September 27, 2020, Kin Coulee, Medicine Hat, AB
The second Annual Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry and Music Show sponsored by the Medicine Hat Public Library was wildly successful.
See show highlights here:
Over 100 fans gathered to enjoy a variety show on a mild, albeit windy, fall Sunday afternoon in the park.
Chief Librarian, Ken Feser welcomed the audience to the one live event scheduled for the library’s Culture Days.
President and foundation founder, Jen Zollner thanked volunteers and recited her poem about the Medicine Hat horse, which she suggested could be official mascot of Medicine Hat!
Mayor Ted Clugston handily recited Rudyard Kipling’s “If”; while not a cowboy poem, it embodies the cowboy spirit. (He had another engagement so left his cowboy gear at home!)
Local 4-H member, ten-year-old Kimberley Straub battled her nerves and recited a poem, written by Jen Zollner based on Kimberley’s speech about her favourite place: her family farm’s barn. One of the mandates of the Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry Foundation is to build connections between rural seniors and rural kids, like 4-H members.
4-H Member, Kimberley Straub
The first half of the show featured Doris Daley, one of the current top Cowboy Poets on the circuit. COVID-19 actually helped us: usually Doris would be on tour in the US this time of year.
Doris did not disappoint. She delivered original poems that everyone can relate to, even if they don’t have roots in the country.
Following her part of the show, Doris presented some books and CDs to Ken Feser, Chief Librarian of the Medicine Hat Public Library, the inaugural resources for the future cowboy poetry “shelf” at the library. See Doris’s presentation here:
At intermission, Darren Lutz conducted a live auction for a jacket donated by Murray Chev Olds, a camp stove donated by Peavey Mart, and the handmade Horse Wisdom blanket donated by Jen Zollner, which the successful bidder, Bill Haysom, donated back to the Foundation to be displayed at the Medicine Hat Public Library.
In the second half local singer/songwriter, Jessica Schnell, who happens to be Jen’s granddaughter, sang three songs, showcasing her amazing musical talents.
The final performer of the show was Doc Mehl, who entertained the audience with a mix of serious and goofy poems and songs. Doris joined him (her husband) on stage to play the soda pop bottle for his final song, a parody of “Big Bad John”, called “Long, Long Johns”. Very entertaining stuff.
The Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry Foundation was thrilled to be able to offer a live show in the midst of the live-performance desert known as COVID-19! The positive feedback has encouraged us to plan a show for next fall.
If you are interested in being part of the Medicine Hat Cowboy Poetry Foundation, we are interested in you. Send an email to Jen at mhcowboylife@gmail.com.
Hope to see you all next year!
