Wendy will be performing live at the West Side Theatre in Newman, CA on Saturday, June 21st. The show is being billed as “An Evening of Cowboy Music and Poetry.” Click on this link: westsidetheatre.org for more details about the West Side Theatre and for directions to the show. Tickets will soon be available on-line, or you may reserve through the box office by calling (209) 862-4490 or by e-mailing: info@westsidetheatre.org

WE'RE BACK FROM COLUMBIA, CA!

On March 14th we traveled up Hwy 49 to Columbia State Historic Park to attend the premiere of the “Golden Voices of the West” event. Columbia, once known as the “Gem of the Southern Mines”, is a living Gold Rush town featuring the largest collection of Gold Rush-era brick buildings in California.

The event kicked off at the Sonora Opera Hall with a Dave Stamey concert. Dave is a buckaroo cowboy, singer, and songwriter. His music tells of his real life experiences as a working cowboy. We stayed in Columbia at the historic City Hotel, Est. 1856. Our balcony room was furnished with beautiful antiques and looked out over Main Street. We felt as if we had taken a step back in time!

On Saturday we spent the morning walking through Columbia, taking in the sights and absorbing the local history. No motorized vehicles are allowed in town. We took a ride on the local stage coach, and were treated to seats up top with the driver, who shared more of Columbia's history with us. In the afternoon I attended a poetry writing workshop taught by my cowboy poet friend Pat Richardson. It was interesting and informative, and I came away inspired.

MARCH 29th- ANNUAL GOLD RUSH DINNER & DANCE

We also attended the Annual Gold Rush Dinner & Dance at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds last Saturday evening. We dressed in our vintage clothing (gowns by Victorian Reflections by Hazel), and a good time was had by all!

WENDY REPORTS FROM ELKO 2008

It was an exciting trip for us to Elko for the 24th Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering! Instead of taking the train, this year we decided to drive. Our faithful dogs Flash and Foxy went along, and they were great company. We headed up Hwy. 80 to Reno with a snow storm right on our tail. It chased us all the way down the east side of the Sierras, and all the way to Elko the next day.

But the snow and cold weather didn't dampen any of the festivities at Elko. The camaraderie and down-home western hospitality kept everyone in great spirits! People make this pigrimage from all over the country to reconnect with old friends. It's like a huge familiy reunion. Over 4,000 people attended to hear some of the best cowboy poets in the nation. This year they celebrated the Sonoran cowboy or vaquero. We saw our old friend Pat Richardson, who has been a perennial invited guest to Elko for many years.

Pat Richardson & Wendy

We also got to see Baxter Black's special show. The tickets were distibuted lottery style, and we were two of the lucky winners! We laughed until our faces hurt. Another highlight was to see a local cowgirl from Catheys Valley perform. She comes from a fouth generation ranching family, and won several of the poetry contests that I sponsored for students in the schools. She demonstrated such talent that I invited her to be a performer at one of our gatherings. The Western Folklife Center in Elko heard about her, and invited her to perform this year. She just turned fourteen, and she did a fantastic job! It was wonderful to see her onstage with some big name poets.

Baxter Black, Pat Richardson & Wendy at Elko

We also experienced our first Basque dining experience. Talk about comfort food...and plenty of it! We ended up staying an extra day because another snow storm was coming in, and we chased it back across the desert. We stayed in Carson City, then headed home over Hwy. 88 the next day. A good time was had by all, and we're looking forward to next year!

- Wendy & Kevin

Wendy also just recently performed for the California Backcountry Horsemen Free Packers Unit at their annual Christmas Party on December 8th. Their spokesman afterward had this to say: “Wendy Brown-Barry was our entertainment. Wendy is definitely someone you want to meet.  She is a local gal from Mariposa who has been performing Cowboy Poetry since 1996.  Her poetry is inspired by her adventures in the back country, so it is something we can all relate to. Thank you, Wendy!”

Hi! My name is Wendy Brown-Barry...and I am a Cowboy Poet. Are you interested in keeping the Spirit of the West alive in your community? I provide quality Western entertainment for people of all ages. My works have been published in newspapers and magazines, and I have helped organize the Cannonball Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Mariposa, CA since 1999.

I believe that the spirit of the Wild West lives in each of us and that the "Code of the West" that so many have lived by is still pertinent today. Cowboy poetry will make you laugh...and make you cry. It touches a common thread that runs through each of us, no matter what our walk of life.

I especially enjoy working with young folks in schools, and I have discovered some exceptional talent in classrooms!

It has been my privilege to perform with well-known cowboy poets such as Mick Vernon, Pat Richardson, and Waddie Mitchell. Also, I have entertained at the Carnegie Center for the Arts, The Stevenson Ranch, the Fresno Flats Historical Society, the Mariposa County Wagon Train, and the Coarsegold Historical Society, and I have been named a Benefactor of the Mariposa County Arts Council.

I am also available to compose customized poems just for you and your loved ones, as well as for special occasions, events, etc. Click on “Special Poetry” to view some of my “best of” examples!

***If you would like to contact Wendy with inquiries regarding performances, poetry workshops, event organizing, etc., please e-mail Wendy at: wendybrown@sti.net or call Wendy at: (209) 966-3095 (message phone line)

Mick Vernon Cowboy Poet, Musician, Executive Director of the Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival "She's pretty, she's feisty, and she wrangles a good rhyme. What more could a feller ask for?"	Pat Richardson Cowboy Poet of the Year 2003 "Wendy performed with Waddie Mitchell and myself in Mariposa and she stole the show!"

 LIFE IS A TRAIL

BY WENDY BROWN-BARRY

It's in the getting there not the being there that's important

The destination ignites the spark that fuels the fire of adventure

It's the journey, the trail, the quest

The quest for something more

It's the trail that leads to ourselves

wendybrown-barry.com

Website designed by Thomas Lyday - TOMORROW GRAPHICS

for web design info contact: tomlyday1@sti.net

copyright 2007 

So come on down and gather 'round

Build us a campfire and sit on the ground

Let's preserve the Code of the West

Cowboy Poetry does it best!

- Wendy Brown-Barry

Click on the links below to visit these other great sites!

Bar-D Ranch Cowboy Poetry.com

Mariposa County Arts Council

Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival

Mariposa County Pioneer Wagon Train and Cannonball Poetry Gathering

Mariposa Mountain Riders.com

Mariposa County- Home of Yosemite

Yosemite National Park

Artwork of John Bruce - BruceArt.net

Photography of Linda Gast - Hummingbird Press.com