Best of the West begins where Cowboy Gathering ends

Chris Davis

Dwindling attendance over the last few years at Pincher Creek's long-running Cowboy Gathering has resulted in a newly re-imagined event, complete with a new title and a new attitude. The Best of the West Weekend will run from Friday June 13 to Sunday June 15, 2014 (Father's Day weekend).

A Pincher Creek Ag Society committee has been and continues to be hard at work crafting this new event.

"We're very proud to have four talented Western entertainers in our group," says organizer Janet Barkwith. "Five, counting Bob Westrop who is a terrifically entertaining MC and auctioneer. Allison Brock is the well known and exciting presenter of Wide Cut Country, which airs every Saturday morning on CKUA radio, and she is an internationally renowned expert on Western, Americana and roots music. Everyone in the group is equally valued for many different kinds of expertise and we're all very excited about this new project for Pincher Creek."

Other committee members are Dusty Dee Litchfield, Mack Hicken, Bob Davis, Noel Burles, Brian Hamilton, BJ Scott, DonaLee Smith, Allison Brock, Marie Cameron, Eileen McGlynn, and of course Janet Barkwith.

Why the change? According to Barkwith "The Pincher Creek Cowboy Gathering has an extremely illustrious history, but sooner or later even the best of things comes to an end. Over the last few years interest in The Cowboy Poetry Gathering has been dwindling as evidenced by sharply falling audience numbers. After extensive conversations with audience members and performers at The Gathering 2013, and taking many other factors into account as well, it was decided after much discussion that we would widen the appeal from simply Cowboy to The West. Hence the new name: The Best of the West Weekend."

"Everyone knows that the cowboy was (and still is) instrumental in shaping The West as we see it today, but it has also been created by mountain men, loggers, hunters, trappers, railwaymen, miners and of course, their women. And long before all these appeared on the scene, the First Nations people had made their mark over countless centuries. We hope to bring all these aspects to bear for the new event."

Some familiar favourites of the old Cowboy Gathering schedule will remain, including open mic sessions, suppers on Friday and Saturday, a dance on Satruday night, and the pancake breakfast and Cowboy Church on Sunday.  Also preserved will be the familiar and iconic image of three cowboys gathered at a campfire, which will be used in branding the event.

The Artisans mall will also return, displaying all genres of Western art, jewellery, clothing and giftware.

On-site camping will be available for those who want to stay, play, sing around socialize around the campfire.

"We're very excited to present concerts by Allen Christie on Friday night, and Gary Fjellgaard on Saturday night. Each of these fine and well-known entertainers will be supported by another musician and a storyteller/poet," says Janet Barkwith. "We have many old favourites returning, and plenty of new performers who haven't played Pincher Creek before." Performers confirmed so far include Gary Fjellgaard, Allen Christie, Mariya Stokes, Ed Brown, Cliff and Mary Caldwell, Barry Heath, "Camel" Dave Howell, Dusty Dee Litchfield, Matt Patershuk, Matt Robertson, JohnPaul Smith, and Randy and Rai Smith. The Best of West website will be updated as others are confirmed.

I asked Janet what makes The Best of the West different from The Cowboy Gathering. "The West is many things to many people," she replied, "not only a geographical location and historical certainties, The West is also an idea, a legend and a myth. As we present both the past and the present West, we hope to engage a new audience from a wider demographic while still entertaining our existing audience, by addressing this aspect of The West, too, and keeping true to Pincher Creek's very real ranching heritage and its present."

"At The Gathering 2013, on being asked their opinion our audience indicated in no uncertain terms that though they loved coming to the event, and the friendly, welcoming atmosphere we have always tried to generate, they wanted to see something new and different, with new performers and new attractions. We're working very hard to give them what they have asked for! The Best of the West Weekend is a work in progress. As we grow and learn the event will get better and better."

To promote the event the committee is planning to hit the trail this spring. "The Best of the West Weekend has taken a booth at the Lethbridge Home and Garden Show March 12th to 15th," explains Janet. "Last year this proved to be very successful in bringing a few new people to The Gathering, and we hope to build on this success for our new event. We began there to focus in a small way on families and children, and this year we shall be stepping up that focus, as we shall with all our advertising."

Entry for children under 12 is free. According to Janet the Best of the West Weekend hopes to offer activities and demonstrations that will both entertain and enlighten families. "Details are being worked on as we speak, and will be announced on our web site www.bestofthewestweekend.com and our Facebook page Best of the West Weekend as they come to confirmation."

"To keep folks up to date with what's going on, we have just produced the first edition of our monthly email Newletters. To subscribe for free, just go to the website or to our Facebook page, and fill in the subscription form."