4 November 21, 2013 COWBOY TIMES
A Cowboy in a Number of Different Ways: A working cowboy, a cowboy announcer (rodeo), a horse trainer, and a cowboy auctioneer (livestock). Keith Dinwoodie leaves his home in Armstrong, BC by truck, plane, and possibly even his wife's car on a very regular basis between March and September. He figures he can put on close to 50,000 km as he travels to enlighten and entertain the spectators at between 30 and 50 different performances every year. He's been hired as the rodeo announcer for rodeos and bull riding events from Vancouver Island to Manitoba, and just about everywhere in between ... plus Alaska and even Australia! I've spent a few days in the announcers booth with Keith at the 100 Mile House BCRA Rodeo and at the BC Bull Riding Finals and he ceases to amaze me. From the very first sec-
ond to the very last second he's a nonstop fountain of information. He obviously puts in many hours doing his homework as he knows all the cowboys and all the stock - which rodeo they placed where, when they got hurt, and which bull or horse should/could bring the most points. "It's the behind the scenes work, getting my ducks in a row, the stuff folks don't see, that's what make me look good in the public's eye", says Keith. "I dream quite often and my worst nightmare is that I lost my briefcase!" he jokes ... although that would be as far from a joke as one could get. While Keith is telling the spectators what's happening in the arena in front of them he's also
busy multitasking; he's turning the CD player on and off, getting scores from the judges to repeat, thanking sponsors and volunteers, getting word from the secretary as to what's coming up next, and so much more. It's no wonder the folks in Kispiox, BC have had him back for 30 consecutive years! It's no wonder he's made the trip to Manitoba 26 years in a row! In between rodeos and the rest of the year Keith works as a cowboy at one of BC's biggest
cattle ranches, Coldstream Ranch, near Vernon, BC. They run about 2500 cow calf pairs, a 5000 head feedlot, 300 replacement heifers, and a remuda of 55 to 60 horses. Each cowboy is assigned three or four horses. Everything at Coldstream is done the true
cowboy way from the back of a horse. Branding, doctoring, gathering, checking, calving, some days Keith will spend nine hours in the saddle. Coldstream has development all around it so a lot of the time they're hauling a horse to a subdivision to move a bull, or some cows, from someone's back yard. Keith has always used his voice. At 18 he headed off to auctioneering school. He then partnered with his brother Rob in a livestock auction barn in Thorhild, Alberta for five years. He spent 27 years selling for Valley Auction in Armstrong. For a couple of years in
his early twenties Keith rode bareback horses in rodeo ... they would run his horse through with the bulls at the end of the rodeo so that he could still announce the rest of the rodeo. I'm not sure where he finds the time but Keith also builds saddles. He guesses that he's made 14 or 15 saddles, doing about one per year. He also starts between six and 10 colts every year for other people. On top of all this Keith still competes in Ranch rodeos, still team ropes with his son, and still finds time to spend with his wife of 38 years. Keith's love for horses is obvious no matter what job he's at. He says, "There's nothing better than feeding some well made hay to a good
horse". Even with all the jobs Keith has he considers himself semi retired. "I never don't like going to work" he says, "I love what I do and I put love into what I do". This love really shines through at the rodeos he announces and you can hear it in his humour. In 100 Mile House at the Bull Riding Finals I was bidding on one of the cowboys as Keith auctioned them off. He noticed that I was taking signals from my wife and when I quit bidding he didn't quit trying to get a little more money out of me, "Those look like Wrangler jeans you're wearing" he said, "but I think there's a skirt attached" he snickered as he looked over at Kathy who was obviously calling the shots.
The 13th Annual Spirit of the West Cruise 16 days - January 30 to February 15, 2014
stay where you like to play! Stay in the heart of the action for the 18th Annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival! Special packages and room rates available. Call 1-800-665-6674 today to inquire and book your Cowboy getaway! * Early Bird Rates available until January 22, 2014
Complimentary Services: • • • •
Wi-Fi Parking 24 hr. business centre Indoor sauna, hot tub, pool
Relax & Enjoy: • •
Beer, wine & spirits store onsite Two fantastic in-house dining options: Prestons restaurant & Mama San Kitchen ∙ Bar ∙ Lounge
This might be your last chance to book this cruise and join us on the Spirit of the West Panama Canal Cruise January 30 to February 15, 2014. We start out in Fort Lauderdale, head to the Panama Canal and end up in Los Angeles. There will be stops in Aruba, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, and Mexico. One of the highlights this time will be the full day that we will have to explore the Canal and Panama City. We're really looking forward to that, but we're also looking forward to the private Brahma Cattle Ranch tour we'll be doing in Costa Rica. We had a quick visit at this ranch while there in 2009 and we were pretty impressed. Oh ya ... rumour has it there might be horses there, too! We'll be sailing on the Island Princess, the same ship we were on in 2009, and she's a terrific ship. The pools are terrific, the food and service is amazing, and we're sure it'll be warm and the Sun. will be shining not like at home where it'll be really cold and snowy. You can find all the details at www.Hugh-McLennan.com and as usual you'll be able to follow us, if you
BCCHS MEMERSHIPS If you are member now, memberships are due for 2014. If you're not a member but are interested in what we do to preserve cowboy heritage in BC, then you should think about joining. There are no
reservations 800.665.6674
1250 Rogers Way Kamloops, B.C V1S 1N5 www.coastkamloopshotel.com ph: 250.828.6660 fax: 250.828.6698
commitments what so ever and your $20 membership ($30 for a family and $100 for corporate) would be greatly appreciated. Membership dollars go towards the societies administrative costs.
don't join us, on the diary pages on Hugh's web site and on our web site: www.MeadowSprings.com. Both web sites have the flyer available as a PDF download, too. So far there is still room if you want to join us! Karen and/or Jim at Cruise Vacations of Winnipeg would be happy to answer any questions. Give them a call at 1-800-530-0131.
WESTERN/COWBOY ARTISTS AND/OR ARTISANS If you're a western/cowboy artist or artisan please have a look at entering the Kamloops Cowboy Festival Art of the West Show and Sale and/or the Festival Western Trade Show. The art show is juried and interested artists should contact Gordon Manson by phone at: 250-682-5437 or by email at: gordmansonartist@hotmail.com. If you're interested in a booth in the Festival tradeshow talk to Helen and Red by phone at: 1-888-763-2224 or by email at: redandhelen@bcchs.com