Cowboy Capital Challenge

[bruce johnson]

As some of you know, I am the board president of the Oakdale Cowboy Museum. Oakdale has been a historically western town, home to still active rodeo and ranch cowboys. We have been called "The Cowboy Capital of the World" for decades. There are other towns that claim the same title. American Cowboy Magazine has set up a friendly challenge between us and Stephenville TX, who also claim the title. Basically both towns are selling raffle tickets at $10 each. The raffle winner in each town will each recieve a side of premium source-verified beef from South Dakota Beef Man. It will be wrapped and shipped to the winner. Tickets are available on-line on the Oakdale Cowboy Museum's website - cowboy museum. The winners will be drawn on the National Day of the American Cowboy - July 26th.

Obviously I am a little biased, but a little about Oakdale. This is a town that has had historical ranching roots going back to preGold Rush days. It is now a strong cattle area, with foothill pasture grazing in the fall through spring and irrigated pasture in the summer. It is home of the Oakdale Rodeo, 50 plus years of continuous competition. My mother-in-law was one of the founding directors of the Oakdale Ten Steer team roping competiton, historically one of the best. We have one of the few high schools in the nation that rodeo is a "letter" sport. Several go on to college rodeo scholarships, and some go to work everyday with a horse, saddle, and gooseneck trailer. The proceeds of the raffle in Oakdale go to the Oakdale Cowboy Museum. We have a scholarship programs and school outreach educational programs. The museum itself features ranch and rodeo memorabilia from the early days to modern times. For a little more about the museum, there are some "youtube" videos online. One particular favorite features our keynote speaker from last year's dinner auction - Wilford Brimlay. Wilford has been a great supporter or our efforts. It is available here -

. Wilford's part starts at about 5:00 into the video. Thanks for any support you all can give us, and eat beef, even if you can't.

[barra]

Bruce. I visited the Cowboy museum website just the other day as I was fishing for ideas for a book cover and have always liked the museum logo.

Count me in.

Barra

[bruce johnson]

Thanks to several here who have visited our museum's website since the original post, and some bought tickets to help support us and help out in the Cowboy Capital Challenge. We had a great National Day of the American Cowboy celebration here today. We had a silversmith demonstrating engraving. I am a sucker for jewelry for my wife, and Rundi is sporting a new cuff tonight. We also had a braider demonstrating and that was excellent. The highlight of our celebration the last two years was the Cowboy Collectible Roadshow. This year followed true. People bring in items for appraisal, and it is always exciting to see the treasures that some people have. Some nice old California bits as usual, a couple of special Hamley saddles, and the highlights were two prison made hitched horsehair headstalls in super condition. They came in back to back. Our appraisers also bought some examples from their personal collections. Cools to see all that old stuff in one place. I am attaching a few pics from their collections. More appraisals tomorrow.

BTW, Oakdale CA won the challenge vs. Stephenville TX, and we are the Cowboy Capital of the World. That would explain my excitement in the fourth pic as it was announced. It was a fun contest, and both areas got a chance to showcase their western heritage and future.

[Blake]

Hi Bruce

Congratulations on the victory and Thanks for posting the pictures . But next time take more pictures of the bits and spurs........PLEEEEEZE?

Is the challenge going to be a yearly thing?

Blake

[bruce johnson]

Blake,

We are doing the appraisals again today. I'll get some more pics of the bit and spur collections. Some of the people coming in with items are apprehensive about having their items photographed, some don't care. A couple of the reatas are Ortega, and some reins too. Bits and spurs are Morales, Herrera, Figueroa, Estrada, Gutierrez, and others.

[carr52]

Thanks to several here who have visited our museum's website since the original post, and some bought tickets to help support us and help out in the Cowboy Capital Challenge. We had a great National Day of the American Cowboy celebration here today. We had a silversmith demonstrating engraving. I am a sucker for jewelry for my wife, and Rundi is sporting a new cuff tonight. We also had a braider demonstrating and that was excellent. The highlight of our celebration the last two years was the Cowboy Collectible Roadshow. This year followed true. People bring in items for appraisal, and it is always exciting to see the treasures that some people have. Some nice old California bits as usual, a couple of special Hamley saddles, and the highlights were two prison made hitched horsehair headstalls in super condition. They came in back to back. Our appraisers also bought some examples from their personal collections. Cools to see all that old stuff in one place. I am attaching a few pics from their collections. More appraisals tomorrow.

BTW, Oakdale CA won the challenge vs. Stephenville TX, and we are the Cowboy Capital of the World. That would explain my excitement in the fourth pic as it was announced. It was a fun contest, and both areas got a chance to showcase their western heritage and future.

Here is a rope I am trying to make. It's coming out good so far. My loop is a little iffy. What am i suppose to put around the loop to protect it? Right now the rope is about 6 ft long. Gonna be about 18 ft when done.

Tom

[bruce johnson]

Blake,

Here are some from the appraiser's collections. Some people are pretty funny about having their individual items photographed. I am posting a picture of a saddle over in the saddle section. It has an interesting Carlos type border stamp pattern.