond Tom Cole
Eli Barsi

Friday
March 7th - Dinner Theatre
Forsters Convention Centre

5:30 Happy Hour - 6:30 Dinner!
Gordie West, Jeremy Willis
After Dinner Show
Les Folles Jambettes
(MC) Dave Longworth
Jessica Noad
BJ Smith
Ryan Fritz
Phyllis Rathwell
Ed Brown
Intermission
Patricia Willestoft
Terri Mason
Allen Christie

Saturday
March 8th - Dinner Theatre
Forsters Convention Centre

5:30 Happy Hour - 6:30 Dinner!
Gordie West, Jeremy Willis
After Dinner Show
Les Folles Jambettes
(MC) BJ Smith and Ed Brown
Rob Dinwoodie
Dave Longworth
Butch Falk
Susan Parker
Kevin Davis
Intermission
Tim Hus
Jay Snider
Horse Crazy

There will also be a Sunday evening dinner theatre show at Forsters Convention Centre. We will not schedule the performers for this show until a later date, leaving this as a surprise show!

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Workshops & Seminars

Sponsored by CJKC Country 103 Radio

Once again this year, CJKC Country 103 Radio is sponsoring our workshops and seminars. There is a huge amount of variety in the subjects of these workshops, and we hope people will take a few minutes to get up out of their seats in the theatres, stretch their legs and minds, and attend some of these great workshops. They will be educational and informative. Past years have shown them to be the most popular additional activity at the festival. Here is a list of workshop subjects and their host:

Marketing your product - Mike Puhallo - Friday 2:00 Calvary Church
Poetry Writing - Mike Logan - Friday 4:00 Calvary Church
Poetry Writing - Doris Daley - Sunday 1:00 Forsters
Song Writing - Tim Hus - Saturday 4:00 Forsters
Guitar Pickin' - Allen Christie - Friday 3:00 Forsters
Western Bass Playing - John Cunningham - Saturday 3:00 Calvary Church
Yodeling - Shirley Field - Sunday 2:30 Forsters
Can Can Dancing - Les Folles Jambettes - Sunday 4:00 Forsters
Hat Care - Vern Elliott, Cowboy's Choice - Saturday 12:00 Forsters
About Saddles - Chuck Stormes - Saturday 11:00 Calvary Church
Saddles & Saddle Fitting - Don Loewen - Saturday 1:00 Calvary Church
Bill Miner in Canada 1903 to 1907 - Peter Grauer - Saturday 2:00 Forsters
Trick Rope Demonstrations - Bud Edgar - periodically in the Gym at the Calvary Church
About First Nations Drumming and Dancing - Canim Lake Band - 2:30 Gym at the Calvary Church
Highschool Rodeo demos including riding rough stock and roping - periodically in the Gym at the Calvary Church

For more detail see the daily schedules in the centre of this program.
Please note that Shirleys Yodelling seminar will be held in Forsters and not in the Calvary church as stated in the program.

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Western Film Festival

Featuring Cariboo Country by Paul St Pierre

There will be over 30 episodes of the CBC TV series Cariboo Country playing throughout the weekend in the Fireside Room at the Calvary Church. Last year we had a start with seven episodes that were donated by CBC, which were great. Since then Paul has generously let us borrow some of his old videos and we've had them converted to DVDs.

This Western Film Festival will not only be very enjoyable but it also fits our mandate perfectly, "To Promote and Preserve Western Heritage".

click to enlarge

A great place to sit and relax for a bit, and take in some fantasic, good old fashioned movies!

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Review of the 100 Mile House Cowboy Concert

The 8th Annual was held February 9th, 2008 in the Martin Exeter Hall

After it ended people were saying "it was the best yet" ... but then we hear that every year so was it really? It was a phenomenal show either way! All four of these entertainers will also be performing at the Kamloops Cowboy Festival and I would bet a lot of the spectators will be phoning and booking tickets. Here's a little run down with some photos:

It was good to have Frank Gleeson back again ... it's been quite a while since he performed in 100 Mile ... he hasn't changed much though. He had the house in stitches! I was watching the crowd and saw a lot of people doubled over - they were roaring with laughter! I was sure there was going to be some people walking out of there with wet pants - and not because they spilled their water bottle. As well as his regular sets of Cowboy Poetry, Frank also got up a did a jig to a couple of Alan and Eds tunes!

Frank Gleeson

Mike Puhallo

Unfortunately Hugh McLennan had a last minute family medical problem and sent his sincere apologies for not being able to make it. We gave Mike Puhallo a last minute phone call and he didn't take many seconds to make a decision and give us an answer: "Ya I'll be there - you bet!" Mike did his usual super job as an emcee and threw in a ton of great poetry, too.

Alan Moberg

He did it again! Even though he performed in the area several times last year and sold everyone CDs while he was here, he still sold an amazing amount of CDs at this concert. When I see CD sales like that I know what the people in the audience thought ... I don't have to tell you how Alan Moberg went over. Now put all of Alan's talent on stage and ad Ed Peekeekoot's guitar pickin', fiddle playing, and harmony, and man what a show!!

Ed Peekeekoot ... what a super entertainer! People came from a long way away to hear Ed as they knew him from the past - and he sure didn't disappoint a single one of them. Incredible guitar work, sweet fiddle tunes, great harmony, and to top off the entertainment some pretty funny facial expressions and a lot of good humour. Ed had the crowd on their feet following his rendition of Duelling Banjos when he played both parts ... the banjo and the guitar!

Ed Peekeekoot

Both the matinee and the evening show brought standing ovations and encores! In fact the crowd was yelling for more ... MORE!! It was truely an awesome show and anyone that missed out will no doubt buy their tickets earlier next year!

The next day Alan headed down to 70 Mile House to take part in the South Cariboo Christian Fellowship (Ed and I went to the Pub). The numbers there were up four or five times their normal and CD sales were again very good. I have heard extremely good feedback from those that attended.

Ed Peekeekoot
playing
Duelling Banjos

To top the weekend off for us, both Ed and Alan played in the Dusty Rose Pub in 70 Mile House Sunday evening (that's why Ed and I went to the pub in the afternoon - to set up the sound system). It was a fun filled night with people dancing up a storm ... in between laughing at Ed and clapping and cheering!

Now we know it can be hard to fit everyone in at the Kamloops Cowboy Festival but if you get a chance try and take in these four entertainers - after watching the show in 100 Mile House I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Helen, Kathy, & Harry
having fun on
the dance floor!

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Joe Marten Memorial Award
for the Preservation of Cowboy Heritage in BC

It's still a secret, but you won't want to miss the award presentation Saturday night, just before the intermission, during the main feature show at the Calvary Community Church. The recipient is someone that you will most likely know ... sorry but we've been sworn to secrecey so all we can tell you until the evening of March 8th, 2008.

If you know anyone that deserves the Joe Marten Memorial Award for helping to preserve Cowboy Heritage in BC, have a look at the Heritage Award page for details, including the rules and guide lines, a page about Joe Marten, and a printable nomination form.

The 2007 recipients were Paul St. Pierre and Tony Parrott.

Anyone can make a nomination.
The deadline for nominations is November 1st annually.

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The 80th Annual BC Cattlemen's Convention and AGM

in 100 Mile House, June 12th, 13th, & 14th, 2008.

Registration information and forms are available on their web site at: www.cattlemen.100mile.com. Don't miss out register early!

Not only will it be the 80th Annual Convention of the BC Cattlemen, but it will also be the 150th Anniversary of BC's Cattle industry, and the 150th Anniversary of when the Crown Colony of British Columbia was established!

The trade show will be open to the public the evening of Thursday, June 12th, from 5:00 till 9:00 PM, all day Friday June 13th, from 8:00 AM till 4:00 PM, and Saturday, June 14th, from 8:00 AM till 3:00 PM.

For the cattlemen's Friday evening dinner and auction, there will be entertainment by Horse Crazy, an extremely energetic three piece cowgirl band from Washington State, and we're also thinking that there will be Can Can Girls dancing and socializing (guys you might want to make sure that you bring your camera).

Saturday evening brings us to the dance, with live music - this year featuring Brett Kissel and a six piece band (see Brett's web site at: www.brettkissel.com).

You can find all the details on the Convention and AGM including; sponsorship info, trade show info, companion tour info, registration info, and even a registration form on their web site at: www.cattlemen.100mile.com.

If you are interested in registering, or have questions concerning Registration, you can phone the BC Cattlemen's office at 1-877-688-2333 or email Becky at: beverett@kamloops.net.

This is a great opportunity for your business to be seen, too, by the Cattlemen of BC and other Cariboo folks. For information on the Trade Show please contact Janet Thony at: (250) 593-0120 or email her at: sunkcreek@bcinternet.net.

For information on becoming a Sponsor phone Dimps Horn at: (250) 456-7741 or email her at: dimps@watchlake.com.

General enquiries can be made by phoning Peter Bonter at: (250) 593-2340 or emailing him at: oneilcreek@bcinternet.net.

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BC Cowboy Heritage Society Student Scholarships

Scholarships provided by BCCHS have helped many promising students to fulfill their dreams and contribute to society. This year we have more than 68 entries: of these 42 are written pieces; some 22 are in the arts area and; the balance relate to crafts. The judges will meet shortly after this article was written but from what we have seen so far their decision will be very difficult. Our young people today are so very talented, but always the work of a few stands out; and that is where our judges concentrate their efforts. This year the judges are: John Schnerrenberger, an accomplished western artist whose works are owned and displayed worldwide; Shirley Kristensen, a recognized artist and member of the Board of the Federation of Canadian artists; and the Chair of the Scholarship Committee, Doug Halliday who before retirement was a partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers, and responsible for the firm's activities in aspects of International Development and Strategic Analysis.

Winners of scholarships will be announced at the Kamloops Cowboy Festival during the main evening feature show Saturday, March 8th, 2008.

Future entrants are reminded to look carefully at the objectives of the Society which can be found on the web-site at www.bcchs.com. Entries which do not reflect these objectives will likely not be successful.

The Society thanks everyone who took the time and effort to enter the 2008 contest: Entries for the 2009 Scholarship will be accepted from October 1st to December 31st 2008. Please remember that only originals will be accepted for Art and Craft entries. This year we have had some very fine entries and all will be returned after adjudication using Ex-Press Post.

The Society believes that preserving the spirit of our cowboy heritage can be accomplished not only by continuing the practices, which we adore, but also through the artistic elements be they written, painted, drawn, carved, or the result of excellence in crafting gear of use to the working cowboy: Many young people exercise their skills to these ends but do not enter their work in the Scholarship Competition: If you know of any please refer them to the BC Cowboy Heritage Society web site Scholarship page.

For more information, or to forward a submission to the scholarship program,
please phone (250) 377-0743, or Email: cowboys@bcchs.com
or write to the BC Cowboy Heritage Society, Box 137, Kamloops, BC, V2C 5K3.

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The Spirit of the West Cruise

a review on the 2008 cruise to Hawaii

click to enlarge

Mark in a suit
ready for dinner

Those of you that know Kathy and I might have trouble with this picture ... try and picture us in shorts ... or better yet a dress and a suit & tie ... or how about a bikini and swim suit laying on a beach. Well we did all of the above and enjoyed every minute of it.

Neither of us had had much interest in going to Hawaii before, nor had we ever thought about a cruise ... stuck on a boat out on the ocean? Don't sound like much fun to me. But then again a cruise with 200 fellow ranchers and / or western type folks like us. A cruise with tons of shore time on five different islands - including a tour of one of the biggest ranches in the world ... well lets hear more - this is starting to sound like a whole lot more fun!! And was it ever!

click to enlarge

Kathy in a dress
ready for dinner

We knew a handful of people that were on the ship when we left Honolulu the first day and we knew a whole bunch more when we departed 11 days later. If you saw a "Spirit of the West" blue lanyard with a name tag around someone's neck you knew they were of the group and went and talked to them - it was great (I didn't have a tie so found another use for the lanyard, too - see the photo above).

Wished we'd seen more of the Parker Ranch, but then again wished we'd seen more of everything! They did a great job of

click to enlarge

Lots of sunscreen
but we still got burned

click to enlarge

Mark in shorts
inside the roots
of a Banyan Tree

getting 200 of us up to, and through, the ranch Museum, the Parker Ranch Store, and their welcoming movie, as well as feeding all of us and all in a short time period. We were also treated to a narrative from the Parker Ranch Vice President, Corky Bryan.

Add all of the above to the fact that we had no telephone, no email, no snow, and that we got to lay and relax and enjoy the sun!! You can find lots more photos from our Spirit of the West Hawaii Cruise at both: www.meadowsprings.com and at: www.hugh-mclennan.com. At both sites look for the link to the Diary. Also on Hugh's site you'll find all the details on next year's cruise - seven different countries and the Panama Canal. We wish!!

click to enlarge

Corky Bryan
Vice President
Parker Ranch

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BC Cowboy Hall of Fame inductees for 2008

Here is a list and a brief description of the 2008 recipients.
For more detail including a photo of each see the Hall of Fame Archives page

Inducted at the Kamloops Cowboy Festival March 7th, 2008:

Alan Fry - Artistic Achievements
A lifetime of cowboying for different ranches in BC and in 1962 he wrote the book "The Ranch on the Cariboo". He has published four other books since then.

Jake Coutlee - Working Cowboy
Jake cowboyed at Douglas Lake Ranch for over 50 years. He was a top hand, legendary cow man, and highly skilled with a rope.

Percy Minnabarriet - Competitive Achievements
He received his Gold Card Life Membership from Pro Rodeo Canada in 1979, honouring his twenty-five years as a professional rodeo cowboy.

New for 2008 - The BC Cowboy Hall of Fame will now be honouring Century Ranches. These are ranches that have been in the same family for over 100 years!

Maiden Creek Ranch - Century Ranch
In 1862, Edward and Elizabeth Dougherty established this ranch and popular roadhouse on Maiden Creek. Today the fourth generation of Doughertys operate the ranch and the fifth generation of children is being brought up there.

To be inducted at the Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo April 20th, 2008:

Mulvahill - Family
Charlie Mulvahill came to BC in 1908 to freight on the Cariboo Wagon Road between Ashcroft and Barkerville. They had three children, Eleanor, Bill and Randolph. Along with Hereford cattle, the Mulvahills raised horses. Their families are still active in the cowboy life style today.

John and Rosalie Siebert - Working Cowboys
John was the head rider for Gang Ranch before working on Dick Church's ranch in Big Creek. There he met and married Rosalie Church. Rosalie started her career when only three and at the age five she accompanied her dad to trail two train loads of horses from Ashcroft to Big Creek. She worked on the ranch all of her growing-up years. After John and Rosalie were married they worked as a team cowboying.

Pan Phillips - Ranching Pioneer
Floyd Phillips, known as Panhandle or Pan, came to the Cariboo in 1933 with his friend Rich Hobson. They went to Anahim Lake and found natural meadows northeast over the Itcha Mountains at the headwaters of the Blackwater River. Here they established the Home Ranch.

Forms, descriptions of categories, and mailing information can be found on the BC Cowboy Heritage Society Hall of Fame page. Information can also be obtained by contacting the museum at (250) 392-7404 or by email to: mccwl@uniserve.com or check our website at: www.cowboy-museum.com

Nominations for next year's BC Cowboy Hall of Fame
must be in before December 1st, 2008

The Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin in Williams Lake, British Columbia
BC's Only Ranching/Rodeo Museum and Home of the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame. www.cowboy-museum.com

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Cowboy Country TV Updates

More up-dates have just come in for the episodes that were shot in BC last past year. The other ones, that were aired in Season 4, were fantastic and we look forward to seeing season 5 - coming soon.

Looks like the Broadcasters are going to start airing Season 5 on February 23rd at 5:30 PST ... so the XH Buffalo Ranch will air on March 22nd and BC Cowboy Hall of Fame (Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin in Williams Lake) will be on March 29th. The Cowboy Country TV website, www.cowboycountrytv.com, will be updated soon so keep an eye on it.

You can also check out these two stations that carry the show:

• CLT (Canadian Learning Television) www.clt.ca
• Access TV www.accesstv.ca

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Ten Years of Mixing Muffins

It was four days after Ground Hog Day,
in nineteen-ninety-eight,
my first pile of Meadow-Muffins,
was plopped on a paper plate.

Thanks to Karen at the Feed Store,
who sponsored that first rhyme,
a true patron of the arts,
she stuck with me all this time.

My thanks to the editor,
who dares to print each line,
of twisted verse that tumbles,
from an inverted brain like mine.

Most of all, I thank my readers,
Muffin fans, so brave and true,
'though at times I kind of wonder,
what the heck is wrong with you!

Mike Puhallo

Email Mike at: mikepuhallo@direct.ca
See his web site at: www.twilightranch.com

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BCCHS Coffee Mugs $10.00
BCCHS Pins $5.00
These are both nice, useable, and good looking Christmas ideas!

E mail: cowboys@bcchs.com
or Phone 1-888-763-2224