Howard Staub & Lynn Anderson

Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium, Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, October 12 & 13, 2007.

This flatlander and my bride, Totsie Slover, on Thursday, October 11th, made the three hour journey to Ruidoso Downs to take in the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium and gain more familiarity with cowboy and cowgirl singers and poets.

This year's 18th Annual Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium had three stages filled with quality cowboy entertainment from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM each day. The venue is impressive. On average there were entertainers in constant rotation on these three separate stages about every half hour. The

Howard Staub, Kyli Moore & Kip Calahan

two smaller stages were situated under the bleachers of the Ruidoso Downs track and the third and largest stage was under a giant white circus like tent. Between the stages were vendors of many cowboy related products, whether for horses, the home or personal clothing. Inexpensive food vendors aplenty and cowboy entertainers were everywhere among the public. All are approachable and glad you made the trip to watch and listen to them entertain. Down-to-earth folks to say the least.

Howard Staub & Biscuit O'Bryan

Friday morning started off just right with my meeting R. J. Vandygriff of Lipscomb, Texas. R. J. (Robert Joe) was the Master of ceremonies in the Circus tent Ray Reed Stage and we had a lengthy and enjoyable conversation. R. J. is a top notch personable cowboy singer and a 100 episode alumni of the TV program Walker, Texas Ranger. The "behind the stage" area was a hub-bub of activity. Pretty Devon Dawson, the founding member of The Texas Trailhands of Fort Worth, Texas, was readying for her singular performance and we met for the first time other then on the internet. Devon had 15 year old Jess Meador with her and Jess is a Texas State Junior Fiddle Champion. So, in less time then it takes to drink a cup of java I had smoozed with three talented entertainers that I had not personally met previously. Watching and listening to Devon and Jess perform only substantiates why they do what they do! What talent! And the audience responded accordingly.

Time to take a hike. Under the bleachers and thru the vendors we hiked to the far Larry McWhorter Stage, MCed by friend, Joe Baker, of Ruidoso. We arrived just in time to hear story teller, Dennis Gaines. He has some entertaining far-fetched tales that are very animated and crowd pleasing. He never even stops to take a drink of water!

Howard Staub & Red Steagall

Next up was Red Steagall, The Official Cowboy Poet of Texas. Managed to spend a few minutes with Red prior to his joining his brother and Premier Guitar Picker, Richard O'Brien on stage for their great performance. We again exchanged a few words after the masses had attacked him after his performance. No doubt about why he is so well received and was a Headliner of the weekend event. A humbling experience for me.

A newly formed group "The Singin' Cowgirls", consisting of previously mentioned Devon Dawson, Jean Prescott of Ovalo, Texas, Liz Masterson of Denver, Colorado and Cindy Hobbs of Ruidoso were an instant hit with the audience! The crowd-pleasing harmony they provided will cause a future CD to be released. This mating of these four very talented ladies was the brain child of James Hobbs, husband of Cindy Hobbs. Liz Masterson quipped they had the nickname of the "Night Mares". Backing up the four song birds were the Flying J Wranglers of Ruidoso and they are seasoned professionals

Chuck Cusimano & Howard Staub

that don't skip a beat. Looking the part of real working cowboys, their stringed instrument backing would make anyone envious. Fresh and youthful, Corinna Ripple, provided fiddle back-up. Everyone was smiling after this performance. Especially the "Night Mares" as they knew they had a new winning combination. The "Singin' Cowgirls" CD will be one welcome addition to any DJs library.

Kip Calahan enticed us to take in her performance on the 3-Rivers of Texas Stage with the Sidekicks band. Kip who is nominated for the Western Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year AND Entertainer of the Year, was accompanied by her young daughter Kyli. They were in fine form as the Sidekicks provided crowd pleasing music. Our front row seating in this center venue provided for plenty of listening pleasure from our friend and daughter from Animas, New Mexico.

Back to the Larry McWhorter Stage we awaited the arrival of Lynn Anderson with many others in the audience. The Lynn Anderson Band aka "Call of the West" with Rollie Stevens warmed up the audience for Lynn and then she warmed up the audience for her performance of her Nominated Song of the Year "I Rode In As a Stranger", written by her Mother, Liz Anderson. Lynn and I had an interesting conversation while my bride took pictures. Not everyday of the year I get to smooze with a legend.

Saturday started as eventful as Friday with the news that Miss Devon Dawson of The Trailhands and newly formed "Singin' Cowgirls" had managed to break her left arm in a fall on Friday night. Hopefully her healing period will be rapid and her great guitar picking ability will not suffer.

We started off the morning with some relaxing singular performances by Pete Laumbach of Hope, New Mexico, Biscuits O'Bryan, Cowboy story teller and cook for the I. O. Everyone Ranch on the Larry McWhorter Stage. Making another lengthy trip thru and among the entire gaggle of vendors we were headed for the Ray Reed Stage and were just in time to again catch Kip Calahan and daughter Kyli for a fresh photo before they went on stage. Kip invited Lynn Anderson to join her on stage and they provided some rousing songs for the packed house audience. Few in the crowd were aware that they were watching two fantastic entertainers who both are nominated for the Western Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year. My vote had already been cast and I just sat there and smiled as my bride snapped a few pictures. Pure talent shining through and the audience knew it.

Liz Masterson & Howard Staub

ext up was Chuck Cusimano a masterful guitar picker and singer, transplanted from Colorado to Texas, who I had managed to spend some time with on Friday. His self written songs were well received and even with the Circus tent being whipped around by the increasing outside wind the crowds attention was still rapt.

We decided to coast down the from the mountains and return to the desert flats of southwest New Mexico. If tired feet are a measure of success they my mission had been accomplished. After meeting and smoozing with all the great entertainers, their generous gifts of CDs will be shared with the grateful listeners of "The Real West from the Old West" each Wednesday on KOTS/1230AM/Deming, New Mexico.

Lots of folks from Deming and Luna County, New Mexico were in attendance at this year's Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium. Like others they enjoyed the many events, from Chuck Wagon feeds to various "show and tell" cowboy presentations in addition to all the fabulous cowboy, country and Texas Honky-Tonk entertainers.

It really is fun! Now if fun were money, I would be a millionaire.

Howard G. Staub