You had to be "up awfully early" to get the "grub" on Saturday morning, as local Dutch oven cooks prepared
a cowboy breakfast, for those attending the National Day of the American Cowboy Celebration in Sulphur Springs.

 

National Day of the American Cowboy
Celebration Unfolds in Sulphur Springs, Saturday

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Dutch ovens were full of mouth-watering delights for those who arrived early, at Saturday morning's Cowboy Breakfast.

 

It was a "devoted" crowd who rose early on Saturday morning, in honor of the American Cowboy, as the National Day of the American Cowboy unfolded on the grounds of the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center. The event included a Cowboy Breakfast served early morning and a list of entertainers, poets, and musicians, that kept everyone entertained throughout Saturday morning.

 

 

 

 

Local Cowboy poet, Monty Teel, offered selections from his latest published book Tales From The Teel Ranch, and a variety of singers, yodelers, musicians, and storytellers brought their own brand of cowboy culture to the stage.

 

Monty Teel, Cowboy poet.

 

Local "Real Cowboys," Charles Sellers and C.E. "Red" Roper were honored with "Spirit of the Cowboy Awards" for their local contributions to the cowboy culture. Sellers, a longtime Hopkins County banker, was cited for his "cowboy heart" and his skills as a roper. His son, Tom Sellers, accepted the award on his behalf, and related a story about his dad winning the Armistice Day Roping in Sulphur Springs on November 11, 1941, and thinking he'd "gotten rich," when the prize was $70.00.

 

Tom Sellers accepts the "Cowboy Spirit Award" on behalf of his father, Charles Sellers, and relates a
story about his dad winning a 1941 roping in Sulphur Springs.

 

Roper accepted his own award and related riding Roy Roger's horse, Trigger, when he trained in horsemanship, with the trainer for the famous horse. "I nearly peed my pants when I learned that I was riding Trigger!" exclaimed Roper.

 

Horse and mule trainer, C.E. "Red" Roper, is also presented with a "Cowboy Spirit Award."

 

 

Also, present at the National Day of the American Cowboy event, was Jason M. Dry, of Denver, Colorado, who was promoting his new book, House of Love, with a setting in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. Jason has been on a tour of the area, appearing in Winnsboro, Gladewater, Pickton, and Sulphur Springs, and will finish his tour with a signing in Yantis and Winters, Texas, next week, before returning home. Look for a feature article, upcoming, about Jason's new book.

 

"Swapping stories"....Jason Dry, of Colorado, visits with local author, Barbara McCarley, as they discuss
the "writing life" and their books.

 

Meanwhile, adjacent to the National Day of the Cowboy Celebration, the Stock Horse of Texas (SHOT) equine enthusiasts were directing their obstacle course and teaching horsemanship techniques and advance riding lessons. The group has been in Sulphur Springs for the past two days and attracted a large following of riders from all across Northeast Texas, the Metroplex, and even Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

 

Stock Horse of Texas (SHOT) participants wait their turn to compete in an obstacle course, designed on the
Civic Center grounds, Saturday morning.

 

 

 

 

"I think the old-time cowboys would be proud of the honor that was afforded them today!" expressed Enola Gay, local organizer of the National Day of the American Cowboy event, that celebrated its 5th Anniversary locally, with this year's event.

 

 

 

Enjoy these additional scenes from Saturday morning's activities, in tribute to the American Cowboy:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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