September 2022 - Note from the Saddle Bench

Photo Courtesy of Mattie Sargent

 

Greetings from a wet, green West Texas. Been a long time since we could say that. In the last three weeks I have heard of anywhere from 2 1/2" to 13 1/2". The Rio Grande is flooding where it was bone dry and growing weeds 4 weeks ago. It is amazing what a wet 3 weeks will do for the country. Not to mention peoples' attitudes. Everyone is smiling and wondering why they were so grouchy the last 6 or 8 months. If September stays warm, we should finish up with a really good grass crop. I hope everyone else that needs a rain gets it in time to do some good.

The Big Bend Ranch Rodeo with the Veale Ranch/Allen Cattle Team taking home bragging rights while Jayde Smith from the Circle M8 Ranch was Top Hand and the Top Horse, Metallic Outlaw, came from the Wilson Cattle Company. All of the proceeds from the Rodeo go to scholarships for agriculture and rodeo students at Sul Ross State University.

We are still adding new products at the shop. We finally received a big shipment of optics just in time for hunting season. We have binoculars, monoculars,  and range finders by Vortex. It doesn't seem to me that the supply chain issues have gone away yet. Almost everything we buy takes longer, even the shipping. Even the Guatemalans that make our palm leaf hats have just about quit harvesting and braiding palm grass for hats.

Don't forget the Trappings of Texas Art and Gear Show September 15 here in Alpine at the Museum of the Big Bend. Looks like a good bunch of craftsmen coming to show what they can do in the way of gear making. If you're one of those that likes to plan ahead here's a heads up for November 18th and 19th. During Art Walk in Alpine, we are hosting Wayne Baize (artist), Mike Capron (artist), Johny Weyerts (artist and engraver), and Randy Glover (western style jewelry maker). It should be a fun couple of days. 

Well we hope you have a good Fall and if you haven't had your share of the rains yet, we hope they are on their way.

Adios for now,

Gary Dunshee