Thursday's Internet Edition, September 09, 2010.
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| Prairie Moon Band from Wichita Falls, Texas. Members are Will Sullivan, David Holcomb, and brothers Ron, Michael and Tim Callaway. (Photo by Patricia Golden) |
Four months ago, give or take, Bob Kinford came up with an impossible dream to bring cowboy poets, storytellers, and musicians to Van Horn, with a want to create a crossroads to other venues to give a performer a shot at an invitation to a bigger Gathering.
Well, that was just the beginning. Friday was the test, and the Cowboys rolled in with musical instruments, audio equipment, CD’s, books, videos, and their memorized stories and poems, and all the trapping of western wear. By 11:30 AM the stage was set and the mic was open to the spoken word. The Van Horn Convention Center was hoppin’ with excitement. Catie Kinford had a table full of her beautiful arts and crafts, so the action wasn’t just limited to the stage. During the evening show a delicious dinner was catered by Van Horn’s Shanna Roberts, and the Prairie Moon Band filled the Grand Hall with lively country music.
Folks dropped in and out to view and hear the 2 day long open mic with its Friday night Dinner Show and a Saturday night judging by Joe Baker and Charles Williams. Bob mentioned he knew of at least 6 people who pulled in off Interstate 10 after catching the show on their radios.
Performers came from all over: David McBroom, gospel poet from Houston; Buck Helton “The Big Man” from Dallas; Slim Farnsworth and Charlie Ware, 2 poets from Cedar Edge, CO; Prairie Moon Band from Wichita Falls (included Will Sullivan, David Holcomb, brothers Tim, Michael, and Ron Callaway); Bobby Neeley, Storyteller and poet from Estancia, NM; Curly Butts, Poet from Bowie, TX; Charles Williams, Poet/Storyteller and Campfire Tales events organizer and Executive Vice President from Ft. Worth; Phillip L. Crawford “Tumbleweed,” poet/singer/songwriter from St. Francis, KS; Cade Schalla, poet and a Texas transplant from Montana; James Michael, singer/musician from nearby Las Cruses, NM, who invited his delightful 90 year young, rodeo mom; Jim Hosea, from Brownwood, TX; Paul Harris from western Arkansas (who was later invited to the Alpine gathering); Eleanor Taylor, poet/novelist from Fort Davis; and 3 Van Horn locals, Storyteller Bob Kinford, first-time performer Gary Fuentes with tales of Ranching on the Rio, and poet Patricia Golden.
Bob Kinford thought of everything. He called upon the media, Joe Baker of Joe Baker’s Backforty and Bunkhouse Productions out of Ruidoso, NM, and Tamara Boatright of Ralph’s Backporch Radio Show out of San Augustine, TX. They streamed audio and video via internet. We were LIVE to the world, 13 states and 14 foreign countries. How’s that Van Horn? We are on the big map!
Early Saturday morning I hitched a ride with Slim Farnsworth and Charlie Ware (it was fun listening to their yarn spinning). We headed for the Alpine Cowboy Poetry Gathering to catch their open mic. It was “Head ‘Em up, Move’Em Out” as several of our performers made their way there to recite one poem, or one story, or one song within one hour, in one of 3 rooms. There was a crowd and I ran from room to room standing at the doors trying to watch our entertainers. It was a great show, but I couldn’t catch it all. I made the return trip with poet, Eleanor Taylor who was on her way to Van Horn for the Saturday open mic session. Eleanor read in Van Horn back in September for our Butterfield Commemoration. We made it back to the Convention Center and the program was underway at 20 minute intervals to the judges liking.
Prairie Moon won invites to both, the Cowboy Symposium in Ruidoso, NM and the Hatch Chili Festival in Hatch, NM, as well as two tracks on Joe’s Back forty CD. Cade Schalla also won a track on the CD. Plus 12 performers were invited to the Campfire Tales held in conjunction with the Fort Worth Stock Show.
Everyone had a good time and I heard folks say a lot of good things about Van Horn; about the convenience, the nice people, the restaurants, and the accommodations, and that they would like to return. I do believe Texas Crossroads Cowboy Poetry Gathering will be back in 2010.
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
Wow! I don’t think I have ever seen a basketball team play with such heart as our Eagle players at the Area game against Farwell last Friday in Odessa. They just wanted that win so bad that nothing was going to keep it from them, even though they were the ‘underdogs’. Those taller players from Farwell and a large crowd of stunned fans went home without claiming that victory, while Van Horn fans watched as our players proudly accepted the trophy.
If they play with the same determination at Regionals tonight (Wednesday) they may just stun Plains as well. Here’s hoping! But no matter the outcome, we are extremely proud of you players and coaches for the outstanding season you have had. And almost everyone will be back for next year!
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Our Culberson Museum is something that I’m afraid we take for granted at times. I was reminded yesterday as I spent a little time with Robert and Nada Stuckey and Carole Fitzgerald at the museum, that we have some valuable volunteers there. I sure appreciate the hours that they, and a few others, put in so that the museum can be open almost everyday. Some tourists had been there yesterday and left a $50.00 check. Obviously that was someone who realizes the importance of preserving an area’s history and heritage. It also made me wonder why more of us right here in Van Horn don’t do much to support our museum. I was personally a little ashamed at how I take our museum and those that volunteer there for granted. Thanks to the Stuckeys and those who help out there.
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I really appreciate Sally Wheat for letting us know of that very special occasion for she and her daughter (see article in this issue). If you see a beautiful painting of Guadalupe around town somewhere, there’s a good chance that it was painted by Sally. She and here husband, Bill, owned the hardware store here for many years back in the 50s and 60s and I think into the 70s. They resumed ownership from his parents. I would have to look back in old Advocate issues to see just how long that local store had been in the Wheat family.
Sally said that she still paints some and has her paintings in two galleries in Las Cruces where she lives. This show with her daughter and granddaughter in Oak Ridge, TN was a wonderful time for her family and I’m glad she shared it with our Advocate readers.
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It sounds like the first (of what we hope will be many) Texas Crossroads Cowboy Poetry Gathering was a real success. Our thanks to the Kinfords and all who had a part in organizing it. Another annual event that brings tourists to our town is needed and this could certainly become one.
Our thanks also to Patricia Golden who covered it for us since we were unable to be here for it. Patricia is always willing to help us out and her enthusiasm for events going on in Van Horn is much appreciated!
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
March 5th - Van Horn Eagle baseball team will be playing in and hosting the Oasis in the Desert Classic today at Clark Field. American Legion Post 508 is slated to have a mmeting this evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Clark Hotel Historical Museum. The Van Horn Community Christian Shelter board of directors are scheduled to meet this evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Christian Shelter. Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are slated to meet tonight at 7 p.m. at the Fire House.
March 6th - Van Horn Eagle baseball team will be playing in the Oasis in the Desert Classic today at Clark Field. The Van Horn Eagle track teams compete in the Sanderson Relays today in Sanderson. The Van Horn Eagle tennis team competes in the Ft. Hancock Tournament today beginning at 9 a.m.
March 7th - The Van Horn Eagle tennis team continues play in the Ft. Hancock Tournament today. Van Horn Eagle baseball team plays in the Oasis in the Desert Classic today at Clark Field. The Van Horn Lady Eagles softball team plays Marfa here today beginning at 10 a.m.
March 8th - Attend the church of your choice.
March 9th - Culberson County Commissioners are scheduled to meet this morning at 10 a.m. in the County Courthouse. Members of the Van Horn Lions Club are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the Sands Restaurant.
March 10th - Members of the Van Horn Rotary Club are slated to meet today at noon at Chuy’s Restaurant. The Van Horn Eagle baseball team plays the Kermit JV in Kermit today beginning at 5 p.m.
March 11th - Nothing scheduled at press time.