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| "The Saddle Rack" Lines from The Leathertooler Slim McNaught |
| Sept/October 2005 |
"In the course of our lives we run onto some great moments". How's that for a description of the
Alzada Cowboy Poetry Gathering? For an old cowboy I thought it was kind of clever.
On Sunday, October 2, 2005, we took leisurely drive from western South Dakota, through the
northwest corner of Wyoming, into Alzada, Montana. This day marked the 17th Annual Cowboy Poetry,
Music And Art Show in Alzada, Montana. The theme this year was "Alzada history Is Alive In 2005".
The ladies there served a delicious noon lunch before the program got started. The Alzada Community
Club, Inc., is in charge of the lunch, but all of the community ladies pitch in and help. We spent the
time before lunch visiting, getting registered (they had great door prizes), hanging our art work, and
getting ready for the afternoon performance. I did a little "foot work and audio" for Bob Petermann
while he was getting his sound system in order, which I enjoyed doing.
Ticket donations were being taken for a pair of really nice silver mounted spurs, custom made and
donated by Ed Lawrence of Alzada, MT. The drawing was held that afternoon during the program and
they were won by Allen Johnson of Alzada. All proceeds and donations of the day went to the Alzada
Community Hall. Gay Arpan told me that Ed made a pair of spurs in 1989 and donated them to be
raffled for the hall. "It was decided to do a poet and music show in order to have something other than
just the drawing for the spurs to celebrate Montana's centennial. It was such a hit we have continued it
for seventeen years", she said. This hall, where the program is held each year, was built in 1929. The
building had recently been vandalized and the group is raising money for much needed repair of the
damage. They very much appreciate all donations (past, present, and future).
Although the Alzada Community Club is the actual sponsors of the show, Gay Arpan and Chris
Maupin have been the hosts of the affair since it started and do all the planning and work of putting it
on. They really do a fantastic job of getting everything together. Randy Arpan done a good job as MC
and the program opened with Chris welcoming us all and giving us a very interesting and informative
talk on the history of Alzada. This was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag after which
Ronelia Parry accompanied herself on the key board and sang "God Bless The USA". Bob Petermann
ran the sound system and was also one of the performers. We took some of our hand made leather
items and I had some hand tooled pictures along.
In all, there were around twenty five performers for the Poetry and Music show. About thirty five
artists displayed their works. Some of the artists (including myself) were also performers in the Cowboy
Poetry and Music program. I don't know how many were in the audience, but empty seats were few and
several people were standing. The featured performers were Ronelia Parry of Ekalaka, MT.; Georgene
Conley of Belle Fourche, SD.; John and Joyce Shreves of Sheridan, WY.; and Jim Hamilton of Decker,
MT.
Darlene (my wife) and I had a good visit with Paula Harkens of Billings, MT., (a beautiful singing voice
) and took home her new CD. Hadn't seen Paula since Medora, ND., two years ago.
We had an absolutely great time on and off the stage.
©2005 Slim McNaught
Alzada Cowboy Poetry Gathering? For an old cowboy I thought it was kind of clever.
On Sunday, October 2, 2005, we took leisurely drive from western South Dakota, through the
northwest corner of Wyoming, into Alzada, Montana. This day marked the 17th Annual Cowboy Poetry,
Music And Art Show in Alzada, Montana. The theme this year was "Alzada history Is Alive In 2005".
The ladies there served a delicious noon lunch before the program got started. The Alzada Community
Club, Inc., is in charge of the lunch, but all of the community ladies pitch in and help. We spent the
time before lunch visiting, getting registered (they had great door prizes), hanging our art work, and
getting ready for the afternoon performance. I did a little "foot work and audio" for Bob Petermann
while he was getting his sound system in order, which I enjoyed doing.
Ticket donations were being taken for a pair of really nice silver mounted spurs, custom made and
donated by Ed Lawrence of Alzada, MT. The drawing was held that afternoon during the program and
they were won by Allen Johnson of Alzada. All proceeds and donations of the day went to the Alzada
Community Hall. Gay Arpan told me that Ed made a pair of spurs in 1989 and donated them to be
raffled for the hall. "It was decided to do a poet and music show in order to have something other than
just the drawing for the spurs to celebrate Montana's centennial. It was such a hit we have continued it
for seventeen years", she said. This hall, where the program is held each year, was built in 1929. The
building had recently been vandalized and the group is raising money for much needed repair of the
damage. They very much appreciate all donations (past, present, and future).
Although the Alzada Community Club is the actual sponsors of the show, Gay Arpan and Chris
Maupin have been the hosts of the affair since it started and do all the planning and work of putting it
on. They really do a fantastic job of getting everything together. Randy Arpan done a good job as MC
and the program opened with Chris welcoming us all and giving us a very interesting and informative
talk on the history of Alzada. This was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag after which
Ronelia Parry accompanied herself on the key board and sang "God Bless The USA". Bob Petermann
ran the sound system and was also one of the performers. We took some of our hand made leather
items and I had some hand tooled pictures along.
In all, there were around twenty five performers for the Poetry and Music show. About thirty five
artists displayed their works. Some of the artists (including myself) were also performers in the Cowboy
Poetry and Music program. I don't know how many were in the audience, but empty seats were few and
several people were standing. The featured performers were Ronelia Parry of Ekalaka, MT.; Georgene
Conley of Belle Fourche, SD.; John and Joyce Shreves of Sheridan, WY.; and Jim Hamilton of Decker,
MT.
Darlene (my wife) and I had a good visit with Paula Harkens of Billings, MT., (a beautiful singing voice
) and took home her new CD. Hadn't seen Paula since Medora, ND., two years ago.
We had an absolutely great time on and off the stage.
©2005 Slim McNaught
| October 2005 |
| ALZADA, MT. 17th ANNUAL COWBOY POETRY, MUSIC AND ART SHOW |