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In the CorralAug-Sep 2004 TEAM ROPING AT THE SCHMIDT HOUSE
Forty spots are open to kids 10 - 17 with some roping experience to learn from some of the best professional team ropers the sport has to offer. Imagine what young ropers can learn from seasoned veterans like Joe Lucas, Rocky Dallyn or Cliff Williamson. As well, horse trainers David and Leonard Schmidt and Murdock Keith will be teaching the finer points of teamwork between the roper and the horse that will carry him to the pay window.
GLOBAL COUNTRY ALL STAR CONCERTCanadian entertainers lifted the roof off the Winspear Centre in Edmonton at the 6th Annual Global Country All Star Concert held June 21, 2004. Established country stars Samantha King, Adam Gregory, Patricia Conroy, Eli Barsi, Kenny Hess and The Good Brothers fetched in the sold-out crowd. Highlighted at the concert were the "Rising Stars," 10 year-old Julia Vos, Brett Kissel, Katie Mission and Michael Carey. The second half of the show featured Tracy Miller, Kevin Chase and Lorne Nois, all currently receiving enthusiastic radio play. The show was closed by The Good Brothers, who lifted the whistling, stomping crowd to its feet with Gordon Lightfoot's classic Alberta Bound. To bring the Rising Stars Show to your community or for further information, call Maryanne Gibson of the Global Country Heritage Foundation: (780) 424-3300. O'KEEFE RANCH COWBOY FESTIVALOn July 31st and August 1st and 2nd, 2004, all trails will lead to the Historic O'Keefe Ranch at Vernon, B.C. as they host the 12th Annual Cowboy Festival. The focus of the festival remains on the cowboy, and features the Working Ranch Horse Competition, the Ranch Rodeo and cowboy poetry and western music. As well, impressive demonstrations of the herding instinct of working stock dogs are highlighted. Western arts and handmade cowboy gear will be on display and for sale by some of B.C.'s finest artists and craftsman. Rollicking cowboy music and poetry will delight audiences throughout the weekend, with feature shows occurring each evening on the main stage. You might expect to see entertainers such as the fastest poet in the west Frank Gleeson, and the host of the Spirit of the West radio show, Hugh McLennan. As well, the spiritually uplifting Cowboy Church is held Sunday morning at St. Anne's Church at the ranch. Come and enjoy a worship service, cowboy style with other guests and entertainers at the ranch. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR JOYCE SMITH
Born and raised in Alberta, Joyce began singing on radio shows and was soon a regular on television. She later joined a local band and began a cross-country tour, performing with such country music legends as Ray Price, Faron Young, George Jones, Wilf Carter and Hank Snow. Due to the extensive travel in the U.S.A., Joyce moved to Fort Worth, Texas, and it was there she performed with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. It was while singing at a rodeo that Joyce met her future husband, George Myren, a professional rodeo cowboy with numerous championships and awards to his credit. Joyce's biggest hit Leavin' On Your Mind sold over 100,000 copies in the U.S.A., and was later recorded by, and became a blockbuster hit for, the great Patsy Cline. Leavin' On Your Mind earned Joyce a nomination as one of the Country Music Association's most Promising Female Vocalists. Throughout her career, Joyce has performed extensively across Canada and the U.S.A., with recent tours to Germany, Denmark and Austria. So far in her career, Joyce has recorded six albums and numerous singles. Joyce is currently a member of the American Federation of Musicians, local 390, Edmonton Musicians Association and is serving her seventh term in an executive capacity. Joyce was inducted into the Alberta Country Music Hall of Fame in 1991. ELI BARSI COMING TO EDMONTON
Eli is promoting her new country release Listen produced by Canada's two-time award winning producer, Joel Feeney.
GOOD OL' GREENBACKSCanadian team ropers Darwin and Clay Ullery of Two Hills and George Schreiner of Medicine Hat had success at the U.S. Team Roping in Kalispell, Montana in June. Darwin has set aside his professional rodeo career to rope with his son, Clay, 11. The pair is planning on staying with the USTRC through to the divisional finals in Nevada and Wyoming, then on to the finals in Oklahoma in October. Once Clay is old enough, it will be back to the pro ranks where father and son will be looking to qualify for the Canadian Finals. SOUTH OF THE MEDICINE LINE
Hugh Dempsey of Calgary - author, historian and former associate director of the Glenbow Museum - did a presentation based on his book; The Golden Age Of The Canadian Cowboy. Mike Bruised Head of Standoff, AB. - historian and rodeo cowboy - did a very well-received presentation on Ranching and Rodeo on the Blood Reserve. Dave Wilkie offered his expertise on Celtic Cattle Culture in the American and Canadian West, while transplanted Canadian, Curly Musgrave caused a lot of throat clearing with his emotional tribute; Canada: Forever Within Me. To the delight of the audience, Hugh and Eli Barsi shared a powerful musical set with Louisiana singer/songwriter, Kelly Grombacher, and Dave Wilkie and Cowboy Celtic brought the crowd roaring to their feet in a standing ovation at the Saturday evening concert. Be sure to watch for these dynamic and talented folks down the cowboy trail. |
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Ronald Schmidt and friends are calling it, "T.R.A.S.H. for Kids", but as the line-up of talent attests, there's no trash in that corral!
The winner's edge is all about control, and there is no one better qualified than Sports Medicine doctor and Olympic athlete coach, Dr. Bob Stedward. Dr. Stedward has also lent his innumerable talents to this training camp and his experience and enthusiasm will help these kids to keep the sport of team roping fun and rewarding.
The team roping youth camp will be held August 23 , 24 & 25, 17 miles west of Barrhead on Highway 18. Registration is $75.00. Phone (780) 674-5288 for registration or more information. Instructions, steers and meals are all included. Bring your own horse.
Joyce Smith was honoured by the Alberta Women of Country Music with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her powerful contribution to the arts. 
Currently on tour throughout the U.S. and Canada, Eli Barsi is coming to Edmonton for Canadian Country Music Week, September 10 - 13, 2004. If you miss her show, you'll have to wait until December 18 when she performs at the Wild Rose Opry in Wildwood, Alberta. 
She is also in the studio recording her long-awaited western CD, Shades of the West, scheduled for release in September. Shades of the West will feature some songs co-written by my favourite cowgirl poet, Doris Daley, as well as guest appearances from the Sons of the Pioneers and Black Diamond's hottest band, Cowboy Celtic.
Canadian musicians and singers took center stage and wowed 'em at the annual Cowboy Songs and Range Ballads held at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming. The theme of this year's event was "Cowboys, Cattle and Canada," and our own Hugh McLennan did a presentation called Cowboy Music from The Northern Range complete with sound clips, images and stories. It covered the span from Bob Nolan, Wilf Carter, Hank Snow and Stu Davis right up to contemporary performers Eli Barsi, Butch Falk, Rick and Casey Peden and Brett Kissel.