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Friday opening for Echoes of the Trail
There is certainly no shortage of summer fun in Fort Scott. This weekend will mark the 12th anniversary of the Echoes of the Trail Cowboy Gathering at Fort Scott Community College. On the second full weekend of each June, the event celebrates the history and lore of the American Cowboy with original and traditional cowboy poetry, stories, music, chuck wagons, and old-time blacksmithing. This year, because June 1 fell on a Sunday, the event is on Father's Day weekend, and organizers hope families will treat dad or grandpa to a trip back into the Old West.
The opening will be Friday, June 13, at 7 p.m. in the FSCC Academic Building Round Room, with humorous and haunting cowboy poetry and music by Gerry Allen of Parkville, Mo., Joe Lester of Kansas, Okla., Steven Spalding of Lebanon, Mo., Richard Dunlap of Louisburg, Mo., Ron Ratliff of Gilman City, Mo., and Ron Wilson of Manhattan, Kan.
The featured performers Friday night will be Johnny Kendrick and sons Jackson and Sam, who live on the family farm in Richards, Mo. As cowboys sat around the campfires in the Old West, they told rhyming stories about life on the trail and set them to tunes they knew from their countries of origin. Thus was born the cowboy poetry and music we know today. Last year, Jackson Kendrick sang one such song in the brogue of a cowboy from Ireland.
Six more cowboy entertainers will open Saturday night for Barry Ward, the cowboy musician who sang last year of life on the range and his fourth generation farm in western Kansas. Barry writes his own music and sings some traditional music as well. He is staunchly patriotic and devoutly Christian, all of which is reflected in his music. Not only will Barry perform Saturday night, but he will sing rousing hymns during cowboy church on Sunday morning. Opening for him will be founders Arnold Schofield and Johnny Kendrick, as well as cowboy poet/singer Cliff Sexton of Uniontown. Others performing from 7:20 to 8 p.m. are D. J. Fry, Oronogo, Mo., Harold Carpenter, Sedan, Jake White, Springfield, Mo., Wanda Cothren, Claremore, Okla., Del Shields, Humboldt, and Sam Kiefer, Lebo.
All twelve of the cowboy poets and musicians will perform non-stop on Saturday, June 14, in the FSCC Academic Building Round Room and Gordon Parks Center. The entrance and the chuck wagons will be on the south side of the Academic Building this year, accessible from Ellis Street off of Horton.
One of the cowboy singers/guitar players opening for the Kendricks is Gerry Allen of Parkville, Mo. Fans never fail to roar with laughter when he sings the spoof on "Ghost Riders in the Sky," where the riders are ghost chickens. Allen has been performing cowboy poetry and music for 15 years, including the National Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock, Texas, and the PBS video series, Cowboy Corral.
Joe Lester is a man of many talents. He is a cowboy musician, an accomplished rawhide braider and saddle maker, a chuck wagon cook, and an auctioneer, with experience on Kansas ranches and feedlots. His wife Kathy creates cowboy crafts and manages their booth at Echoes of the Trail, where they sell tack, western clothing, pottery, beadwork, jewelry, western music tapes and CDs, silk neck kerchiefs (known as wild rags), and much more. Echoes of the Trail organizers say the Lesters add much to the gathering, and they feel fortunate that they have been with the event since the beginning.
Steven Spalding is new to Echoes of the Trail this year, but certainly not a stranger to cowboy poetry and music. He was well known in Nashville in the 1970s and was nominated as Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year, and for Single of the Year by the Country Music Association. He appeared on the same program as Barbara Mandrell and many other famous country singers. He is now an ordained minister and conducts cowboy church and horseback weddings. He has authored a book, "Another Cowboy Poet," and recorded a CD, "The Lord and My Guitar." Steve also is an artist and will display his work in the halls when he is not on stage.
Richard Dunlap has been with Echoes of the Trail from the beginning. He strums his guitar or banjo and sings good old cowboy music.
Sam Kiefer performed on the open microphone last year, and organizers asked him to be on the program this year. Kiefer is an alumnus of the FSCC rodeo program and has been writing cowboy poetry since college. He will celebrate his birthday by performing at Echoes of the Trail Saturday during the day and the evening show.
Harold Carpenter has been with the event for many years. He tells hilarious stories while he spins a rope. Born in rural Kansas in the 30s, this tall, skinny cowpoke has written cowboy poetry for 40 years, and has been published in Western Horseman magazine.
Wanda Cothren calls herself the "Kiamichi Songbird" and captivates audiences each year with her singing and yodeling. Ron Ratliff is a cowboy as well as a Baptist minister, and never fails to entertain with his crisp delivery of cowboy tales.
Del Shields is a farrier, horse trainer, and cowboy poet/singer. He now has a band, and will bring one of the band members with him to perform. Del has been on Sirius satellite radio and RFD TV, and is part of the series, "Best of America by Horseback."
Jake White is a native of the Ozark Mountains in Missouri. He was raised working on small farms and ranches and loves working with horses and mules. Jake is proud to have served his country in Vietnam as a U.S. Marine. He helps keep the spirit of the American Cowboy alive through his poems, storytelling, and jokes based on personal experiences and his insight into the cowboy ethic. He has performed all over the U.S. and Canada, and appeared in "The Shepherd of the Hills" play in Eureka Springs, Ark., where he opened the show with his own act of comedy and poetry in addition to taking part in the play. He has done shows with Dennis Weaver of "Gunsmoke" fame, and Dale Robinson of "Tales of Wells Faro" in Dodge City.
Ron Wilson was named "Cowboy Poet Lariat" by former Governor Bill Graves. He is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University, and is a polished cowboy poet.
Most of the Echoes of the Trail performers are members of the Missouri Cowboy Poets Association, and are dedicated to preserving the life and lore of the american cowboy. Echoes Steering Committee members Gary Wimmer of Fulton, and Cliff Sexton of Uniontown, will perform Master of Ceremonies duties.
Two chuck wagons will prepare a noon meal for the public Saturday, June 14, and again Sunday morning after the 10 a.m. Cowboy Church. In case of stormy weather, Cowboy Church will be held in the Gordon Parks Center in the Academic Building. Otherwise, it will be outdoors by the chuck wagons, south of the Academic Building.
For more information, see echoesofthetrail.com or call (620) 223-0736. Tickets may be purchased at the door or from Country Cupboard on Main Street in Fort Scott. The detailed schedule is on the web site and available at Country Cupboard.