Gathering Reports
2007

We invite folks to send in reports about gatherings.

Following are reports about events that 
are linked from event listings on the Events Calendar. 

(Some links may be out of date.)

2007 Reports

August - September

This is Page 2. Below:

Truckee (California) August

Safford (Arizona) September

Westcliffe (Colorado) September

Vinton (California) September

On Page 1:

See January-February 2007 reports here
See March-April 2007 reports here
See May-July 2007 reports here
See October-December reports here

See reports from 2006 here
See reports from 2005 here
See reports from 2004 here
See reports from 2003 here
See reports for 2002 here
Reports from 2000- 2001 are here

Back to Events page . . .
Back on home . . .

 

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August, 2007
Western Week & ProRodeo Cowboy Poetry and Music Truckee, California

report and photos by Martha Hanson

When a show is produced that features great western entertainment, including the appearance of Miss Rodeo America, it is held in the beautiful Lake Tahoe area of California, and that show is used to kick off one of the best professional rodeos in the land, it is a win-win situation for the many folks involved, from the hard working committee to the fans that fill the grandstand.

That is exactly what happened on the evening of August 7, 2008. As the sun went down over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the lights went up at the McIver Memorial Arena near Truckee, California, as folks arrived by the hundreds to enjoy the evening’s entertainment.

J.D. Hoss from KTKE Truckee radio station was the emcee. The father/daughter team of Pete and Jenni Charles added their special brand of music and the pretty young Jenni is one of the top fiddlers in the land. Folks were on their feet clapping and cheering to their music.

Speaking of “on their feet,” the featured entertainers, Pat Richardson, Sourdough Slim, and Yvonne Hollenbeck each received standing ovations after their performances. It was certainly a successful event, and the hard working folks that chaired the committee also deserve a standing ovation for putting this together.

Pat Richardson, Miss Rodeo America Ashley Andrews (from North Dakota), Yvonne Hollenbeck and Sourdough Slim
 

For more information on the Truckee event, visit www.truckeerodeo.com

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September, 2007
14th Annual Gila Valley Cowboy Poets Fall Gathering  Safford, Arizona

report and photos by Martha Hanson

 

The 14th annual Gila Valley Cowboy Poet and Music Gathering held September 14, 15 and 16, 2007 at Safford, Arizona, was a success by all measures. Under the leadership of chairman Skelly Boyd, the hard working committee put together a weekend packed with entertainment second to none. In addition to western music and cowboy poetry, a wonderful western art and trade show was set up for visitors to enjoy, as well as many other events from chuck wagon cooking to a cowboy church service that finalized the fun-filled gathering.

This year’s gathering was entitled “Tales from the Trail” and that title was exemplified by a Friday evening kick-off show at the Graham County Fairgrounds Ag Building, which featured a short presentation by everyone involved in the entertainment. This little “taster” left the many folks attending with an appetite for more, which was evidenced by the great crowds at the sessions throughout the day on Saturday. These sessions included Ken Whitecotton, Frank "Two Jump" Morris, Darrell James, Frank Fox, Larry Harmer, Ralph Smith and Ron Green, Frank Hughes, Mike Moutoux, Roughstring,Mike Dunn, Jim and Nancy Sober, Bunny Dryden, Tim Kaufroath, the featured night show performers, and student poets. The student poets were winners of a contest involving many school children from throughout Graham County, and was the result of the hard work of Bunny Dryden who initiated this project.

Rena Randall and The Due West Trio: (L to R) Dave Bertoglio, Rena Randall, David Gibson and Tim O'Connor

On Saturday evening, a concert was held at the Manor House Convention Center featuring "Bud" Strom, Jim Dunham, Hook Hill, Sid Hausman, Jon Messenger, Yvonne Hollenbeck, and the Due West Trio.
 

Sid Hausman, Hook Hill, Skelly Boyd, Bunny Dryden, Bud Strom, and Larry Harmer
 

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September, 2007
Wet Mountain Western Days  Westcliffe, Colorado

report and photos by Martha Hanson

Without a doubt, the Wet Mountain Western Days festival at Westcliffe, Colorado, is the fastest growing event of its type in the country. When the huge tent goes up, excitement builds in this historic community and the area residents literally lay out the red carpet for the many campers and tourists arriving to take in this festival. Not only are some of the finest entertainers in the business featured at this annual Labor Day event, but many other events are centered around it making this a wonderful, fun filled weekend for folks of all ages. Each year the crowds are getting larger as word-of-mouth has spread the news as to the top notch event it has become.

In addition to the best in western music and entertainment, the festival plays host to a juried fine arts and crafts expo, parade, children’s village, pony rides, historical demonstrations of all types, fiddle contest, Native American demonstrations and history, quilt show, cowboy church, all types of ethnic foods in the food and beverage court, and many more activities and events. This beautiful area of Colorado is also home to a rich ranching heritage and therefore a “ranch family of the year” is also honored at the festival. This year’s honor went to George and Leona Draper of the Draper Ranch that was established in 1929 and is still a successful cattle operation in the area.

Sons and Brothers: Aaron, Michael, Frank, Joe and Fred Wolking

“The best in western music and entertainment,” is not an exaggeration as the host entertainers, Frank Wolking and the Sons and Brothers are thought by many to be the finest new group in the western entertainment business. These rising stars received a number of standing ovations by the huge crowds attending the performances and these ovations were well deserved. Another highlight of the event was the appearances by New West, who have somewhat retired from the touring schedule and it was a rare treat to be able to once again enjoy the top quality music produced by this group, which consists of Michael Fleming, Raul Reynoso, and David Jackson.

The return of the great New West ...Raul Reynosa, Mike Fleming and David Jackson
 

Other entertainers were Bill Barwick and Sons of Tumbleweed, Yvonne Hollenbeck, Jean Prescott, Liz Masterson, Dave Stamey, Sugarfoot, and the Wagonmasters.
 

Sweethearts in Carhartts"...Jean Prescott, Liz Masterson and Yvonne Hollenbeck
 

If you would like to visit one of the most scenic areas in America and take in a fun-filled Labor Day weekend full of top western entertainment, plan to attend the 11th Annual Wet Mountain Western Days in 2008.

Dave and Melissa Stamey enjoying the view of the storm clouds over the mountains
 

Visit www.wetmountainwesterndays.com for more information.
 

September, 2007
Vinton Cowboy Poetry Show   Vinton, California
 

report by Diana Miller with photos by Harold Roy Miller

The 22nd Cowboy Poetry Show in Vinton, California was held at their restored grange hall, September 22, 2007.

There were shows at 1 pm and 7:30 pm, with a delicious barbecue dinner in between. The matinee was well attended and the evening performance was full. The audience both times was warm and responsive. The people in this alpine ranching community certainly appreciate cowboy poetry and music and they made it known.

Johnnie Walker started the show with some humor and great harmonica music. Next was Diana Miller, reciting the poems of Harold Roy Miller. Then up was Harold Roy Miller with some original humorous cowboy poetry. After Harold was musician Chuck Shepard who played guitar and sang some of his original tunes and some classic and contemporary songs. Last up but not least was the talented Dave P. Fisher with his original poetry featuring the working cowboy. Each entertainer had two go-rounds per show with a short intermission between sets.

Johnnie Walker

Diana Miller

Harold Roy Miller

Chuck Shepard

Dave and Kathy Fisher, with Diana Miller

In the matinee audience was Mr. Jim King, cowboy poet, who is a regular performer at the Vinton gathering. He treated us to some classic and patriotic poems.

Betty Ramelli did a wonderful job of organizing this event, keeping the action moving right along. Hats off to Betty and her helpers who made this event so enjoyable to both the entertainers and the audience.