Every once in a while (more often if you’re lucky) you meet a character so rich and colorful that it can be intimidating for someone like me to convey the ex­perience of their story and depth of their knowledge on the mere page. Master horseman L. Dutch van Dierendonck is one of them. This September, he will even be an honored volunteer at the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY.
Dutch may be a lot of things, but I wouldn’t consider him a cowboy. Maybe it is just because I …

by Amie Rodgers
At the risk of possibly oversimplifying the Cowboy Way too much, it is hard not to feel like a cowboy after a good ride through forest, fields and streams that ends with a hearty meal and good old fashioned entertainment. The life of the cowboy may be a hard one, but it is a good one.
Always up for something new, I took Keith Williams up on the invitation to saddle up, hit the trails and enjoy some cowboy hospitality. Keith Wil­liams and his father Victor own and …

by Jo Baeza
In a recent interview on Show Low’s City4 TV Connect show, Wendy Koch­heiser asked Steve Taylor, Chris Isaacs and me, “Why should people attend the White Mountains Roundup of Cowboy Poetry, Music & Art?” It didn’t take me long to answer, “Because it is one of the best cowboy poetry and art events in the country.” There are only two other major cowboy poetry events in Arizona, in Prescott and Sierra Vista. Aside from that, you’d have to travel out of state to find cowboy entertainers and artists …

Freelance photographer Harvey Caplin recorded ranch life in the American West from the 1940’s to the 1980’s, before the last roundup, capturing magnificent landscapes, picturesque people, and the growing population. This selection features his images of cowboys on the range, in camp, and working horses and cattle. Caplin went along as a trailhand during roundups, branding cattle, drives to stockyards, and the final journey to market. He patiently waited for the right time, the right light, and the right subject. For more information or to obtain a copy of this …

Submitted by Lita Nicholson at the Rim Country Museum in Payson
Most of us would agree that cowboys are a different breed. We hear about cowboy humor, cowboy po­etry, and most of all, the cowboy’s code which advises “Talk straight, shoot straight, never break your word….” (Jinx Pyle, Rodeo 101, p. 62)
So, no one will be surprised to learn that Payson cowboy Harry Shill, in his many years as a bull rider, shook up the rodeo world and redefined the ways in which a cowboy could find adventure.
Born in …

by Peg Matteson, Maverick Historian
Guess what?!? I received a call from Maverick Publisher Amie who made a special request of this “Arizona Histori­an”… did I have any information about rodeos in Arizona? I told her I would look through my many Arizona books and see what I could find. I promised her one thing for sure, I would not get into who has the oldest rodeo in Arizo­na… Prescott or Payson. Both of them claim that title and I just don’t want to take sides on that question. So, we …

“The Old West is not a certain place in a certain time; It is a state of mind. It is whatever you want it to be.” -Tom Mix

by Sharyn Jordan Hathcock – Author, The Home Whisperer & Wellness Advocate

Having grown up in Texas, it was not a given that I would identify with the Wild West. However, it was my father’s immense Zane Grey book collec­tion that romantically pulled me into this genre. My dad’s workshop/library held a timeless fascination. Inside that oh-so-magical place, when in the 1950’s rotary …

by Amie Rodgers
Handcrafted locally by David L. Fischer and Don Hotz, Jr. of White Mountain Soap and Bath, this soap is aptly named Strawberry Bliss Soap. A wonderful summery scent, it has been awarded a prestigious Best Scent for 2010 award in its industry.
In the name of quality control I sampled this lovely soap and it was lavishly wonderful. Chronically allergic to a number of detergents and soaps, I was delighted to find a clean, moisturized finish without any of the typi­cal dry or irritated skin I get when …

Going to a barbeque, house warming or dinner party any time this summer? It is often customary to arrive baring gifts. How cool is a bottle of wine that benefits the animals at the local Humane Society? Humane Cellars is available to order online at www.hswm.org. The Humane Society of the White Mountains receives $7 for every bottle of wine purchased. The entire collection includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sparkling White Wine, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. I would like to propose a toast for wine with a cause! -Ed.

For those who have enjoyed Snowflake’s fabulous little tea room Celebrations, there are even more reasons to celebrate. Celebrations has now expanded and moved to a larger location on Main Street. “A Grand Opening Tea Party will be held Friday, July 23rd and Saturday July 24th to commemorate the Celebration of Generations, where we create with the ambience of our dining experience and vintage furniture from days gone by — those times that we all hold dear and create the memories that are so precious,” says Deborah York of Celebrations …