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Rick Huff covers the Western radio scene in his Western Air column. Find the most recent column, about Alabama's Eddy Leverett and his "Around the Campfire" show here. Western Air is a regular feature of the Western Music Association's quarterly magazine, The Western Way. Rick Huff reviews Western music and cowboy poetry recordings and other releases of Western interest in his Rick Huff's Best of the West Reviews column. We're pleased to have many hundreds of his selected reviews in our feature here. Posted 4/13 It's an honor to feature the poetry of rancher and Wyoming Poet Laureate Patricia Frolander. From her bio, "Patricia Frolander tries to balance family, ranching, and writing and has a passion for each of them. She and her husband, Robert, own his family ranch in the Black Hills of Wyoming. Their family includes three children, seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, all of whom live close to the ranch. Still actively ranching, you may find her on a tractor or horse, but at this stage of her life she prefers the padded office chair at her writing desk." She shares poetry from her recent book, Married Into It, which just received the 2012 Western Heritage Wrangler Award for Outstanding Poetry Book from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and other pieces. From our previous review of Married Into It: In the introduction, she tells how she came to ranch life. Born and raised in the city, she writes, "...after seven years of marriage, my husband, Robert, and I left our comfortable home in Denver and headed for his family's cattle ranch in northeastern Wyoming." The Black Hills ranch was homesteaded by her husband's great grandfather in 1885. Confronted immediately with the forces of weather, isolation, the critical scrutiny of neighbors, sheep and cattle work, chores, and extreme "making do," she comments, "Robert had his hands full running the ranch and had no time to mop my tears." Read more and find a selection of poems in our feature here. [photo by Francie Ganje] Posted 2/29   Noted Western artist and Cowboy Artists of America member R.S. Riddick, whose painting, "Heads or Tails" was selected as the official poster for the eleventh annual Cowboy Poetry Week, 2012 and is the current Art Spur subject, shares some additional examples of his art in our feature here. In the August/September 2011 issue of Ranch & Reata magazine, R.S. Riddick comments: If a painting doesn't have a poetic, thoughtful, human message, people will walk right past it. It has to have something—some pain, some pathos, some narrative—so you'll keep going back to it. Sometimes it's not a story, per se. Sometimes it's just the poetry of the West—the mood and feeling of a landscape, a reflection in a mud puddle, the loneliness of a broken-down windmill. From his bio: Ron Riddick has been described as an artist’s artist. His masterful skill in the use of the tools of his trade (paint, brushes, and canvas) combined with his knowledge understanding of his subjects (light, color, anatomy, motion, and atmosphere) allow him to achieve the excellence he strives toward in his work. He brings it all together with his gift of artistic talent to create some of the most beautiful works of art today. A versatile visionary; a master of design, color and light; seeker of excellence—these are R.S. Riddick. He portrays the truth and beauty of life in its infinite variety. He believes that art should be emotional; it should touch the human spirit and affirm humanity. When asked why he paints such a vast selection of imagery, he answers “I feel that an artist should remain faithful to creating art that speaks about the things he loves. For me, life is a visual feast and I hope to savor its abundance to the fullest.” Ron has dedicated his life to the pursuit of uncompromised excellence in his art. His loyalty to this end is evident. He continues to challenge himself. “I will always remain a student, working toward growth and refinement in my art and in my life.” Learn more about R.S. Riddick and see examples of his art in the feature here and visit www.rsriddick.com.   The last of the mainland states to be admitted to the Union, Arizona became the 48th state on February 14, 1912. Historian Greg Scott, editor of Cowboy Poetry, Classic Poems & Prose by Badger Clark, suggested a feature about the Arizona Centennial and provided suggestions and the heart of the feature, his essay, "Centennial Sentiments." Charles Badger Clark's poem, "Arizony's Probation," is featured in the essay.  The feature has additional poems and songs by early "cowboy poets," including Sharlot Hall, Gail I. Gardner, Henry Herbert Knibbs, E.A. Brininstool, and others. There are also links and more. Among this year's official Centennial Legacy Projects are: the 20th Annual Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering; the 25th Annual Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering; Stories to Life: Travelling the Cowboy Trail—100 Years of Arizona Tales; and 100 Years 100 Ranchers, Scott T. Baxter's impressive photographic project. We'll be adding information to this feature throughout 2012. You are welcome to suggest additional information for consideration for inclusion in this feature. Email us. Find the Arizona Centennial feature here. Posted 2/16   Andy Wilkinson's songs, plays, and poems reach deep into the roots of the American West. Whether writing about the historical West, as in his celebrated western opera, Charlie Goodnight; His Life in Poetry and Song, or addressing contemporary issues such as an endangered aquifer in his poem "Mining the Motherlode," his work is vibrant and engaging.   A four-time recipient of the Western Heritage "Wrangler" Award from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, he has several recent CD collaborations with Andy Hedges, and they have a forthcoming release, Outlands. Charlie Goodnight; His Life in Poetry and Song, will be performed at the 28th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering (January 30-February 4) and will include performances by Jerry Brooks, R.W. Hampton, Rod Taylor, Don Richmond, Andy Wilkinson, Andy Hedges, Emily Arellano, Alissa Hedges, Scot Wilburn, Rick Bryceson, Waddie Mitchell, Michael Martin Murphey and Barry Corbin. At Texas Tech University Press, Andy Wilkinson is the Voice in the American West Series Editor. The series includes Amy Auker's Rightful Place and Jim Hoy's Cowboy’s Lament; A Life on the Open Range, Frank Maynard. We're honored to have a new feature about Andy Wilkinson and three of his works: The Poet's Catch-Rope (about Buck Ramsey); Saddlin' Up Time (from Charlie Goodnight), and Mining the Motherlode. Read more in our feature here, which includes links for Andy Wilkinson's music and more. Posted 12/7 Johnie Schneider (1904-1982) was the first official World Champion Bull Rider and the author of a memorable poem, The Black Beauty, which was written in the early 1920s. Cowgirl, poet, and writer Rhonda Sedgwick Stearns writes about his life in an extended feature here, for which she also also provides photographs, courtesy of the Schneider family. She tells that the chapter-length piece is a part of the forthcoming book, Bound for Glory—The Bull Riders, which will be published by Loft Enterprises (www.loftent.com) in conjunction with a future subscription website on "Horses...Heroes...& History." An entry on the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame web site tells that Johnie Schneider "... had a soul of a poet and the heart of a cowboy. He began rodeoing in 1923 and quickly established a reputation as one of the most versatile performers around." Johnie Schneider is quoted, "The best thing about rodeo was that it gave a lot of us a start in life. There weren’t many options back then for a fellow trying to make it." Cowboy, poet, and reciter Jesse Smith is probably most responsible for the poem, "The Black Beauty," being known to audiences today. He first recorded the poem on his cassette, The Holstein Steer. Jesse Smith made a new recording of "The Black Beauty" for The BAR-D Roundup: Volume Four. Find the feature about Johnie Schneider here. Posted 11/28   We're pleased to feature the work of Henry Real Bird, past Montana Poet Laureate (2009-2011), rancher, author, artist, storyteller, educator and Crow elder, with thanks to Lost Horse Press for their help with the feature. Henry Real Bird's 2010 poetry collection, Horse Tracks (Lost Horse Press), received Montana's 2011 High Plains Book Award. Four poems from that book are included in our feature: A Cottonwood Leaf, Thought, Night and Day, and Flowers. In July, 2010, while he was Montana Poet Laureate, he made a 500-mile ride across Montana, giving out books of poetry. A National Public Radio broadcast, "Across Montana on Horseback, Poet Hands Out Poetry" covered the journey. He is a frequent performer at the Western Folklife Center's National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, and a transcript of his 2010 keynote speech, "Many Ghosts in Mind," is available from the Western Folklife Center. Find more about Henry Real Bird in our feature here. [photo by Jeri Dobrowski; see her gallery of western performers and others here.] Posted 11/14

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News Bits and Links   continued from page 1  

"Stampede's Silver Star," by Joel Schlesinger, Calgary Herald, April 25, 2012 "Cowboy poets, pickers converge on White Sulphur's 'Motherin' Up' event," Bozeman Daily Chronicle, May 4, 2012 "Kids on cow farms may have fewer allergies,"  by Kerry Grens, Reuters, May 2, 2012 "The Opportunities Now in Rural America," by K. C. Belitz, The Daily Yonder, May 1, 2012 "Nebraskans Ask About the Ogallala," by Lisa Song, The Daily Yonder, April 27, 2012   "The Pleasures of Calving," by Jonita Summers, RealRanchers.com, April 30, 2012 "Birders and Burgers: An Unlikely High Desert Partnership," by Anna King, Northwest Public Radio, April 27, 2012 "Ranchers shift from traps to dogs to fight coyotes, by Peter Fimrite, San Francisco Chronicle, April 27, 2012 "As Bison Return to Montana Prairie, Some Rejoice and Others Worry," by Nate Schweber, New York Times, April 26, 2012 "What Happened to Our History?," by Aimee Howley, Karen Eppley, Marged Howley, Daily Yonder, April 25, 2012 "First town saddles up for festival," by Caryn Haller, Record-Courier, April 25, 2012 "Shipping Q&A," The Pioneer Woman blog, April 24, 2012 "Cowboy Festival 2012 Rides Off Into the Sunset," by Stephen K. Peeples, KHTS News, April 24, 2012 CowboyPoetry.com on Facebook Spring Calving Photography Finalists, BEEF Magazine, April 22, 2012 "OSU's new ag dean plans to meet with farmers, ranchers," by Mitch Lies, Capital Press, April 23, 2012 "'The Horse, Of Course' opens May 1 at Wyoming State Museum," Wyoming Arts blog, April 20, 2012 "Cowboy museum to  honor spur maker," by Kevin Welch, Amarillo Globe News, April 19, 2012   "Rural post offices fight for survival," by Barry Amundson, Reporter Tri-State Neighbor April 19, 2012 "American cowboys: Endangered species," CNN Money on YouTube, April 18, 2012   "Cowboy Poetry Week Noted Nationwide," Deming Headlight, April 19, 2012 "Shipping Cattle from the Farm," The Pioneer Woman, April 18, 2012 "[Nevada] Governor proclaims this week Cowboy Poetry Week," Sparks Tribune, April 15, 2012 "Brownback proclaims 'Cowboy Poetry Week,' urges Kansans to celebrate accordingly," by the Associated Press, The Republic, April 17, 2012 "With Rain Falling on Texas Cities, Drought Rages on in the Rural West,"  by Mose Buchele, StateImpact/NPR, April 16, 2012   "Library Wrangles Cowboy Poetry Week," Standard-Examiner, April 15, 2012 "Cowboy Poetry Week..." Pinedale Online, April 12, 2012 "Library Offers Workshop on Cowboy Poetry," by Mila Morgan, The Observer, April 11, 2012 "'Voice of the West' heard on cowboy poems," by Debbie Croft, Merced Star, April 14, 2012 "Don't tell me what the poets are saying," by Jim Holtz, Grand Forks Gazette, April 14, 2012 "Ol' fashioned branding," by Josh Rhoten, WyomingNews.com, April 12, 2012 "Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival features Waddie Mitchell and Don Edwards," by Sharon Gilbert, Examiner.com, April 12, 2012 "Cowboys, cattle, and Facebook," by Lauren Chase, American Cowboy "Getting Older, County by County," by Bo Beaulieu, Monica Rosas, and Roberto Gallardo, Daily Yonder, April 11, 2012 "At Home on the Range," by Barrymore Laurence Scherer, Wall Street Journal, April 10, 2012 "Hawaii's cowboys: A dying breed?," by Dany Mitzman, BBC Online, April 6, 2012 "Cows: The Innocent Bystanders," The Wall Street Journal, April 5, 2012 "Official: US Needs More Young Farmers, Ranchers," by Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press, April 4, 2012 Life on the Range: Bud Purdy, Idaho rancher from Life on the Range "How Rural are the States?" by Bill Bishop, The Daily Yonder, April 2, 2012 Cattlemen Care from the Oregon Cattlemen's Association "For Sale: Montana's Oldest Operating Dude Ranch," by Brett French, Billing's Gazette, April 3, 2012 "Temple Grandin on Animal Welfare," American Angus Association video, April 2, 2012 "Four Strong Winds," Calgary Herald, April 3, 2012 "The First Cowboys" video about Florida Cowboys by Bob Hite "Coleman County cattlewomen weave quilt of memories," by Ronald Erdrich, Abilene Reporter-News, March 28, 2012 "Cattle DNA traced back to single herd of wild ox," by Duncan Geere, Wired UK, March 27, 2012 "Montana Agri-Women use social media with rural lifestyle," by Marty Mull, The Prairie Star March 26, 2012 "Horse You See," short film, spoken in Navajo with English subtitles, part of the PBS Online Film Festival Montana Rancher Feature: Jon Alberda video by Lauren Chase for Montana Stockgrowers Association "It Came from the Media: What Prompted the Ruckus About 'Pink Slim?' and Is it Unhealthy?," by Deborah Blum, Discover magazine   "Sights and Sounds of a Bull Sale," video by Lauren Chase for Montana Stockgrowers Association Cavalia show videos Ranch Day at the National Ranching Heritage Center (Lubbock) "F.D.A. is Ordered to Restrict Use of Antibiotics in Livestock," by Gardiner Harris, New York Times, March 23, 2012 "The Rodeo Circuit: Bucking Bulls And Broken Bones," by Carrie Feibel, NPR, March 20, 2012 Great Basin Exteriors, a photographic survey   "Cowgirl Poets Steal the Show at Alpine, Texas Gathering," RVBlog "Archaeologists Discover Earliest Equestrian Bit" SBWire, March 19, 2012 "What Will Your Legacy Be?" Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame video "Children Face Dangers on Farms, But Not From Farmwork," by Nancy Shute, NPR, March 12, 2012 "Original barn built in early 1900s restored to look brand new," by Sue Roesler, Farm & Ranch, March 12, 2012 "100 Years of Calgary Cowboys...," by Albert Smith, Gig City, March 12, 2012 "Fear of losing iconic Western culture spurs fight," by the Associated Press, Rapid City Journal, March 12, 2012 "The Texas Longhorn Legacy," by Wes Chancey, in the April 2012 issue of Cowboys & Indians Montana Folk Festival Montana Stockgrowers Association book The Weak Ones Turned Back, the Cowards Never Stated; A Century of Ranching in Montana; featured excerpt (pdf file): Nelson Livestock Company, near Wibaux, Montana 1909    "Utah has Western allies in fight with feds over public land," Standard-Examiner, March 7, 2012 "Some Hang on Tight to Cowboy Life," myfoxphoenix.com, March 3, 2012 "Over South Dakota" South Dakota Public Broadcasting video Western States Ranch Rodeo Association newsletter Meanwhile, back at the ranch ("Animals of Winter") Jessie Veeder's Western North Dakota ranch blog   "Fishing, checkoff style," by Alan Guebert, The Prairie Star, February 21, 2012 "Photo project takes commuters to a California they've forgotten," by Twilight Greenaway, Grist, February 27, 2012 "Ranchers' Land Becomes Ground Zero In Energy Fight," by Guy Raz and Brent Baughman, NPR, February 25, 2012 "Never too old to take up poetry; 102-year-old local cowboy poet performs at national gathering," by Sharon Sullivan, Grand Junction Free Press, February 24, 2012 Young Farmers and Ranchers video from America's Heartland   "Kansas's Symphony in the Flint Hills: A siren song for the tallgrass prairie by Annie Gowen, The Washington Post, Friday, February 24, 2012 THE MONTANA STOCKMAN: Tougher Than Hammered Owl Manure (film preview at Kickstarter)   "Ag and Art Project brings NEA chair to Yolo," by Anne Ternus-Bellamy, Davis Enterprise, February 22, 2012 "Carolina Cowboys offer true history," by Kelly Champlin, Jasper County Sun, February 22, 2012 "Cowboy Poets Slated for March 3," (16th Annual Georgia Cowboy Poets Gathering), Douglasville Patch, February 22, 2012 "A Tiny Horse That Got Even Tinier as the Planet Heated Up," by James Gorman, New York Times, February 23, 2012   "City tips Stetson to cowboy history," Kamloops News, February 21, 2012 Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering interviews on Marfa Radio, "Talk at Ten," (also archived) "Rodeos, Wranglers, and Respectable Ranchers," by John Scott, Tucson Citizen, February 22, 2012 "States documenting old barns to focus attention on rural landscape and its preservation," The Rural Blog, February 21, 2012 "Cowboy gathering planned for 2013," by Laurelle Walsh, Methow Valley News Online, February 15, 2012   Tucson Rodeo "Rancher brings back native grass," by Shar Porier, Sierra Vista Herald/Review, February 21, 2012 "Story of Maggie the cattle dog continues...," by Bill Lindelof, Sacramento Bee, February 21, 2012 "Cattle ranchers find themselves alone on the range," by Stacy Finz, San Francisco Chronicle, February 21, 2012 "Summit Author Recounts Cowboy's Black History Ride," by Camilo H. Smith, SummitPatch, February 21, 2012   Cattle Ranching and Environmental Stewardship Cattlemen's Beef Board and National Cattlemen's Beef Association (ExploreBeef.org) National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame "Teaching the art of horse whispering," by Daniel Siegal, Pasadena Sun via Los Angeles Times, February 18, 2012 "The Buffalo," Charles Goodnight Historical Center blog, February 16, 2012 "Letter from Langdon: Follow the Gravy," by Richard Oswald, Daily Yonder, February 16, 2012   "Overlooked classics of American literature: Deadwood by Pete Dexter," by Tom Cox, The Guardian, February 16, 2012 "'Cowgirl Caravan’ Headed to Pigeon Forge for Saddle Up," media release, February 16, 2012 Working Ranch Junior magazine, "...a place to share the stories and talents of our young American ranchers." "Cowboy gathering—Authentic song, poetry and cowboyness," by Pat Muir, Yakima Herald-Republic, February 15, 2012 "Shep and Pehs," by Gwen Peterson, "In a Sow's Ear" column, The Fence Post, February 13, 2012   "Lariat Award Winner 2012," by Candy Moulton, "Reading the West" column, The Fence Post, February 13, 2012 "What History Taught Me: Sandra Day O'Connor" TrueWest Magazine, January 2012 "Grazing of Cattle Pastures Can Improve Soil Quality," ScienceDaily, March 2011  "Third Annual Genoa Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival," CarsonNow.org, February 11, 2012 John Dofflemyer's poem at his Dry Crik Journal blog, "Elko 2012," February 10, 2012   Ken Rodgers' blog, "On Elko," from February 10, 2012 "State historian and folk musician spins yarns for centennial party," by Nicholas DeMarino, The Daily Courier, February 10, 2012 "Cowboy gathering—Authentic song, poetry and cowboyness," by Pat Muir, Yakima Herald-Republic, February 15, 2012 "Shep and Pehs," by Gwen Peterson, "In a Sow's Ear" column, The Fence Post, February 13, 2012 "Lariat Award Winner 2012," by Candy Moulton, "Reading the West" column, The Fence Post, February 13, 2012   "What History Taught Me: Sandra Day O'Connor" TrueWest Magazine, January 2012 "Grazing of Cattle Pastures Can Improve Soil Quality," ScienceDaily, March 2011  "Third Annual Genoa Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival," CarsonNow.org, February 11, 2012 John Dofflemyer's poem at his Dry Crik Journal blog, "Elko 2012," February 10, 2012 Ken Rodgers' blog, "On Elko," from February 10, 2012   "State historian and folk musician spins yarns for centennial party," by Nicholas DeMarino, The Daily Courier, February 10, 2012 "Don't Even Think of Calling These Taters a Side Dish," by Hunter Hauk, the Telegraph blog, Cowboys & Indians, February 10, 2012 "Four Austin County families honored," Sealy News, February 9, 2012 "'Cowboy Song Tradition' traveling exhibit on display at Dakota Wesleyan," BrandonInfo.com, February 9, 2012 Wyoming's Padlock Ranch, 2012 Beef Quality Assurance Award Winner, YouTube   "Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Trappings of Texas later this month," Alpine Avalanche, February 9, 2012 Bucking Horse Man blog about "rodeo history, bucking horses, cowgirls, cowboys, stock contractors" "Humor inspires ranchers’ poetry and life," by Dylan Woolf Harris, Elko Daily Free Press, February 2, 2012 Nan McEntire's YouTube "tidbits" from the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering "International Moustache Film Festival...," Bangor Daily News, February 8, 2012   2012 Stache Film Fest blog with submission information "Cowboy Cooks Prepare for Annual Chuckwagon Cookoff in Pigeon Forge," media release, February 7, 2012 "Phippen Museum Presents Horse Cultures of the World," Prescottnews.com, February 3, 2012 Real Rural Project, "Welcome to the rest of California," with photographs and interviews "26th annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering getting ready," Odessa American, January 31, 2012   "The Great Migration: Texas cattle heading north" by By P.J. Huffstutter and Theopolis Waters, MSNBC, January 30, 2012 Global Jukebox, an independent music label from the Alan Lomax Archive "Shrinking U.S. cattle herd smallest in 60 years," by K.T. Arasu and Meredith Davis, Reuters, via Drovers Network, January 25, 2012 "Montanan, Crow Tribe member Henry Real Bird named Cowboy Poet of the Year," by Susan Olp, Billings Gazette, via The Missoulian, January 27, 2012 Department of Defense Symbols of America: Cowboy   "Buckaroogirl," by Greg Martin of Line on Agriculture at Aginfo.net (with audio) January 26, 2012 Baxter Black audio on Western Horseman web site "Lassen County Hijinks," Baxter Black's latest "On the Edge of Common Sense" column, at his web site "Bovine beautician is all part of the Farm Show," by Mike Argento in the New York Daily Record, January 13, 2012 Old Bucking Horse Museum & Hall of Fame article by Ronald Erdrich, Big Country Journal, January 25, 2012     Ag student internships at Big Sandy, Montana ranch "Alberta bison roam a new home in Montana," The Globe and Mail, January 24, 2012 "The Care Package: Video About Cattle Welfare," Agriculture Proud blog, January 25, 2012 "Cowboy Poetry Concert will benefit new Kanab Outdoor Performing Arts Center," Southern Utah News, January 25, 2012 "Morality and Cake Pans: The Rural Library," by Marcel LaFlamme, The Daily Yonder, January 23, 2012   "To keep 'em coming, dude ranches add mainstream amenities to Old West-style fun," by the Associated Press, via The Washington Post, January 24, 2012 "Government must fund the arts," (mentions the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering), by Christopher Ames, The Baltimore Sun, January 22, 2012 Rodney Nelson and DW Groethe in National Cowboy Poetry Gathering ad, YouTube video Drought Survey Results, cow-calf producers' responses, Beef Magazine graphic representations, January 12, 2012 "Commentary: Yahoo!, please don’t mess with the goat ropers," Greg Henderson, Drover's Network, January 20, 2012   Hawaii Horseback Riding Ranches & Cowboy History, Equitrekking YouTube video "National Cowboy Poetry Gathering," by Greg Martin of Line on Agriculture at Aginfo.net (with audio) January 19, 2012 "'Brain Drain': Put a Stopper in Your Mouth" article by Carol Miller, January 18, 2012, Daily Yonder The Weak Ones Turned Back, The Cowards Never Started: A Century of Ranching in Montana, stories of 142 ranch families with frequent featured excerpts, from the Montana Stockgrowers Association "Cowboy poets ready to be holdin’ their roundup in downtown Golden," by Joe Vaccarelli in the Denver Post, January 18, 2012   "Gather ’round for some cowboy poetry," (Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering) article, January 14, 2012 at ourcoloradonews.com, via Facebook "Tradition Bound or Tradition Achored?" January 13, 2012 blog entry by Troy Marshall in Beef Magazine "Is Poetry Dead? Or in the age of the Internet does it offer us what nothing else can?," January 13, 2012 article by Lauren Wilcox (mentions cowboy poetry) in the Washington Post "Experience Elko, Nevada, at the 28th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering," January 13, 2012 media release "Western governors urge families to take it outside," article, January 12, 2012 at headwatersnews.org, via Twitter   "Raising Cattle and a Family," video with rancher Steve Foglesong, McDonald's beef supplier, via Twitter "Good Advice from a Cowboy Poet," Pennsylvania cowgirl Jesse R. Bussard's "Pearl Snaps" blog for January 12, 2012, with a review of Baxter Black's recent book, via Twitter "Sweetheart of the Rodeo," January 12, 2012 article and slide-show tribute to Louise Serpa in the New York Times, via Facebook The Frontier Project, "an independent documentary series celebrating North America's cowboy culture" "Cowboy Poetry Coming in February," January 10, 2012 story from Mesquite Citizen Journal    "Debate over branding has ranchers lamenting loss of enduring symbol of the West," January 10, 2012 story from the San Jose Mercury News, via Twitter "Loyal to His 4-Legged Constituents," Montana Senator John Tester, January 10, 2012 story from the New York Times, via Twitter "Eight Seconds in Rodeo History: The Ride," Freckles Brown, from The Oklahoman, via Jay Snider "Billy the Kid," the entire January 2011 broadcast is now available on line