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EXPO 2011 IS HUGE SUCCESS!
What an incredible
weekend it was! I don’t even know where to start….
How about with the new
record for attendance that was set? Official count came to 42,000 spectators
for the weekend! Or what about the fact that “Mounted Shooting ” was by far the most
visited/requested venue and had the largest crowds of people all day.
Or I could say that it was mentioned that there were less issues/and
maintenance with our group than any other area during the EXPO! And that the
AZGFD executives (Commissioners) were TOTALLY impressed with what was
going on with our group and that’s all the Commissioners talked about for at
least the next two hours after being introduced on Saturday.
Or I could talk about
the turnout from the shooters? We had 85 riders on Saturday and another 105
riders on Sunday. This is our third EXPO Fundraiser shoot and we have
consistently hit the one hundred mark at every one of them. We had many of the
top shooters in the nation in attendance, with over Seven World Champions
shooting!
 But
then again I could start with the many memories that were packed into two days.
One of my best was getting to ride a top the stagecoach on Sunday, with
Dee Dee Trichter and Susie Montgomery. This beautiful coach is a true piece of
art and added to the pageantry all weekend. Whether in the arena or parked
outside. I can’t thank the Trichter’s and Bob Reid enough for hauling it all
the way out from Bandera, Texas and bringing Buffalo Bill (a.k.a. Gary Trichter)
and his Wild West Show along too!
Another of my favorite
memories is when Jamie Zuegar (one of the beautiful Saloon girls)
related a story from when she was working with the crowds on Saturday. A
family from South Africa was in tears when telling Jamie how thrilled they
were to be at the Expo! They are big fans of mounted shooting and this was the
first time to see it live.
Another one was
watching Wendy Kerychuk giving photo ops to children on her saddle as she
diligently worked the information table all weekend. Such a simple act,
yet thrilled these children, their parents and represented us so well. In
addition information was handed out to scores of potential new members during
the two days.
Dave Crandell,
our auctioneer on Saturday night, was entertaining enough to pay admission for
along with Valerie Caro, the ever charming and relentless auction manager.
Thank you for all the wonderful items that were donated by some very
generous people!
The beautiful all
contestants Grand Entry had me in tears both days. How could it not as I
listened to John Wayne’s booming voice talking about why he loves America while
Royce Anderson carried the American flag (in the very arena named
after him) with horses lined up from one end of the arena to the
other. And big thanks to all the Riders who came into the arena to
talk with spectators between stages, you were important ambassadors to our
sport.
 Seeing
the Mounted Shooters out of their comfort zone and performing as Indians during
the Wild West Show is something I won’t soon forget. All the Wild West
participants were awesome and so very much appreciated! I thank them for their
patience with me and with everything that should have ran smoother but didn't.
I am so grateful to you all!
Wes Walton’s
emotional and loving Cowboy Gathering is another special memory that will be in
my heart forever. We love you Wes and pray for your success in your new
ventures and “Lead Changes” as God leads you.
But maybe I should
have started with all the incredible people who stepped up this weekend and
volunteered to work or contribute. The list is incredibly long and my
heartfelt thanks go out to each and every one of them and to all the shooters.
“You became a builder and part of the construction by participating!
The final totals of
the money raised are still not in but we are expecting it to be over $15,000.
Hold on to your hats Cowboys and Cowgirls, we are on our way to a FIRST RATE
Mounted Shooting Center at the Ben Avery Shooting Range (the birthplace of
Cowboy Mounted Shooting!)
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