WEATHERFORD — Moira and Clive, British tourists, had taken in the Arkansas attractions of Eureka Springs, the Chuck Wagon races in Clinton, the sale barn in Green Forest, and now found themselves in Fort Smith for the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association Trail Drive.
They stationed themselves along Rogers Ave. and watched as a group of jolly cowboys came pushing twenty head of rented longhorn cattle along the parade route. Clive was excited. He was a western movie buff. “By Jove, dear,” he beamed, “it’s just like Rawhide!”
He was photographing it with his digital Minolta Maxxum 7 when it became obvious some of the beasts were exhibiting unruly behavior. Amidst a chorus of mooing, bawling and cursing, the river of cattle split! Three head including a big steer, a cow and a paint yearlin’ bull, turned at 3rd St. and struck out across Hanging Judge Courtyard. All Hector broke loose! Or as Clive said, “Good gracious, Moira! This is better than the bloody Pamplona!”
Two cowboys thundered after the renegades, shakin’ out their loops in hot pursuit! A large crowd of onlookers raced after the ruckus, snapping photos and filming the action for America’s Funniest Videos. The three cattle crashed through a construction zone ignoring the traffic light, the pedestrian crossing and the warning signs. Cattle, horses, cowboys and tourists followed, jumping cement barriers, danger signs and potholes, flashes popping and videos whirring!
Our two cowboys trapped them in the corner of a chain-linked parking lot. Within ten minutes their faithful teamster had backed a trailer in the corner and loaded up the cattle…all except the bull. He had evaded them.
The chase began again, now joined by the Park Ranger on his 4-wheeler. “He’s down in the draw along the river,” he shouted as he raced by, “I’ll run him out for ya’ll!”
Well, he did. Back through the construction, Hangin’ Judge Park and the mass of tourists, amidst cheering and cameras flashing.
“It’s the wild west!” exclaimed Clive, “Back ‘ome they’ll never believe this!”
For a long five minutes our cowboys lost track of the bull until a straggler said, “Come look!” The whole mass of humanity crowded along the ridge overlooking the Poteau River. Halfway across, swimming like a Navajo rug in a Speedo, they could see the back and the head of the red and white spotted Longhorn bull making his way to Oklahoma.
Cowboy Earl took off his hat and shook his head. Then he heard one of the tourists with what he thought was a British accent say, “I say, ol’ chap, that was a smashing good show! When is the next performance?”
Black may be reached at e-mail coyotecowboy@theriver.com. Columns submitted to The Weatherford Democrat by guest writers reflect the opinions of the writer and in no way reflect the beliefs or opinions of The Weatherford Democrat.
Farm & Ranch
One more for the tourists
- Farm & Ranch
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Cattle Raisers host ranch gathering in Decatur
FORT WORTH — Come join the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) for a ranch gathering Thursday, at the Wise County Sheriff’s Posse Arena in Decatur. The gathering will begin at 6 p.m. with registration followed by a beef dinner and presentations.
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Katrina’s good sports
In the fall of 2008, before the election, as the recession crashed down around us I gave up on politics.
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Planned grazing course with Kirk Gadzia this April in Fort Worth
FORT WORTH — Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers and Holistic Management Texas team up to offer a new “Planned Grazing” course at the Will Rogers Memorial Center April 21-25.
The emphasis for this five-day course will be on grazing planning, but instructor Kirk Gadzia will cover rangeland monitoring, financial planning and land planning as well. The content will be relevant to both managerial and operational level employees, with varying levels of formal education. There will be a lands-on Learning aspect if weather permits. Class runs from 8am to 4:15pm each day. -
One more for the tourists
Moira and Clive, British tourists, had taken in the Arkansas attractions of Eureka Springs, the Chuck Wagon races in Clinton, the sale barn in Green Forest, and now found themselves in Fort Smith for the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association Trail Drive.
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Cowboy ingenuity
Cowboys are nothing if not ingenious. It takes that sort of out-of-the-box mentality to allow them to solve the myriad of problems that arise when you combine horse, cow and rope!
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Local wins at San Antonio Stock Show
SAN ANTONIO — The Junior Market AOB Steer Show was held Feb. 19, at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.
Taylor Cody won the honor of Breed Champion AOB with her 1334 pound steer. -
Olympic distraction
You know the inmates have taken over the asylum when you’re turning to PETA as the voice of reason! These are the animal rights extremists who compared eating chicken to the Holocaust, compared the murdering cannibal Jeffery Daumer to butchering hogs, and once proclaimed that it would be great if Foot and Mouth Disease infected animals in the U.S.
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Scholarships awarded to Parker County youth
SAN ANTONIO — Cade Hansma and Alannah Chalmers of Weatherford, and Jens Rudibaugh of Poolville, were the recipients of scholarships from the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo at this year’s horse and llama shows.
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Jake working overtime
In an effort to make managing the 20 section ranch more efficient, the boss bought Jake a Ranger, a four-wheel drive muscle car ATV.
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Local student wins at Fort Worth Stock Show
FORT WORTH — Dylan Mask, a 4-H member from Weatherford, exhibited a First Place Medium Weight Hampshire Barrow in the Junior Barrow Show at the 2010 legendary Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Feb. 4. J
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