Polka News: PACE Award Winners, West Benefit Concerts, Rescue Bank Helps West Animals, Cernoch Parker Named to PAC Board

2 May

Pace Award Winners: Congratulations to the winners of the annual People’s Choice Awards presented by Polka America Corporation.
Best New Original Song
Song for the People – Polka Country Musicians
Best Polish Album
United We Jam – Polka Country Musicians

Best Slovenian Album (2 Winners)
Button Box Menagerie Part 1 & 2 – Fred Ziwich and Others
Wrap Your Heart Around It – LynnMarie
Best German Album
Stand and Sing Ein Prosit – Alex Meixner
Best Variety Album
Mollie B Christmas Special – Mollie B All Star Band

“With 5,997 votes cast, I know we successfully reflected the opinion of the polka nation,” said John Ziobrowski, PAC Executive Committee president. “I look forward to next year when we will add a Czech category and move a step closer to a complete public endorsement of the polka nation’s favorite polka artists and acknowledging their accomplishments.”

Congratulations also to the winners of the PAC’s Frankie Awards, named after polka legend Frankie Yankovic.

Ernie Daigle – Massachusetts
Ron Nadherny – Nebraska

The Frankie Award is a national service award, given to those individuals whose efforts have been instrumental in sustaining the polka genre.

West Benefit Concerts: Two concerts are being held the week of May 6 to benefit the relief efforts for the town of West.

Dan’s Silverleaf in Denton will present a concert on Wednesday, May 8, to benefit the volunteer firefighters. Music will be provided by Brave Combo, Isaac Hoskins Band, Grady Don Sandlin and other Denton music luminaries. It gets underway at 8 PM and suggested donation for admission is $10.

The Czech Center Museum in Houston will present a concert on Thursday, May 9, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. in the museum’s Prague Hall. The concert will feature Dvorak and his Countrymen and the Lone Star College Kingwood Chorale with Nancy Curtis, soprano, Jon Janacek, bari-tenor, and Todd Miller, conductor. Wine and hors d’ouerves will be served.

The cost is $20 and $15 for seniors and students with proceeds going to the West relief efforts. RSVP at 713-528-2060 or events@czechcenter.org.

Rescue Bank Helps West Animals: Following the explosion in West, the Humane Society in Waco took in pets found wandering or provided housing for pets whose owners are currently unable to care for them. Rescue Bank delivered nine pallets of pet food to the Humane Society to help the families and pets left homeless by the explosion. Read more.

Cernoch Parker Named to PAC Board: Theresa Cernoch Parker, founder of polkabeat.com, has been named to the board of the Polka America Corporation. She will be responsible for general media. “I am honored to be part of this impressive board and look forward to this great opportunity to promote polka,” she said.

PAC encourages, supports and promotes polka music at all levels.
The 501(C)(3) non-profit corporation is chartered in Wisconsin and the executive committee, board of directors and sub-committees are an all-volunteer group of polka music enthusiasts from many parts of North America. Join PAC today!

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Moravians Release Debut CD

2 May

4panel.inddThe wait is over. The Moravians have recorded their first CD and will celebrate with a CD Release party from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, at the Moravia Store. The Moravians came on the polka scene a couple of years ago and have been wowing the polkabeat nation with their mastery of traditional Czech tunes and country standards. The band, made up of high school and college-age guys from the Ennis area, is on a mission to keep Texas Czech music alive and well. Their CD is a testament to that mission. Called Czech Spirit Will Live On, the group selected 15 songs based on their fans’ input.

“We put music on the CD that our supporters want to hear. For instance, U Studanky Waltz is a favorite of our trumpet player Matt Matous’s grandfather, while Falling Leaves is a favorite of the Trojacek family,” said Josh Goodwin, bass and tuba player. “Overall, the CD is the very best of The Moravians.”

Indeed it is. The group did most of the arrangements with the help of Danny Zapletal, leader of Czech and Then Some. The waltzes are great, but I think the group really shows its stuff on the polkas, especially the Red Raven, Red Rose and Shiner tunes. Three more polkas – Our Katy, Musicians Come and Play and When I Sleep – feature David Slovak, also a CATS member, on tuba. And as with every law-abiding Texas Czech group, the CD includes some great country – Cowboy Rides Away, Waltz Across Texas and Lonesome Fugitive.

Congratulations Moravians on an excellent debut CD. Polka on!

Read more about The Moravians.

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Donate to West Relief Efforts

18 Apr

Pray_for_WestThe town of West is reeling from an explosion at a fertilizer plant on April 17, which has claimed several lives and injured hundreds more. In addition to praying for the people of West, consider participating in these fundraising efforts.

SPJST has set up a site to make online donations to the relief efforts. Go to www.spjst.org and read how to donate on the home page.

The Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange is also accepting donations. For more information, call 979-968-9399 or e- mail: info@czechtexas.org. Checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 6, La Grange TX 78945.

Texas Folk Life also made this announcement: “Our hearts are with our friends up the road in West, home to some of the best Czech polka accordion music in the state. In light of the tragedy, the previously scheduled Big Squeeze Semifinal Playoffs and Concert this Saturday, April 20 (2:00-5:30) at the Bullock Texas State History Museum, will be dedicated to the relief effort for the devastated community. The event is free, but a hat will be passed and donations will be accepted for the relief effort.”

Several Ennis organizations are accepting monetary and tangible donations:
You can go to the websites of the National Polka Festival, KJT Hall and Sokol Hall for information on how to donate to a Pointwest Bank account. Monetary donations also can be made at the National Polka Festival food booth at the Bluebonnet Trails Festival, April 20-21 in Ennis. The KJT Hall website also has a list of needed items, such as bottle water, toiletries, clothes, etc.

The Czech Center Museum in Houston is also accepting monetary donations. Contact them at 713-528-2060 or email: czech@czechcenter.org.

Read more about the explosion.

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Polka News: Polkabeat B-Day, RFD Schedule, April 15 Deadline

11 Apr

Happy Birthday Polkabeat! The premier polka website, polkabeat.com, is celebrating its third birthday. Thank you polka fans who have made the website and merchandise such a success. It’s great to go to a dance and see all the Polka On! buttons, koozies, T-shirts and other gear. To celebrate, polkabeat fans can get 15% off your next purchase in the online Polka On! store. Stock up now in preparation for the National Polka Festival in Ennis at the end of May and for all the church picnics coming up this summer. That Bohemian Air Conditioner will come in handy at the picnics! The offer runs through April 30. All you have to do is fill up your cart and enter the Code: POLKAON when you check out. This includes 15% off CDs, DVDs and the 20 Polka Bands book/CD. Perfect timing for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gifts. Learn more about polkabeat.com got its start.

RFD Debuts Ennis Polka Party. Tune into the Mollie B Polka Party at 9 PM (central) on Saturday, April 13, to see the first show from the tapings done in Ennis in February. The first show features Czech and Then Some, Polka Nuts, Kenny Brandt, Pan Franek and Alpenfest. The show at 6 PM (central) on Wednesday features Das Ist Lustig, Texas Sound Czech Band, SqueezeBox, Benji’s Polka Pac and Jerry Haisler and the Melody 5. Check the schedule for future shows.

Vote for Your Favorites Deadline. April 15 is the deadline to send in your tax return, but more importantly it’s the deadline for voting for your favorite polka albumns in the Pace Awards. Read more.

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Vote for Your Favorite Polka Albums

28 Mar

2013votelogoThe Polka America Corporation (PAC) is accepting votes from the polka-loving public for its annual PACE Awards in five categories — Best New Original Song, Best Polish Album, Best Slovenian Album, Best German Album and Best Variety Album. Voting is open until April 15 and the awards will be announced a few days later.

I asked PAC President John Ziobrowski about the absence of a Czech Album category. “We allow the categories to self generate. We add a category when we receive six submissions of a specific style of polka music. We would love to have a Czech category,” he said. Don’t stress. I am on the case and will make sure there is a Czech music category next year!

You’ll see some Texas bands in this year’s categories — Brave Combo, Das Ist Lustig, Czech and Then Some and Jodie Mikula and some favorites of Texas fans — Mollie B, Alex Meixner, Jimmy Sturr and Lynn Marie.

PAC is a nonprofit organization that encourages, supports and promotes polka music at all levels. Chartered in Wisconsin, the executive committee, board of directors and sub-committees are an all-volunteer group of polka music enthusiasts from many parts of North America.

John explained the awards are completely people’s choice. “The voting is tabulated by an outside agency. PAC has no involvement with nominations or picking the winners, we just provide the format for the polka nation to support their favorite artists.”

Cast your vote today!

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Polka On at the Tomball German Heritage Festival

20 Mar

It's a party with polkabeat.com and Alex Meixner...and a boot full of bier! Photo by Mark Hiebert

It’s a party with polkabeat.com and Alex Meixner…and a boot full of bier! Photo by Mark Hiebert

The Tomball German Heritage Festival just keeps getting bigger and better every year! The 13th edition of the festival will be held this weekend, March 22-24, in downtown Tomball. Polkabeat.com is proud to once again sponsor the appearance of Grammy-nominated Alex Meixner on the Ziegenbock Stage Friday and Saturday, beginning at 6 PM and Sunday, beginning at 1 PM. Stop by the Polka On! table next to the stage to purchase must-have polka items, sign up to receive my newsletter, bring me a bier, or just to say hello.

You’re invited to help us get the party started on Thursday at a special Acoustic Alex set at Cactus Music in Houston beginning at 5:30 PM. St. Arnold’s will provide the beverages.

All five stages will be alive with great music. Check out the line-up featuring Das Ist Lustig, Chris Rybak, Eurofest, TubaMeisters and a whole stage devoted to Bluegrass music. You’ll also want to catch some of the performances by high school German Clubs, including Clements High School in Sugar Land, who won first place at state for German folk dancing! Kingwood and Friendswood High School groups will also be performing, along with German polka bands from Reagan and The Woodlands College Park High Schools.

The festival also features 150 vendors selling everything, including great food and ice cold bier. The contests are also great to participate in and/or cheer on your favorites. New this year is the Big Squeeze Accordion Contest on Saturday at 10 AM and the Doggy Costume Parade and Contest at 12:45 PM on Sunday. Other contests: Chicken Dance, Yodeling and Best Dressed German. Find out more.

Polka On Tomball!

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Thank you, Jimmy Brosch!

8 Mar

181_PB_SPJSTSigning_20111030_ByHiebert_WR.sizedToday, I said goodbye to Jimmy Brosch. I knew the day would come. After all he was 89 years old. But somehow it hit me hard. I cried through most of the Polka Mass held in celebration of his life. And what a life! He was a pilot, motorcycle rider, speed boat captain, railroad switchman, egg salesman, car salesman, horse rider, bull charmer, molasses maker, boxer, fiddle player, harmonica player, saxophonist, band leader, dancer, singer, entertainer, writer, artist, comedian, beer drinker, Catholic, Democrat, businessman, friend, husband, dad and grandfather. And I probably forgot a few. He packed a lot into those 89 years.

I had known about Jimmy all my life as my dad had all of his albums. I was formally introduced when he came to my dad’s funeral in 2009 and played some of my dad’s favorite polka tunes on his harmonica. Jimmy, as I would learn, never left home without his harmonica. You never knew when the mood would strike for a polka or country tune. Then I saw Jimmy at a dance at Lodge 88 in Houston. I had just started polkabeat.com in honor of my dad and planned to start a “legends” column and wanted Jimmy to be the first person I wrote about. He agreed to be interviewed and invited me to come over to his house. While we were talking, he said, “Why don’t we write a book? I have these polka bands I want to write about. People have forgotten them and I think their stories need to be told.”

I jumped at the chance and we set on our way to write about 10 Texas Czech Polka Bands. Then Jimmy increased it to 15 and finally 20 legendary polka bands. For a year and a half, we traveled to the homes of the families who shared their stories, photos and hospitality. Little did Jimmy’s wife, Lucy, know this would become her project, too as she drove Jimmy to many of the appointments. We also were joined by Mark Hiebert who documented the visits with his camera.

Helen Shimek and Laddie KurtzThese were interviews, but they seemed more like visits – remember how people used to go visit friends and spend the afternoon talking? I had the privilege of not only breaking a kolache or two with some of the most down-to-earth people I have ever encountered, I was there for personal concerts – Jimmy jamming with Alfred Vrazel, singing and jamming with Helen Kurtz Shimek and Laddie Kurtz, playing harmonica to Clarence Baca’s percussion, singing while Dan Pavlas played accordion and Bernice Migl Dobecka played piano and watching June Krenek on the dulcimer.

Once all the interviews were done, I started getting the calls. Have you written any of the chapters yet? Do you have some more for me to read? I would tell people at polka dances, “Don’t tell Jimmy I was here. I’m supposed to working on the book!” I worked with Jimmy’s son, Jeff, who designed the wonderful cover for the book and laid out each chapter. To keep Jimmy busy while we were working on the book, I suggested he create a companion CD to the book featuring a song from each band. After all, we were writing about music, you should be able hear it!

Book_Cover_Final-1Jimmy liked telling people, “While you’re reading a chapter on Joe Patek you can cue up his song and listen to his music.” He researched printing shops and calculated and recalculated what we should charge for the book and the combo price for the book and CD. And hardly anyone qualified for a “free” copy of the book. I had to pay for mine!

We enjoyed the book signings. The best was at Cactus Music. Folks were lined up to get his autograph on the book. Some brought albums they wanted him to sign. All had a story about how his music touched their lives, or the lives of their parents. It was a great day! Jimmy always signed the book, “To my good friend…”

Dance and performance at the Czech Community Center in the Houston HeightsI will miss Jimmy’s early Saturday morning calls to give me his “weekly report” about how many books he had sold and how the stores on his route were doing in selling our book.

The Polka Mass was wonderful. I lost count of how many musicians showed up to play one last song – the Corn Cockle Polka. You’ve heard the saying, “they played their hearts out.” Well, they did. It was a rousing version and we didn’t want it to stop. I was so glad to hear Willie Bohuslav announce that the Polka Lovers Club of Texas Museum will plant a bed of corn cockles in Jimmy’s honor.

Polka Mass for Jimmy BroschI feel very honored to have known and worked with Jimmy and wonder who he’s rounding up for his heavenly band — Joe Patek, Lee Roy Matocha, Henry Brosch, Bill Mraz, Wence Shimek……..

See Remembering Jimmy Brosch.
See Jimmy’s Last Polka Dance.
Read the Houston Chronicle story.

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Thanks for Promoting Polka Mister John!

21 Feb

John Zavadil, polka DJ at KCTI Gonzales has discontinued his polka show due to health concerns. John, known as “Mister John” by his listeners underwent gall bladder surgery and complications and had spent time at Gonzales Memorial. Methodist San Antonio and New Braunfels Regional Rehabilitation hospitals.

The 1450 Polka Club with the most “live” polka music in Texas for 17 years, five days a week, three hours a day.

In a statement issued by KCTI 1450 Program Director Egon Barthels said, “Mister John will be dearly missed by all of us. I want to thank John for his many years of service to KCTI AM 1450 and the Gonzales County community. We have enjoyed many great moments with Mister John as the host of the 1450 Polka Club. Mister John was also a huge asset in helping gather community news, rainfall reports, birthdays and anniversaries, obits as well as helping with day-to-day operations at the station.”

John received the Texas Polka Music Awards (TPMA) Polka DJ of the year in 1996 and was nominated again in 1997.

John is of Czech, German and Swiss heritage. He served his country for 10 years with the 36th Infantry Division Army NG at Fort Hood and Fort Polk obtaining the rank of Sgt E-5.

John taught public school 30 years, all in Gonzales County, never using a “sick leave” day.

John married Erlene Kubečka Pšenčík December 17, 1997 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gonzales.

Mister John and ErleneA very proud moment for John and Erlene was receiving the 100 years Family Land Heritage certificate presented to the Zavadil Ranch south of Gonzales from Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples on November 8, 2012. The ranch was founded in 1910 by Inocenz Zavadil.

I will miss Mister John’s polka show. He was one of the first to get onboard with what I was trying to do in establishing polkabeat.com. He promoted my site and helped Jimmy Brosch and I sell lots of our book — Jimmy Brosch Remembers Twenty Legendary Texas Czech Bands. It would be a shame to not play the impressive library of music Mister John built. That’s why I was glad to get an email from Egon saying the polka tradition continues with the KCTI-AM 1450 Polka Club airing between 5 and 7 PM every day. He says the reason for the time change is because it was the only way he could conduct his daily operation duties but still keep the tradition of having polka music on KCTI-AM 1450. AND I was glad to hear he still does “Dance Dates” from polkabeat.com just like Mister John! Thanks Egon and thanks for keeping polka alive on KCTI! For more information go to
kcti1450.com.

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Polka News: Final Mollie B Lineup

21 Feb

Thursday, February 21: Music from 1:00 – 10:00PM
1:00 Squeezebox (OH) with Abby Broeniman (WI)
1:30 Squeezebox with Jim Busta (MN)
2:15 Matt Hodek & the Dakota Dutchmen (ND)
4:00 Die Kurtzbuam (GA)
5:00 Karl & the Country Dutchmen (WI)
6:00 Squeezebox (OH)
6:45 Chris Rybak (TX)
8:00 Czech & Then Some (TX)
9:00 Max Baca & The Texmaniacs (TX) GRAMMY WINNER

Friday, February 22: Music from 1:00 – 9:00PM
1:00 Shiner Hobo Band (TX)
2:00 The Red Ravens (TX)
3:30 Das Ist Lustig (TX)
4:30 Texas Tribute Band (TX)
5:30 TubaMeisters (TX)
6:15 Eurofest (TX)
7:15 Texas Sound Czech Band (TX)
8:15 Jerry Haisler & Melody 5 (TX)

Saturday, February 23: Music from 1:00 – 10:00PM
1:00 Polka Nuts (CO)
2:30 Polka Nuts w/ Mollie B
3:00 The Moravians (TX)
4:00 Texas Dutchmen (TX)
5:00 The Bohemian Knights (OK)
6:00 Jodie Mikula Orchestra (TX)
7:00 David Farias & the Farias Brothers (TX) GRAMMY WINNER
8:00 Ennis Czech Boys (TX)
9:00 Brave Combo (TX) GRAMMY WINNER

Sunday, February 24: Music from 1:00 – 9:00PM
1:00 Squeezebox with John Gora (Ontario, Canada) GRAMMY NOMINEE
1:50 Squeezebox with Al Piatkowski (NY) GRAMMY WINNER
2:15 The Royal Klobasneks (TX)
3:15 Conjunto Kidz (TX)
4:00 Kenny Brandt (WI)
5:30 Walburg Boys (TX)
6:30 Yesey G & Her Stars (TX)
7:15 Alpenfest (TX)
8:15 Czech Harvesters (TX)

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Polka News: Mollie B Update, ECB On Air, Big Squeeze, and Cowboys

14 Feb

mollie_b_tix_example_1Mollie B Update: Looks like a great lineup for Mollie B’s Polka Party taping at Sokol Hall in Ennis February 21-24, featuring 29 bands and five special guest appearances. Buy tickets!

Thursday, February 21
1:00 SqueezeBox with Abby Broeniman (WI)
1:30 SqueezeBox with Jim Busta
2:15 Matt Hodek & the Dakota Dutchmen (ND)
4:00 Die Kurtzbuam (GA)
5:00 Karl & the Country Dutchmen (WI)
6:00 SqueezeBox
7:00 Chris Rybak (TX)
8:15 Czech & Then Some (TX)

Friday, February 22
1:00 Shiner Hobo Band (TX)
2:00 Red Ravens (TX)
3:30 Das Ist Lustig (TX)
4:30 PM Texas Tribute Band (TX)
5:30 TubaMeisters (TX)
6:15 Eurofest (TX)
7:15 Texas Sound Check (TX)
8:15 Jerry Haisler & the Melody 5 (TX)

Saturday, February 23
1:00 Polka Nuts (CO)
2:30 Polka Nuts with Mollie B
3:00 The Moravians (TX)
4:00 Texas Dutchmen (TX)
5:00 The Bohemian Knights (OK)
6:00 Jodie Mikula Orchestra (TX)
7:00 Ennis Czech Boys (TX)
8:00 Brave Combo (TX)
9:00 David Farias & the Farias Brothers (TX)

Sunday, February 24
1:00 SqueezeBox with John Gora and Al and Robbie Piatkowski
2:15 The Royal Klobasneks (TX)
3:15 Conjunto Kidz (TX)
4:00 Kenny Brandt (WI)
5:30 Walburg Boys (TX)
6:30 Yesey G & Her Stars (TX)
7:15 Alpenfest (TX)
8:15 Czech Harvesters (TX)

ECB CDEnnis Czech Boys on the Air: The Ennis Czech Boys and their new CD “You Have The Right To Polka” will be featured on Ray Zalokar’s American Polka Hour on Monday, February 18 at 8 PM Central. The program will be streamed live on www.247polkaheaven.com. The CD can be purchased online in the Polka On Store at polkabeat.com.

2013_thebigsqueeze_headerThe Big Squeeze Is Calling Young Accordionists: Texas Folklife announces its seventh annual Big Squeeze accordion contest for up-and-coming Texas musicians, 21 years of age or younger. The non-profit that endeavors to preserve and promote Texas’s diverse cultural heritage is looking for great players in any genre of accordion-based music, including zydeco; Cajun; German, Czech, and Polish polka; Tejano; conjunto; and norteño; as well as other genres.

The popular contest kicks off its 2013 season with two auditions in Houston! On Saturday, February 23, the audition will be held at Talento Bilingüe de Houston. Registration and auditions will begin at 3:00 p.m. An accordion jam will follow with former Big Squeeze champ and Houstonian Johnny Ramirez and Tina Vega of Promesa Mortal, a young, energetic Houston-based family band. The next day, Sunday, February 24, the action moves to The Big Easy Social Club. Again, registration begins at 3:00 p.m. and auditions begin at 3:30 p.m. Zydeco squeezeboxers will lead the accordion jam to follow the auditions—former Big Squeeze champ Keyun Dickson and finalist Ruben Paul Moreno. The Big Easy will host the National Zydeco Foundation’s Accordion Jam at 8:00 p.m., but it is only open to those accordionists 21 years and older.

Additional dates include:
March 2: Edinburg at the University of Texas—Pan American
March 3: Corpus Christi at Hacienda Records
March 8: San Antonio at Gallista Gallery in partnership with Conjunto Heritage Taller
March 23: Tomball at the German Heritage Festival, Bluegrass stage
March 24: Dallas at the Latino Cultural Center
Auditions are free and open to the public. Contestants may register on site or in advance by calling Texas Folklife at (512) 441-9255 or online at www.texasfolklife.org. Those who cannot attend the audition may mail or e-mail their entries to arrive at Texas Folklife no later than April 1, 2013. The complete contest rules and entry forms are available online or by calling Texas Folklife.

Semifinalists selected by audition or mailed entries will be hosted in Austin to take part in the Semifinals held on April 20 at The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. At that time, up to four finalists will be selected. The finalists will be awarded a cash prize and hosted in Houston to compete for the title of The Big Squeeze Grand Prize Winner at the Accordion Kings & Queens Festival on June 1.

The Big Squeeze 2013 Grand Prize Winner will receive a prize package valued at more than $4,000, including a cash prize, a brand new Hohner accordion, performance opportunities in Austin and Houston, publicity, professional development, and other professional opportunities.

cowboyIt’s All About the Cowboy: “If you don’t come early and stay late, you’re gonna miss something. And don’t worry about the weather—you’re not getting stuck—we just go indoors as we did with 7 inches of rain last year!” That’s the message for the public from the originators of the captivating 5th Annual Best Little Cowboy Gathering planned for March 5-7. This celebration of cowboy culture (with proceeds going to youth scholarships), held at the Fayette County Fairgrounds (one mile north of La Grange on Highway 77) has become not only a tradition but an educational venue to those that may have not ever embraced that “cowboy persona.”

A full day of activities has been added to this rapidly growing event that is earmarked with incredible music, trick ropers, fiddling, cowgirl ball, all-star swing band, horse clinic, the “Best Little Cook-Off in Texas,” the Brazos Valley Cowographers, Single Action Shooting Society, Cowboy Art, Exhibit Booths, church wagon exhibits cowboy art, dutch oven cook-off, and loads of children’s events, food, arts and crafts. If you know nothing about the history, culture, and climate of the cowboy, you’ll leave with some lasting memories through music, demonstrations, and activities for all ages—and all at a small cost for the entire family that can’t be beat. Check out the great music schedule!

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