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The Academy of Western Artists
Vancouver Art Gallery
Spirit of the West Radio Show
Rising Stars Showcase
Cariboo Country Night - review
Historic Barkerville
Saddle Up magazine
Spirit of the West Cruise
Mike's Meadow Muffins

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From the Editors

Kathy and Mark McMillan

We just had the Annual Cariboo Country Night at Watch Lake See the article which means the weather is about to get cooler and we need to start preparing for winter. The beaver are getting their lodges ready and the mice are moving into the barn and stocking up on food ... hope this isn't a sign that winter is going to be early - or colder!

Things are looking pretty busy this fall, especially for award shows - The CCMA Award Show was in Vancouver this year, on September 13th. The 14th Annual AWA Award Show in Texas is September 22nd (with Mike Puhallo receiving the 2009 Poet of the Year award), The 33rd Annual BCCMA Award Show is October 25th, and the WMA 21st Annual Showcase & Awards Show is November 19th - 21st

We already have a good portion of the 14th Annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival line-up in place See the article and everything else about the Festival is coming together nicely! We have increased our prices a tad this year but they're still so low that I'm sure we won't get any negative feedback. We're already getting inquiries about the Western Art Show, the Festival Trade Show, and the Rising Star Showcase.

Art enthusiasts check this out - The Vancouver Art Gallery's Expanding Horizons: Painting and Photography of American and Canadian Landscape 1860-1918 will transport visitors to a time when the west was still wild ... October 17th, 2009 to January 17th, 2010! See the article

In the next issue we'll let you know who will be entertaining at the 10th Annual 100 Mile House Cowboy Concert, February 13th, 2010.

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

From the Desk of El Presidenté

Mike Puhallo

Presidents Report, BCCHS, September, 2009

Summer kind of went by in a blur, most of it spent chasing cows during the week and telling lies about it on weekends. I did manage to find time to judge a couple of rodeos and take one whole weekend off!

Suddenly there is less than six months to go until the 14th Annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival. Things are already coming together nicely for next year's event. The first round of invitations to prospective entertainers has gone out and we hope to have the roster finalized a little earlier than usual. Pollard Banknote has once again offered to print posters for us and we should have them available by early October. We have received a grant from Canada Arts Council to help support the continued growth of our festival.

On the personal front I am on my way to Texas Sept 22 to receive the Will Rogers Award for Cowboy Poet of the Year at the Academy of Western Artist Awards. Looking over the list of past winners I am feeling honoured and just a little overwhelmed to be listed among them! See the article

I will also be a featured performer at America's National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada in January 2010.

Arrangements are being finalized for a Cowboy Christmas Concert 7:00 PM Saturday Dec. 5 at Calvary Community Church in Kamloops. I am also working on a few other events between now and March, but probably won't get the details finalized, until the cows come home.

Mike Puhallo - President
mikepuhallo@direct.ca

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The BC Cowboy Heritage Society

Our election of officers was held at our AGM on May 24th and there wasn't much change from last year. You can see the list of directors and the committee chairs 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 next year's Festival!
The 14th Annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival!
March 11th - 14th, 2010!

Our headquarters hotel, Kamloops Towne Lodge (formerly the Best Western)
Early bird specials will once again be offered!
Phone 1-800-665-6674 or (250) 828-6660
Email: bestwestern@kamloops.com

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What's In Store For 2010

This will be the 14th Annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival, and as usual we have a really strong line-up of performers slated to take part. We're still working on the list and waiting for some confirmations, but at this point in time here's what the list looks like:

What do you think? And we'll be adding more, too! You won't want to miss the 14th Annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival, March 11th - 14th, 2010!

What else is new?

The poster art this year was supplied by the incredible artist, Shannon Lawlor. Shannon is a native of Canada and is now residing in Alberta. Read more about her on her web site: www.shannonlawlor.com Once again a big thanks to Pollard Banknote for donating the printing of this wonderful poster - they really have become a sought-after collector's item!

There's already tons of interest in the Art Show and Saddle Show, the Rising Star Show Case and the Festival trade Show! There will be no real changes this year in any of these - see the individual articles lower in this newsletter.

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Ticket Prices
We have had to increase our ticket prices slightly for 2010, but have kept the cost down so that we can still say that there's no where else you can get this much for this little.

• Weekend Pass - $60.00 - Includes everything (except the dinner theatre) all weekend!
  
• Evening Show - $30.00 - Includes regular evening performance and daytime admission!
  
• Fri or Sat Dinner Theatre - $30.00 upgrade - with a weekend pass - Includes dinner!
  
• Fri or Sat Dinner Theatre Only - $60.00 - Includes one evening performance and dinner!
  
• Sunday Dinner Theatre - $25.00 upgrade - with a weekend pass - Includes dinner!
  
• Day Pass - $10.00 - Includes all daytime entertainment, trade show, and seminars!

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We've ordered the 2010 Pins!
They will be the same attractive collector pin that we've had for the past four Festivals except the colour this year will match the poster back ground - Green. The image to the left is a computer mock up of what the pin should look like for 2010

The only other thing that might be a litttle different is the dinner theatre ... at least the entertainment during the dinner hour. Right now we're just brain storming ... lots of ideas floating around ... whatever we decide though, the show should be awesome!

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2010 Art of the West Show and Sale
Sponsored by Canadian Cowboy Country magazine

Once again Canadian Cowboy Country magazine has agreed to sponsor the Art of the West Show and Sale! Last year we saw the show double in size from the year before and it was a terrific show. The room was full of flatwork, sculpture, saddles, and, photography.

We have had saddle makers and photographers expressing interest already this year. Last year David added a section for amateur saddle makers in the saddle show and I think this could be a very popular part of the show!

Canadian Cowboy Country magazine
will be the sole sponsor of the
2009 Art of the West Exhibition and Sale.
See their web site at: www.canadiancowboy.ca

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Volunteer Coordinator Message

This has been a very busy summer for me and for all of you, I'm sure. Somehow with the shorter evenings and cooler nights our focus turns away from forest fires and summer chores. So much happening in a short two months. Anyway, the kids are on the bus and we're free to plan festival 2010. It's exciting to be connecting with fellow Directors, entertainers, volunteers and patrons at various fall fairs, rodeos and cowboy gatherings, and makes you realize how much of a family we have become. We hope you enjoyed being a part of the 2009 Festival and will be joining us again in 2010. Remember to put Mar 11, 12, 13, and 14 on your calendar!

Cheers!

Marg Cordonier, Assistant Volunteer Coordinator, 250-573-3270
Jane Kerner, Volunteer Coordinator, 250-577-3727

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WMA - Western Music Association

Written by Jon Messenger - WMA President
Photography by Lori Faith Merritt - PhotographyByFaith.com

In the fall of 1988, the late Bill Wiley made some calls and a group of Western musicians came together in Las Vegas, Nevada. The experience proved rich and exciting for all hands involved. The end result was the birth of the Western Music Association.

Founded in 1989, and based in Tucson, Arizona, the founding members came together to create the by-laws of the association, filed for 501(c) (3) status as a public non-profit foundation, and set the wheels in motion for the next Western Music Festival to be held at Old Tucson Studios. In 1992, the WMA was instrumental in the Tribute to the Singing Cowboy, which was held at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum in Los Angeles, and then began to hold festivals at the Palo Verde Holiday Inn in Tucson in the aftermath of the fire that gutted Old Tucson Studios. The WMA Festival of 1994 presented the 60th Anniversary of the Sons of the Pioneers with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and all of the surviving Pioneers at that time. The show was attended by 2500 people.

1997 brought the first WMA Awards Show and a wonderful five days of the very best in Western Music, with a tribute to Marty Robbins featuring Don Edwards and Robbie Robbins. The entire roster of musicians were brilliant, and certainly the Western Music world was quickly discovering Dave Stamey.

The WMA returned to Old Tucson one last time for the celebration of its 10th Anniversary, a wonderful event marked by great camaraderie, and wonderful music. It was a grand time.

The founders of the WMA took on lofty goals - they set out to preserve traditional Western Music, and to encourage and promote the performance and composition of new works in the genre. They undertook the task of educating the people of the United States and Canada and other nations and cultures on the truth, myth, beauty, and spirit of that region we call the American West. They set in motion the works to bring people to recognize the music of the American West as a distinct genre, in the same way that bluegrass and jazz are seen as a distinct genre.

The community created by the ongoing efforts of those involved is a tight-knit, fiercely loyal, and ever-growing contingent of people from all walks of life that have a love for the fire that the truth and the myth of the American West kindles in their spirit.

The association recently celebrated their 20th Anniversary in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In November of 2009, the performers and fans of Western Music will again gather in Albuquerque to celebrate the bright spirit of self-sufficient liberty that is invoked by every word, every note of each song and poem shared.

If you've never been to a WMA festival, you're in for a rare treat. Don't deny yourself any longer. For information regarding the "21st Annual Showcase & Awards Show", November 19-21, 2009, in Albuquerque, New Mexico contact Marsha Short at westerngroupie@aol.com. Visit www.westernmusic.org for details on the Western Music Association.

From the editor
Don't forget to click on the membership link while you're in their web site - find out how you can join and therefore help in the preservation of Western Music. You can also subscribe to their official publication, "The Western Way", a full gloss beautifully put together magazine. Email Lindalee Green at: lindaleegreen@earthlink.net for information.

Belinda Gail
(Editor's note: Belinda will be at the
2010 Kamloops Cowboy Festival)
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Bill Barwick
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Kerry Grombacher
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Marilyn Tuttle and
Suze Spencer-Marshall
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Vancouver Art Gallery - Expanding Horizons

Take a Trip Back to a Time When the West Was Still Wild

Submitted by Andrew Riley, Public Relations Manager, Vancouver Art Gallery

Take a Trip to the Vancouver Art Gallery and be
Transported to a Time When the West Was Still Wild

From crashing waterfalls and luminous mountain sunsets to Voyageurs shooting the rapids and the wide open prairie, the exceptional artworks in the Vancouver Art Gallery's Expanding Horizons: Painting and Photography of American and Canadian Landscape 1860-1918 will transport visitors to a time when the west was still wild.

Cornelius Krieghoff
Chippewa Indians at Lake Huron, 1864
oil on canvas
64 x 90 cm
Collection Power Corporation of Canada

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Winslow Homer
Two Guides, 1877
oil on canvas
61.6 x 97.2 cm
The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts
Photo © 2001 Clark Institute

Beginning with the American Civil War and ending with the conclusion of the First World War, this landmark exhibition presents some of the greatest artworks created while the United States and Canada were aggressively expanding westward. On view from October 17, 2009 to January 17, 2010 (see coupon at bottom of article), this stellar exhibition includes more than 175 of the most celebrated examples of landscape art from this decisive period when cowboys still roamed the plains.

Comparing the work of Canadian and American artists, the exhibition explores how national identity was promoted in landscape art. From monumental panoramas of Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon and Catskill Mountains to more intimately scaled paintings of Canada's Eastern townships, the Alberta prairie and Pacific coast, Expanding Horizons reveals much about the tendencies of both nations and their artists.

Winslow Homer
A Huntsman and Dogs, 1891
oil on canvas
71.4 x 121.9 cm
Philadelphia Museum of Art,
The William L. Elkins Collection, 1924
Photo: Graydon Wood

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Jacob August Riis and
Richard Hoe Lawrence
Bandit's Roost, 59 1/2 Mulberry St., about 1890 / (printed 1947 by Alexander Alland from original negative) gelatin silver print
12.7 x 10.3 cm
Collection of the Museum of the City of New York

Included in the exhibition are breathtaking artworks by North America's most important landscape painters. Canadians featured include William Brymner, Emily Carr, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, J.E.H. MacDonald, David Milne, Tom Thomson and Frederick Verner. American painting is represented by such luminaries as Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Edwin Church, Winslow Homer, Thomas Moran, Georgia O'Keeffe, Frederic Remington and John Singer Sargent.

Don't miss this chance to explore the west through the eyes of North America's greatest artistic pioneers.

See the Vancouver Art Gallery Web site at: www.vanartgallery.bc.ca. For details on the above show click on: Expanding Horizons.

Click on this $5.00 off coupon to enlarge it and print it:

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The Horse Barn

A big thanks to the Horse Barn for once again sponsoring 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 Spirit of the West Radio Show

Radio with pictures?
Radio with video?

Click to enlarge

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The Country 103 Rising Star Showcase

We're pleased to say that CJKC, Country 103, will once again sponsor the Rising Star Showcase. In the past couple of years we've found some great hidden talent in the contest winners, two of which will be on main stage in 2010, at the 14th Annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival.

If you can sing cowboy songs, are a cowboy poet, or know someone that is, check out the web site Rising Stars page. All the info is there including and entry form. It's a great opertunity to not only showcase your talent and be heard, but six people will walk away with a pretty nice size cheque!

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Saddle Up Magazine

One of Western Canada's Top Horse Magazines
by Mark McMillan

If you're in the horse world, or have any interest in horses or the world around them, then you'll love Saddle Up magazine. In fact if you've seen ads for the Kamloops Cowboy Festival you might have seen them in Saddle Up - it's one of our first choices for advertising. It's Free too ... every month!

It's the official voice for; BC Quarter Horse Association, BC Paint Horse Club, BC Cutting Horse Association, BC Arabian Horse Association, Pine Tree Riding Club, and Endurance Riders Association. I've become a regular contributor with a column called Cariboo Chatter where I try to keep readers up todate on the happenings in and around the Cariboo (although sometimes the Cariboo boundaries seem to grow a little - like to include Kamloops and even Hawaii and Central America). There's always a Meadow Muffin from Mike included and we've seen Cowboy poetry from other familiar faces, too, like Mag Mawhinney.

Saddle Up's very first issue rolled off the press in November 2000 with 32 pages. "The initial idea of the magazine was to promote and market the local Okanagan and Interior horses, horse clubs, businesses and events in the area," says publisher Nancy Roman. "I had experience selling advertising when I was with Horse Action Magazine, but when they stopped publishing I knew I couldn't return to a 9-5 office job. So I did some research, contacted a lot of my advertising customers and friends and asked for their support. Thanks to them, Saddle Up was born."

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Nancy and Guy
Photo by Rein-Beau Images

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Nancy hamming it up with
Mike Puhallo at the 2009
Kamloops Cowboy Festival!
Photo by Rein-Beau Images

Some of you may have seen the free copies at your local tack and feed stores or at a local event, for instance, the Kamloops Cowboy Festival, and most recently, the 100 Mile Fall Fair & Horse Show.

Over the years Saddle Up has grown and widened its distribution throughout BC and Alberta, with additional copies reaching Yukon, NWT, eastern Canada and the Pacific Northwest - but has still maintained its local flavour.

Printing on average 11,000+ copies per month (except January), eleven issues per year are available at tack & western wear stores, feed shops, select equestrian centres, auction houses, and other horse related outlets. We also attend, and distribute numerous copies, at certain trade shows (like the Kamloops Cowboy Festival Trade Show), horse events, and sales throughout the year.

A big decision was made this year to go with all glossy pages. "Every 2 years I raise my rates, and this was the year, so we decided it was time to go all the way ... and go glossy. It was not an easy decision as I knew I might lose a few customers that couldn't afford our new format; but in the long run we have gained some new customers and have heard very many positive comments. So I believe it was the right decision to make," says Nancy. "Saddle Up is still here to promote and market local events, clubs, horses and businesses - we're just shinier now! Also," she added, "we're still free!"

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Nancy started 2009 with
a full gloss Saddle Up!

Saddle Up magazine - Your Horse News Source - 33,000+ readers
"Dedicated to promoting and supporting the equine world through horse people, clubs, associations, shows, events and any other horseplay activity."

Contact Nancy at the following.
Run an ad with her in Saddle Up - you'll be glad you did - we were!
Nancy Roman
Saddle Up
Toll free 1-866-546-9922
nancyroman@saddleup.ca
www.saddleup.ca

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

The deadline for nomination for the current year is November 1st. Anyone can nominate an individule that they feel is deserving of an award for helping to preserve Cowboy Heritage - in the Province of British Columbia.

Examples of possible recipients:

• A cowboy craftsman - leather work, bits, and spurs, etc
• An author or poet - western stories, a book, etc
• A western artist - painting, drawing, sculpting, etc
• Western promoter - western events, music, poetry, radio, journalism, speaking, etc
• Basically anything else that fits, that is promoting western / cowboy heritage in BC

The 2009 recipient was Cowboy Artist John Schnurrenberger

See the web site Heritage Award page for details and a nomination form.

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Barkerville Historic Town

A little bit about
The largest historic site in Western North America

Barkerville is provincially, nationally and internationally recognized for its historic significance associated with its place in western Canada’s gold rush era and the role the gold rush played in BC joining Canada. Barkerville is widely known as a "must see" for travel itineraries in western Canada. The historic town is also a significant contributor to the Cariboo regional economy and is widely regarded as a unique component of the regional identity.

The Barkerville Heritage Trust, as Barkerville's operating and managing partner, works in conjunction with the Province of British Columbia, the owner and statutory guardian of Barkerville's heritage resources, to ensure that Barkerville is efficiently managed, entertaining and educational

to visitors, and financially stable as the premier heritage resource and tourism attraction for the Cariboo. The ultimate aim is to maintain and enhance Barkerville's position as a nationally significant heritage resource and tourism attraction for British Columbia and Canada.

Barkerville is situated 80 km east of Quesnel, British Columbia in the foothills of the Cariboo Mountains, close to Troll Mountain Ski Resort and Bowron Lake Provincial Park. The nearby community of Wells

(8 km from Barkerville) is the service and housing centre for the area (www.wellsbc.com) and is itself a dynamic cultural community, home of Island Mountain Arts, the acclaimed Toni Onley Artists’ Project, the International Celtic Harp School (www.imarts.com), the dynamic indie music festival ArtsWells (www.artswells.com), and the Sunset Theatre (www.sunset-theatre.com). Wells is also situated close to a wide variety of winter and summer outdoor activities.

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Glen at Richfield

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Glen entering Barkerville

Our get-a-away
to Barkerville this summer

Kamloops Cowboy Festival goers might have run into one of our shuttle bus drivers, Glen Escott. Actually Glen not only drove shuttle for us but was the dispatcher and he kept everyone happy that was looking for a ride. He had a radio in one ear and a cell phone in the other most of the weekend. Well this summer Kathy and I actually got away for a day and headed up to Barkerville to play tourist for a few minutes. We found Glen running a shuttle here too - only this time it was horse drawn. Our first stop was of course the livery stable and the horses. The first person we spoke to was Glen's son, Cory, who was sitting high up on the seat of the stage coach. He informed us that his Dad had another team on a different waggon and was up at Richfield, waiting for Judge Begbie to finish court for the day so he could transport the on-lookers back to Barkerville.

A Cowboy Festival in Barkerville?

The new management team is gung ho! And it's looking like they'll be doing lots more in the future and a lot of what they have planned is Cowboy related ...

The plan is to have a feature show, or feature event, of some kind just about every weekend throughout the season and hopefully a number of these events will be in the form of a cowboy concert, or even a cowboy festival. I'm looking forward to hearing more of their plans and wish them all the best ... in fact I've offered to help them out as far as the cowboy concerts and/or festival goes.

For more information, please contact James Douglas, Barkerville's Marketing and Communications specialist, at 1-888-994-3332, or email him at: JDouglas@barkerville.ca or visit www.barkerville.ca. You'll treasure the experience.

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BC Cowboy Hall of Fame

There is a complete list of all the inductees,
with a photo and bio on each, in our Hall of Fame Archives!

Who do you know that should be in the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame?
You can find out what's needed to nominate someone and find a printable nomination form on the Nomination Information Page

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The Annual Spirit of the West Cowboy Cruise

You can still book for 2010!

Join Billie and Hugh McLennan
and a group of Spirit of the West Listeners on the Brand New Celebrity Equinox!   January 4th to 15th, 2010

• Ft Lauderdale, USA
• Georgetown, Grand Cayman
• Cartagena, Columbia
• Colon, Panama
• Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
• Roatan, Honduras
• Cozumel, Mexico

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This holiday package starts out by flying to, and over nighting in, Ft Lauderdale on January 3rd (what a perfect time of year to leave home). January 4th is the first day of an 11 day cruise, that takes in seven different countries! See the map above.

Here's one of the many testimonials from last year:
"Thank you for another Spirit of the West Cruise (this is their sixth cruise) - what a great group! It was nice to catch up on everyone's news and meet still more industry related folks. Coming home with a bit of tan is not bad either."
You can find a list of comments from other folks on the cruise page of Hugh's web site - www.hugh-mclennan.com

To join the 2010 Spirit of the West Cruise and Conference book now - Call Toll Free 1-866-530-0131. See Hugh's web site: www.hugh-mclennan.com for more details.

You can also read the on-line diary, complete with photos, of the last two Spirit of the West cruises on the following web sites (they are both different): www.meadowsprings.com and www.hugh-mclennan.com.

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Cariboo Country Night

a review by Mark McMillan

At Watch Lake, September 12th, 2009
A fund raiser for Green Lake / Watch Lake area promotion

What a great evening! Everyone there seemed to have had a really good time as the feedback was tremendous. The night started off at about 5:00 pm with some of those good old country favorites from the big boomin' voice of Ernie Doyle. Mike Puhallo drew the crowd to a mesmerized silence as soon as he started his first poem and Gordie West made his first appearance at CCN a very memorable one.

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Mike Puhallo
photo by Jerry Stainer

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Mark McMillan
photo by Jerry Stainer

Just before dinner I got the whole audience involved in a game ... guess this song. I had pre-picked a couple of dozen songs, each containing a given number. With Gordie's guitar and great voice helping me, I shot out clues until someone came up with the right answer - that's how we picked the order in which the tables would head to the buffet and Bar-b-ques. There wasn't many people there that didn't come up to me after to say how much they had enjoyed the game but it didn't take long and they forgot about the game were saying how good the steaks were!! A big thanks to Save-On-Foods for donating these nice thick, tender steaks!

Well after all those compliments the organizers were pretty happy and couldn't imagine things getting much better - until the entertainment started up again. Ernie, as usual, had a good strong set and has already been invited back next year. Then came what turned out to be the highlight of the evening. A strong competitor in the South Cariboo Idol contest, her bright red hair matched her bright red dress, her bright and very bubbly stage presence, and her bright and powerful voice - Laura Kelsey had the crowd !! They loved her! Gordie then took the stage again with a great set of crowd favorites, followed by Mike who once again brought the whole hall to silence.

Then it was dance time! The floor was packed. People were even dancing in the foyer - the band? ... none other than Ernie and Gordie together with the help of Laura.

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Laura Kelsey
photo by Jerry Stainer

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Gordie West and Ernie Doyle
photo by Mark


Helen Allan, Harry Van Eaton,
and Kathy McMillan doing the
Butterfly dance. Photo by Mark

Now here's what I found very interesting - the first song that Laura did everybody returned to their chairs and not a sole was on the dance floor. Before she started her second song she was asking people to get up and dance ... why weren't they dancing? She said "how about a slow one?". "Come on everyone dance!" "Please!!" The response from the whole crowd ... "We want to listen to your voice!!!" I have never seen, nor heard, that kind of response at any dance before - thanks Laura, for helping to make the 10th Annual Cariboo Country Night a great success. Thanks also to Mike, Gordie, Ernie, all the volunteers, and the Watch Lake/Green Lake Resort, Guest Ranch and Business Association for putting on a great event.

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Gordie West
photo by Jerry Stainer

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Dancing in the Watch Lake Hall
note Red and Helen center floor
photo by Jerry Stainer

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Ernie Doyle
photo by Jerry Stainer

Cariboo Country Night is organized by www.CaribooVacations.com

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The Academy of Western Artists

submitted by Stacy Blackwell, Legacy Media

The Academy of Western Artists' annual awards show brought out fans and performers to hear, see, and meet the best Western Artists in the country.

This year's show featured performances by John England, R.J. Vandygriff, Amber Digby, Kimberly Murray, Bill Barwick, Liz Masterson and the The Texas Gypsies.

At the Garland, Texas, ceremonies on September 22nd, the Will Rogers awards were presented to the following (one of which was Mike Puhallo):

All Music Awards:

• Western Music-Male....Daron Little
• Western Music-Female....Devon Dawson
• Western Music-Duo/Group....Flying J Wranglers
• Western Music-Song....Bob Davidson "Western Sky"
• Western Music-Album....Liz Masterson "Roads To Colorado"
• Western Music-Yodeler....Carin Mari Lechner
• Western Swing-Male....John England
• Western Swing-Female....Kelli Grant
• Western Swing-Duo/Group....Brady Bowen & Swing Country
• Western Swing-Song....Mary Allen-Keating "Let's Make Music In The Country"
• Western Swing-Album/CD....Billy Mata "This Is Tommy Duncan"
• Western Swing-Instrumentalist....Buddy Hrabel
• Pure Country-Male....Tony Booth
• Pure Country-Female....Leighan Cortes
• Pure Country-Duo/Group....Landon Dodd & The Dance Hall Drifters
• Pure Country- Song....Kimberly Murray/Jake Hooker "Living And Learning"
• Pure Country-Album/CD....Mickey Clark "Winding Highways"

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Mike Puhallo
Male Poet of the Year
John Payne Photography, Inc

Poetry Awards:

• Male Poet of the Year - Mike Puhallo, Kamloops, BC ,Canada
  See Mike's Meadow Muffin below
• Book/CD - Slim McNaught, New Underwood, SD "Reminiscin"
• Cowgirl Poet of the Year - JoLynne Kirkwood, Siguard, UT
• Skinny Rowland Humor Award - Andy Nelson, Pinedale, WY
• Buck Ramsey Book Award - Ray Owens, Artesia, NM, "Tracks That Won't Blow Out"

The Will Rogers Lifetime Achievement - Wayne Mitchell

Art and Gear Awards:

• Artist - Wayne Justus, Pagosa Springs, CO
• Braider - Wayne Bevan, Glenwood, AB, Canada
• Spurmaker - Todd Hansen, Molt, MT
• Engraver - Jerry Falkner, Ft. Davis, TX
• Cartoonist - Bob Rohan, Houston, TX
• Garnet Books Chuckwagon Award - Cliff Teinert, Albany, TX
• Saddlemaker - Cary Schwarz, Salmon, ID
• Don King Lifetime Saddlemaker Award - Billy Wootres, Albuquerque, NM

Media Awards:

• Disc Jockey - Dallas Wayne XM - Sirrus Radio
• Record Label - Bear Family Records, Germany
• Record Producer - BGM Studios, San Antonio, TX
• Radio Station - KBAL, San Saba, TX

The Academy of Western Artists is in its 14th year and is open to all people, groups or organizations who wish to, not only preserve the western arts, but to move them to higher levels. The Cowboy is the most positive image projected to the world and is an almost universal sign of good will wherever it is seen. The AWA wants to insure that the image never dies, but endures to an even higher level.

There are three specific disciplines involved in the western arts: Fine Art, Performing Arts and Practical Arts and those involved in making the public aware of the movement.

In the AWA's brief 14 years of existance, there has been substantial growth in the Cowboy industry, from the increase in the value of the Cowboy gear, to more interest in the chuckwagon, increased involvement in the music industry and more media now playing the western music.

The AWA, although not alone, works with other groups to keep the movement growing, which brings in new artists, who can now make a living through their art, and can also increase the level of expertise in those arts, by learning rom those who precede them. It is only through the passing of knowledge to those coming up that we can insure the Cowboy will not die, but will live forever through those artists.

We all are aware that the Cowboy occupied but a blink of an eye of time in history, but the legacy he left behind is one that will endure till the end of time as we know it and we will all benefit from it.

If you wish to join the AWA, you can contact Kathy Camden at: ckcamden@yahoo.com.

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Gone To Texas

I put my saddle in the barn,
turned my horses out to graze,
I'm on a jet to Texas,
I'll be gone about three days.

I hate to leave right now,
fall riding has just begun,
but I am headed south to gather up,
an award that I have won.

A marble statue of Will Rogers,
has my name written clear,
Just below the title,
Cowboy Poet of the Year!

My sincere thanks to everyone who has read my poetry and all of those who have lent their support and encouragement. Special thanks to my darling wife Linda, who has endured 33 years of marriage to me, my cows, horses, dogs, rodeo, art and poetry. Once I asked her why she put up with me and and the lifestyle I put her through? Her only reply was, "at least it aint been boring".  

Mike Puhallo

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

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Home of the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame!

BC Cowboy, Ranching, and Rodeo Museum The Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin is located in Williams Lake, BC and is the Home of the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame. Its located at the corner of 4th Avenue and Borland Street. Phone (250) 392-7404 E-mail: mccwl@uniserve.com

We highly recommend a visit to the
Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin in Williams Lake!
Check out their web site - BC Cowboy, Ranching, and Rodeo Museum

Cowboy Classifieds:

For information on placing an ad contact Mark at:
Ph (250) 456-2425 or fax (250) 456-2429 or email: cowboys@bcchs.com

Need a New Web Site
or web site updates
MSR Web Design
msprings@bcinternet.net
www.meadowsprings.com

	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

Interested in joining the BCCHS?
Just send us an email and we'll let you know the details! E mail: cowboys@bcchs.com
or Phone 1-888-763-2224

BCCHS Shirts and Caps!
denim shirts, t-shirts, and ball caps, all with the Kamloops Cowboy Festival logo!
Blue Jean Shirts - $45.00
T-shirts - $15.00
Ball Caps - $12.50
Email: cowboys@bcchs.com
Phone 1-888-763-2224
US phone: (250) 579-5667

Kamloops Cowboy Festival

Annual Lapel Pins

10th Anniversary Pin (2006) $5.00 Cdn
2007 Festival pins sold out
2008 Festival pins - $5.00 Cdn
cowboys@bcchs.com
Find all the BCCHS products at this years Kamloops Cowboy Festival General Store!

Advertise Here!
Ph: (250) 456-2425, Fax: 456-2429
E mail: cowboys@bcchs.com

Click on the above banner for their free email newsletter
or read it on line at www.cowboypoetry.com/news.htm!

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Upcoming Festivals and Events:

If you wish to see more coming events
then have a look at our "Calendar of Events" page.
If you have an event that you want listed just send 'er on in by email: cowboys@bcchs.com Ph (250) 456-2425, or Fax 456-2429

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