Category: Keeping You In The Loop

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Keeping You In The Loop — MHCP Newsletter May 2025 Edition

Howdy Y’All !!!

Creativity abounds in this month’s newsletter. It can cause a big wave, or it can make a little ripple. In any case, the act of bringing something into existence makes a difference, in a few people, an entire country or even can affect folks worldwide. Gena LaCoste’s early painting and drawings brought joy to her family, whereas folks from much further afield are presently reveling in her images of the West. The internet is world wide, so her blog and insightful commentaries connect folks to our part of the country.

Sometimes it’s the search for the solution to a problem that spurs innovation, as was the case with barbed wire. An invention may stay in your own backyard making life easier with a gate latch Ol’ Nellie can’t open or a fence that’ll keep the milk cows out of the garden. The neighbors were the first to benefit from the initial barbed wire invention, but it wasn’t long before the entire continent was using it. The barbed wire story is a perfect example of how a so-called invention often “piggy-backs” off someone else’s new idea. (The same holds true for many poems and songs.) Barbed wire was continually adapted to fit the needs presented, even in war.

We’re thankful for museums that incorporate novel ways of keeping history alive. Even the barbwire buffalo symbolizes the past. Creative inventions (especially since the internet) have a way of connecting us to each other, our continent and the world through the stories and images (past and present) about our part of the country.

Western Music and Cowboy Poetry Event — You Don’t Want to Miss it!

Western Music, Storytelling and Cowboy Poetry
-it’s on Friday, September 26th and again on September 27th
-it’s two days with 15 afternoon performers

-it’s Hugh McClennan (and his Spirit of the West Band) on Saturday Night, highly acclaimed as giving a top notch performance.

Hugh is a working cowboy from the Kamloops area who does it all: he tells stories, sings, writes poetry & has been a radio broadcaster for over 30 years:

Dee Butterfield Video Launch

-was on Friday, April 18th at Ponoka
-was at the Calnash Ag Event Centre, Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Museum
-was hosted by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame Board

Dee Butterfield at the documentary screening, April 2025 Photo courtesy of Cheryl Dust

At the evening event, folks from near and far were in attendance to honor the hometown celebrity, Dee Butterfield. Chance, the MC, summarized the many accomplishments of his mom: as a fierce competitor, as a passionate horsewoman and as a dedicated teacher. “Some of you have been mentored by her, ridden beside her and/or benefitted from the doors she worked so hard to open for others in the sport of rodeo.” The audience has suggested that MHCP promote this documentary through other media, therefore the Producer and Director will be looking at this.

Attendees enjoying the video launch. Photo courtesy of Cheryl Dust

The museum was open for folks to meander around the peeled-log, glass-enclosed cases displaying bronze/trophy awards and interesting paraphernalia belonging to Hall of Famers. Additionally, the walls are lined with their photos, painted rodeo murals grace aloft wall surfaces, there are rows of trophy saddles on a rail and dotting the area are interesting items like a well-worn barrel once used by a rodeo clown/bull fighter. Since 1981 they’ve honored outstanding rodeo athletes: men, horses, rodeo stock and women (15 women inducted so far).

We said it in last month’s edition of Keeping You In The Loop but we’ll say it again: this project was made possible by the talent and grit of some amazing volunteers (Eda Lishman and Nives Lever of Fetecine Filosophy, Don Kletcke, Cheryl Dust to name just a few), funding from the Alberta Heritage Grant. And of course, special thanks to Dee and her family!

Homegrown Tribute

Gena LaCoste

Gena LaCoste, a world class artist from Medicine Hat, Alberta, specializes in watercolors and oil paintings that depict the contemporary culture of the West. She was born and raised into a ranching family in southern Alberta. The rural lifestyle influenced who she is and how she interprets the world around her. Her large body of work is being exhibited and sells extensively in Canada and the U.S.

Gena has been an artist from the time she was a preschooler, trying to draw and paint everything around her; and that hasn’t changed. She is grateful for all who have contributed to her international success. Her family and friends have always been generous with their encouragement and support, Though she is basically self-taught, fabulous artists have graciously mentored and instructed her over the years. Much of what she knows, she also learned by teaching; she taught watercolor painting for many years. A lot of her best ideas came from interactions with her students during her private and workshop sessions. She is always ready try new techniques, openly sharing experiments on her blog e.g. a twig dipped in ink, certain brushes, limited colors, etc.

Gena has always been fascinated with watercolor, and spent more than 20 years exploring ways to interpret the subjects around her through the tricky and challenging medium. In 2014 she began to seriously try her hand at oil painting. She saw a need to develop strong drawing skills to bring her subjects to life. She depicts an extensive variety of subjects: natural prairie landscapes, wild animals, ranching and rodeo life and so much more. Horses are her favorite.

Gena has dedicated her life to practicing her skills, steadily painting in her home studio. A number of years ago she decided to do a painting every day for a year and post each day’s work on her blog. That became something of an addiction so she continued the practice for another four years (while also producing larger scale works). In the five-year span she produced and posted over 1400 small watercolors on her blog, “A Gena-a-Day Artist’s Blog”. Enjoy the commentary she gives each piece, as well as the title that gives each work of art special meaning: What a gift as she openly shares her insight, her activities and the source of inspiration! She is generous with her art for fund-raisers and non-profit organizations, including Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry in which her art graces the cover of three published books. She continues to post her art, the most recent (April, 2025) being the pink moon, nature’s phenomenon.

Hatching Ducks,

An upcoming story.

The Invention of Barbed Wire

Pioneer farmers on the plains needed to protect their crops. Wooden rail and stone fences were tried but materials were too scarce, too expensive and/or too laborious to construct.

Necessity Breeds Invention. DeKalb, Illinois,1873

Michael Kelly
In 1863 he developed a type of fence with points affixed to twisted strands of wire. Had it been promoted, he would have been hailed the Father of Barbed Wire. It was 10 years later that another inventor filed a patent.

Henry Rose
He was a farmer with a breachy cow, so he made a curious contraption to control her. He entered a sample in the local fair: a wooden rail (to attach to an existing rail) with short wire points to “prick’ an animal when it came in contact. It would not have been noteworthy except that three men who attended the fair that day would piggy-back on his idea, Joseph Glidden, Isaac Ellwood and Jacob Haish. They would attach the prongs onto a wire.

Joseph Glidden
He was a farmer (and a banker, businessman and served as Sheriff). Like many farmers, he needed a barricade to keep out stray animals. He applied barbs to the smooth fence wire that was commonly used at the time. But the twisted wire pieces gradually slid so he used the kitchen coffee grinder to crimp the barbs so they’d stay in place. Then with the use of an old grindstone, he wrapped a second wire around the first. He tested it around his barnyard and his wife, Lucinda’s garden. Neighboring farmers stopped by to see and soon Glidden was producing and selling barbed wire.

Isaac Ellwood
He was a hardware merchant whose customers were farmers that needed improved fencing. He also tinkered with the use of barbs and fencing, but had no success. He heard about Glidden’s fence. The story goes that Ellwood and his wife took a buggy ride to Glidden’s farm one Sunday afternoon. When Ellwood’s wife saw the invention, she commented how Glidden’s invention was far superior to anything her husband had created. Ellwood was apparently enraged, but only one day later he came back, and the two men went into business together forming the Barb Fence Company.

Jacob Haish
As a lumber businessman, he knew firsthand from his customers about the need for suitable fencing material. He developed a barbed wire similar to Glidden’s, but upon seeing Glidden’s fence, he realized the inferiority of his own. Haish improved his own fencing invention and applied for a patent, even though Glidden had already done so in 1873. Thus began a patent battle in the U.S. Supreme Court during the 1870’s and 1880’s.

Barbed Wire Creates Controversy

The plain wire companies down east took notice of this new invention. The Washburn and Moen Company of Massachusetts travelled to DeKalb where both Haish and the Barb Fence Company were doing a brisk business. They failed to negotiate with Haish, but in 1876 Glidden with the Barbed Fence Company was eager to sell (and receive royalties), while Ellwood was eager to incorporate. The Ellwood, Washburn and Moen company bought the rights to many of the existing patents and had a near monopoly of the barbed wire market.

There were competitors who challenged its dominance. The simplicity of the barbed wire had “moonshiners” operating all over the countryside without a license or patent. In 1880 Jacob Haish’s famous ‘S’ Barb was judged to be an infringement on patents, as were all other illegal producers by 1892. The Washburn & Moen and Ellwood Co. possessed a monopoly on the barbed wire industry.

Texans were generally skeptical about fencing for their wild Longhorn cattle. Plus they feared the seemingly cruel nature of the contraption. John Gates developed the idea of demonstrations to sell their product. The story goes that a rancher claimed that Ol’ Jim, a neighbor’s bull, could go through anything. He reckoned that bull would not stop for barbed wire. Gates attempted to prove him wrong. He also built a barb wire enclosure in downtown San Antonio to demonstrate how it could hold in the wildest Longhorns. Whether he was successful must be questioned, but his advertising skills certainly promoted the sales of barbed wire as it spread through the West.

There was also conflict and controversy between the cowmen and the so called “nesters”. The ranchers had nowhere left to “free graze” or to herd their cattle on long cattle drives. At first the cattlemen cut the ‘Devil’s rope’ to make a path across private property for the herd, sparking the infamous era of the “range wars”. But by the early 1900’s, ranching had changed and ranchers were themselves using barbed wire to contain their cattle.

Note: In actuality, before 1873, many similar inventions existed in the U.S. and in other countries. Alternate sources also state that numerous inventors received patents for their variations on the basic barb wire design. Between 1868 and 1874 the U.S. government issued over 500 patents.

Source: McCallum, Henry & Francis, The Wire that Fenced the West, (University of Oklahoma Press ), 1965
The author, an oil geologist, wrote the book because collecting barbed wire was his hobby. When he was inspecting in the field, he noticed a variety of barbs on the fences. From taking samples home, his collection grew to more than a hundred different kinds.

Barb Wire Museum

The Kansas Museum at LaCrosse serves to preserve barbed wire history. It displays the varieties of barbed wire as well as tools and equipment once used in fencing. There are 530 patents for barbed wire and 2500 types of barbed wire including the homemade and bootlegged ones (those unlawfully produced). Other displays include a collection of liniments in bottles and tins to cure cuts and injuries to man or beast from barbed wire. Showmen would have travelled around the countryside selling these. One exhibit is the original piece of Henry Rose’s Wooden Rail. Visitors can watch the making of barbed wire using a coffee mill, a grindstone and farmer ingenuity (Joseph Glidden’s). Activities include a Barbed Wire Splicing Contest -who can do the tightest splice in the shortest time. It doesn’t matter how it looks as long as it will support a 75 lb. weight. There are also dioramas, educational films and there’s a research library.

Originally barbed wire was a means of keeping animals apart, now it brings people together with their once a year show in early May. (Other states also have such shows.) That’s where wire collectors can share information, add to their collection, keep in contact and of course, display their personal collections The specifications for collectors is a barbed wire 18” long, with barbs evenly spaced from each end and no broken or missing barbs. Beginners can pay a few cents to a few dollars for a sample and starter sets are under $25. Less common samples can be much more costly.

Railroads and Barbed Wire
Like in Canada, Governments in the U.S. also granted railroads massive amounts of land. These right-of-ways ran across land previously reserved for grazing livestock. Legal disputes often arose when livestock was injured or killed. As well it caused equipment damage and risked passenger safety. So it was that railroad crews erected hundreds of miles of barbed wire along their tracks.

This didn’t totally solve the problem though. More than a few dishonest farmers or ranchers must have removed this wire for their own use because railroad crews couldn’t keep up with repairs. Legend has it that Isaac Ellwood created a unique wire exclusively for railroad use -one or more square strands woven among one or more traditional ones. Thus wire unlawfully acquired could be detected. That’s how The Barb Fence Company became suppliers for railroad fencing.

Barbed Wire Goes to War
Although barbed wire was initially invented as a deterrent for livestock, it was quickly modified for use against humans during the first World War. Rolls of concertina wire were stretched like a spring over miles of hillsides and ravines. Anyone who tried to cross over, under or through was inflicted with painful wounds. The strength and elasticity of the twisted wire would hopelessly entangle vehicles and equipment.

Source: www.RushCounty.org/BarbedWireMuseum

Upcoming: History of the Gang Ranch

Located in Williams Lake area of British Columbia, Gang Ranch was once the biggest ranch on the continent, even bigger than the King Ranch in Texas. It has a storied history which includes having been owned and managed by an entire family, who each abandoned their thriving businesses in Alberta and Saskatchewan to live and work on this remote ranch.

Fenced pastures on the Gang Ranch are not needed. They make use of natural boundaries such as deep canyons and rivers to keep the cattle on ranch property.

Barbed Wire Buffalo

This statue is located in Wallace, Kansas where “Do not climb” signs are unnecessary. There IS a sign made of wire that says: “Don’t Fence Me In”

Post Turtle

With the air thick with election news and political views, it’s only right to get a cowboy’s take on it all. The gist of the story is from a joke I was given.

A doctor was a-stitching the rough-looking hand
Of a guy with a dirty battered hat,
The gashes were a bull-rider's work-related wounds.
To distract his patient, Doc proceeds to chat.

The role of our leaders was a topic they discussed,
The cowboy said, “From my point of view”
They are just post turtles, they are nothing more,
What that is? Well, I'm a-tellin' you.

When you're in the country driving down a dusty road
And you come across a fence and corner post
With a turtle that is trying hard to balance on the top,
That's describes a politician most.

You know it's not for him to get there all by himself,
He really don't belong a-way up there,
'Cause how can he accomplish all his lofty-minded goals,
Not grounded and his nose is in the air.

Then don't it make you wonder how he got there on that post,
Who the heck the stupid mortals was,
Makes one hope the politician that we voted for
Is down-to-earth and works for our cause.

-composed by Jen Zollner

Cowboy Comparisons

  • a voice as sharp as a barb wire fence
  • a fence that’s as straight as an arrow
  • deaf as a fence post
  • looking at me like a cow at a new fence
  • hotter than the hinges on the gates of Hell
  • mad enough he could eat barbed wire and spit nails

Another Poem by Hugh McLennan

Before you mosey on down the trail, take a moment to enjoy one more sample of the outstanding cowboy poetry from our September event headliner, Hugh McLennan.

Western Wisdom

If there’s a hole in your story or your fence, something you rather did not get out, will.
A horse ain’t being polite when he comes to a fence and lets you go over first

Happy Trails,
Jen

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Keeping You In The Loop — MHCP Newsletter April 2025 Edition

Howdy!

Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry is all about making connections. It’s a way for Western entertainers (many live wide distances apart) to visit with each other at our annual event (this year September 26th and 27th). Their poems and songs help the audience be aware of the Western way of life and helps those with a rural background compare it to their experiences. City folk can get a taste of happenings on the ranch. Everybody has a story, and it’s through stories that we get to understand and relate to each other better.

Recently our reach has been to folks further afield. A friend from Regina connected us with Bob Ruschiensky. He has recently become a prolific poet, shared his excitement about publishing and shared many of his poems (every few days sends a new one), including the one to end this newsletter. Brian Tremblay from Ontario saw our website and asked for Full membership status (doesn’t want an Associate Member, yes, he wants to be at our AGM via Zoom). It’s always good to chat with Garnet and Marion Stacey from Cranbrook, BC. They feel Alberta Tourism should be doing much more to promote Cowboy Poetry. Invariably they attend our annual event. I wondered how to get in touch with two entertainers that performed at last year’s Open Mic. A cold call to Empress Town Office got me in touch with a talented young lady, Emma Roudeux. I mentioned Delbert Pratt’s name to Nancy (in our Suds in the Bucket Band), she gave my number and he called that very night. (He’s from Esther, NE of Oyen.) Both will be afternoon performers at our event. The Taber ‘Cowboy Poetry and Western Music Round-Up’ gave us a chance to meet-up. The enthusiasm all of these folks have for our Cowboy Poetry genre is contagious.

The purpose of our newsletter is to ‘Keep You in the Loop’. There are a number of our members/volunteers who struggle with technology. Any of us ‘older ones’ know about that all too well. In fact some don’t have internet, and keeping them ‘in the know’ is important, so we’ve been making paper copies for them. Telephone calls have also been a great way to ‘visit’. Technology is a two-sided coin. In this world of texting and Facebook etc. it is ever more important to be physically present to each other, even if it means using Zoom etc.

Dee Butterfield Documentary Screening

MHCP in partnership with the Canadian Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame is pleased to announce our first of our “Women in Rodeo” series, a documentary of Dee Butterfield. Public screening is April 18, 2025 in Ponoka, AB.

Every film starts with a story and Dee Butterfield gave us an inspiring story while sharing her rodeo journey. This is the first documentary produced by Cheryl Dust under the mentorship of Director, Eda Lishman. Eda has produced The Hounds of Notre Dame, The Wild Pony and directed Primo Baby and The World of Horses series with John Scott to name a few of her projects. Eda and her producing partner and sister, Nives Lever, operate Fetecine Filosophy where they create, develop and produce theatrical and television drama. Nives and her husband Barry Harvey donated the use of their home for Eda and Cheryl to edit this documentary. Peter Kennedy Smith, Eda’s partner and retired Hollywood cameraman, mentored Cheryl and assisted with the capture of the footage for this project. Don Kletke, Encore Recording, composed the music and donated the use of his song. This all started with a research grant from the Alberta Heritage Foundation to research the 15 women inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in which Jen Zollner continues to conduct the research.

Thank you to all at Fetecine Filosophy for donating all of your time and providing a location to edit. Don Kletke, thank you for donating your time and musical talent! And big thanks to MHCP’s own videographer, Cheryl Dust, for countless hours of volunteer time and steadfast dedication to bring this project to life.

Western Music and Cowboy Poetry Event

Save the Date!!!

Friday, September 26th and Saturday, September 27th for 2 full days.

Friday, at 12-noon
-a dozen or so entertainers at the Meadowlark Village Club House


Friday, at 7:00pm
-Open Mic at the Moose


Saturday, at 12-noon
-a dozen or so entertainers at the MH College Theatre

Saturday, at 7:00pm
-our headliners: Hugh McLennan and his Spirit of the West Band and Charlie Ewing and his daughter, Lonnie

Click on the link below to hear Hugh McLennan’s song and the incredible backup accompaniment from Jim McLennan and Mike Dygert.

On his March 22 weekly program, Hugh McLennan sang, “Fence Building Blues”, the perfect addend to the barb wire theme in our recent newsletters. Each week he has interviews, ranch news and incredible music choices. Hear this week’s program on the internet:

Love Story

Easter is its own love story, sacrificing His life for us and giving us hope for a life hereafter. The recent death of Dolly Parton’s husband, Carl Dean, brings their love story into the news, married for nearly 60 years. Staying out of the public eye was his nature. He was a businessman and owner of an asphalt paving business in Nashville.

Their love story began when Dolly was 18 years old. ‘I met him outside the Wishy Washy Laundromat the day I moved to Nashville. I was surprised and delighted when he looked at my face (a rare thing for me)’. They got married 2 years later in a small country church. Though they didn’t have children of their own, they raised several of Dolly’s younger siblings as their own providing for them when her parents and other relatives were unable to.

-from cowgirlmagazine.com

Note: Here’s where Country Music and Western Music meet. Many of Dolly Parton’s songs tell a story, and when performing, she gives a preamble to her songs which adds to their meaning.

The Library Corral

The Incredible Gang Ranch
by Dale Alsager, 1990
NF 636.201 ALS
The Gang Ranch, The Real Story
by Judy Alsager, 1994
NF 636.2 ALS

The Gang Ranch was once Canada’s oldest cattle ranch; in fact it was the largest in the world (located in the Williams Lake area of B.C.). The story is told by two members of the Alsager family who owned the ranch from 1978 to 1982, then spent the next 10 years battling courts. Dale has his side of the story in the 1990 book he published; his sister’s rebuke is “The Real Story” in the book shown below. It tells how members of the Alsager family invested everything they ever owned or earned, and lost it through illegal wrangling and unethical dealings, even within the family. Judy Alsager, who worked this ranch, describes the hard work, the humor, the joys and the heartbreak. She also takes you through breath-taking scenic images of the landscape and the real workings of a ranch.

Note: Dee Butterfield grew up in the vicinity of the Gang Ranch as did Monica Wilson, another Hall of Famer MHCP has interviewed, videoed and is working to make into another mini-documentary.

Homegrown Tribute

Lynette Brodoway

Lynette Brodoway is a Barrel Racer from Brooks, AB, a Champion at the 2023 Canadian Finals Rodeo and was named Cowgirl of the Year in 2022. We watch as her success continues. There is more to her story than winning though. She started her professional career in her mid-fifties; almost all barrel racers turn pro when in their teens or early 20’s. Her role as wife, mother and grandmother has always been of utmost importance. She’s a horsewoman first and a barrel racer second. Over the years she has been able to embrace and balance her commitment to all of these.

Deep down, Lynnette has had ‘the itch’ to barrel race for as long as she can remember. Being raised on a ranch (in the Ranier, Alberta area) suited her fine, in fact it allowed her to be riding since she was four years old, and she’s been on the back of a horse ever since. Raised in a family of team ropers, starting with her dad, Ivan, she was a heeler with her mom, Marlene, at the All-Girl ropings. She then decided to become a header to turn steers for her brother, Dwight, and his friends. The Wigemyr family trained their own team roping horses, but Lynette would always be working them on the barrels.

When Lynette married Ken Brodoway, she began training horses on barrels and continued to compete at amateur level after started a family. She intentionally put her dream of going pro on hold to raise their two sons. She watched her brother’s professional success, and his CFR team roping championship in 2002 and 2008. She gave full support to Josie, their son who qualified to compete at the CFR in 2006. Her focus was having horsemanship training clinics, which started when she watched her dad’s special way with horses; watching how he was able to rehabilitate them. She attributes her barrel racing success to ‘Cowboy’, her sorrel gelding that was named ‘Horse With the Most Heart’ in 2023. Horses were also at the root of healing from the tragedy of losing a son, Wacey.

Lynette is proud to be a Canadian rodeo competitor. Her story is one of patience, and of constantly being open to learning from parents, books and horses, as well as learning from others and from her own experiences. She stresses the importance of having the right people around you to get you back on track when necessary. She has worked long and hard to achieve her dream and inspires us to never give up on our passions, that age is not a barrier.

At the age of 64, Lynette has a new indoor horse Poncho, and also on Cowboy is still a stiff competitor at professional rodeos. She works with and cares for horses most every day and welcomes others to come learn from her. Rodeo is her main passion at this time, but she always has a couple of young horses in training. She loves babysitting her 2 grandchildren, JR and Jack (aged 3 and 1) that live a mere 20 minutes away.

Taber Western Round-Up

On Saturday, March 29th Taber rounded up an entertaining group of poets and musicians. Two of the MHCP folks were there, Noel Burles as a performer and Jen as emcee. Val Beyer and David Woodruff from their club are always at our event to support us. There are a few things it would be good if we could replicate at our event on September 26th and 27th. They had 10 student performers, some were soloists, some sang in a group and some even had poems they had written. They had a dozen and a half sponsors, some of which were unbelievably generous. They had ‘a whole bunch’ of young guys doing the set-up and take down. And they had delicious food. I need to mention their baked potato topped with chili, cheese and sour cream. Also their cinnamon buns; the dough for them was rising in the kitchen when we got there. It would have been worth your trip to Taber for that alone. Thanks to Bud Edgar, the joker and trick roper who sent the photos.

Fence Idioms

  • fence mending — trying to end a disagreement or quarrel
  • sitting on the fence — not taking a stand
  • fence straddling — beating around the bush, weaseling, hemming and hawing
  • rush ones fences — to act in too much of a hurry (sometimes refers to a young couple)
  • from pillar to post — from one place to another

“Don’t Fence Me In”

Oh give me land, lots of land under starry skies above,
Don't fence me in,
Let me ride through the wide open prairie that I love,
Don't fence me in.

The inspiration for it came from a poem called “Open Range” by Robert Fletcher. He also wrote a non-fiction book called “Free Grass to Fences” about Montana’s cattle industry.

It was Cole Porter, in 1934, that wrote the hugely successful song “Don’t Fence Me In” using Robert Fletcher’s poem as a starting point. But he added broader dimensions. One of his
verses is about a highwayman, Wildcat Kelly, who desperately wanted to avoid being fenced in by jail or by marriage or by anything else for that matter. The popular version doesn’t use this verse, but Roy Rogers did:

Wildcat Kelly's lookin' mighty pale,
Was standin' by the sheriff's side,
And when that sheriff said I'm sending you to jail,
Wildcat raised his head and cried: Oh give me land, lots of land…

Another verse continues to touch on freedom:

I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences,
And gaze at the moon until I lose my senses,
I can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences,
Don't fence me in.

Ranching Before Fences

It was through the investment of British aristocracy that ranching started in Saskatchewan and Alberta (then called Assiniboia and Alberta). Huge herds of cattle were grazed on the open range, owned by big ranches who didn’t see a need to put up feed in case Chinooks failed to appear. These were the ranches that took big losses in 1886-87. During that summer there were drought conditions and prairie fires. Then came a harsh winter that started in November and didn’t end until March. It was hailed “The Big Die-Up”. The infamous winter in 1906-07 likewise saw tens of thousands of cattle die of starvation. Many of the big corporate ranches on both sides of the U.S. border collapsed.

Ranching After the Fences

Barb wire was called “devil’s rope” by the big ranchers because it hampered the open graze method they used for their cattle herds numbering in the hundreds of thousands. It was the smaller ranches that survived because they were not controlled by absentee owners and adapted to conditions as they experienced them. They saw the need for fences to control the movement of cattle and to form enclosures to stack feed for the cattle in winter. With cross fences they could have a breeding schedule so calves weren’t born in winter. They could also improve their herd knowing which bulls were breeding their cattle.

Herding large numbers of cattle on the open range required cowboys, lots of them, young men that were skilled horsemen and cattlemen. Barb wire was a relatively inexpensive means of controlling the movement of cattle. Even an unskilled person could build a fence using posts, wire and staples. It carved the vast prairie into manageable chunks for ‘ranch farming’ as it was sometimes called. Barb wire not only changed the history of ranching, it changed the world of the cattle-trail cowboy too.

Barbed Wire and Boundaries

by Bob Ruschiensky from Regina, SK

The prairie once ran wide and free,
No posts, no lines, not locks, no key.
A cowboy rode where the sky touched land,
No fences cut, no walls to stand.

But times had changed, the borders grew,
The cattle strayed, the fights came too.
So men strung wire, mile by mile,
Through dust and sweat, through grit and trial.

And posts stood firm, the steel ran tight,
A twisting snake of rusted might.
It kept the herds where they should be,
Yet chained the land once wild and free.

Some say the wire tamed the West,
It marked the land, it drew the rest.
But every time I ride that line,
I feel the past still press in time.

For barbed wire hums a lonesome tune,
It sings of loss beneath the moon.
A cowboy rides, yet still he knows,
Some things are meant to stay unclosed.

Western Wisdom

There are three kinds of men:
– ones that learn by reading
– a few that learn by observation
– and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence.
(this must have come from a guy)

I’ll leave you with this bit of wisdom:

A fence mended is a friendship tended.

Hope Calving is Going Well!

Happy Trails,
Jen

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Keeping You In The Loop — MHCP Newsletter March 2025 Edition

Howdy!

Welcome to the month of March. As time marches on, change is inevitable. The new and younger blood that has joined our herd of Board members should make for an exciting year with fresh ideas and better technical skills. As spring approaches we’re hoping the variable weather brings us lots of moisture. But snow storms aren’t exactly what the ranchers are hoping for because that’s when the cows all decide to calve, that’s inevitable.

The members of Borderline 4-H have also shown changes, remarkable improvement in their speech giving, how they used to be nervous and now look so comfortable on stage. Even the Weavers (the members too young to be 4-Hers yet) were excited to give a speech, some using cue cards (like their older siblings) even though they don’t know how to read yet. I remember the days when kids only did ‘the speech thing’ because it was a requirement.

Likewise the cattle industry has changed from open range grazing with minimal preparation for wintering cattle, to modern ranching with fences and ‘making hay’. Barb wire has an interesting history as well. Fences divide property. There is a saying: Good Fences make Good Neighbors. You don’t want the neighbour’s bull coming to visit the heifers on your side of the fence. (Unless he’s an upgrade for your herd, in which case you might want to make an opening in the fence.) Lately I see 5′ and 6′ solid fences going around city properties. I guess they make for privacy, but fences (and walls) also divide.

Here is what Robert Frost has to say about good fences and good neighbors:

“Take my next-door neighbor and I,
Waiting eight years to put one up,
And now that we’ve actually done it
Wondering why we bothered in the first place.”

Change is Good

At MHCP we start our new year with quite a number Board changes. Penita Schnell has taken over the Treasurer duties from Carol Eisenbarth who is still looking after the Memberships. Jacquie Noerenberg is stepping aside as Secretary as Jim Koch takes on that job. Many thanks to Carol and Jacquie.

It’s only been a half year since Penella Zollner has joined us and been our webmaster. Bob Thompson and Greg Herman are the newest members to ‘step on Board’. Thanks to each for their attendance and input at the meetings, especially all the ‘newbies’.

Borderline 4-H Club

Members of the club are proudly displaying the tack boxes they finished, the ones Jim Koch built for them, complete with dove-tailed corners. Plans are being made for members of Borderline to serve food as a fund-raiser at our next Western Music and Cowboy Poetry event on September 26th and 27th. They have had connections with MHCP since it’s beginning. In 2019 at our event at the Redcliff Harmony Hall they served snacks and drinks (and smiles). MHCP has coached five different 4-H members to write poems, some of which have been on our stage reciting them.

The Taber Round-Up

You don’t want to miss this day of down-home Western entertainment. Bud Edgar always has tricks up his sleeve and Larry Krause has been invited to MN, SK. AB. BC and the East Coast. He also entertained at our very first event in 2019. Raffles are always fun and the food is delicious (especially the homemade pies last year).

MHCP and Taber share our resources and skills. Val Beyer shared poetry at our Open Mic and ran the computer at our event (David Woodruff supported us too). Jen offered to MC their ‘Round Up” this year. The bales at our event belong to Val, and we are sharing the sandwich-board signs Jim Koch has made for both organizations.

Western Wisdom

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull strong.

Translating Cowboy Lingo

In a half-ton a cowboy asks one of his partners, “Do want to ride ‘girlfriend’ or ‘shotgun’?”

What does he mean?

Do you want to ride in the middle or by the window (the window is more comfortable, but he’s the one gettin’ the gates).

The Barbwire Fence

When Greg Herman recited his poem about barb wire at the Folk Club jam, it came to mind how important fences were in the history of ranching. It signaled the end of the days of vast areas of free grassland and the beginning of ranching as we see it today. It ended the trail drives and allowed the expansion of farming.

Hometown Tribute

Do you have someone local you’d like to acknowledge? Just let us know.

Dale Rose

He is remembered as a legendary bull rider and one of rodeo’s most colorful and entertaining cowboys. His nickname was “Hoot” because his hat was shaped like Hoot Gibson’s, a western movie star at the time. Calf roping and bullriding were his rodeo sports, an unusual combination. He was a crowd favorite for his various quirks and his unconventional white shirt and necktie attire in the arena. They watched for the cigar he smoked when he rode, the judges even giving him an extra point if he was still puffing on it at the end of the bull ride.

His career started when he entered his first rodeo in Medicine Hat in 1955 and his first pro rodeo was in Taber in 1961. The highlight of his career was in 1974 when he competed in the first Canadian Finals Rodeo, won the Guy Weadick Award and scored the highest marked ride on the Hall of Fame bull named Stubby.

Locally, anyone interested in becoming a cowboy knew about Dale Rose and his indoor arena along the #1 highway just outside Redcliff, Alberta. It was one of the first indoor arenas around, dug in the ground with wood sides that were maybe 4 or 5 feet high and a roof. It was always a little damp down there, but in the winter it was a bit warmer than outside. He had it set up with a roping box to practice calf roping and some bucking chutes with steers and bulls to ride. There was always something going on there and Dale was the kind of guy that promoted it.

Bull riding is a dangerous sport at the best of times, and in Dale’s arena it was even more so. After you got bucked off, you had to be the bull fighter for the next guy. There wasn’t anybody else there to protect you other than your buddies. The arena was relatively narrow, so when you came off of a bull you didn’t have very many places to go. Other draws to ‘Hoot’s Place’ were the alternate activities that came along with the rodeoing there.

Credit to Dale Rose that so many young guys have gone on with the cowboy lifestyle and done extremely well. All the successful bull riders that this part of the country turned out (and there were many) got their start in Hoot’s arena. At age 14 World Champion Cody Snyder was already riding a half dozen bulls there every night. In 2008 Dale Rose was inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in the Legend category.

-thanks to Don Thompson and various internet site for the information

The Library Corral

Yellowstone
Season 1, DVD – 2018 YEL
Season 2, DVD – 2019 YEL
Season 3, DVD – 2020 YEL
Season 4, DVD – 2022 YEL
Season 5 Pt. 1, DVD – 2023 YEL

It’s the adult show everyone’s talking about, and the Medicine Hat Library has multiple copies of each season. It revolves around the Dutton family that controls the larges ranch in the United States. It is constantly being attacked by land developers, and Indian Reservation and America’s first National Park.

Some Secrets are Hard to Keep

The details in this poem are true, well, almost true. Phil tells the story:

Promises made are promises kept,
One exception I'm sure you'd agree,
If a question is asked, only one choice is left,
To tell them the truth it would be.

How to get even with Tyler, my friend,
He's a darn good ranch hand, I must say,
But tricks played on me, I must amend,
I knew it was payback time one of these days.

Tempers can flare all too easy with Ty,
Has got him in many a fix,
Caught him red-handed as I'm passing by,
To help him or laugh was a terrible mix.

He discovered his yearlings had gone through the fence,
At the corner was fixing the gate,
Herding them back wouldn't make him that tense,
But for fencing he had an absolute hate.

Tyler had almost completed the job___
When a nail on the post grabbed his shirt,
That got Ty feeling like he's a lynch mob,
Had a gash but my presence is what really hurt.

Ty got to hacking that spike with his might,
He's determined to take off its head,
The long-handled pincher would work just right,
I heard the wail, novel words were said.

His manhood was where the handles slammed shut,
Ty's jumping in anguish and hurt,
I kind of felt guilty, I felt like a nut,
So a promise to secrecy quickly I'd blurt.

Finally Ty got his breath back and sighed,
Please help me to get on my horse,
Going back was a slow walk, no joyride,
I helped him get home, sorry for him, of course___

But something was nagging, wish that Ty I could roast,
Keep my word and still get him back,
Ah! Nutcracker Corner; that's a sign I could post,
When folks ask about it, I'd describe Tyler's whack.

A story like that could spread 'cross the land,
Tourists visit Nutcracker Corner,
See the nail that's beheaded, and try their hand
At fixing the fence just like Tyler Warner.

by Jen Zollner, February, 2025

Happy Trails,
Jen

Posted on

Keeping You In The Loop — MHCP Newsletter February 2025 Edition

Howdy!


“February is always considered the ‘love’ month and the unpredictable month.” That statement took me aback. Come to think of it, I guess love can be unpredictable, especially if it hasn’t been tended carefully. And we know that weather is unpredictable, but not just in February. If it isn’t floods or hurricanes, it’s drought and fires in the news, any time of the year.

In February there is more that we can expect. For Valentine’s Day it might not be roses but a card from that someone special. We can be sure that some of those New Year’s resolutions, especially the lofty ones, are faltering a bit. Maybe you can anticipate our newsletter before the end of that month. That’s our intent but we don’t always manage it. In each edition there are categories you can expect: strange words in cowboy lingo, wise western advice and cowboy poetry. We enjoy sharing the research being done, this time about a thriving town and ferry that used to be. Of course, the purpose of a newsletter is to share what’s “new” in our organization, what’s happened: this time our AGM and the new photo that will be synonymous with MHCP. And in case it slipped your notice, our steerhead brand shows up wherever it can.

Our Board meetings are very predictable; once a month, always via Zoom, and though we try to shorten ’em up, the meetings are “long enough”. But there’s a feeling of accomplishment after each, the sign of a busy organization getting things done. We can expect Harv Speers, our chairperson, to add his brand of humor. Thankfully younger blood has come on-board with technical and bookkeeping skills. A new category “Honored Members” acknowledges folks that have been on the board or given us significant support.

Hope your February turns out as good as you hoped (or better)! Stay well!!

Help Wanted: Secretary

-meetings held once a month via Zoom
-mostly someone to document motions
-easy to add notes in bold to the agenda

Thank you to Jacquie Noerenberg who has filled the boots of Secretary for the past several years.

Community Coffee and AGM

It seems January/February is inventory time for many businesses. It’s also when we as a society need to have a meeting for all members. It’s when we summarize the achievements of the past year and to share our vision for coming year.

Meetings can be boring, especially Annual General Meetings. Thanks to the Medicine Hat Public Library, we can combine our AGM with Community Coffee, one of their Outreach Programs. On Monday, January 27th, the Honor Currie Room was dressed in Western style and the treats were ranch-inspired with spudnut shapes of steerheads, oxtails, cowdogs and even prairie oysters. (Thanks also to McBrides for spudnuts.)

Our monthly meetings are via Zoom so it’s a chance for Board Members to meet in person. It offers the opportunity for MHCP members (and others) to mingle, to renew their memberships and even purchase one of our publications. We’re proud of the talent in our membership and it was the perfect time for our Western Musicians, Don Thompson and Conrad Sandberg to provide entertainment. Also performing were Cowboy Poets Harv Speers and Jen Zollner.

Oh yes, our mascots, Betsy and Bob were happy to announce their engagement.

Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love

We see Aphrodite as a sweet-smelling goddess of love who pops up once a year on Valentine cards. But she deals with all human relations, romantic and antagonistic. Even her favorite fruit, the pomegranate, symbolizes both fertility and death. She is not to be messed with.

In Athens the entire Acropolis rock (crowned by the famous Parthenon temple) was sacred to Aphrodite. The wall of rock has niches and crevices, looks much like the rocks at Dinosaur Provincial Park. Citizens would leave offerings to Aphrodite in the nooks and crannies: pomegranates, scented oils or cups of milk. Some young romantics still honor the goddess of love the same way.

Aphrodite has long been associated with perfumes and flowers, especially roses. That is why we exchange over 250 million roses on Valentine’s Day.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

From on-line National Geographic Magazine

Steveville, Alberta

Though Steveville is a ghost town, it has a history of people who lived there, and traces of a railway that never came to be. Ghost-towners come but only for a several hour visit. “In the past we had folks coming by in the hopes of finding buildings and cemeteries etc. on the ite, only to be disappointed.” The only residents to share some history with them are Alvin and Ursula Penner. That’s who hosted us and the whereabouts of our latest signature photo shoot.

Signature Photo

We’re excited to unveil our new signature photo(s). In the foreground you’ll see Penella Zollner and Donny Musgrove on Red and Rio. Red Dog enjoyed exploring the landscape and once in a while was part of the photo shoot too. The backdrop is the northwest edge of the striking badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park. Donny used his trusty green Chev and two-horse rattle trap to haul Rio and Red (20 km NW) from his place to a flat piece of prairie near the Alvin and Ursala Penner yard.

It was a pleasant June day for Cheryl Dust to be taking pictures, hundreds of them from every possible angle. It was shooting some from the top of the hill and some below; it was one session to capture the riders in the afternoon sun and another at the dusk of day. Some were closer-ups from the front, back and side, and some were riders in a distance. Every shot displayed another assemblage of rock formations and/or an array of vegetation and prairie grasses. The prickly pear cacti were in full bloom, another photographer’s delight. We found pebbles underfoot that were washed smooth from many years of erosion, lots of oval ones and some perfectly round. As the sun went down, we enjoyed differing colorings in the distant rock formations. Alvin told us the scenery changes with each season.

The day we took the signature photo was a memorable day for us. But choosing just one picture was too hard. Perhaps it was like deciding which beautiful girl to dance the waltz, the fox trot or the polka with. As a result, we’ve a suitable photo (or more) for our business card, for Facebook and yet another to be on our poster, etc. It’s also a way to share more of nature’s beauty at Dinosaur Provincial Park.

Cowboy Lingo

  • sparrow catching: looking for a woman to go out with
  • playing the field: to spread one’s affections to more than any one single guy or gal
  • to set his cap for her: to try to attract and win her as a romantic partner
  • cut a rusty: to go courting
  • buss: kiss (He gave her a buss on the cheek.)
  • mashed: in love or extremely drunk (in either case not thinking straight)
  • soft down on: to be in love
  • sweet on: smitten with, very fond of someone
  • sugar: kiss (Honey come over here and give me some sugar.)

What a Cowboy’s Sayin’ (when there’s no one else around)

“Lassoed yer heart from the start!”
“You’ve prob’ly got a name, but I’ll call you Hon!”

“Love you to the farm and back.”
“You’re sweeter than an old maid’s dream.”

“In the arena of life, you’re my best ride.”
“You’re cuter than a red wagon full of speckled puppies.”

Cowboy Wisdom for the Guys:

When your cowgirl’s playin’ hard to get, it’s good to have a fast horse.

Cowboy Wisdom for the Cowgirl:

Never fantasize being swept off your feet by a guy whose shirt is too fancy and whose boots are too shiny.

Noel’s Nonsensical Notes

Noel Burles gives us a regular poetry entry and this month he brings us True Love. Not so ‘nonsensical’ but fitting for a our Valentine’s day newsletter edition.

TRUE LOVE

I remember our first meeting
40 some odd years ago
You were way past beautiful
Oh ...I loved you so

You had a style and beauty
And curves that didn't quit
I knew within my heart
We were the perfect fit

Oh, we had our tribulations
But we both stayed true
Seen a lot changes
But its been just me and you

Its hard for me, a cowboy
To say just how I feel
But I have to say it
My love is deep and real

Yes, we've gotten older
But to me you're still the best
Outstanding in my eyes
Way above the rest

True, we've had some hard times
Been up the creek without a paddle
But all in all, yes thru it all
You've been a great old saddle

The Library Corral

Cowboy Curmudgeon and Other Poems by Wallace McRae
Nonfiction Book. 811 MCR, 1992

Wallace McRae was the most important founding poet of the National Cowboy Gathering in Elko, Nevada in 1985. For Cowboy Poetry, that’s like the National Finals Rodeo or the World Series in baseball. After 26 years as a professional buckaroo, he dedicated the last 40 years to perpetuating the cowboy culture. This year at the 40th gathering at Elko, he announced he is retiring from the stage. He’ll still be on You-Tube so be sure to look him up.

This book is a treasury of 134 of McRae’s poems including classics like “Reincarnation. This one is frequently recited at cowboy gatherings and on the internet; it is just as funny every time. Hearing it recited is what the cowboy genre is about, so by accessing the internet, you can hear it being done by various poets.

Take care,
Jen

Posted on

Keeping You In The Loop — MHCP Newsletter January 2025 Edition

Howdy Y’all !


In preparation for the new year, is it out with the old, and in with the new, ‘cleaning house’? For women, it’s mostly preparing for the celebration of the season and a time for hosting guests, getting rid of what’s no longer needed, and finally fixing or getting those things they’ve been needing.

Some of us have a hard time throwing anything away, someday we might need piece of wood, could repurpose that neat-shaped glass bottle and know we can reuse that shopping bag. It’s obvious I take the recycling idea too far when I see the closet full of clothes that are keepsakes from past chapters in my life, wearables I bought on a trip or to celebrate a graduation or wedding. But when I keep them long enough, they come back in style, are perfect for the next special occasion or ideal for that themed social event.

For many it’s been the season to take a break from daily routines; time to reflect, learn a new craft, read that book a friend lent us (in my case, the latest issue of Cowboy Country) and make resolutions to change our old ways. Antiques by definition are old, very old, and serve as the means to help us remember our ancestors and appreciate their sacrifices, realizing how times have changed. And for businesses and organizations, there is ‘year end’, a time when they (and we at MHCP) are made accountable.

Looking back at the past year, be proud of the choices you’ve made and the people you’ve helped along the way, even with a simple smile. Looking at the mission of MHCP, we’ve done our best to preserve and promote Western Music and Cowboy Poetry. Our website also makes a point of highlighting the lifestyle and history of the rural way of life.

Thanks to each of you for supporting us: with sponsorship, by attending our annual event and visiting our website/newsletter.

Wishing you and yours the sunshine of joy and prosperity in the coming year.

May the waters run cool and deep,
May the grass be lush and green, and
May the heavens bring the rain we all need.

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Annual General Meeting
Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry

Monday, January 27th, 2025

Downstairs at the library is where we will meet,
Steerheads homemade will be part of the fare,
And there’ll be ox tails, they’re spudnuts, they’re sweet,
Come early to be sure that you get your fair share.

I’m sure there’ll be stories that come out in rhyme,
And guitars will accompany the singers on hand,
At ten’s when it starts, goes until it’s noontime,
And a meeting thereafter is what we have planned.

Betsy and Bob are looking forward to greeting you!
Community Coffee from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Annual Meeting from 1:00pm to 2:00pm
(Members are urged to attend, Zoom or otherwise.)

Zoom attendance available, request an invite by calling 403-529-6384

Memberships

The 2025 coasters are here. There’s one for you to add to your collection when you renew your membership. (Thanks to Carol for a good choice.)

MHCP Presents: Hats Off! to Women in Rodeo

There is always a project on the go at MHCP. Presently we are researching women that have been inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. Jen is in the process of interviewing as many of the 15 as possible.

Jen Zollner interviewing Canadian Pro=rodeo Hall of Fame Inductee, Monica Wilson

Cheryl has videoed three of them. Our goal is get to know more about these women and to highlight the contributions have made to rodeo. Watch for upcoming posts on our website: “Hats off to Women in Rodeo”.

Our thanks for the Heritage Research Grant that is partially funding the project.

Antique Tractor on Parade

Old things aren’t usually displayed, unless of course, they are old enough to be antique. Sheldon Ellik decided to put his antique tractor on parade at the Schuler 100th anniversary where it was also used to run the thresh machine at the threshing demonstration. (It has a pulley on the side that newer machines don’t have.) Sheldon also had it in the Stampede parade. ”I noticed that in the last few years Medicine Hat’s parade didn’t have any antique machines. That doesn’t seem right!”

The Oliver 20 Standard was his dad’s, bought at Paul Pudwell’s farm auction in the 1960’s. By the serial number in the manual they determined it’s a 1942 model. After it was no longer as a chore tractor, it was parked in the yard withstanding the outdoor elements for a number of years. Then he and his son Jason decided to fix the seized clutch and get it running. They also started doing some work on the engine, and how it goes with unfinished projects, it remained in pieces. But the tractor parts were inside; they were in the garage.

His brother-in-law from Carstairs prompted him to restore it. Glen James had been restoring tractors and tries doing one every winter, but in 2019 he didn’t have anything like that to work on. Sheldon said, “No problem!” But it needed to be running. “Jason and I put the pieces together and with a few cranks, it started up. My brother-in-law stripped it down and it looks good, nothing like when I took it to him. “ It’s now on display and ready for a parade.

Heritage is important to Sheldon, not just with the tractor but with the farm itself. His grandfather John homesteaded there in 1911, then it was farmed by John’s son, Victor and his grandson, Sheldon. Jason (and his wife Kara) are on the homeplace now, and it looks like their son Drogan will be the 5th generation farmer there. “Maybe he’s only 9 years old but there’s no doubt he’ll be a farmer. There isn’t a day when the combine or tractor is running that he’s not on it. One harvest, when he was still in the carseat, he spent the whole harvest in the combine.” Grandson Rhett hasn’t shown quite as much interest, but then he’s only a six-year-old interested in dinosaurs. Both Rhett and Drogan enjoyed parading the old Oliver that once belonged to their great-grandfather.

***New MHCP Feature *** Noel’s Nonsensical Notes

That’s the heading Noel Burles gave for the regular poetry entry he’s pledged to contribute to our website. What a privilege to have this award-winning Cowboy Poet share his talent with us! We’re looking forward to his original rhymes, and interested how he will twist topics and look at them from the inside out.

Noel has many talents. He is a song writer and a multi-faceted musician. A vagabond troubadour is what you might call him as he performs many times a week in places all over Alberta and the U.S. On Facebook he sells “Not so Straight Real Estate” to show off his wonky sense of humor. Other hats he wears are: secretary for the Alberta Cowboy Poetry Association, president of the Legion in his home town of Coalhurst and he’s the Performer Consultant on the board of Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry Foundation.

You’ve probably eaten turkey at least once or twice during the Christmas season. His first poem in the series has me feeling sorry for the bird, even a little bit guilty.

IN MEMORANDUM

It was over in a second,
He was euthanized,
Never knew what hit him,
Didn't even know he'd died.

Stripped of his mighty feathers,
His nakedness displayed,
His gizzards and his innards stripped
Then on a plate was laid.

He got some stuffing, stuffed,
Well, you know where it went,
With a bunch of herbs and spices
To the crematorium was sent.

Never burnt him to a crisp,
Just till he was golden brown,
Removed and carefully dissected,
Then got passed around

To a bunch of carnivores,
Stripped him to the bone,
And what was left of him
Into the garbage was thrown.

November, 24, 2024

Don Barnett

Him and his wife, Marion, are MHCP members and are regular attendees at our Western Music and Cowboy Poetry event. They might even make it to our AGM meeting this month. That’s quite a trek from where they live in Cranbrook, BC. He could be called a Cowboy Poetry Enthusiast. He’s also a traveller. You can learn about the places he’s been and see the sights he’s seen (without ever leaving your easy chair.) You can catch his highlights of the Cowboy Gathering at High River that resulted in him posting three Cowboy Poetry videos.

His YouTube “Abilene: Cattle Drives of the Wild West” tells how Western Music started. Cowhands, only 10 to 15 of them, would slowly trail Texas longhorn cattle in a miles-long string of 1200 to 3000 bovines. As well there were 3 to 10 horses for each cowboy. From Texas they were heading north to the railhead at Abilene, the first cowtown of the West. The drawl of them chanting rhymes and singing not only kept the cattle calm, it helped them stay awake and pass the time. It was also how they entertained each other around the campfire each night.

Western Slang

When a cattle drive finally arrived at the railhead town, the cowhands were paid off and freed of their duties. After months of monotonous work, dull food and abstinence, these young guys were ready to celebrate. First they were in dire need of a bath, a shave, a haircut and a suit of clothes. It became a wild town because now they had access to liquor (non on the trail) and played rough, dangerous games, like driving a nail into a post using a gun (a barking iron). There were also visits to Tiger Town or Tiger Alley where the gambling halls and brothels were. At that time the parlours were run by women and were without the stigma of east coast cities. With the coming of settlers and an increase in female population, prostitution was less blatant and not so commonplace.

New Year’s Eve might have been the last time you dressed-up and celebrated. Here are cowboy terms that were used in the cattle drive days; some might still be used today.

  • Gussied up – cleaned up and dressed nicely
  • Bib and tucker – to wear your best clothes
  • Fam-a-diddle – a fancy dress
  • Choke strap – necktie
  • Molocher – a hat, a cheap hat
  • Dude – a person who likes to dress up (and talk) like a cowboy but is a city slicker

Bachelor’s New Year’s Feast

When first told, this was a true story, but the folks in it have been lost to memory. So Paul and John and their coffee buddies are the fictional characters. You probably remember the story.

Bachelor's New Year's Feast

Paul and John with their overalls on
Were bachelors and proud ones were they,
     Independent men,
     They'd prove it again
With a supper to treat friends on New Year's Day.

They knew how to ranch successfully,
That year even raised their own turkey,
     With two desserts at least,
     They'd make a feast/
Advice, should have been a necessity___

But they've always been able to figure things out/
The guys they have coffee with, gave them a shout,
     The turkey was steaming,
     The coffee boys beaming,
They were hungry and ready to eat there's no doubt.

The knife for the carving was sharpened with care,
The turkey they roasted, it's in front of them there,
     The first slice was tender___
     With a browned look of splendour,
But the subsequent slices brought a look of despair.

Something was strange where the stuffing should be,
Intestines were revealed for the guests to see,
     No dressing of bread,
     But a stench instead/
You'd think guests would leave as they'd say, “Excuse me”____

Oh their stomachs were turning, their faces turned green,
Nothing worse had they smelled, nothing worse ever seen/
     But they chose to be kind,
     With the presence of mind
Helped to carry the turkey from where it had been.

You'd think that the flavor was gone from the feast,
But the New Year's party, it would not be ceased,
     You see Paul and John,
     Were true friends to count on,
Had no one else here 'cause their fam'ly's out East/

Like there's nothing wrong the boys heaped up their plate___
With turnips and potatoes that were mashed first rate,
     The banana cream pie
     That Paul made, they piled high,
Two helpings of John's apple crisp tasted great.

The cattle dogs found it, a surprise turkey treat,
The entrails were scrumptious and so was the meat/
     This tale is still told
     Though it's 70 years old
Of the party at New Year's that friends made complete.

New Year’s Resolutions:

I will ride more and worry less.
When trouble comes to visit, I won’t offer it a place to sit down.
I will keep a stock of smiles on hand and deliver them free of charge.
To keep life simple, I will plow around the stump.
I’ll keep skunks, bankers and lawyers at a safe distance.
Folks are like a barb wire fence, so I’ll make a point of seeing their good points.
I will taste my words before I spit them out.

Our wish for you in 2025,
May the sun shine in front of you
the rain be behind you
and the wind follow you!

Take care,
Jen

Posted on

Keeping You In The Loop — MHCP Newsletter December 2024 Edition

Howdy Y’All!

It seems that December is the month for celebrating, and at Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry, that’s what we’ll do. First and foremost it’s remembering the birth of Christ. For some of us, it’s a time for new beginnings. And for the horse people in our midst, it’s also having a designated day especially for our horses. When folks leave our midst, we have a service honoring their life. Indeed it’s being grateful for what was, and what is.

In our family, December might as well be called, “Merry Birthday!” because there are so many of them. My two sisters and I were born exactly a week before Christmas, the day before Christmas and the day after Christmas (although not all in the same year!) One of those birthdays is a big one this year (and just so you know, it isn’t mine.) My granddaughter was a “Sember” baby and my son-in-law was born on Christmas Day; his name even matches the day of his birth (Noel.) Gift shopping? We just get a year’s worth done in one month.

Congratulations!!

Grandson Tyler and his girlfriend Jessie went to Mexico, and that’s where Tyler got down on one knee and proposed. Yes, they are engaged and we’re excited to officially welcome Jessie into our family in 2025.

The Goat Family

Tyler and Jessie have been busy preparing for their ‘kids’ arrival: building fences, trenching water to the shelter and installing a drinking post, a goat waterer that doesn’t freeze in winter. Just before going on their engagement holiday, their four darlings arrived. They are yearlings, so we’re not sure if they’re still called kids or whether they are doelings, but one thing is certain; they’re cute.

The first thing they had to learn was how to push the lever to drink. Ginger, the one with the most red, was the first to learn how. It didn’t take long to recognize their distinct characters. Ginger, the friendliest one, is best friends with Marj, the one with less red and white. Dorris, with the black head, is the most timid, and blonde-faced Sunny is the most adventurous and tends to be a daredevil. Tyler and Jessie had a great holiday, but they also looked forward to coming home to get to know their ‘kids’ better.

Newsflash: OUR AGM MEETING

Its that time of year, time for our AGM:

Monday, January 27th, 2025
Medicine Hat Public Library

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Western Entertainment
Everyone is welcome!
Snacks, even steerhead and oxtail spudnuts

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. AGM Meeting
Members are encourage to attend
Zoom attendance available, request an invite by calling 403-529-6384

Bob and Betsy will be greeting folks and they have some exciting news to share!!!

December 13th, Day of the Horse

We don’t need a specific date on the calendar to celebrate the horse, however certain dates have been set aside to do so. December 13th is the official date in United States. Canada’s National Horse Day is the 1st Saturday of June, and then we also have “I Love Horses Day” on July 15th. Horses have been part of our human history for centuries, and are still an important part of many people’s lives today.

Here are some stats:

Q: How many domestic horses in Canada?A: 500,000
Q: How many wild or feral horses?A: 2000, mostly in Alberta and British Columbia
Q: Which province has the most registered horses?A: Alberta, 37% of all the horses in Canada
Q: Where is the oldest herd of wild/feral horses?A: Sable Island, an island in the Atlantic

We celebrate the various breeds:

Q: Which horse is the most Canadian?A: The Canadian Horse. They are most commonly seen in images with the Mounties.
Q: Is there a Medicine Hat horse?A: Yes, there is a Medicine Hat Horse. And it has an indigenous history just as Medicine Hat has. Read about the Medicine Hat horse in the September 2020 Newsletter.
Q: What is the most popular breed in North America?A: The Quarter Horse. Rodeo sports like barrel racing, calf and team roping commonly use quarter horses or a Quarter horse/Thoroughbred cross also known as an “Appendix”.

Our website banner picture features a 16.2 hands high Appendix gelding named, Cash (registered name, “LW Leo Three”).
Q: What is the second most popular breed?A: The Thoroughbred. Thoroughbreds are commonly known as the race horse breed.

Our December 2022 Newsletter featured Queen Elizabeth riding “Burmese”, a thoroughbred-Hanoverian cross and a gift from RCMP in Saskatchewan.
Q: What is the most common draft or heavy horse? Is it the Percheron or the Belgian?A: Glen Bischoff would argue it’s the Clydesdale.

Read about “Joe” and “Wally” in our Newsletter archive June 2021 Newsletter

We’ve also celebrated these horses from our MHCP archives:

Haflingers:

Have you heard of this breed? An 82-year-old brought his team of Haflingers to the Canadian Western Agribition held in Regina, Saskatchewan, the last week of November. Gordon Frentz from Grande Prairie came 1,200km through a blinding blizzard to compete in the chore team competition, his first major one.

Haflingers are chestnut colored with a white or flaxen mane, much smaller in size than the Clydesdale (14hh). It was amazing to have them pull a weight in the competition that is 1200 pounds, heavier than one of them! Dunmore Equestrian has hosted heavy horse competitions since 2020. Glenn Bischoff will be there with his team.

Holiday Eating Advice

  • Never eat more than your horse can carry
  • Always wear a tie the color of the main course
  • Keep your words gentle, you may have to eat them
  • Don’t worry about biting off more than you can chew, your mouth is probably a whole lot bigger than you think
  • Don’t let your dog eat garlic or his bark will really be worse than his bite
  • Never cuss the cook; it’s as risky as branding a mule’s tail

A Cowboy’s Christmas Prayer

As the Christmas season approaches, our joys are somewhat dampened by what we see and hear on the news. We cannot help but feel sad about the raging wars that pollute the air we all breathe and we grieve for the women, children and men that lose their lives or live in fear, without enough food and water or a house to come back to. In the news we see folks rallying for freedom in their land. This poem puts some of those thoughts to rhyme.

It was written by S. Omar Baker. We can assume he was quite a character being he used his brand as his signature: Lazy SOB. This poem brings out his serious side. It has been reprinted more than a hundred times in magazines and Christmas cards. Thanks to his estate for placing it in the public domain in December, 2013. (Go ahead, read it aloud. After all, cowboy poetry is an oral tradition.)

A Cowboy’s Christmas Prayer

I ain't much good at prayin' and you may not know me, Lord,
For I ain't much seen in churches where they preach Thy Holy Word,
But you may have observed me out here on the lonely plains,
A lookin' after cattle, feelin' thankful when it rains.

Admirin' Thy great handiwork, the miracle of grass,
Aware of Thy kind Spirit in the way it comes to pass__
That hired men on horseback and the livestock that we tend
Can look up at the stars at night, and know we've got a Friend.

So here's ol' Christmas comin' on, remindin' us again
Of Him whose coming brought good will into the hearts of men.
A cowboy ain't a preacher, Lord, but if You'll hear my prayer,
I'll ask as good as we have got for all men everywhere.

Don't let no hearts be bitter, Lord. Don't let no child be cold.
Make easy the beds for them that's sick and them that's weak and old.
Let kindness bless the trail we ride, no matter what we're after,
And sorter keep us on Your side in tears as well as laughter.

I've seen ol' cows a-starvin' -and it ain't no happy sight,
Please don't leave no one hungry Lord, on Thy good Christmas Night.
No man, no child, no woman, and no critter on four feet,
I'll do my doggone best to help you find 'em chuck to eat.

I'm just a sinful cowpoke, Lord -ain't got no business prayin',
But still I hope you'll ketch a word or two of what I'm sayin',
We speak of Merry Christmas, Lord -I reckon You'll agree-
There ain't no Merry Christmas for nobody that ain't free!

So one thing more I ask You, Lord, just help us what You can,
To save some seeds of freedom for the future Sons of Man!

Remembering Helen Hoszouski, nee Forbes

We grieve the loss of Helen, who died just short of her 101st birthday, her brother Harry lived to age 104. MHCP is honoured to have shared some of her stories on our website “Harry Forbes Remembers”.

She lived in Red Deer, as does her daughter, Joy, who phoned to let us know, and who noted she’d like to continue receiving our newsletter.

Helen was not only an author, but a seamstress and a poet. Check out one of her poems as well as another of her contributions to Harry’s books, “Clothing in the 1920’s and
1930’s, Part One”.

(By the way, in April 2024, the world’s oldest man died at age of 112.)

Western Wisdom

  • Freedom is riding a horse, so ride you must.
  • A horseback ride is a simple solution to some of the world’s most complicated problems.
  • Every ride is a little holiday.

Holiday greetings from all of us at MHCP,

Take care,

Jen

Posted on

Keeping You In The Loop — MHCP Newsletter October/November 2024 Edition

Howdy Y’All!

There are times when there is so much gratitude it’s hard to know where to start. And so it is  with our Western Music and Cowboy Poetry Event on October 4th and 5th. To be a success (and by all accounts it was a huge success) it takes talented entertainers and an appreciative audience.  

It also needs sponsorship.

But it takes an army of people to make it happen, not just on the day of, but in the weeks and months prior to the event. It’s the hard-working volunteers doing  a wide variety of jobs: ones with specialized skills and talent, it takes planners and we need  those who do the grunt work. It’s all of these working together to make it happen, and certainly not for financial or personal gain. It’s a group of people giving of themselves for something much bigger than themselves, making something happen that can only be achieved together.

And so it is that we can take pride in the success of our event to which each one made a contribution in his or her own way. Every war is about defending what’s important to them. In our case it’s defending the survival of the cowboy poetry genre. Every year it’s where we do our part to preserve and promote it as we showcase Western Music and Cowboy Poetry in the Medicine Hat area.

And we did it big time!

Our Major Sponsors

Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Platinum Plus Sponsor – their generous support pays for a portion of the honorariums paid to those entertainers that are deemed professional.

Drowning Ford Grazing Association, Platinum Plus Sponsor – their generous donation is symbolized by the mural that depicts the gate through which you enter the community pasture. 

Other Donors

Blaine Kunz, National Bank Financial Wealth Management – Gold

Home In Express, Silver Plus and special rates for us  and merchandise to the Silent Auction

U-Ride provided transportation to and from the event for several of of our guests free of charge.

Major Merchandise Donors:

  • Josie Fitterer and Jen Zollner – Patchwork quilt
  • Glen McBride – Framed photo
  • Jim Koch – Wood projects
  • Peavey Mart – Fountain

Entertainers

There were 14 in all. They came from west of us (Lethbridge, Coalhurst and Taber) and what  direction is it to Strathmore and Claresholm? They came from east of us (Swift Current and  Cypress Hills) and from one Spy Hill which is also in Saskatchewan, 7 1/2 hours away. He is  a MHCP member and was planning to be in our audience, and we were tickled to put him on  stage. In fact we had 5 MHCP members as entertainers, 5 people on stage are Medicine  Hatters. Thanks guys and gals for your poetry and music and for the finger-pickin’ guitar work.

We’ll Miss You Shelley

As emcee, the introduction each entertainer received show-cased Shelley Goldbeck’s true  talent; it was in rhyme that she brought each one on stage the cowboy poetry way.

She also  kept the program running on time and even though there were glitches (there always are) the  audience never knew. Her Piapot Pride Poem was well received (in Piapot it was “the talk of  the town”). Thanks very much. Shelley is looking forward to new and exciting endeavors that  don’t make it possible for her to be part of Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry. We’re eager to hear  what’s up-and-coming for you, Shelley.

Video Production and Stage Assistants

Cheryl Dust was the videographer running back and forth keeping two cameras running and  focused. Valerie Beyer, from the Taber Cowboy Poetry, was Cheryl’s assistant on the  computer, where the photos and videos were stored. Without the remote to bring the screen  down Cheryl needed to wave at the sound man up and behind her to do so. Then Jim Koch’s  job was to run up front to the side stage and find the right button to shut off the lights so folks  could see the photos and videos on the screen. We were amiss in not giving her credit on the  photos; Cheryl’s camera lens captured each one. The videos were also initially taken by  Cheryl and she was the one who chose and cut the clips from the whole (which she sent to  the MC). There was no down time for Cheryl, so thankfully her brother, Merv, was there to  bring her nourishment. Merv and Val Chapkowski were also Cheryl’s pack-up and carry out  crew at the end of the show. Thanks so much Cheryl for all you did (and continue to do).

Army of Volunteers

You wouldn’t know that it takes an “army” to get the stage ready, and to have an event run  smoothly. First there are those that came early Saturday morning to decorate the stage:  Louise Maier and the crew that helped her. Thanks to Stacey and her staff for the curtain and  set-ups. Now that the event was running. Mike Martin and Louise Maier were the door  monitors, making sure folks come into the theatre during a break. There was a back stage  manager in the name of Noel Burles, making sure the next entertainer was ready. He also  set-up the mikes and chairs for the entertainers. Donny Musgrove’s job, making sure the  stage isn’t cluttered with unnecessary stands or chairs.

Those on the Front-Line

I think of what ‘front-line’ means in war; so many wars going on in the world. For our event it’s  the goings-on when you enter the main doors of the college. When you’re on the front line for our event, it can be too busy, maybe even exhausting and it can also be long and boring,  waiting for action (which soldiers talk about). Those are people like Carol Eisenbarth who took your money and Penella Zollner who helped her (it was all legal, the money was for your tickets.) Then were the ones that registered the entertainers, who sold memberships, our books and the entertainers’ merchandise (Pat Hauck/Bob and Nancy Paul). Gladys Garyk was in there helping here, there and wherever.

There was the Silent Auction table and all the donations that Penita Schnell and Karli Schnell set up and manned. (Jacquie Noerenberg  prepared much of this ahead of time and would have loved to be there.)

Our 50/50 volunteers  were a busy pair: thanks Harv Speers and Donna Moore and to all who bought tickets. (Harv says Donna is the better salesman.)

And for the vendor tables: Faye Fedrau’s drawings,  Louise Maier’s clay pieces, Karen-Anne’s display and Pat Barbier cards (all sold to give a  donation to the Women’s Shelter).

The gal taking action shots was Pam Zollner, she also  prepared the goodies in both the Green Rooms. Then I think of guys like Jim, Lorenz, Bob  and Donny who were ‘conscripted’ because they are a partner. Could it be that Jen’s family  members feel somewhat coerced too? Sincere thanks to all of them and to each of you  (here’s hoping I haven’t missed anyone). 

Stamps and Tickets

Folks from Medicine Hat and near around got their tickets at Hale Hearing. Jill, the  receptionist, was our ever-pleasant ‘ticket master’. Thanks Jill. Some bought their tickets at  the door and those who phoned for tickets were from further afield. In fact, the folks who  came from Lethbridge, Bow Island and Cranbrook also bought memberships. (They’re $20 in  case you’re interested in supporting our cause.) In true Western style, you got ‘branded’ with a stamp for the afternoon show. (Next year we’ll have an MH monogram brand. Not to worry  though, we won’t heat it.) Thanks to all who came to our afternoon and evening shows.

There are those who wore wrist bands and had supper with us. Darlene Knight, Josie Fitterer  and Louise Maier were on table decor set-up (tobacco tins on a slab of bark). Thanks too for  the crew of trouble-shooters.

We had honored guests joining us for supper this year: two  women that were inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame: Dee Butterfield from Trochu and Maxine Girletz from Oyen. Maxine’s son and daughter-in-law joined her at the  head table. Dee was staying with Gena LaCoste, so it was a perfect time to honor Gena for her generosity to MHCP (her art work on the cover on each of our 3 publications). Presently our project is “Women in Rodeo”, we’ve been interviewing and videoing these ladies as well  as researching the women that have been Canadian Rodeo Hall of Fame inductees. 

We also had a visit from Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Royalty for the singing of the national anthem at the start of the evening performance. Queen Charlie Christie and Princess Charlatan Sandford.

Friday and Open Mic

There was a pair of oxen, some trees, and a whole chuckwagon to haul to the College  plusabout a dozen boxes and bins. Thanks to Jim Koch’s trailer and cars belonging to Carol  Eisenbarth and Louise Maier, the supplies to cover tables and decorate Centennial Hall  arrived. (Saturday morning it was again the Carol and Jim Moving Co.) Everyone that pitched in to set up was hungry by the time the pizza arrived just before the Open Mic.

Folks sat  around the tables and spilled into the hallway to hear the nine who performed. More folks came to listen than we had expected. Was that because it was free? Noel did his the best with the sound. It was mostly locals who entertained but one gal (Emma Rugeux) came all the way from Empress. I think you’ll be hearing more of her in the years to come, especially at  MHCP. Open Mic has been a wonderful way to discover new talent. Thanks to all who contributed.

In Memory of Chryle Bascom

On the tables at the Open Mike there were posters, old posters, ones advertising  Irvine’s 20-Mile Post. They belonged to Daryl Bascom’s wife, Chryle (who said “Take the “e”  out of the middle and put it on the end.) She collected the posters every year from the first  time Irvine had a their celebration (1986 to 2001) as well as posters from 2003, 2004, 2008  and 2021, which was Irvine’s 35th year. Thanks Daryl for donating them to MHCP (thanks  Donna Moore for suggesting he do so). 

Interview: Windy City’s Finest on Location Feature (TWCF)

Michael Bartz and Daniel J. Perryman (Mac & Perry on the show) are doing a project  interviewing artists from Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. Cowboy Poetry is the focus of our  interview on November 1st. I met Michael when he was in Medicine Hat visiting the C-Cans  when Heritage Days was celebrated in August. His curiosity about Cowboy Poetry prompted  him to attend our event this year. You can view some of the Telus sponsored You-tubes that  have been done in our community (and in Lethbridge).

A Treasured Childhood Tree

There was a slab of bark under the tobacco tins as decor at the chuckwagon supper at  our event. It comes from the tree where Jim Koch spent many happy childhood hours. It was  near Weyburn, SK, about a quarter mile from their yard, the only tree for miles around.

When  he was just a kid, he built a tree house in it using lumber from a neighbor’s yard hauling it with a little red wagon pulled by their one and only horse, King. He would spend hours in that tree  reading. It would seem his interest in house-building started early in life, and he proved the  quality of his workmanship even then; the tree house was still intact 30 and more years later.  The tree was still standing 6 years ago but since then is horizontal logs encased with beautiful bark that is peeling. It wasn’t a young tree even when Jim was young, so it could be said it  died of old age. Perhaps its final end came when it was struck by lightning.

Faye Fedrau is a member of MHCP. When she saw a picture of Jim’s tree, she did an  ink drawing of it as a gift to him.  

Advice From a Steer or Ox

Don't let things stand in the way of your dreams. 
You may have to go through a fence or two. 

Stand your ground no matter who twists your tail 
or prods you. 

Be outstanding in your field but know when to hoof it. 

Count your blessings. You have food, an open sky and shelter, 
What else is there? 

It's good to roll in the dust. Have fun while you do it. 

Don't be afraid to swing your tail and eat plenty of greens.
 
Be prepared to butt heads. Not everyone understands  
you're the boss of yur own life. 

Don't look like a hamburger. Someone might decide to grind you.
 
Always take a moment to lie down and breathe the air 
while chewing your thoughts. 

When nuisances land on your back, no one is going to 
flick your tail for you.

A thought to leave you with:

Just as an army is no better than its soldiers,
So too an organization is no better than its volunteers.
(you’re all volunteers, to each my sincere thanks)

As Army General,

Take care,

Jen

Posted on

Keeping You In The Loop — MHCP Newsletter September 2024 Edition

Howdy Y’All!

‘Tis the season — to hurry and harvest, to hustle telling everyone about our event and to celebrate school horses before no one remembers there was such a thing. (Kids weren’t supposed to race them, but they did.) We continue getting stories from Hall of Famers who had fast horses, barrel racers like Dee Butterfield and Monica Wilson. As we’re grateful for the memories of the season past, we say thanks for the chuckles Ol’ Ugly gave us with the characters he created to live in our midst. Some of us remember fondly (or not so fondly) the times and styles that were. Thanks to folks like the Forbes’ who wrote it all down (for younger folks to find almost unbelievable).

Enough of the past for a moment and a look at what’s up and coming, our Western Music and Cowboy Poetry event. The excitement is mounting. Poets and musicians are honing their skills and including topics about women when they’re on stage. The college culinary staff is excited about serving chuckwagon cuisine and the decorators can’t wait to make the place look western. I look forward to seeing you on the 4th and/or the 5th of October.

The chaps are the real deal. They belonged to my son-in-law’s father.

Upcoming Events

Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry Presents:

Western Music & Cowboy Poetry Event

You don’t want to miss it!!
Western Music at it’s best,
With Cowboy Poetry you’ll be impressed.
To get in the mood, come western dressed.

It’ll be a hit with amazing talent at the Medicine Hat College where they have the best lighting and sound anywhere. We have singer/songwriters, amazing guitarists and folks with astonishing reciting talent.

  • Charlie Ewing
  • Greg Herman
  • Phyllis Rathwell
  • Dusty Dee Lichfield
  • Linda Nadon
  • Dave Woodruff
  • Scott Reesor
  • Miles Tornberg
  • Wally Garrioch
  • Harv Speers. Harv is known in Medicine Hat for his time on radio. A poet and powerful presenter, Harv is a welcome addition to our board.
  • Noel Burles. Noel has been involved in Cowboy Poetry for decades, as a performer as well as an organizer at gatherings at Pincher Creek and Stavely.
  • Shelley Goldbeck, Emcee

There are 16 different entertainers in the afternoon program and the evening performance features 4 of the best. Vocalists/musicians include Charlie Ewing from Claresholm, Dusty Dee Litchfield from the Lethbridge area, Miles Tornberg and our own Greg Herman.

Renowned poets include Linda Nadon from Meadow Lake, SK and Phyllis Rathwell living here in Medicine Hat now.

You’ll recognize local folks like Harv Speers, Scott Reesor, Wally Garrioch and Noel Burles (well, he is on the MHCP board). Our Emcee for the evening will be Shelley Goldbeck.

Wait till you see the unique items donated on the silent auction table: horsehead shaped boot jacks, patchwork blanket with horses, an award-winning framed photo, the list goes on. Decorations will greet you at the college entrance with a “Howdy” and treat you to an ambiance of complete western dress. It’s a good opportunity to get your picture taken with the Medicine Hat Rodeo Queen and Princess. And don’t forget the jingle in your jeans to get your 50/50 tickets!

It all starts on Friday night at 7:00pm with Open Mic in the Centennial Hall (outside the Eresman Theater.) Come and see the talent that is up and coming! Open Mic is free. Parking is free after 6:00pm.

The Saturday show starts at Noon in the Eresman Theater at the Medicine Hat College. Tickets for the afternoon performance are just $10.00 and parking is free all day.

Chuckwagon supper is served at 5:30pm. Supper emulates the chuckwagon fare in the cattle trail days: biscuits and stew, pie and so much more. Pre-order your ticket for what’s sure to be some mighty fine grub.

Saturday evening rounds out the festivities at 7:30pm in the Eresman Theater with our three honoured guests in attendance: Canadian ProRodeo Hall of Famers, Dee Butterfield and Maxine Girlitz and Medicine Hat’s renowned artist, Gena LaCoste. We are especially proud to present this year’s line up of performers and poets.

TICKETS: on sale at Hale Hearing in the Co-op Mall (3030 13 Ave SE #103) or contact MHCPPresident@gmail.com

Past Events

The Chuckwagon as Cowboy Heritage
At the Towne Square Heritage C-Cans across from City Hall in Medicine Hat, we celebrated the chuckwagon, that being where the cowhands gathered after trailing cattle all day. Yes, to eat, but also to entertain each other and pass the time by sharing their stories with songs and poems. That’s where Cowboy Poetry and Western Music started. Louise Maier and Donna Moore used paint to remake a cow into an oxen. Traditionally it was horses or oxen that pulled the chuckwagon, the food wagon, the world’s first food truck. Our miniature chuckwagon (chuck is food in cowboy lingo) had a ‘tarp’ held up by hoops for shade and in case of rain. The camp cook was often called Cookie, or a number of other names depending on his ability or inability to cook (???? ) Jim Koch (pardon the pun) made a
‘chuck box’ for the back of the wagon to hold Cookie’s essentials and form a make-shift table on one leg. Inside Cookie’s chuck box (cupboard) was a display of his supplies in cowboy lingo. There were skunk eggs (onions), almost hen’s fruit (bird’s eggs found along the way), lick (molasses) etc. Shelley Goldbeck, a MHCP member from Innisfail and emcee at our October event, was the Cookie at our camp. She (but it was always a guy) carefully protected the everlasting yeast (sour dough) used to make biscuits to serve with the beans he served every day. Visitors perused the display telling all about Cookie. Children enjoyed riding the stick horses the cowboys had come into camp with. Visitors left with some hardtack (dried biscuits) to pocket in case stampeding cattle would have them being late for supper.

Western Music Celebrated
On August Medicine Hat celebrated music at the Towne Square C-Cans (or Pods as they’re called). We were there in Pod #2 where we scattered the wall with hats and chaps. Supplying the music: Noel Burles from Coalhurst as well as locals Conrad Sandberg, Jack Humeny and Greg Herman. Stools to look like tree stumps were available for audience members to sit on. When we moved outside, we even had green grass underfoot (artificial turf). Thanks to Jennifer, her volunteers and the City of Medicine Hat for arranging the celebrations this summer.

Jen Zollner performing at High River

Trail’s End
The Alberta Cowboy Poetry Association held
its annual Cowboy Gathering at High River on September 6th, 7th and 8th. MHCP board member Noel Burles is the Secretary for it and MHCP President, Jen Zollner is also a member and put on a wonderful performance. In their organization you need to belong (have a membership) in order to perform. It took place in The Full Gospel Church, ended with Cowboy Church on the Sunday morning.

Farmer’s Market
MHCP was set up at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Farmer’s Market on Saturday, September 14th and 21st.

Board members Harv Speers, Carol Eisenbarth, Donna Moor and Faye Fedrau (missing from the photo) handed out samples of hardtack that might not tide you over till supper … but it was free and so were the smiles!

New on the Website

Yarns by Ol’ Ugly — For your Tales, the Taller the Better, Thanks

Ol’ Ugly, aka John Glawson, is done knitting yarns for us. He’ll no longer be inventing unusual characters having hilarious exploits around the town he founded, Miniberries. Every month he concocted two stories for us; we’re proud to have them on our website as a permanent testament to his creativity and his sense of humor. Don’t worry about him though, he’s doing well. Yes, he’s had two heart operations but his heart is still in the right place. He says, “Laughter is the best medicine. I want to be the Pharmacist.”

Monica Wilson, Pioneer in Rodeo

Dr. Gizmo was the horse that made Monica Wilson famous. (We were at her induction into the ProRodeo Hall ofFame this Spring.) That came about because of her natural horsemanship coupled with her innate ability ‘to get inside Giz’s head’ and ultimately to heal him. She was able to accept him for who he was, and bring out the best in him. Two lines in Harold Sloan’s poem “The Old Kid Horse” say it well:
A horse to me is like a man, they’re both the same inside,
The qualities we like in men within the horse abide.


This is Monica telling her story:

GIZ IS THE BEST

    by Jen Zollner

When you're a mother, it's not wise to choose___
A favorite, the kid you like best,
But that's how it is with my barrel racing horses,
Dr. Gizmo topped all the rest.

By far he is not the only barrel horse___
That won me many-a first,
In fact, when it came to challenging times,
I think he'd be classed as the worst.

It was love at first sight when I tried him out,
When I rode him, he just floated,
Next day when I tried him round the barrels,
He ran-off like a bomb exploded.

Some folks were thinking he'd make good fox meat___
'Cause he'd run up the wall times galore.
But he could run faster than anything
I'd ever been on before,

I'd just smile when things went bad,
Tomorrow's another day,
The process to fix him was long and slow,
Later, the odd time, still had a misplay.

There's more to know 'bout this fiery sorrel,
You can't help but like the guy,
He's happy, except just before the race,
He loads good, don't kick and he's sly.

Sometimes he'd fool me, he'd take the left barrel___
When we usually take the right,
He understands English, he talks to you,
Though he's not good looking, he's bright.

One time I threatened Giz, told him if you___
Don't win the next two races,
I'm selling you to some big old bulldogger,
Our next two wins were first places.

Somebody gave me a blank cheque to buy him,
He'd pay any amount for that horse,
Their way wouldn't fix him, they'd not understand him,
And I'd never sell him, of course.

He is awarded "Horse with the Most Heart",
At a ripe old age Gizmo died,
And that's when my heart in barrel racing went,
I ran out of Giz by my side.

School Horses *** COMING SOON***

They were often the transportation to the one-room schools. Read about the horses that teachers and students used, ordeals that were part of the trip and the invaluable life lessons the horse provided. Members of MHCP also shared their recollections (if they were old enough to have had a school-horse). The women in rodeo we interviewed also had
schoolhorses.

Library Corner

What I’m reading is available at the Medicine Hat Public Library:

The Heart of a Horse: Life Lessons from Horses and Other Animals

by Candida Baker

636.1 BAK, 2021

Through a series of true stories, the author shares how each horse (and other animals) enhanced her sense of spiritual connection. She illustrates what she experienced as she  learned to “listen” using all her senses. She describes the magic that happens when we keep  an open mind about the world of silent communication from the animal world. “The greatest  lessons animals teach us is to get in touch with our intuition.”

A thought to leave you with:

A boy would make a better man who had a pal like him (a school horse) -Harold Sloan-

Take care,

Jen

Posted on

Keeping You In The Loop — MHCP May Newsletter

May, 2024

Howdy Y’all!!!

I was pondering, is it possible to earn a living doing ‘the Arts’? The western singers and cowboy poets I know have other incomes, or else they’re retired. I wish we could give bigger honorariums to the artists we’re in the process of inviting to perform at our upcoming event on October 5th .

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The 2024 edition the the Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry and Western Music Show is an event you won’t want to miss … mark your calendar!!!

Though we can’t afford to ‘hire’ him, Ben Crane is a multi-talented artist that does manage to make a living by performing and by having a recording studio. Watch for his name on the back of many Leaning Tree cards.

Me, I could never make a living sewing memory blankets. I guess my wage would also come in pennies for the poetry and other writing I do. How exciting it is though to make discoveries when exploring and researching something of interest! Presently our focus is rodeo (in general), and the equestrian feats and the independent spirit of rodeo women, starting in the early 1900’s. I’m looking forward to sharing their stories. I didn’t realize that women’s participation in rodeo changed so drastically, and that since the 1940’s, it’s been a long hard struggle for women to be treated as equals in rodeo.

Taber Round-Up

It was a one-day program from 10:00 until 5:00 on April 13th. Entertainment was supplied by western singers (one was a junior), poets (one was a junior), a story teller (about a pioneer family) and a book reading (by the author who wrote a fictional western novel). They had 3 top notch entertainers: Charlie Ewing, Doc Mehl and Doris Daley. Cheryl ended up being their MC when they didn’t have one and it was only a week before their event date. She brought Peter who was the prolific photographer.

Their lunch was reasonably priced, a hot dog or delicious chili on a homemade bun as well as dessert (the best puffed wheat cake and giant homemade cinnamon buns). The use of the large auditorium was donated by the town, and though the sound was better than last year, a smaller room would be better. Many sponsor posters were on display and a rotating slides on a large screen gave ample advertising. With that kind of sponsorship, they were able to give honorariums (superior to what we can give) to the entertainers and the MC. The small audience looked even more sparse in such a large room. Admission was by donation. Hats off to the community around Taber and the town for their generous support.

New on the Website

Harry Forbes Remembers:

We’ve added two stories to our “Harry Forbes Remembers” series:

Yarns by Ol’ Ugly

We’re privileged to have this well-known storyteller inventing interesting characters that live around here and has them getting into unusual situations in places you can almost recognize. Ol’ Ugly has shared three new stories with us this month:

Hilda Barns Stories


Under the guidance of Cindy and Ross Straub, Cheryl Dust (MHCP’s videographer and
photographer) took pictures of all the old barns in the Hilda area to include in Hilda’s 100 th
anniversary history book. It was me that compiled stories as well as the history of the barns
based on interview with their owners. We waited until the history book was distributed before proceeding to post them as a series on our website.

  • Story #3: Wm Austin *** Coming Soon! ***
  • Story #4: Gordan Diebert *** Coming Soon! ***
  • Story #5: Durr Barn *** Coming Soon! ***

Old Recipes are Ties That Bind


“Dog-eared and loved, recipe collecting is not a hobby, it’s a cultural phenomenon,” says Bev Biggeman. Below is the link to her article in the Western Producer. Her writings after interviewing Rosalie Reinbolt will be posted on our website in the months to come.

https://www.producer.com/farmliving/dog-eared-and-loved-old-recipes-are-ties-that-bind/

Farm Crime — A Documentary Series on CBC Gem

You might find these mini-documentaries interesting, each one is only 15-20 minutes long.
Watch them by clicking the link below or google this address: gem.cbc.ca/farm-crime.

Library Corner

What I’m reading is available at the Medicine Hat Public Library:

The Cowgirl Way, Hat’s Off to America’s Women of the West

by Holly George- Warren

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The author briefly highlights the history of trailblazing cowgirls, from those that helped settle the Wild West to the cowgirls of the 21st century.

Western Wisdom (from a cat’s perspective)

It’s the month of graduations, when we as parents and grandparents want to give guidance to fledgling young adults. The best way to give lasting advice (without having to do the preaching), is to stitch it on aida cloth and make it into a cozy memory blanket. Here are the pieces of wisdom we thought would be useful for a family member graduating from high school:

  • pounce when the op-purr-tuna-ty presents itself
  • anything is paw-sible
  • be curious, explore everything
  • always land on your feet
  • a cat chasing two mice catches neither
  • when you find sunshine, bask in it
  • eyes have the power to speak
  • you only live once, unless you’re a cat
  • catitude, have a mind of your own
  • never be too old fur play
  • don’t judge a cat by its coat
  • nap like no one is watching

Empty Saddles: Remembrance Day Every Day

We say goodbye to George Hope. I interviewed him at his home in Medicine Hat, but he and his wife Ruth were very much at home in Redcliff, especially at the Legion there. As a war veteran he helped me realize that those experiences live with you every day and into old age. On our website under “Country Stories” see him talking about it on video. In our book by that name and posted at the Redcliff Legion you can find the poem about him, “Our Veteran and Holland’s Liberation”.

Two Cowboy Poets to Remember:

We were hoping these two cowboys, Harold Webber and Bryn Thiessen would one day be able to bring their poetry to our event, but both have recently ridden into glory. I’ve been on stage with both of them at various times at Maple Creek and High River.

Harold Webber encouraged many budding entertainers like myself to perform. We appreciated him also being a member of MHCP.  Harold Webber was an honest-to-goodness guy.

We’ll miss the regular page Bryn had in the Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine in which he gave a gospel lesson from a cowboy’s perspective. Bryn’s obituary captures the kind of character he was.

A poet’s words live on as proven with the poem below and the song from it on YouTube. Ben Crane’s music, “Sunlight on Silver” to one of Bryn’s poems is a tribute to both cowboys.  


The Look by Bryn Thiessen

It's the look of sunlight on silver,
And the smell of frost in the air,
The sound of a tired horse blowing,
That keeps them riding out there.

It's horses jingled by starlight,
A herd held up for the cut,
The pride of the young cowboys riding,
And the warmth of the sun coming up.

For the memories are the rhymes that bring back the times,
And the places a cowboy has rode,
They seem to hang in the wind, then come back again,
To warm him when he gets old.

He'll remember the friendship and laughter,
And the feel of a horse working right,
The sunsets when the day's work is over,
And the times 'round the fire at night.

The sound of good cowboy singing,
The words of the poems that he said,
And the coolness of the night air he's breathing,
As he lays in his old canvas bed.
	
For if memories are rhymes, it's comes to the time,
When upwards his soul has soared,
He's standin' there amazed, where the star herds now graze,
As he stares 'round his heavenly home.

It's the look of sunlight on silver,
And the smell of frost in the air,
The sound of a tired horse blowing,
We'll meet him as he's riding out there.

Some Parting Wisdom

Friends shared these two pieces of wisdom with me:

“The brain can only absorb as much as the butt can stand.”

“No matter where you travel, your memories always follow, some in the baggage car.” — August Strindberg

Take care,          

Jen, for short