In the Corral October/November 2007

B.C. Cowboy Arts Scholarship

The British Columbia Cowboy Heritage Society (BCCHS) is offering three $500 annual scholarships to B.C. students.

The scholarships will be awarded for an original poem, essay, or short story; one scholarship for a piece of original art work and one for Cowboy Craftsmanship. Entry deadline is Dec 31st.

For complete rules and application, visit www.bcchs.com

 

2007 Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees

The 2007 inductees to the Country Music Hall of Fame are the late John Allen Cameron, past CCMA Executive Director Sheila Hamilton in the Builder category, and Broadcaster Cliff Dumas.

The inductees were honoured this past September during Country Music Week held in Regina.

The Association also unveiled a virtual Hall of Fame at ccma.org/hof. The website will provide industry, media and country fans a single source detailing the background of all country music inductees since the process began.

The CCMA’s Country Music Hall of Fame online web provides historical backgrounders, biographies and photos for each CCMA inducted Hall of Fame member. For the first time, the history of these inductees will be instantly accessible to fans around the world.

Before his death in 2006, John Allan Cameron had toured the world and released more than ten albums in a career that spanned over thirty years.

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Born in Cape Breton to a very musical family, John Allan Cameron introduced a brand of Cape Breton music in the 1960s when he started picking traditional Scottish pipe tunes on twelve-string guitar. Later in his career he brought Celtic music to audiences on his nationally televised John Allan Cameron Show between 1975 and 1981. In 2003, John was inducted into the Order of Canada in recognition of his efforts for over 30 years in establishing and growing the Celtic music scene in Canada


World Champion Commemorated

Bernie Demich and Lorinda Lemond honoured the 60th anniversary in style of their late uncle, Carl Olson, winning the world championship. The two collaborated to have a replica of Carl’s original 1947 World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider buckle made and presented to the saddle bronc winner of the 117th Annual Wood Mountain Stampede.

Winner Travis Reay of Mayerthorpe, Alta., was delighted with the commemorative buckle, saying, “This buckle is really special because of what it means.”

Olson (1914–1983), whose 1947 winnings topped $8,765, was raised in the Wood Mountain uplands of southern Saskatchewan.

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Photo by Jerry Kuglin Photos.com
From left: Bernie is wearing the 1947
buckle; Travis is holding the memorial
buckle and hugging Lorinda
Photo by Jerry Kuglin Photos.com
The original 1947 World Champion’s
buckle, adorned with four rubies is on
the left, the replica Carl Olson Memorial
buckle on the right

 

Northlands and AMA Honour Alberta Farm Families

Northlands announced the 2007 AMA (Alberta Motor Association) Farm Family Awards, presented by Northlands in Edmonton. The awards recognize outstanding north/central Alberta families who best represent the values of the family farm within their rural communities.

Winners of the annual awards were nominated by Agricultural Service Boards north of Red Deer and based on a review of their farming expertise and community involvement, were selected by the AMA Farm Family Awards committee.

The winning families will receive a commemorative gate sign for their farm, gifts from AMA and will be honoured at an awards banquet at Northlands on Sunday, November 4, 2007 during Farmfair International.

Congratulations to the 2007 AMA Farm Family Award Winners Richard J. and Rosemary Mueller of Barrhead; Myrtle Kushnerick of Holden; Burdett and Louise Bystrom of Caroline; Don and Audrey Gall, Tom and Marie Gall of Nampa; Danny and Lois Williams of Grande Prairie; Ken and Fedosia Plamondon of Plamondon; Orin and Nancy Sand of Hondo; Russell and Susie Friesen of LaCrete; Ken Herlinveaux and Judy Bowcott from Grimshaw; Bill and Sherry Mortland of Spirit River; Jules and Cecile Aubin from Guy; Jerry Lee and Lil Roth Lee of Donalda; Garry and Lynn Burnett from Fort Saskatchewan; Troy and Jackie Vetsch, Monty and April Bauer of Thorhild; Peter and John Grykuliak of Myrnam; Reg and Cathy Minchau of Millet and Greg and Jackie Blahun of Mayerthorpe.


Cowboy Collaboration a Winner

Congratulations to Ed Brown and Bryan J. Smith on winning the Will Rogers Award for the Best Cowboy Poetry CD of the Year for their joint project entitled, A Cowboy Collaboration. The Will Rogers Award was presented by the Academy of Western Artists at their award show this past August in Texas.

Also congrats to Tammy Gislason for her win as a humourist. Tammy is currently performing at a dinner club in Pigeon Forge, TN. As we reported earlier, Mike Puhallo and his publisher, Hancock House, received the prestigious 2007 Will Rogers Medallion Award for his book, Rhymes & Damn Lies.

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Bryan J. Smith flew to Texas to accept the Will Rogers Award for the Best Cowboy Poetry CD of the Year for his and Ed Brown’s work, A Cowboy Collaboration. The Award was presented by the Academy of Western Artists

 

 

Pretty Big Saddle for Such a Little Cowboy!

 

Congratulations to William Beierbach on winning the steer wrestling at the “Daddy of ‘Em All” Cheyenne Frontier Days.

William won the short go and tied for the average, bringing home a saddle and buckle (modelled by his son, Tate, above) plus a gear bag, spurs, bootjack, a pair of boots, new hat and about $11,000.

Tate, (steadied by his mom, Donna) was born April 2, 2007, and he appears to be quite happy with Dad’s big win.

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Tate Beierbach is obviously thrilled to be the first person to straddle (well, almost straddle) Dad’s new champion saddle won at the Cheyenne Frontier Days

 

Where in the World is Canadian Cowboy Country?

The Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial, three kilometres north of the village of Groesbeek, Netherlands, is the final resting place of 2,338 Canadian soldiers from World War II.

Many of the fallen soldiers were brought here from nearby Germany. It is one of the few cases where bodies were moved across international frontiers. General H.D.G. Crerar, who commanded Canadian land forces in Europe, ordered that Canadian dead were not to be buried in German soil.

Thousands of Dutch children tend the graves of Canadian soldiers buried here as they do through-out the Netherlands.

corral_1007_6 Photo courtesy of Fossina Crytes
Back row, from left: Randie Anderson and Celine Hagman, front row, from left: Nelle Meers and Carissa Crytes at the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands on Remembrance Day – November 11, 2006


Cows for Kindergarten

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Photo by Clara Cheung

Imagine is the name of the art cow painted by our internationally award-winning art director, Clara Cheung. The cow is sponsored by Canadian Cowboy Country magazine for The Prairies’ Pride, fundraising auction and dinner, spearheaded by Shelli Tattrie, wife of rodeo cowboy Troy Tattrie, to raise funds for the Youngstown, Alta. kindergarten. Rural school enrolment is in decline and as the government funds on a “per head” basis, private fundraising efforts are needed to maintain the operation of the rural kindergarten’s program.

As well as a live and silent auction of the herd, hosted by MC and auctioneer Danny Hooper, a calendar and note cards featuring the cows, painted by artists such as Judie Popplewell, Ash Cooper and Jody Skinner (to name a few) will also be available.

The fundraiser will be held November 16, 2007 in Hanna, Alta. For more information, visit paintedcow.ca.


Canadian Cowboy Country at the Stampede

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Photo courtesy of Calgary Exhibition & Stampede
Artist Doug Levitt’s original oil, A Man of His People, wowed the crowd and set a new art auction record at the 2007 Calgary Stampede

Art Auction Record Set

This year’s Calgary Stampede Western Art Auction saw a record night with sales totaling $364,000 for 85 original works of art. The highest bid of $63,000 for the original oil painting commissioned for the 2008 Stampede poster came from the Hudson’s Bay Company. Doug Levitt created the art piece titled, A Man of His People.

Levitt, a Canadian artist, decided to pursue a historically based image honouring the culture of the First Nations people. Levitt has devoted himself to fine art, oil paintings and graphite/charcoal drawings since 2001. With this piece, he wanted to capture the respect for the Stampede’s long history with the Plains people.

“The Calgary Stampede and the Stampede poster are part of Canadian history and as a company that values heritage Hbc is proud to be involved both as a sponsor and as the recipient of the beautiful piece,” said James Ingram, Hudson’s Bay Company vice president, secretary and general council. “We are also very excited that the 2008 poster showcases the capote, a tradition that is very important to us.”

Proceeds from the sale are divided equally amongst Levitt, the Western Art Auction committee and the Calgary Stampede Foundation.

Watch for an upcoming episode of Cowboy Country Television that features the excitement of the 2007 Calgary Stampede Art auction and a great interview with Levitt.

 

Western Art Show Hall of Fame

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Photo by Terri Mason
The Western Art Show Hall of Fame award features a custom buckle attached to a framed belt. The buckle can be detached from the framed belt and worn.

Two long time supporters of the Western Art Show were the first inductees into the Western Art Show Hall of Fame in Calgary. Gina McDougall Cohoe and the late Malcolm (Mac) MacKenzie were honoured for their significant participation and impact on the continued success of the art show over the past 27 years. Presented with a framed custom buckle attached to a belt, Gina was on hand to accept her award, while Judy MacKenzie-West accepted on behalf of her late husband.

Each year the outstanding contributions of artists will be reviewed and recommendations presented to the committee for possible induction into the Hall Of Fame. Future plans include a permanent location for the Hall of Fame in the expansion of the Round-Up Centre.


Royalty at the Western Showcase

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Photo by Terri Mason

With cowboy poetry and western music showcasing on the Window of the West stage in the Roundup Centre, a bevy of rodeo royalty dropped by for a visit. From left: 1974 Calgary Stampede Queen Cindy Morris (Sergerie), 2007 Calgary Stampede Royal Trio – Princess Caia Morstad, Queen Amanda Kochan, Princess Amanda Byrne and 2007 Miss Rodeo Canada Tara Sergerie. (Cindy is Tara’s mom.)

The show had a capacity audience enjoying the musical performances of Jesse Fowler and various members of the band Latigo, Rob and Jocelyne Dinwoodie, Allen Christie and Hillbilly Dust, Shiloh Sherrard and cowboy poet, Terri Mason.

 

Riding for the Brand

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Photo courtesy of Ken Mather
The winners of the Ranch Rodeo (from left) Riley Miller, Steve Brewer and Josh Klassen, were awarded E. Garcia spurs and bits donated by Cowboys Choice. They ride for the Douglas Lake Ranch – Portland Division.

Congratulations to the winners at the O’Keefe Ranch Cowboy Festival and Ranch Rodeo held this past August.

Winners include Working Ranch Horse winner, Nick Baptie of the Coldstream Ranch riding Shader; Cowboys Choice Winner of the Working Ranch Horse competition was Josh Klassen of the Douglas Lake Ranch – Portland Division riding PJ. Making history was the Redl Ranch of Riske Creek, B.C. for entering an all cowgirl team; Shelly Loring, Raquel Russell and Connie Redl – all top hands.