Lauder Ranch

B.C. Cowboy Hall of Fame
The B.C. Cowboy Heritage Society is pleased to announce the 2010 inductees into the B.C. Cowboy Hall of Fame. The Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin in Williams Lake is the new home of the B.C. Cowboy Hall of Fame, where they preserve and display the memorabilia of the inducted cowboys.

Congratulations to the Class of 2010: Clarence Jules Sr. as a Working Cowboy; the Lauder Ranch as a Century Ranch; Antone Boitano as a Ranching Pioneer; cowboy poet Frank Gleeson for Artistic Achievements; Maxine Mack for Competitive Achievements; and Orville Fletcher as a Working Cowboy and Ranching Pioneer.

For a full list of Hall of Fame inductees, visit the BC Cowboy Heritage Society bcchs.com. For nomination forms, visit the Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin cowboy-museum.com.

Photos courtesy of BCCHS

Clarence Jules Sr.	Antone Boitano
Frank Gleeson	Maxine Mack
Orville Fletcher

Photo courtesy of Calgary Stampede The official photograph of 2010 Calgary Stampede Royal Trio (From left to right) 2010 Stampede Princess Janelle Phillips, 2010 Stampede Queen Katie Rochon and 2010 Stampede Princess Kirstie Rougeau

2010 Calgary Stampede Royalty
Best wishes for an exciting year to the new 2010 Calgary Stampede Royalty!

The upcoming year will be well-represented by 2010 Stampede Queen Katie Rochon and princesses Kirstie Rougeau and Janelle Phillips.

The Stampede Queen and Princesses represent the Calgary Stampede and the City of Calgary at more than 400 events throughout the year including the Grey Cup, the Canadian Finals Rodeo and the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

They recently joined a host of famous, not-so-famous and soon-to-be-famous Albertans on the exclusively chartered Rocky Mountain Railtours Alberta Train bound to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Photo by Terri Mason Doug Rawling of Chapel Valley — cowboy star of Air Canada commercial

You Flew Where and Did What?
Working cowboy, musician and Wilderness Ranch Camp director Doug Rawling from the Chapel Valley near(ish) Lundbreck, Alta., recently had a trip of a lifetime. Seems Air Canada needed a cowboy for a commercial — and Doug got the call.

He packed his hat and chaps and was soon flying to Argentina in Executive Class. It was a style of service he wasn’t too familiar with.

“The flight attendant came around and offered me wine and at first I said no,” explained Doug. “Then I was watching the other folks and they didn’t have to pay so when she came around with the wine again I said: “Sure!” Wine, top-notch meals, five-star hotels — and his job was riding with a group of gauchos rounding up and driving a band of horses.

“I couldn’t speak Spanish, and they couldn’t speak English,” says Doug. “But once we knew what the director wanted, we figured out together how to get it done.” He spent a few days riding with some good horsemen, and he did find out they train their horses another way. “They don’t use leg yields, so that was different,” he says.

The trip home was just as opulent — VIP lounges and more free wine. “And it was good wine too,” laughs Doug. “I found out how the other part of the world lives.”

Watch for the commercial which debuted on CTV during the Olympics. Ironically, Doug won’t see it unless he goes to the neighbours. He and his wife, Robyn, don’t have a TV.

Photo courtesy of Jeanine Edge

Stocking the Herd
Erin Jean Edge
Congratulations to Dean and Jeanine Edge on the birth of their daughter, Erin Jean Edge, on Nov. 13. She barely tipped the scales at 4 lbs 15 oz.

Erin’s dad is multi-time CFR tie down roper competitor, champion auctioneer and owner of Sid — several time CPRA Tie Down Horse of the Year. Erin’s grandpa, Barry Edge, is a multi-time CFR tie down roping competitor and 2009 National Senior Pro Rodeo Association over 60 World Champion.

Cowboys of the Silver Screen Immortalized on Stamps
William S. Hart, Tom Mix, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers will ride again — this time on U.S. stamps. The four extraordinary performers who helped make the American Western a popular form of entertainment are members of the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, where each is recognized in the Western Performers Gallery.

Photos courtesy of National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Before making his first appearance on the silver screen in 1914, William S. Hart (1864–1946) starred on Broadway and in theatrical productions nationwide. During his cinematic career, the acclaimed actor insisted on authentic depictions of the Old West and its people. He frequently played a stalwart, tough-as-nails cowboy.

Tom Mix (1880–1940) made his movie debut in 1909 and by the 1920s was one of the most popular stars of silent Westerns. In his action-packed movies, he displayed athleticism, fearlessness and expert riding and roping abilities as he chased down villains and rescued damsels in distress.

Gene Autry (1907–1998) was a successful radio performer prior to becoming the silver screen’s first singing cowboy star. With his distinctive singing style and easygoing personality, Autry entertained countless fans in nearly 100 films and recorded more than 600 songs.

Roy Rogers (1911–1998) sang his way to silver screen stardom in the late 1930s, and by 1943 Republic Pictures was calling him “King of the Cowboys.” For millions of fans, Rogers was the essence of the Western hero, the good guy with the white hat, warm smile and exemplary character.

Photo by Dee Doige The winners and judges at the 4th annual Ugly Ranch Horse Competition held in Cochrane. Back row, from left: Lane Thiessen-winner of Novice Horse (ridden under a year); Jesse Cunningham, Jake Cunningham — both buckle winners in Youth; Chelsea Cunningham — Open winner with a near perfect score of 98 out of 100 (dry work/cow work); Danita Phelan — second in Non-Pro; Bonny Thiessen — winner, Non-Pro; Philip Schellenberg (holding his daughter, Madison) — second in Open dry work/cow work; Michaela Borden (back) and Bailey Schellenberg (front) — both buckle winners in Youth. Front row: Open judges Dwayne Bartley and John Buckley, Non-Pro judges Simone (Sam) Carriere and Terri Mason, Non Pro/Novice Horse judge and announcer Gerry Neufeld.

No Yippee, Ki Yi – Ouch This Year!
There were no broken tail bones this year at the fourth annual Ugly Ranch Horse Competition held Jan. 31 at the Bearspaw Arena west of Cochrane. Hosted by Cowboy Trail Church, the day began with a full-to-the-brim Horsemanship clinic under the encouraging tutelage of renowned master course conductor Ruth Fowler of Cochrane, followed by a potluck lunch. In all, 32 riders saddled up and shook out a loop to compete for prizes ranging from silver spurs to custom chaps to thick, woven saddle blankets and shiny buckles.

Four youth riders, ranging from 3–10 years old, competed and confidently guided their horses through a course only they and their trusted cowponies knew. In between, the Cunningham boys stylish hat waving at the crowd and Bailey Schellenberg’s trick riding left no doubt that their horses are worth their weight in gold. (Best quote was from three-year-old Jesse Cunningham who excitedly called out: “Mom! Look! I win-ded this buckle!”)

This year, the category of Novice Horses Ridden under a Year was added. (And in Non-Pro “extra points for the best dismount; assisted or otherwise” was added after my spectacular high-speed dismount which broke my tail bone last year. — Editor)

The Ugly Ranch Horse Competition and Potluck was created on the premise that it doesn’t matter what a horse looks like; what matters is how well they work. To enter up next year, contact Bryn Thiessen at Cowboy Trail Church. cowboytrailchurch.com

Photo courtesy of Slade Rogers/Dreams Alive Imagery Belting out a tune on stage at the benefit, from left; Dave Klys, Cody Haney, Jimmy Richards, Brett Edge and Winston Turner

Wasn’t That a Party!
It’s been a tough go for Foothills Cowboy Association’s Cowboy of the Year, Jimmy Richards of Cochrane, Alta. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, the 32-year-old is seeking treatment unavailable in Canada – and that treatment takes a lot of money.

Enter the cowboys and rural communities. Tiny Govenlock, Sask., held a social and raised over $8,000. In Alberta his friends put on the mother-of-all fundraisers Feb. 27. Everyone — and I mean everyone – was there. Some of the auctioneers included Rob Bergevin, Jack Daines and ruce Flewelling; selling everything from bucking bull semen to caribou hunts to a hockey stick signed by Rick Nash, used in the Canada/Sweden Olympic game in Vancouver. A silent auction offered jewelry, art, fence posts, family vacations — Rod and Denny Hay even donated their National Finals Rodeo contestant jackets. Two bands; TC & Company and Stoney Road tag-teamed sets and it took six pickup trucks to haul in all the booze to wash down the beef supper.

Jimmy’s parents, rodeo stock contractors Doug and Jill Richards of Richards Rodeo were overwhelmed by the response. “This is just amazing,” an emotional Jill kept repeating. “This is what rural people and rodeo people are like; they’re the best people in the world.” Meanwhile, Jimmy, leaning on his stock whip/cane, was his usual laid back self; “This is a pretty good party,” he said as yet another friend squeezed into the hall.

All told, they raised over $130,000 for the young cowboy. For information on MS, please visit mssociety.ca

Photo by Jocelyne Lambert From left; 2010 Miss Rodeo Canada Britteny Foster, 2010 Miss Rodeo America Kelli Jackson and 2010 MRC Princess Dana Hansen at the 104th Annual National Western Stock Show & Rodeo held Jan. 5–24

Find Your Western Spirit!
Britteny Foster, Miss Rodeo Canada, and Dana Hansen, Miss Rodeo Canada Princess, had no problem following the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo slogan of Find Your Western Spirit down in Denver, Co. Their days started off helping out in the Roper/Stetson (their fabulous sponsors!) booth, where they had the opportunity to learn how their apparel gets from a picture into our stores. Britteny modeled their new summer collection while Dana helped decide which new items will be bestsellers back in Canada.

The sparkling nightlife for Canada’s First Ladies of Rodeo was representing Canadian rodeo at every evening performance. Whether they were signing their Wrangler autograph cards, riding in Grand Entry or cheering on their fellow Canadian competitors, their Canadian pride shone through!

Empty Saddles

Photo courtesy of Musgrave Family

Jim (Curly) Musgrave 1949 –2009
Jim (Curly) Musgrave passed away Dec. 13, 2009, at the age of 60.
Raised in Calgary, Alta., Musgrave was a cowboy poet, singer and songwriter. He moved to California where, along with his counselling career, he also enjoyed a successful career in performing and songwriting for more than three decades. He was a lifetime member of the Alberta Cowboy Poetry Association. He leaves behind his wife, Kathleen, and his family.

Photo Courtesy of Tulliby Lake Stockman’s Ass’n

Lloyd James Gawley 1914 – 2009
Lloyd James Gawley passed away on Dec. 27, 2009, at the age of 95.

A life-long working cowboy, Gawley began working for the Hines family in 1946 and later the Old Frontier Grazing Association near the Burkedale district. He then became the rider for the Tulliby Lake Stockman Association, a position he held for 24 years. His savvy, ability and respected status earned him a feature as a Living Legend in the Dec 2008/January 2009 issue of Canadian Cowboy Country magazine.

Photo by Terri Mason

Rae (Lynn) Jensen 1945 – 2009
Surrounded by family, Lynn Jensen passed away Dec. 4, 2009, at the age of 64.
Jensen won the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association’s (CPRA) permit award in 1968, was named CPRA Cowboy of the Year in 1975 and qualified for the Canadian Finals Rodeo six times in bareback riding and once in steer wrestling.

He served as CPRA president from 1978 – 1979 and was also a CPRA rodeo judge at many rodeos including the Canadian Finals Rodeo on two occasions. Jensen received the Legends of Rodeo award in 2006. Jensen was an accomplished log home craftsman and his work was featured in Canadian Cowboy Country magazine Dec 2006/Jan 2007. Jensen was on the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame board and enjoyed a stint as the rodeo coach at Olds College.

Photo courtesy of Laurel Schlaht Laurel Schlaht and Tim Skerrett at Leconfield Station

Where in the World is Canadian Cowboy?
Leconfield Station, set in the beautiful hillside country on the Mulla Creek area of Northern New South Wales, is located 177 km north of Sydney, Australia. The sprawling station (ranch) has been in the Skerrett family for a century.

They offer a Jilleroo and Jackeroo School taught by the owner, Australian stockman, Tim Skerrett. It’s a crash course in sheep and cattle mustering, whip cracking, lassoing, bushcraft, bush tucker, working dog handling and swimming horses. The course attracts students from around the world, including Laurel Schlaht from Bindloss, Alberta.