b'I have been associated with the history and culture of the American West over the past 43 years, most recently as Executive Director and CEO of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. I believe the Stark Museum of Art is worthy of receiving the Cowboy Keeper Award and urge the National Day of the Cowboy Organization to bestow their award on the Museum. Bruce B. EldredgeMarshall MitchellArkansasSinger-songwriter, Marshall Mitchell, has performed his Cowboys for Kids program for over 60,000 children over the course of his career. His goal as an entertainer is to teach cowboy values such as honesty, integrity, and courage, using songs he has written. 2019 saw his 25th year of performing his cowboy program at the annual The Stark Museum continues to strengthen itsStick Horse Rodeo of the Springdale School District in educational outreach and its commitment to diversity inArkansas. Every rst-grader in the eighteen elementary interpreting the West. Its traveling exhibition Brandingschools in the Springdale District has heard his message the American West: Paintings and Films, 1900-1950each year since he began, and there are now parents broke new ground. Brigham Young University Museumwho reminisce about hearing it when they were rst-of Art and the Stark collaborated to exhibit images of thegraders themselves. His fans believe that children who American West as seen through the eyes of the membershave been taught through the joy of Marshall MitchellsMitchell and Jennifer Michaels also worked together to of the Taos Society of Artists, the artist Maynard Dixon,program will hang onto the lessons they learn for theirsecure passage of the National Day of the Cowboy bill and lms of the era. The accompanying publicationentire life. Children have so much fun singing andin Arkansas, which in 2019 became the 13th state to served as a catalog with essays from interdisciplinarydancing along with him, that they dont realize theyrerecognize the 4th Saturday in July as a day to celebrate perspectives. It received three major awards: thebeing taught important values at the same time. He hascowboy culture and pioneer heritage. Mountain Plains Museum Association Publicationperformed regionally in seven states, at schools, libraries, Award for Design in books; an Award of Merit from theand special events, in rural and urban settings. In 2010The preservation of a heritage depends on those with American Association for State and Local History; andMitchell collaborated with Arkansas Jennifer Michaels,a willingness to share its history and its culture. In this the 2017 Joan Paterson Kerr Book Award for the bestfor her non-prot program, Clean Water Rangers. Heway, these esteemed recipients have demonstrated a illustrated book on the history of the American Westperformed a Clean Water Rangers show for over eightcommitment to the protection of this precious heritage. from the Western History Association.years, which focused on teaching young people to careWe are grateful for the privilege of recognizing each one for the land and water.with a 2019 Cowboy Keeper Award. Montana artist, A recent school outreach mural program focusedDavid Graham, a painter of authentic cowboy work and on United States geography, a history of westwardOther important aspects of his entertaining includelife, donated the image of his working cowgirl painting, expansion, and an orientation to the exhibition. performing classic cowboy songs for adults and seniorsThe Fencing Crew, to be used in this years award. The The Museum also holds an annual juried student at house concerts. Many seniors who are suffering fromNational Day of the Cowboy takes its hat off to these art exhibition.dementia can be seen responding to his music. Marshallremarkable Cowboy Keeper Award recipients.Drop By and Say Hi at My New Office!I am located at 82 N. Valentine Street in Wickenburg, next door to Anitas CocinaCALL ME FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS.YOUR PROPERTY IS MY PRIORITY!Ive Moved To.Shiara KirschRealtor (928) 231-3110shiara@shiarakirsch.com82 N. Valentine Street, Wickenburg, AZ 85390ArizonaRealCountry.com September 2019 43'