My Cowboy Heroes

Feb. 2012 Column

2012-02-01T18:26:00.000-07:00

Chuck Sheppard

One Tough Hand

Regarded as “the toughest four-event cowboy around,” 1946 world champion team roper Chuck Sheppard was one of the old-time greats. He carried Cowboy Turtles Association (CTA) # 68- a number held the rest of his life. Of course, CTA eventually became known as the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA). He also won a world championship in calf roping during 1951 in the International Rodeo Association and twice finished up as the reserve all around champion.

He competed in every event in rodeo at one time or another, but calf roping, team roping, bulldogging and saddle bronc riding were his main events. Calf roping and bronc riding being where he thrived in the early days. In an interview, Chuck once said, “ I only quit riding bulls and bareback cause I’d get sored up and it made my other work tough.”

Along with working every event, Chuck also judged rodeos for over 25 years. One year, at Cheyenne, he entered the steer wrestling and steer roping events and judged the others! Amazing! He was also honored to flag the team roping at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and the steer roping at the National Finals Steer Roping (NFSR).

Chuck was inducted into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Hall of Fame in 1985, the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2000, the Phippen Museum’s Arizona Ranchers & Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2008 and was awarded the Ben Johnson award for rodeo excellence in 2001. First and foremost however, Chuck Sheppard was a cowboy… and a good-natured one at that!

Born on a ranch near Globe, Arizona in 1916, he was a cowboy from the word go. Chuck’s parents had traveled from Texas in a wagon. They set up their own ranch on Mescal Creek southeast of Globe in the Pinal Mountains, an area so rough and remote, the only way in or out, with or without supplies, was to pack in by horse or mule. Good cow dogs are more practical than a fence in that country.

His dad, Horace (AKA Shep), thought nothing about putting Chuck on a horse at a very young age. He expected his son to “keep up.” By the age of nine, he was riding the rough string horses to gentle them down for his little brother and mother to ride. He learned to catch and “lead” wild cattle as a mere boy. By the time he was a teenager, he was one tough cowboy, able to do things with horses and cattle even some seasoned hands are unable to.

Younger brother, Lynn Sheppard, once wrote, “Dad and Chuck roped the wild cattle on broncs and tied them to trees. They were led out the next day... The Pinal Mountains were covered with brush… dogs were a necessity.”

During the “dirty 30s,” at 16 years of age, Chuck moved to California to be with his mother, hoping to find work there. What he did find was an event that changed his life forever – he entered a rodeo at Hayfork, California. Chuck once said, “I won some money, had fun doing it and I think that’s what amazed me so much.” For the next 25 plus years, Sheppard’s life revolved around rodeo. He became known as “Mr. Everything.”

As a testament to his all-around abilities, he won numerous titles at both ends of the arena. Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Pendleton in calf roping and Salinas, Tucson, Chicago, Los Angeles in bronc riding and all-around titles at Denver, Tucson, Prescott, Lewiston and Boise to name a few. But winning titles was not first in Chuck’s book – putting food on the table was. He rodeo'd because it was a way to make a living.

Chuck’s youngest daughter, Lynda, once said, “Rodeo wasn’t like it is now. Back then we’d get out of school and be gone all summer. You’d stay eight or 10 days in Salinas, drive all night to get to Cheyenne and stay in someone’s home. They did not have hotels (or living quarter trailers) like they do now, they all did it - it was about survival. They worked hard back then.”

“I rode bucking horses for 24 years,” Chuck said. “You can tell that by looking at me. I rode some of the best there ever was and got bucked off some of the sorriest.”

Chuck also spent 10 years as a board member of the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA), which is what the association was known as between the CTA and PRCA. During that time, he is credited for coming up with the design on the world-champion saddles, among many other accomplishments.

In about 1951, the Sheppard family moved from California to Arizona where Chuck spent the rest of his life. In ‘59 he retired from full-time rodeo, although he made the NFR in team roping during 1963 while only competing part time. He used to say, with a smile, “When I was rodeoing, I always ate chicken…not superstitious - its just when I did good, I ate the meat – when I did bad, I ate the feathers!”

During the late 1950s he went to work for historic K4 ranch near Prescott, Arizona. He worked there until he finally retired at 82 years of age, but he’d stayed so long he was just like family...he never really retired. As a matter of fact, he did become family - his youngest daughter, Lynda, married John Kieckhefer (grandson of Bob Kieckhefer who started the ranch) and they reside there to this day - amongst others of the Kieckhefer clan.

K4 ranch owner, John Kieckhefer and Chuck were instrumental in the purchase of the great stud “Driftwood Ike” in 1963 from Roy Wales. He stood at stud there for 17 years. This was a big influence in taking the breeding program at the ranch to a new level. Sheppard was in charge of the breeding program as well as the large cattle herd for the ranch. Chuck partnered with John on many horses and ran a couple hundred head of cows, owned with wife Gwen, on leased ground around the Prescott area as well.

Along the way, and as a method to show their remuda, Chuck got into showing and racing horses. He did very well in the show ring and showed just about all classes including halter, cutting and reining. He found great excitement in horse racing and, just as with rodeo, Chuck found success on the track. “I got to running horses just for fun and then one summer I won 13 races over at Prescott Downs.” One of his horses named “Ant Hill” won 15 races in a year. Chuck wound up winning many stakes races over the years.

He was one of those all-time great cowboys who excelled at just about everything he did. Grandson, Rick Kieckhefer, said, “If you didn’t learn something from him (Chuck), you weren’t listening very good. He would help out anybody as long as they had a little try. He was just as proud as he could be of people when they did well. He was a great guy to have in your corner whether you were related to him or not.”

Every day Chuck Sheppard woke up, he loved what he did, he was fun to be around, always upbeat and he had a whimsical saying for just about everything.

Grandson, Charlie Lewis, told a story on Chuck: “We were going into a big pasture in search of some remnant cows, I was probably about 18 or 19. Granddad gave me instructions to make a circle; boy it was a hot day, about 105. When I got back to the truck, probably an hour and a half later, he was nowhere in sight. I loped up to the top of a hill about half a mile distant to scan the country for him; a little worried about him to be honest…he was pretty old then. When I got to the top of the hill, there he was, asleep under a tree with his horse unsaddled. I noticed right away the horse was not sweaty; he had probably ridden straight from the truck to the tree to take a nap! When I woke him up, he said with a grin, ‘Horse got hot, needed to cool him off!’”

Chuck was very fond of his family. He and wife Gwen had two daughters, Stella and Lynda and a whole herd of grandchildren, many of whom are well known in rodeo/cowboy circles to this day. Not long after passing on to the next realm in 2005, some of the grandchildren helped organize the “Chuck Sheppard Memorial Roping,” which raises money for the Chuck and Gwen Sheppard memorial scholarship fund. The scholarship is given to students who are enrolled full-time at Yavapai College and seek a degree in agricultural or equine studies programs and are involved in organizations such as FFA, 4-H, Arizona High School Rodeo Association and Arizona Junior Rodeo Association. The event will enjoy its 6th year in 2012.

During an interview prior to being inducted into the “Cowboy Hall of Fame” Chuck said, “We’ve had an exciting life – started out with nothing so there was nowhere to go but up…”

Darnell Story

2012-01-01T20:57:00.000-07:00

Clarence “Casey” Darnell

Natural Born Horseman

Raised on a large ranch in the San Bernardino Valley, an area encompassing the “boot heel” of New Mexico and the very southeastern portion of Arizona, Casey Darnell was born a cowboy in 1917. This area is well known for its good “cowboy” ranching families. It was the haunt of Geronimo and Cochise before that. Tough characters have been molded from the clay of this area for a very long time.

The talented Casey was a Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) gold card member, inducted into the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) hall of fame, an honorary Vice President of AQHA, past president of the New Mexico Horse breeders association and New Mexico Quarter Horse Racing Association, an AQHA director and judge for 21 years, trained and showed a World Champion performance horse, flew 27 bombing missions over Germany during WWII and the list goes on. What most folk will tell you about Casey Darnell first off, however, is, “He had a way with horses.”

Daughter, Emily Darnell Nunez, had this to say about her father, “When my dad would walk into the barn, every horse in the place would stick their head out over the stall gate as if they were greeting him. He’d then proceed to visit each one, talking to them like they were his kids. Some he praised - others got a pep talk, but each one couldn’t wait to get a visit from him. It’s as if he had a special connection to them.”

Casey went through several transitions throughout his fabled career as a horseman. He started off in the ranching world where, as a kid, he was horseback more often than not. Then came rodeo where he became known as a top contender. Next he moved into reining and show horses where he gained even more notoriety, and in the latter stage of his life, horse racing became king. All these genres involve horses, but they are distinctly different. Few excel at more than any one of these during a lifetime. Casey was gifted in the horse department.

Brother, Fred Darnell, of Animas, New Mexico once wrote, “Ounce for ounce - pound for pound, Clarence Ellsworth Darnell was the best hand I ever seen. He didn’t give a darn if a horse bucked, ran off or fell over backwards, he kept on grinning and making a hand.”

As a rodeo competitor Casey was a top hand. He excelled in the roping and bull dogging events. For many years he traveled the west, making countless friends along the way. He even placed at the “Grand Daddy” of ‘em all, Cheyenne, Wyoming! Although not a big man physically, he overcame physical limitations with horsemanship skills - and cowboy grit. He was a long time member of the PRCA, eventually becoming a lifetime Gold Card member.

Casey spent many years in the horse show world as well. He trained and showed about all classes and types of horses, including reining. In 1957, he had a World Champion performance horse named Skippity Scoot. Along the way, he transitioned from being a competitor, to that of a highly sought after judge. While spending 21 years as an official AQHA judge, Casey was known for being impartial to possible outside influences around the shows. He didn’t care if you were a world champion or a beginner; he called it, how he saw it, on that day.

Once, when asked by a champion, who was used to winning, “Why didn’t we (the contestant and horse) win?” Casey replied, “Well now, you did not have the best horse out there today.” He did not sugar coat things, but he had a way of putting it that made you like it…never malicious, and still grinning.

In the early 1960s, Casey was introduced to horse racing and it became a passion of his thereafter. During a family visit with wife Blair’s kinfolk in the east, they stopped at a thoroughbred farm in Kentucky. Casey was hooked. He bought his first thoroughbred on the spot. He was a regular in Southwestern racing circles from then on. A horse Casey trained and raced at Santa Fe Downs even wound up running in the Kentucky Derby. Son Cliff Darnell, who is also a trainer, qualified the horse for the Derby where it wound up running 9th out of a field of 19. Casey was pleased with his involvement.

Casey once said, “I love what I do. I love training horses.” He went on to give some advice, “You have to do the little things well.”

Casey was well known - a legend you might say - in the New Mexico horseracing world, but his connections reached far beyond the racetrack. Casey knew everybody. Well, maybe not everybody, but he had a lot of influence and was well renown.

Daughter Mary Darnell said, “He never felt out of place, weather he was in New York City or Apache, Arizona...it was all the same to him. My mom would take him to various functions around the world and he would dress in his Tux, if required, but always had his boots and hat added to the ensemble...and people loved him where ever he went.”

Daughter Emily recalls being at an event in Tingly Coliseum in Albuquerque, sitting with her dad. “The then, Governor of the State of New Mexico, Bruce King, stopped to shake hands and visit with my dad as if he was somebody important.” She recalls thinking, “Wow, my dad must know everybody!” Casey made friends easily and had them all across the country.

Casey and wife Blair were also active in youth activities. Not only did they teach their own children to become involved in equine activities, but they introduced many other youths to the horse world as well. This often made the difference in a youth’s life, helping them choose between a good path or bad. They loved the 4H program and were involved as leaders. But more than that, they did simple things, such as taking kids on trail rides and pack trips into the mountains. They became such authorities on the subject of training youths with horses; they were featured in a Western Horseman article, giving detailed advice on the matter. In part, Casey had this to say, “Riding, to most parents, is a way to get a kid past a certain stage…there are some kids that will go on with it…these mature boys and girls will get great satisfaction out of being able to make a horse do what they want him to do.”

Casey got his nickname while still a youth on the family ranch. Although his first name was Clarence, he was dubbed Casey because he could drive a bulldozer, cleaning dirt tanks and whatnot, so well that he was named in honor of the legendary railroad engineer, Casey Jones.

Daughter Mary also tells us of another amazing feat accomplished by Casey, which had nothing to do with horses. It involved his time in the army during WWII. Before being drafted, Casey was simply a working cowboy. He listed “cowpuncher” as his occupation on military papers. But ironically, within about 60 days of joining the military he was flying a B-26 bomber over Germany. Talk about being thrown into something in a hurry! Casey wound up flying 27 missions during the war - quite different from the “cow punching” job he had right before. After the war however, Casey did not talk much about his time there and he never showed an interest in flying again, keeping to his beloved horses instead.

A former Arizona State Legislator, Ralph Cowan, wrote a letter of recommendation for Casey. In part it reads, “He is loyal, honest and above board at all times and can be relied upon to do his best in whatever he may be called upon to do.”

Daughter Mary said, “He always told me do what you love, work at it everyday and the rest will fall into place.”

Clarence “Casey” Darnell died in 2001, but his legend status in the horse world lives on. Words from his tombstone pretty much sum it up – “Well Done.”

Casey once said, “Get in the hunt. Believe in yourself. Work hard. Watch and listen. Don’t forget to laugh. Plan for the future. Go after your dream.”

Merry Christmas Y'all

2011-12-13T21:37:00.002-07:00

Cowboy Night Before Christmas

Onward came the cowboy, came from afar, curiously following the glow of a star.

Arrived at the livery, place for his horse. Bit of extra oats on a chilly night of course.

Told the stable man, hey, thanks for the light, lit the desert nicely - such a dark night.

The man just grinned and said with a nod, Sir, it was not me - I believe it was God!

Amongst the burros and sheep freshly shorn, cooed a little baby, not long ago born.

Parents huddled, three men gathered round, gazed lovingly - babe on the ground.

Cowboy was curious as men usually are; knew right then, the purpose of the star.

No doubt in his mind, he was on hand, to witness a birth - worlds only perfect man.

Babe stared at him, right into his soul, knew all about him, but how did he know?

Piercing blue eyes that seemed to speak, cowboy got a message - knees grew weak.

Horse rip-snorted, sat right up in bed, guess he’d been dreamin’, twas all in his head.

Up with a start, realizing the dream; seemed so real, these things that he’d seen.

Voice came to him from deep within, said cowboy - past is gone, you are forgiven.

Trust your instincts inside, I put ‘em there, ‘member I’m with you, here, everywhere.

Tend your horses, cattle and fellow man, to do right by me, treat ‘em best as you can.

Pondered a while the message received; witnessed a miracle, was what he believed.

Message echoed in his head loud and clear, help your fellow man - both far and near.

Remember now, be kind to children, take care of your soul, you must make amends.

Cowboy resolved to do better, best he could; world surely needs, a bit more good.

Cowboy felt warm and fuzzy all over, like a wild horse herd, knee deep in clover.

Sat there a-rubbin’ grog from his eyes, looks to the window - saw another surprise.

Perched on the sill - a snow-white Dove, knows it has to be, a sign from above.

Cowboy just smiled, thought man what a night; Dove then nodded, took off in flight.

Twas no use a-trying to sleep after that, got up, got dressed, and stuffed on his hat.

Passed by the calendar - on the wall. December 25^th - well doesn’t that beat all?

Enters the barn, time to throw feed; horse is sweaty, what’s wrong with the steed?

He’s been ridden, evidence clear showed; looks in the bin, oats have been throwed!

Cold winter chill, straight down the spine, knew he’d encountered something Divine!

2011-12-02T23:43:00.001-07:00

For all my friends competing at the NFR...and life in general.

If you think you are beat, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don't
If you like to win, but think you can,t,
It is almost certain you wont.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost
For out of the world we find,
Success begins with a fellows will-
It's mostly a state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are,
You've got to think high to rise,
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win the prize!

The battle's don't always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later the one who wins
Is the person who BELIEVES they can!

~Unknown~

Fellows

2011-11-26T08:00:00.001-07:00

Fred and Deborah Fellows

Cowboy Artists

A large metal sign bearing the brand “backward F, forward F” welcomes you to a ranch outside of Sonoita, Arizona. It is a beautiful place, reminding you more of upper central California or the Davis Mountain country northeast of Marfa, Texas. With its large oak trees and rolling grassland hills at an elevation of around 5,000 feet, it is definitely one of the more beautiful spots in the Southwest. It is the home of many fine ranches, cowboys and cowgirls.

She was inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame (the second lady from Arizona after Sandra Day O’Connor). She is a lifetime member of the National Sculpture Society. Her monumental sculptures appear in about two dozen locations across the country including the Hall of Champions in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the Horseshoe and South Point casinos in Las Vegas; several Boy Scout of America monuments; several Vietnam Veteran War Hero monuments and numerous museums. The full list is long and impressive. Her name is Deborah Copenhaver Fellows. (Deb to those who know her.)

He is the longest living member of the Cowboy Artists of America (CAA). He has served three different terms as the CAA president and at the time of this writing is the current director. His art adorns places like the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum in Cody, Wyoming; the Phoenix Art Museum in Phoenix, Arizona; and the Desert Caballeros Museum in Wickenburg, Arizona. His art has graced the cover of over two-dozen magazines and has honorable mentions in articles in dozens more. A current work of his entitled “We Pointed Them North” has become the “logo” for the Cowboy Artists of America and the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association’s annual sale and exhibition held at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. His name is Fred Fellows.

Many great accomplishments of these two famous artists are well documented. A simple Internet search will turn up a multitude of information on the art of this talented duo. When you visit with them, however, they prefer to tell you about team roping, ranching and raising horses. They are quick to point out that their art is, “… art from experience.” Drawing and sculpting what they know and love is their passion.

First and foremost, the Fellows are true Westerners. Fred is a lifelong team roper (header) with an eye for a good head horse. Deb is the heeler of the team, and she has a family rodeo history, which includes her dad (Deb Copenhaver) and brother (Jeff Copenhaver), both world champion cowboys in their respective generations. The Fellows family has competed in rodeo events most of their lives.

Deb, once Miss Rodeo Washington and a runner-up to Miss rodeo America, looks like you would expect a former rodeo queen to look like. However, upon closer inspection, you see a gal tough as any man, sporting a much nicer exterior. Roping, cowboying and many long hours with sculpturing tools have made her as tough as her male counterparts. Pretty and proper to look at, yet tough as nails, she is quite an impressive woman.

Fred is the quintessential cowboy. Rugged good looks on a 6-foot-plus frame with a large cowboy hat leave no question that this is a guy who has spent much time outdoors on the back of a horse.

Fred likes to talk roping horses and is quick to mention a horse he once owned which was a brother to the great horse, Walt, owned by professional roper, Travis Tryan. A mutual friend in Montana, Walt Vermendahl, raised both horses. One day Fred decided that his horse was not being put to its full potential, being turned out in a pasture on the Fellows ranch, so he wound up selling it. The horse then ended up where its brother once was, in the Tryan rope herd. The horse has been a winner at the professional level since.

Fred is an avid history buff on just about anything cowboy or Indian. His collection of Old West memorabilia is one of the most extensive private collections you will find anywhere. He knows the history of each and every piece, how it was used and where it came from. This knowledge comes in handy when working on art. If one of them is working on a piece depicting the 1800s, early 1900s or contemporary times, they pay attention to minute details such as getting the clothing, tack and accessories correct for the period. Deb says, “In my opinion, it takes away from a piece if it’s supposed to be late 1800s and the horse is wearing a hackamore that wasn’t even invented until the 1940s.”

Deborah also has a passion for good running horses. At the time of this writing, the couple has 14 head of horses on their ranch near Sonoita. Each has a roping horse or two; everything else is racehorse stock. The ones who don’t pan out on the track are then used as barrel racing and rope horse prospects. Deb is passionate about the bloodlines of the horses and laughs as she says, “I often trade stud fees for art… That comment has gotten me more than one strange look at formal gatherings, but eventually I explain what paying stud fees means to someone in the horse business.” Some of their more notable horses are Corona Cartel, Streaking La Jolla and Treis Seis, all of which have had their share of success on “the track.”

The couple mentions the fact they have been on and worked with some of the West’s most famous ranches. This is an important factor, which carries over to their artwork. The Parker ranch in Hawaii; Haythorn Ranch in Nebraska; the Padlock and I X ranches in Montana; the JA, 6666 and o6 ranches in Texas and the Y7 ranch of New Mexico are but a few of the ranches they have been around.

After twenty-one-plus years of marriage, the two still act more like newlyweds than a couple approaching the milestone “silver” anniversary. They spend each day working side by side in their luxurious art studio on the ranch. Fred says, “A typical day is to go out to the studio after breakfast, and we each work on our respective projects. After lunch together, we go back out and work ‘til late afternoon. Then we might saddle up some horses and run a few steers, coming back in the evening to go over our projects together. It is much better to have four sets of eyes critiquing our work than two. Sometimes I will see little things Deb has overlooked and visa-versa.” The two spend most of their time together, truly enjoying each other’s company.

Whether traveling the West, gaining experience on some of its famous ranches, or working with their own animals at home, Fred and Deborah Fellows take pride in transferring the real West into their highly acclaimed artwork.

By popular request...

2011-11-13T16:00:00.000-07:00

My First Saddle

Giving is an art. Lending a helping hand to the needy is akin to a drop of water on a pond, still as glass. When the initial drop hits, it makes a little splash (the good feeling). However, the ripple effect goes on and on, accomplishing more than one little droplet could’ve ever hoped to on its own (the everlasting rewards). I learned valuable lessons about helping others when I was a kid. One such lesson learned involves the story of my first saddle. It must’ve been when I was about 11 years old…

My family always had livestock, did some dry farming, but my old man thought a horse was an unnecessary expense. Our little place could be worked afoot, with a pickup, or by trapping the few cattle, we ran, in the corral. Typical little nester / starvation outfit on the wind-swept, high plains of eastern New Mexico.

All I ever wanted however was to be a cowboy. Not just a guy who wore a hat and boots, but the real deal. There were a lot of real cowboys around that part of the country and I admired them. Sure, some were wild and free, not housebroke by many standards, but most were stand-up kind of guys. They were my earliest heroes. Of course, you’re not much of a cowboy if you don’t own a horse or saddle, I concluded.

So one summer I convinced my dad to let me hoe cotton for a neighbor at $1.00 per hour. My motive was to buy a horse since my folks wouldn’t (couldn’t) buy one for me. The old man agreed, as long as it didn’t interfere with my normal duties on our place (which were plenty).

I woke an hour or two earlier that summer and went to bed an hour or two later. I worked my little butt off and thankfully the neighbor was flexible on my work schedule. I spent every waking hour possible in that cotton field craving the $1.00 per hour which represented a means to my eventual goal of being a cowboy. I managed to labor quite a few hours each week in that hot cotton field. These, of course, being hours over and above the ones I worked on our place as part of my “keep.”

Towards the end of summer, Mr. Neighbor found out what I was working for; offering to trade me a crossbred Appaloosa filly for the summer’s wages I had coming. Being sooo anxious to actually own a horse, I agreed. Looking back on the deal now, all I’ve got to say is the neighbor made one heck of a trade! It was my first experience (lesson) on horse trading but that’s another story.

I now owned a horse and my dad wouldn’t buy extra feed for her; too costly. I had to work harder than ever to keep my horse fed as school was started by then. Most of the time I pulled weeds from the bar ditch to feed her, other times I hauled hay or did chores for neighbors in exchange for feed.

Long about that fall, I started to ride her.

You see, I had no saddle. Something like that would’ve been useless around our outfit and therefore it was obviously a frivolous expense. A halter came with the trade and I’d bought an old bridle at the auction for a couple bucks. That was my entire inventory of tack. I rode my treasured horse anyway…bareback.

Other kids in school who were supposedly “cowboys” made fun of me behind my back but I didn’t care. I wanted to be a real cowboy and have my very own horse. I’d show ‘em all…I’d find a way to get a saddle…perhaps next year?

Training an unbroken filly by an eleven year old boy is one thing. Training a young filly by an inexperienced eleven year old boy who had no instruction and no saddle is quite another. That was one of my first experiences with perseverance and patience.

One day after school, the mom of one of my classmates invited us out to their ranch for some reason. I believe it was the first time I’d ever been out there. I really paid attention because this was a REAL ranch. I was impressed! The DePuy family ran cattle on about 32,000 acres of sand hill country and they were known for raising good horses.

Before we left for home, the lady of the ranch, Marlene DePuy, offered me an old saddle from the barn. I was astounded…didn’t quite know what to think. It was too big a gift to be taken lightly. I offered to work it off, make payments, what ever it took but she insisted I just take it and that was that. The old saddle didn’t have any látigos, cinches, was dried out, cracking, and had a miss-matched pair of stirrups. At the time it probably wasn’t worth $20.00 (about $100.00 today) but to someone who had as little as I did, it was a HUGE gesture. Back then I considered it the most valuable gift I’d ever received.

At the lady’s advice I took it down to a local saddle shop and the man there helped me get the old thing back into useable shape. After throwing in a saddle blanket and a wore out catch rope, my bill came to much more than I had available. Luckily, he let me charge things. It took me almost the rest of the school year to repay him.

I now had what I needed to be a fully outfitted cowhand! That’s where the education really began.

I practiced daily with the old catch rope. I rode every chance I could in spite of very little instruction. Every time I’d see Mrs. DePuy however, she’d ask about my horse and how things were coming. She was always wise to a young boy’s feelings and would drop little hints about horses and cowboying which were very helpful. Never direct orders, mind you, not unsolicited advice (I was too prideful for that) just helpful hints I was too foolish to ask for. Somehow she knew to be careful, not wounding my fragile, budding confidence.

I hung on her every word without trying to show my ignorance too much. Through trial, error, lots of wrecks and just pure-d ole grit and determination, somehow I got through it all. That saddle and hints garnered from Mrs. DePuy helped launch my cowboy career ahead by years.

Eventually I traded up in the horse and tack department. Shoot, I’m still doing that to this very day! But everyone starts somewhere and now you know my humble beginnings into cowboydom. I’ve owned many horses and saddles since then but never have I forgotten my first ones, or what it took to get them.

The real story here is about giving, sharing and helping people out who need it more than you do. Marlene DePuy knew the art of giving. When she gave me that saddle, the only thing she got initially was the little “Splash” (the good feeling). That’s not why she did it though; not just for a little thanks either. She assisted people because she loved helping people. Marlene did stuff like that for folks all the time.

Unfortunately, Mrs. DePuy met an untimely death about a decade later. I had already gone out into the world to find my own place by then and I’m sure I never thanked her enough. The effects from her unselfish acts were definitely not wasted. I know, at least in my case, their still being felt in the pond of life to this day.

I learned from fine folks like Marlene DePuy. That’s how I got my start and I’ve never forgotten acts of kindness done for me; especially those done when I needed it most. I know as well as anyone how small acts of kindness can make a huge difference in another’s life. I also know the ripple effect of giving goes on and on; possibly longer than your own mortality!

Thought I’d just share that lil ole story with you. It did, and still does, mean a lot to me. Thanks, Marlene.

Jim Olson

Giving Thanks

2011-11-07T15:29:00.000-07:00

Giving Thanks

It started close to 400 years ago in New England. The modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition traces its origins to a 1621 harvest celebration at Plymouth. There is also evidence of an earlier celebration by Spanish explorers in Florida during 1565. As far back in recorded history as you can go - around the world, there have been celebrations of thanks at harvest time.

The Plymouth feast and Thanksgiving are what we now celebrate however. They were prompted not only by a good harvest, but also in appreciation of the Wampanoag Indians who helped the Pilgrims by providing seeds; also teaching the settlers the fine art of hunting in the area.

Some say if the Indians could have foreseen the future onslaught of European settlers coming, they may not have been so hospitable! But seriously, it would not have mattered; this continent was destined to be discovered by the rest of the world. Sooner or later, somebody would have “found it,” that’s for sure. Progress and change were coming no matter what.

I always say there is a silver lining to every situation. Thinking along those lines, looking at it from a positive point of view, folks should be glad the Pilgrims who came here first (after the Indians that is) were the Christian based Europeans. Imagine if Red China or another country such as that had gotten here ahead of Columbus. There would be no “Native American” culture alive and thriving here…or any other type of free “American” culture for that matter.

“Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.” Alphonse Karr

There are always positives in every situation, something to be thankful for; you just have to look for it. I am thankful that America is here today.

Being thankful is so much more than a once-a-year holiday tradition. Daily thanks are more important than some may realize. It has the power to set the tone of an entire day, project, week, year, or lifetime. It is hard to be grouchy, negative or in a bad mood when you are focusing on being thankful!

I start every day by giving thanks for my many blessings in life…even if at times they seem hard to count. But no matter what kind of spirit I wake up in, it doesn’t take long to change my outlook once I’ve thought about the positives in life.

“What ever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Gal. 6:7

Remember what we plant within ourselves in the way of thoughts, feelings and attitudes are the seeds of our outer life experiences. All things have their beginnings within us…in thought. For some that is hard to believe, others never really think about it, but upon further analysis, it can be no other way.

“The ancestor of every great action is a thought.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you approach life in a surly or negative mood that is exactly what life will give you back. Snapping at the person behind the counter or on the other end of the phone does not get you better customer service. As a matter of fact, it gets you worse service and you will not get favors, special treatment or opportunities that a positive person in a good mood will get. Give attitude – get attitude, in one-way or another that is always the case. When you get right down to it - it is your thoughts, which control your attitude. How you think about things determine your being in a good or bad mood.

Besides not getting customer service and productive interactions with your fellow man, thoughts are also the basis of most everything material as well. Buildings, machinery, techno-devices, money and such do not just spring into reality on their own, by spontaneous combustion. They originate as the product of someone’s thoughts and dreams first. Folks who invent and plan those products and successful ventures never do so out of negativity or with a “that won’t work” type of attitude.

“Whether you think that you can, or that you cant, either way you are right.” Henry Ford

Many go as far to say that things on the invisible plane such as “luck,” “fate,” and “chance,” whether good or bad are created through your own thoughts. Think productive, happy, positive thoughts and things seem to go your way. Be negative, grouchy and surly and things never seem to work out for you.

The latter type of folk generally point a finger at the positive type and say things like, “He was just born lucky, everything he touches turns to gold while everything I touch turns to bull manure.” The so-called “Midas touch.” They honestly believe that - then wonder why life turns out bad for them. There is a direct correlation between what you think and feel and how things turn out for you.

Think about it: Everything starts with a thought (even this great big universe started out as a Divine thought somewhere). How you think then sets the tone for how you feel. Negative, grouchy thoughts turn into bad moods just as happy, positive thoughts turn into good moods.

How you feel, determines the mode of action you take in life. If you feel good, you interact with folks likewise. You come up with positive solutions to obstacles in business or work; the opposite is also true if you are surly or negative.

Last, but not least, your actions become chain-reactions, which set up the results you get from life. Nobody likes to be around a grouch. They will find ways to excuse themselves from a situation as soon as possible. People do not like to see you coming if they know the exchange may be an unpleasant one. Also, when an opportunity comes along, whom do you think gets first chance at it? Not the guy who is negative, that’s for sure.

So your actions have a direct correlation on the results you get out of life; that has not been disputed for ages: “Work harder,” “Try more,” “Dig deeper,” “Go the extra mile,” are all sayings which have been around forever it seems.

What folks don’t always realize, however, is the attitude they approach life with makes a big difference in how well those work ethics pan out for them. I guarantee the guy with a happy and positive attitude, and the same work ethic, will beat out the grumpy one…sooner or later.

“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” Willie Nelson

So what does all of this have to do with giving thanks, you may ask? Simple. By being thankful for what you have, by focusing on your blessings in life instead of the shortcomings, it naturally puts you in a better mood. It is hard to remain in a bad mood when you focus on being grateful. Thinking about what you don’t have in life instead of being thankful for what you do have is counter-productive anyway.

“A man is just about as happy as he makes his mind up to be.” Abraham Lincoln

That is a profound statement. How do you make your mind up to be happy, one may ask? Start with being thankful and you are half way there.

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord, giving thanks to God the Father.” Col. 3:17

Great people of achievement, and the Bible, tell us over and over again to be thankful. Why do they do this? Because they know by being thankful, you put your thoughts into a more positive mode. Doing this changes your attitude. As you change your attitude, you change how you approach life. When you approach life feeling good and positive, your actions (efforts) change, then you get better results.

“I thank God for my handicaps. For through them, I have found myself, my work and my God.” Helen Keller

Try not to focus on things outside of your control; it does no good anyhow. Start with being the best you can be, work on self first, then your whole world changes. It is simple. The great people of the past and God have always taught us this - good starts from within. Of course, this eventually manifests into better realities without. The easiest way to begin is by being thankful for what you now have. I recommend you do it daily at a minimum. It will have a profound and positive effect on your life.

This Thanksgiving, there is nothing wrong with sitting around, stuffing yourself on a nice home-cooked meal. But please remember that giving thanks (not just once-a-year or once-a-week - but daily) is a very important step in creating the reality you will live with tomorrow and every tomorrow thereafter.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Jim Olson