Dewayne Stamper has gone to ride cutting horses in heaven, or maybe judge them. He did both. For instance, he last judged the NCHA open futurity in 2016, and rode champion cutter Dixieland Docs Per in 1991. I first met Dewayne when he was hauling […]
Ruth Can Fix It
We celebrated Clara Ruth Bell last Saturday. Lots of good stories were shared and they only scratch the surface of her amazing life. Ruth was a mountain girl who went to nursing school and became a single mother over 60 years ago in a time […]
Bulls, horses and Bullrider Dogs
My friend Gene Owen was famous in the bull riding world. Right now he was at a higher pinnacle than anyone has ever been on – top bucking bull in the PBR back to back, with a bull that has scored higher consistently than any […]
The Ben Johnson
This was year number 71 for the Ben Johnson steer roping. It’s part of the greatest Osage County celebration of ranch life. First greatest thing? Pake McEntire played the National Anthem on the fiddle. Yes, that is Reba’s brother. Their father Clark was the first […]
The Place You Spend Your Time
South Coffeyville Salebarn was sold some time ago, as well as the Southern Supper Club. I spent 21 years riding at that salebarn, watching the club open in the afternoon and often going there myself, where the order buyers would buy us drinks – some […]
The pistol that wanted to go home
My parents have had this thing my whole life where they tell me something is mine – but I can’t have it. “You will get it some day.” When I was about 12 years old, Daddy bought a new Ruger Bearcat .22 pistol. He showed […]
Here’s to Old Time Horse Traders
Old time horse traders are a dying breed. These are the ones who traded ALL kinds of horses – from a high dollar show horse to snides that weren’t fit for the killers. These guys knew the strategic places to rub Vick’s salve and why […]
Bowlin Spring
I was just reading some of my old newspaper columns. This one was published in 2015, won an award and is still on the wall at Bowlin Spring. These were wonderful times. “Americana. Pictures of a people proud and free.” If you’re not old enough […]
Clinton Champions – Twice
I recently was asked if I had a picture of Keith winning the Snowy River Race at Clinton. When we raced at the Clinton Chuckwagon Races, the Snowy River Race did not exist. Keith and I did win races there. We won the men’s and […]
The best Bond stories
The first sale I worked at South Coffeyville was a cold January day in 1995. That’s the day I met Jim and Barbara Bond. Jim Tom was not riding that day because he was still in school. The old barn had an alley with wooden […]