True West Magazine and Encore Westerns shared a booth at the annual Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium in Ruidoso, New Mexico, the weekend of October 12-14, 2012.
We had a long table just inside the entrance, which is the backside of the Ruidsoso Downs grandstand. Across from us was a big, brown wall that made for a perfect backdrop in terms of recording people coming and going into the festival. Both Friday and Saturday I tried to capture as many of the unique visitors and participants as I could with my trusty little iPhone.
Photo Gallery
I have always heard the Germans have a thing about the Wild West. Well, here’s proof: meet Monika and Lutz Krupinski from Cologne, Germany. They have been attending the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium for the past six years and seem to have a grand old time.
This is performer Terry Bullard and Camille O’Donnell. Terry tells me he co-wrote “Amarillo By Morning”. It was a treat to meet him. Classic song.
This is Richard and Connie Miller of Amarillo, Texas, along with their kids Lindsay, Oliver, Lucas and Parsons.
Loved these two, but got rushed and blurred out the pic. They were havin’ fun, though, take my word for it.
Here’s a candid shot of a couple along the brown wall and they guy is yelling into his phone. One of the signature images of our era. Imagine if someone from the Old West could witness this phenom? Ha.
This is the future of cowboy culture. These two boys are from ranches in the Capitan Mountains, north of Lincoln, New Mexico. Check out the hat style on the guy in the right. That is the flat, ironed front type of hat made popular in Texas. You’re going to see more and more hats like this.
Met this guy at the chuck wagon cook off who has gone to the ninth degree on getting his wagon absolutely authentic. I collected so many cards I can’t remember if this is Lonnie Tegeler or not. We definitely need to do a piece on his authentic wagon in True West.
This is another Capitan Cowboy named Allen with a dog named Missy in his coat. Very cool shot.
That is a Ralph Loren jacket on the missus. I believe they are from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Lots of cowboy couples strolling their baby cowboys by our booth.
Lots of cowboy couples with dogs. I think these folks are from Texas.
Old timers and proud of it they seem to be saying.
These youngsters were quite in love and did their share of gallavanting in our area. She had a sexy, red top on that exposed her finer points, if you know what I mean and I think you do.
I couldn’t figure out if these two were a couple or not. He said she has been divorced for three years but they haven’t done anything about it, or words to that effect. Definitely Texas.
Nice people. I wanted to get a photo because she is wearing a cowboy hat with the crown cut off. Yes, that is her hair sticking up over the top. She wasn’t the only one. I think it’s a trend.
Is there any doubt that this couple has been together and seen it all? Very solid and comfortable people.
I believe this is Lynn and Barbara Sims of Elk, New Mexico. I was particularly taken by her exquisite color scheme. She totally carried it off to boot.
Another fun couple who I believe are True West subscribers as well.
This guy actually had work gloves in his back pocket. He told me it was to keep his hands warm. He also told me he come in from doing chores and loves to watch the Westerns Channel and see my True West Moments. Real salt of the earth couple.
Another great couple. Sorry I didn’t get their names. If I had to guess I would guess they are from Texas. I would venture a guess that 65% or more of the attendees are from Texas. I would ask them how far they drove and the answers varied from 6 hours to 11 hours. Amazing.
This gal never wore the same thing twice. I saw her three times and she was stylin’ all the time. Really a class couple.
At most of the festivals the attendees are 95% civilians, or urban types with shorts and sweats. Not so at the Cowboy Symposium. I would guess more than 95% were dressed to the nines in Western Wear. They really walk the walk.
A very classy couple. The guy is about 6′ 3″ and she is pretty tall herself. Very striking couple.
These two I believe are performers and had a ton of fun, always smiling and laughing. Great energy.
A very cute couple, both of them cutting a fine figure about the hall.
Good, down to earth people, I think also from Texas.
This is a great shot. This is Jill and Travis Crandall of Carlsbad, New Mexico. That’s Warrick Nowell, Kace Crandall and Kori Crandall.
This cowboy couple appear to be raising a young Honkytonk Sue.
This guy regaled me with rodeo stories while the two babes waited patiently.
Some guys get all the luck, athough I think that’s his daughter at right. I believe this is Dan Genovese with Rhonda Parson and Rylie Parson, their daughter?
Yes, this is the famous RFD Channel and horse trainer Craig Cameron. Had a great talk with him about a possible TV show.
These folks have known each other for a long time.
These folks bought the Curry Saloon in Lincoln, New Mexico right across the street from where Billy the Kid killed Robert Olinger. Go by and say hi.
One of the old sayings I grew up on is when someone says, should we go to work, a cowboy will invariably say, “Might as well. Can’t dance.” Well, here we are at 8:30 on a Friday morning and these cowboys are cuttin’ a rug! Downright inspiring.
This is our very own Dave and Doreen Daiss of Sonoita, Arizona. Dave and Doreen have been partners in True West magazine since the very beginning and they built the office building for the True West World Headquarters.
This wonderful photo is of Elizabeth Combs and her little boy Wyatt. They are from Las Vegas, Nevada and were at the show as part of the chuck wagon cook off.
One of the treats of the trip was being in Ruidoso at the same time Fred Nolan was in town. Here we are hamming it up at the wall.
This is Frederick Nolan, his wonderful wife Heidi and their old friend Morgan Nelson, 93 of Roswell. Morgan’s family farmed Pat Garrett’s farm for him and he has a family story that one of the Morgan kids was fooling around an irrigation ditch and Garrett told him to stop or he’d throw him in, and the kid thought he was bluffing and Garrett threw the boy head over heels into the water. Love stories like that.
True West had a dinner party on Friday night in honor of Fred Nolan being in town. Left to right, Paddy Vandergang, Doreen Daiss, Heidi Nolan, Dave Daiss, BBB, Fred Nolan, Morgan Nelson, Sue Lamber and Jeff Hildebrandt.
Fred was my secret weapon at the talk I gave on Saturday. I spent most of the speech quoting him and teasing the audience about how great it would be if the master was here to tell us and then about half way in, I introduced him and he came up on stage and we had a ball.
This is Jutta Heins of Hamburg, Germany. A big fan of the Wild West.
Nothing more needs to be said about this one. Ha.
This is Mike of Las Cruces, New Mexico and his granddaughter Maelee.
A great couple. Been together a couple years now. Ha. That’s a joke. I think they’ve been together for a long time.
This photo is a hoot and a half. Some here think it could be a cover of an upcoming True West. I think they might be right.
An off the cuff photo of three friends spreading it deep. ha.
The music starts early and the crowds are there to partake.
I witnessed several slices of life along the brown wall in front of our table. This is Miss Devon, a well known singer at the event, giving her assistant what for. I overheard her saying, “Don’t forget! Don’t forget!” Exactly what, she forgot I’m not sure, but check out the look on the assistant’s face. Ha.
Ain’t she proud of that boy?
Great look. Love the grizzled and well-worn outfit.
This couple ran the mules out on the racetrack, giving rides and showing off their mules.
Or, don’t judge a book by its cover. This mother loves history and had all sorts of questions about the Wild West and getting a subscription.
This guy came up and demanded I tell him why he should subscribe. I told him our mission to tell the truth about the American frontier, warts and all, and he paid in full. Here he is holding up his first issue with this girlfriend. This is Frank Patterson of Sacramento, New Mexico.
Meet Craig Deaton. He knows more about the Ketchums, Kilpatricks and Will Carver in the Ozona area than anybody I have talked to. Going down there to see the guy when I get a chance.
Great look, lean and mean.
These gents are the crew of the Honey Do Spoiler chuck wagon and they were in the cookoff.
This is Mathew and April of El Paso. Great jacket.
This couple was part of the chuck wagon cook off.
The gal on the right is Raquel Gottsch, who someone said is the daughter of the owner of the RFD TV Channel. If so, that would make her friend quite happy.
I believe this is the Otero County Rodeo Queen. Very sweet girl.
The Duncans are shirt tail relations to me. My mother’s oldest sister, Sadie Pearl married Tap Duncan’s grandson. Well, this is Skipper Duncan of San Angelo, Texas, who is from the Texas side of the Duncans.
People often stopped at the wall to pick their teeth, wait for friends or just rest. Here is the view from our booth. The cowboy at far left is picking his teeth, that’s Sue Lambert our regional sales director second from left, a new subscriber and Jeff Hildebrandt of the Westerns Channel at far right.
Once again, a cowboy through and through.
This is Jimmy Gifford who says he is “The Original Horse Whisperer for The Hearing Impaired.”
This is the Melton’s of Bent, New Mexico. Good lookin’ bunch.
This guy claims to have been Val Kilmer’s stylist on the set of Tombstone.
Here is a family waiting for someone. Check out the girl furiously playing her hand-held-device on the floor. This speaks volumes about the current culture, no?
These guys were musicians playing in the big tent. Love the retro look.
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