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This is Page 12 See some past weeks' photos
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See an index of all past weeks' photos
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September 3, 2007
California poet and reciter Susan Parker shared photos from 2005. She told us:
These photos were taken during a driving trip my husband and I took from California to Montana and Wyoming in the fall of 2005.
The photo of the lonely wagon was taken at Bannack State Park in Montana. My mind danced with stories that the wagon might tell. I was intrigued by the fact that amongst the silver and gray landscape was a bright yellow flowering bush, flourishing in the dry ground.
The bison cow and calf were standing beside the road in Yellowstone National Park. As the burned forest slowly returns to life, taking nourishment from the soil, so too does the calf begin life, taking nourishment from its mother.
The bull elk was an island unto himself, about 10 steps from the side of the road in Yellowstone. He was completely unfazed by all the folks standing beside the road, taking his photo.
Read more about Susan Parker and read some of her poetry here.
Photo by Jeri L. Dobrowski; see her gallery of western performers and others here.
We mourn the loss of Colen Sweeten, Jr. and we celebrate his life and his pioneer family history. Colen Sweeten III shared family photos, some posted below and many others posted here, in a page accompanying tributes to Colen Sweeten, Jr., who died August 15, 2007.
Colen Sweeten, Sr. homesteaded in Idaho's Curley Valley around the turn of the twentieth century.
Colen Sweeten Sr. and his brother Warren purchased the first tractor in Curlew Valley. It was a Reese steam tractor and many of the homesteaders in the valley depended on it to break new soil and beat down the sagebrush. The tractor was powered mostly by a fire of sagebrush in the boiler. Colen Sr. is sitting on the rear wheel and Warren is standing in front of the rear wheel.
Below are photos of the building the barn on the Sweeten farm, and the finished barn, which was a landmark in the Curlew Valley.
Colen Sweeten Jr. (born 1919) had six brothers. Below, he is pictured with his brothers Elbert and George:
Three brothers horseback: Colen Jr. (front), Elbert, and George
Colen Sr. and his seven sons, from right by age: Colen Sr., Colen Jr., George,
Elbert, Lloyd, Owen, Cecil, and Garth
Colen and Ruth Sweeten were married for 63 years.
photo by Jeri L. DobrowskiSee many more family photos posted here, in a page accompanying tributes to Colen Sweeten, Jr.
Read some of Colen Sweeten's poetry here.
1919-2007
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We're looking for images that give a glimpse of the ranching, cowboy, and rural and working life of the West of today and yesterday. We welcome vintage and contemporary photos: family photos, images of where you live and work, and the area around you.
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August 20, 2007
Oklahoma rancher and impressive poet and reciter Jay Snider shared photos from his Rafter S Ranch Cowboy Reunion. He told us:
The event actually started as a wedding reception for our son Jason and his bride Kara in 1997. We invited several of our boy's college buddies and friends who rope along with all the Snider brothers, nephews, sons, my dad, and a whole host of other ropers to attend. We pulled in a couple of chuckwagons, a few poets and singers, many, many friends and relatives and we had the makings of a Cowboy Reunion. The whole day was such a great success that we decided to make it an annual event.
In 2004 we moved the Cowboy Reunion from the ranch to Apache, Oklahoma to coincide with their Festival of the West. This year we're moving it back home to the ranch.
All the contestants in the event are invited participants. Each roper must head a steer, heel a steer, rope and tie down a calf, and participate in a team branding. Each roper may pick his partners from the other invitees to help him complete the team. You're on your own in the calf roping but you pick two other partners in the branding. One partner heads the steer, one heels him, and the other man brands him. (No fire brands, just a little talcum powder).
Custom made trophy buckles are given to the winner in each of the events and the "All Around" buckle is awarded to the roper who has the best cumulative time for the day. A panel of judges pick the "Top Horse" and his owner is awarded a trophy in the horse's honor. The "Hard Luck Cowboy" award goes to the cowboy whose share of bad luck just happens to show up on that day.
Between events the "Little Cowpokes" compete in events tailor made for them, the stick horse barrel race, the "Dummy" roping, and the wild cow milking. The winners in each of the kid's events are awarded trophies for their efforts.
After the completion of the roping, the evening winds down with a chuckwagon supper and some great cowboy music and poetry.
Read more about Jay Snider and some of his poetry here.
Jay Snider, National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Elko, Nevada 2007
Photo by Jeri L. Dobrowski; see her gallery of western performers and others here.
If you have a photo to share, email us.
See an index of all past weeks' photos here.
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