0903 CLM - Country Line Magazine

IN THIS ISSUE
F E AT U R E S
cool green recycled buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
country line to host sxsw showcase . . . . . . . . . .9
kevin fowler home to play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
counting your chickens,part 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
austin’s first funky chicken coop tour . . . . . .12
bbq team celebrates 20 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Movie & book reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
cabo bob’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
stfr fair & rodeo cowboy breakfast . . . . . . . . .16
DEPARTMENTS
Nashville Music News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Texas Music News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
roadhouse rant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
by Chris Mosser
horsing around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
by Laura Haugh
’Round About Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
by Sandra Greaney
on the trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
by Kendall Hemphill
Homespun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
by Shirley Baker
The Texas Outdoor Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
by Larry LeBlanc
Fishing Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
by Don Gordon & Cody Ryan Greaney
w w w. c o u n t r y l i n e m a g a z i n e . c o m
5 1 2 - 2 9 2 - 1113
MAILING ADDRESS
9508 CHISHOLM TRAIL • AUSTIN, TEX. 78748
LETTERS & COMMENTS
[email protected]
OR MAIL TO ADDRESS ABOVE
PUBLISHER & EDITOR |
T. J. Greaney
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Don Gordon, Kendall Hemphill, Larry LeBlanc,
Sandra Greaney, Shirley Baker, Cody Ryan Greaney, Laura
Haugh, Shannon Dahlstrom, Mike Young
4 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
S
Friggin’ Dog Thieves
F
She called my cell from the posting I
put on craigslist looking for information.
The story she told me made me really
mad. This lady and her young daughter
lost their small dog, a Chihuahua I think,
just a couple weeks before she called me.
The small dog squeezed out of the fenced
backyard just moments after he was let out
to go to the bathroom. They worked hard
putting up posters and posting online,
going to the pound every other day.
Finally after a week or so, she took a new
batch of flyers out and this time she
stopped at the large pet retailer in the strip
center not far from her home. Here is
where I get mad. As she was asking the
clerk for permission and telling her story,
describing the dog, the clerk next to her
perked up and shared information about a
recent customer she had.
The new customer was a middle-aged
white lady. She came to the register with a
cart full of everything you need to make a
new dog comfy. A cute bed, food bowls,
food, toys, blankets, even little sweaters
and booties. She talked all about her new
dog and how cute he was. She told about
how she found the little booger walking
alone down the road and saved him. That
was it — she rescued him and decided he
was hers for the keeping.
Ranger and Lilly were our dogs since
my kids were little. Lilly was a wonderful
female black lab we got one Easter in the
parking lot of an HEB. The family giving
away the puppies assured me she came
from a long bloodline of great hunting
dogs — sold me. She was as sweet as any
dog could be. Ranger was a Father’s Day
gift from my wife and kids after I had to
put down Bud. Ranger was a full-blood
Sheppard with all the brains of a turnip
but a heart the size of a watermelon. He
was, is, however, a compulsive fetcher of
anything not bolted down.
We live next to a park, Mary Moore
Seawright on Slaughter in south Austin,
and on occasion the dogs would find their
way out, always returning filthy and tired,
sometimes covered with skunk or
porcupine. They were, are, good dogs and
we have been trying to find them since
Sept. 11, 2008 when they got out. We
have posted on craigslist, at the pound,
and still to this day put out huge posters all
over. We still have hope.
Not long ago I got a call just minutes
after putting up a poster on Slaughter
Lane. A guy and his kids just picked up
two dogs and were taking them to their
house. I turned around and rushed to the
HEB parking lot to meet them. They were
not our dogs; they were big, cute pups,
maybe a year old or so. The guy said in
passing, “Well, I guess I will take them
home.” His kids were overly excited about
“their” new dogs. I asked him to please
post on craigslist and call the pound. He
said he did not know about any craigslist
but said he would try to find the owners. I
have my doubts.
One bright spot from this whole thing
was all the loving and kind calls from folks
who thought they found Lilly and Ranger,
saw them or just gave us tips. It is amazing
how many folks care for pets that are not
their own. God has a special place for
these folks who, through their kindness,
have lifted our family up and cared.
I know someone has Ranger and Lilly.
I know the people who have them have
not gone to the pound to see if anyone lost
them and they have not posted or looked
on craigslist. I guess now, after almost
seven months, we have to think about
moving on. I pray that our dogs have
found a good home and are loved as much
as we loved them. I pray that people who
find dogs or other lost pets are convicted
to try to find an owner. I pray my kids and
wife do OK as we work through this time.
Thanks to everyone who cares or helps in
times like these. Our dogs were, are,
family, and it is a loss we will not soon get
over.
T. J. Greaney
Publisher
[email protected]
Check out TJ’s blog every week at
countrylinemagazine.com
C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine • 5
BRAD PAISLEY LEADS WITH
SIX ACM NOMINATIONS
Nominations were announced for the
44th Annual Academy of Country Music
Awards. This star-studded event produced
for television by dick clark productions
broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand
Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April
5 at 8 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on the CBS
Television Network.
Brad Paisley leads with six nominations;
Heidi Newfield receives five nominations;
Kenny Chesney, Jamey Johnson and George
Strait each receive four nominations; Carrie
Underwood and Keith Urban each receive
three nominations; Trace Adkins, Brooks &
Dunn, Little Big Town, James Otto, Jake
Owen, Taylor Swift and Sugarland each
receive two nominations
the overall Top Vocal Group award, and it is
incredible to know we are now in contention
for the award once held by our heroes:
Alabama.”
Creating songs that connect with real
people and share their real experiences is
what The Lost Trailers do best. So it comes
as no surprise that they are expanding their
audience and continuously finding new fans
along the way. Their title track single,
“Holler Back,” stayed in the Top 10 for over
a month last summer and was such a hit that
it was recorded to a football version and
personalized for nearly 60 college and
professional teams. The single was so popular
that it was turned into personalized ringtones
as well as a Super Bowl version for Westwood
One. Most recently, “Holler Back,” has been
heard on primetime TV shows, such as Ellen
and Regis & Kelly.
The Lost Trailers are enjoying yet
another hit with their current single, “How
‘Bout You Don’t,” the second song off their
album Holler Back, which keeps rocking the
country charts.
THE LOST TRAILERS
SCORE BIG WITH TWO
ACMBNANOMINATIONS
CHUCK WICKS
Nashville’s The Lost Trailers have
had a lot to celebrate lately. The hardest
ANNOUNCED AS
working band in country music, recently
named MediaBase’s “Most Played New
COMPETITOR FOR NEW
Country Group of 2008,” has been playing
nonstop shows all over the country after their
SEASON OF DANCING
album, Holler Back, debuted at #5 on the
Billboard Country sales charts. But The Lost
WITH
THE STARS
Trailers have even more to celebrate after
RCA Nashville hit recording artist
earning nominations for two Academy of
Country Music’s coveted awards — Top Vocal
Group and Top New Vocal Duo or Group.
“We are truly honored to be a multiaward nominee for the 2009 ACM Awards.
It has been a long and crazy trip from that
high school gym where we played our first
show together as teenagers, and we wouldn’t
trade the years and miles and endless nights
that have come since then for anything,”
singer/guitarist Stokes Nielson says of the
recognition.
For The Lost Trailers, being considered
in a category which has included some of the
biggest names in country music is more than
honor. After learning of the nominations,
singer Ryder Lee adds, “one of the main goals
for us 5 has always been to be considered for
6 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
Chuck Wicks is among the celebrity
competitors poised to take to the dance floor
for the eighth season of the enduringly
popular ABC series, Dancing with the Stars.
The new cast was revealed this evening as
series host Tom Bergeron presented the “All
Night Name Drop,” announcing this
season’s competitors throughout ABC’s
Sunday night prime-time programming.
ABC also announced in a press release
that Chuck’s dance partner in the
competition will be his girlfriend and fellow
country recording artist, two-time Dancing
with the Stars champion, Julianne Hough.
Joining Wicks to round out this season’s
celebrity contestants are rapper Lil’ Kim;
Jackass star Steve-O; Access Hollywood host
Nancy O’Dell; actor Gilles Marini; actress
Denise Richards; Apple co-founder Steve
Wozniak; recording artist Belinda Carlisle;
actor/comedian David Alan Grier; football
hero Lawrence Taylor; recording artist Jewel
and her husband, rodeo star Ty Murray; and
Olympic Gold-medal winning gymnast
Shawn Johnson.
A gifted songwriter and vocalist,
Chuck Wicks made a compelling
impression with his Top 5 smash, “Stealing
Cinderella,” the fastest-rising single by a
debut country act in 2007. By the time his
first album, Starting Now, was released in
January 2008, he had begun a year-long
750,000 fan-packed tour opening for
superstar Brad Paisley. Chuck co-penned
ten of the eleven songs on his debut CD,
including his second hit, “All I Ever
Wanted,” and the new single, “Man of the
House,” a touching story-song about a boy
taking on beyond-his-years responsibilities as
his father is on military assignment.
The Season Eight premiere of Dancing
with the Stars is Monday, March 9, at 8 p.m.
ET, followed by a second performance show
at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, March 16, with the
first results show debuting on March 17 at 9
p.m. ET, all on ABC. chuckwicks.com.
RASCAL FLATTS PAYS
TRIBUTE
TO THEIR FANS
People’s Choice Award winner for
Favorite Group of 2008, Rascal Flatts pays
tribute to their fans by letting them to
choose the cover art for their next album,
Unstoppable, due out April 7. In January,
Rascal Flatts teamed up with People’s Choice
and invited fans to submit original cover
designs for their upcoming album. The top
four submissions were chosen by the band
and voting was open to all online.
The new cover art for Unstoppable was
revealed during a concert in Madison Square
Garden on Feb. 12. The top choice was
Chris Kubik from Arlington Heights, Ill.
KELLIE PICKLER JOINS
TAYLOR
SWIFT’S TOUR
Country star Kellie Pickler will join her
pal Taylor Swift on tour this year! The Fearless
Tour 2009 will visit 52 cities in 38 states and
provinces in the U.S. and Canada over six
months. In most markets, ticket prices will
start at $20 (plus local fees). Kellie said, “It’s
always fun to be on tour and be with the fans,
and to be out with Taylor, who is like a sister
to me, is really awesome. We wrote my
current single, ‘Best Days of Your Life,’ on tour
together last year, and I’m sure we’re going to
write on the road this year, too. So guys:
you’ve been warned. Don’t make us mad,
because you might just hear about it on the
radio!” Kellie’s current single, the
aforementioned “Best Days…,” is a musical
revenge song that she co-wrote with Taylor,
who lends background vocals on the album as
well. When her self-titled, sophomore album
debuted at number one on Billboard’s
Country Album Chart in the fall of 2008,
Kellie Pickler became only the sixth country
artist in history to have both their first and
second albums debut at number one. The tour
officially kicks off in April in Evansville, Ind.
The Fearlous Tour 2009 will descend on Texas
on Sept. 25 in Dallas. kelliepickler.com,
myspace.com/kelliepickler
C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine • 7
COUNTRY LINE MAGAZINE
SXSW
COUNTRY SHOWCASE
You do not want to miss the best SXSW
showcase, the Country Line Magazine
showcase on March 20 and 21 at the Ranch
(708 West 6th Street, Austin).
Friday, March 20: 8 p.m. Bill Rice Band,
9 p.m. Walt Wilkins, 10 p.m. Chad Hudson,
11 p.m. Susan Hickman, 12 a.m. The Dirt
Drifters, 1 a.m. Leo Stokes. Saturday, March
21: 8 p.m. Ruby Jane, 9 p.m. Jeffrey Steele, 10
p.m. Brandon Rhyder, 11 p.m. Heybale, 12
a.m. Jason Eady, 1 a.m. Jypsi.
Gruene Hall.
The ceremony will include spotlight
performances from Brandon Jenkins, Randy
Rogers & Brady Black, Rodney Parker, The
Tejas Brothers and a closing set by Wade
Bowen. The ceremony admission is free.
Nominees were selected by 35 panelists
from the industry and voting will be strictly
limited and tracked through the use of
official hard ballots and electronic tracking
methods for on line voting.
For more details about how to vote and
the awards ceremony visit us online at
lonestarmusic.com and lsmawards.com
25: Creedence Clearwater Revisited; 26: Jack
Ingram; 27: Craig Morgan; 28: Kevin Fowler.
FREE JASON EADY
DOWNLOAD “WHEN THE
MONEY’S
ALL GONE”
Jason Eady is offering a FREE download
of “When the Money’s All Gone,” off his
upcoming record (produced by Kevin Welch
and scheduled to be release this May). Jason
Eady has quickly garnered high praise for his
roots music. Bob Lefsetz says it’s “akin to the
stuff the Stones used to cut, back when they
needed to go to Alabama to get it right.” His
upcoming release is a star-studded gem,
produced by Kevin Welch, and featuring
Kelley Mickwee and the Band of Heathens.
myspace.com/jasoneadymusic
information.
Last year’s Songwriters Serenade winner
was Abi Tapia of Austin. In 2007, it was
Houston-based guitarist Brian Kalinec,
whose music has been featured on ABC
News’ “World News Now,” among other
places, and who’s been nominated as 2008
Texas Music Awards Musician of the Year
and selected as a finalist in the Rose Garden
Songwriting Contest in Massachusetts,
Kerrville New Folk Competition and
Susanne Millsaps Songwriting Competition.
His song “The Fence” took second place in
the Woody Guthrie Song Contest, and he
was one of two winners in the Big Top
Chautauqua Song Contest in Wisconsin,
both in 2008.
PAULA NELSON
LONESTARMUSIC &
STAR
IN FILM
GRUENE HALL PRESENT TO Look
for Paula in the upcoming film,
CHESNUTT GIVES
Conflict of Interest, a political thriller due to
THE INAUGURAL
be released in 2009. There is a lot of cool
BACK
ON E-BAY
Mark Chesnutt has joined with the
music and video stuff on her Web site
LONESTARMUSIC
AWARDS including a short set on a gondola from 3RD ANNUAL
Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis foundation
On March 29 at 7 p.m. at Gruene Hall,
awareness campaign and charity effort
Steamboat Music Fest — too cool!
SONGWRITERS SERENADE into anremember
Lone Star Music will announce the winners
famed country songwriter and
paulanelsonband.com
and hand out the hardware for the first time
hitmaker
Dennis
Linde. Linde wrote
AND 39TH ANNUAL
ever as they kick off a new annual awards
Chesnutt’s chart-topping hits “Bubba Shot
show focused on recognizing the excellent
RODEO AUSTIN LINE-UP FIDDLERS FROLICS TEXAS the Jukebox” and “It Sure Is Monday” along
music put out by the artists of the Texas and
with other notably recognizable country
Red Dirt Music scene. Sponsored by
FOR
MARCH
13-28
STATE
CHAMPIONSHIP
music tunes such as “Burnin’ Love,” (Elvis)
Ziegenbock and Radio Free Texas, these
March 14: Randy Rogers Band; 15:
The semi-final round and finals of the
awards are presented in conjunction with the
ten year anniversary of LoneStarMusic.com
and the five year anniversary for the Lone
Star Music store, located just a block from
Jimmy Wayne; 16: Josh Turner; 17: Jesse
McCartney; 18: Clay Walker; 19: Akon; 20:
Kellie Pickler; 21: Eli Young Band; 22: Randy
Travis; 23: Carlos Mencia; 24: Sara Bareilles;
8 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
3rd Annual Songwriters Serenade part of the
39th annual Fiddlers Frolics Texas State
Championship fiddling contest, will be held
Friday and Saturday nights, April 24-25, in
the town of Hallettsville, centrally located
between San Antonio, Austin and Houston.
More than two dozen local, regional,
American and international songwriters are
expected to showcase their original work in
the Serenade and vie for cash prizes of $100
and the $500 top prize. Fifteen of Friday
night’s semi-finalists will advance to
Saturday’s 10 a.m. finals; an overall winner
will be named along with five finalists.
Serenade entry fee is $10; entries should
be received by April 11. Semi-finalists will be
notified by April 14. Entry form and more
information at fiddlersfrolics.com
Participants and audiences for the
Fiddlers Frolics and Songwriters Serenade
can stay in Hallettsville and the surrounding
towns of Shiner, Schulenburg and Flatonia.
Call the Chambers of Commerce for
“Goodbye Earl,” (Dixie Chicks) “Callin’
Baton Rouge” (Garth Brooks) among others.
Linde succumbed to the disease in December
2006. Mark has donated his personallyowned Takamine guitar along with carry case
which is now being auctioned on e-Bay.
Chesnutt, who plays nearly 100 dates a year,
played this particular guitar for more than
four years on stage, taking it to performances
across the nation (including the Roadhouse
Tour) as well as to Europe and the
Caribbean. The winning bidder will also
receive a personal telephone call from Mark
with his personal thanks for participating in
the auction. See e-Bay auction, Mark
Chesnutt.
Country Line Magazine
to host SXSW Showcase
T
T H I S Y E A R W I L L M A R K C O U N T RY
Line Magazine’s first leap into the SXSW
fray of musical showcases. Join us at the
Ranch (708 West 6th Street).
Friday, March 20: 8 p.m. Bill Rice Band,
9 p.m. Walt Wilkins, 10 p.m. Chad Hudson,
11 p.m. Susan Hickman, 12 a.m. The Dirt
Drifters, 1 a.m. Leo Stokes. Saturday, March
21: 8 p.m. Ruby Jane, 9 p.m. Jeffrey Steele,
10 p.m. Brandon Rhyder, 11 p.m. Codie
Prevost, 12 a.m. Jason Eady, 1 a.m. Jypsi.
B I L L R I C E B A N D Heartache and
hellraising has led to the transformation of
Bill Rice. Meaningful lyrics and a solid
country voice give way to this up and
coming future Garth Brooks. His journey
started as a student at Oklahoma State
University. While attending school, his job
as a bouncer at the Tumbleweed Dance Hall
in Stillwater led him down a musical path to
where he is today. After a couple of years of
paying his dues on the Stillwater scene, he
fliped a coin to see where his next move
would be; Austin or Nashville. Now calling
Austin his home, keep an eye out for Bill
and his new CD I’ll Do It Again.
W A LT W I L K I N S As you listen to the
lyrics of a Walt Wilkins song, you can’t help
but close your eyes a let the melody take you
away. His writing is extraordinary, as evident
in the many hits that have help launched
some of his peers careers, much less his own.
His sound is comforting, like a pair of broken
in boots that fit just right. But it is the ability
Walt possesses to make you feel at home
when he plays that sets him apart. Some
artists put on a show when they sing; Walt
puts out his heart, making you feel as if you
were sitting around the campfire on a cold
winter day. His songs warm the soul and
brings you back to the place where it all
began, back home again.
C H A D H U D S O N Think Mellencamp
meets Bon Jovi meets Merle Haggard. Now
picture that sound with the looks of a
Hollywood star and solid writing chops and
you have the package of Chad Hudson.
Years of hard work has led Mr. Hudson to
where he is today.
After playing the Texas circuit for over
15 years, Chad got a call from a producer
friend up in Nashville. That phone call
would lead to a songwriting session that
ended up as a publishing deal with BMI
publishing group in Nashville as well as a
record deal. When he isn’t busy touring the
country or writing hits for country superstars,
Chad is back home in Austin.
S U S A N H I C K M A N is a dynamic
country music recording artist born and
raised out of Houston, Tex. Her bubbly
personality and positive high on life makes
an impact on just about everyone she comes
in contact with. It is this charisma that ha
allowed her to share the stage with artists
such as: Tracy Byrd, Jo Dee Messina, Kevin
Fowler, Keith Anderson, Steve Holy, The
Lost Trailers, Blaine Larson, and Phil Vassar
to name a few. With a self-titled debut album
just released and an extensive touring
schedule to promote the new record, be sure
to catch this up and coming star as she sets
her sights on Country Line’s SXSW
showcase.
T H E D I R T D R I F T E R S If you ask
any member of the Dirt Drifters how it all
came to be, they would probably tell you
divine intervention. It started with five roads
that hit some detours and dead ends but
eventually re-routed into one. It involves so
much more than music, and so much more
than songs. Heartache, life changes, career
changes, tears, blood and a drive that
endures is the makeup of this band. Five
guys, one dream, and a little bit of luck …
meet The Dirt Drifters. This southern rock
band has been one of the freshest sounds to
come out of Nashville in some time. There
reputation precedes them, starting off the
New Year opening up for Lynyrd Skynyrd
and .38 Special.
L E O S T O K E S A mix of traditional
country with a hint of Johnny Cash and
Merle Haggard is the make up of this upand-coming Austinite. His honky-tonkin’
melodies leave you tapping your toes and
wishing you were out at the Broken Spoke.
R U B Y J A N E Willie Nelson, Lyle
Lovett, Ray Benson, Johnny Gimble, Dale
Watson, Jim Stringer, Bob Schneider, Bill
Carter, Will Sexton and nine-time Grammy
winner Asleep at the Wheel … how many
artists dream of playing with any of these
greats? Now imagine a female fiddle-and
mandolin-playin singer/songwriter that has
accomplished all of this by of the age of 15.
Imagine playing the Grand Ole Opry,
starting your own publishing company, going
on tour with Asleep at the Wheel, and being
the youngest person in history to ever play at
SXSW by the age of just 14. Now imagine
the possibilities that young Ruby has in her
future … the sky is the limit.
J E F F R E Y S T E E L E 2003 through
2007 Songwriter of the Year, 29 Top-10
songs, 24 Top-Five songs, eight No. 2 songs,
eight No. 1 songs, one of Billboard’s Top-10
writers for over six years in a row, over 35
million spins on radio and television, over
500 songs cut in an eight-year period … the
list goes on and on. One thing that is
blatantly evident is Jeffrey is the best writer
in Nashville if not one of the best of all time.
I could go on and on about his talents but I
will leave it at this: you must see this living
legend in his prime as this is one of the few
times he will grace Austin.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
Cool Green Recycled Buildings
from Austin, of course
THERE IS A VERY COOL NEW AUSTIN based builder, Reclaimed Space, that is
turning a new leaf in the green building
industry. Designing, building and
delivering fully-sustainable “Spaces” out of
reclaimed materials.
Each unit is custom-built using locally
sourced materials taken from deconstructed
homes. Rather than letting good materials
go to waste, they are recycled and put to
good use after thorough inspection and
restoration. The buildings are solar and
wind energy compatible, making much of
the energy it takes to power the Spaces
renewable, and adding off grid possibilities.
The single-pitch roof makes it easy to use
filtered rainwater for the Space’s water
supply, and gives the solar panels a full day
of sunlight.
The structures are also built on skids
and beams making them easily re-locatable;
upon completion, they are delivered to any
site. The buildings have endless functions
and possibilities. For land owners or real
estate brokers, adding a building increases
property value and desirability by
introducing livable space. The units’ costeffectiveness and small size allows for
affordable community living or temporary
lodging. Reclaimed Space makes ecofriendly, sustainable living affordable.
Pricing starts at $25,000 and from $115 to
$160 per square foot, depending on each
Space’s individual features. The living
quarters start at 240 square feet and can be
configured modularly for larger designs.
C h e c k o u t t h e i r We b s i t e a t
reclaimedspace.com to learn more about
the company and browse photo galleries
and view sample floor plans.
C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine • 9
KEVIN FOWLER
W
WHEN IT COMES TO TEXAS FEW ARE
as closely associated with the Texas country
lifestyle or music as Kevin Fowler. Fowler has
a nature talent and hard work ethic that has
proven a solid foundation for himself. He
applies his life, passions and a what-you-seeis-what-you-get approach to his music,
writing and on stage where fans of all ages
connect.
Johnny Cash once said, “I love songs
about horses, railroads, land, Judgment Day,
family, hard times, whiskey, courtship,
marriage, adultery, separation, murder, war,
prison, rambling, damnation, home,
salvation, death, pride, humor, piety,
rebellion, patriotism, larceny, determination,
tragedy, rowdiness, heartbreak and love.
And Mother. And God.” Sounds like a
Kevin Fowler album to me. Life as it happens
with a chorus we can all sing. I sat with
Kevin recently and talked about life as it is
happening for him right now.
How is your new single doing? It’s
been in the top five on the Texas Music
Chart for a while now. It’s slowly creeping up
to #1.
Home to Play
There were a ton of Texans up there. It was
us, Asleep at the Wheel, Rick Trevino, Neal
McCoy, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Jack
Ingram, a whole lot more. Good times.
How is the music business today
with the economy in such a bad way?
We haven’t seen much slow down. I hear
that the entertainment business is pretty
recession proof. I guess people like to go out
when times are bad and forget about all of
their worries. But we’ll see soon.
Are you doing anything different?
We’re still doing exactly what we’ve always
done. Which is put out records and stay on
the road. Hoping to have a new record out in
the next year or so.
You’re a Texas guy and love to
hunt. How was your deer hunting
this last deer season? I didn’t shoot any
big deer this year. Just a lot of culls. I bought
a new ranch this year and we’re trying to get
all of the numbers right. I’m really excited
about this year though. I’m going on a big
bow hunt this fall for elk up in New Mexico.
I’ve never taken an elk with my bow. It’s at
the top of my list.
Where all are you playing now —
out of Texas? How was the
presidential ball? Most of our shows
Do you do much song writing
while your at the ranch or is it all
ranch work to clear the mind? I’ve
these days are in Texas, Oklahoma, New
Mexico, Louisiana and Kansas. Today we’re
in Lafayette, La. The show in Washington
during the inauguration was a lot of fun.
been doing more and more songwriting out
there. I’ve been having some songwriting
buddies of mine from Nashville come out
there to write. It’s a much better writing
10 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
environment for me.
How is your family?
You have quite a clan of
girls now. Everybody’s doing
well. Our youngest is almost
two years old. The oldest is
thirteen. Man, I’m getting
old.
We will see you in
Austin at the rodeo —
you have been quite the
staple for them the last
few years. It must feel
good to play at home and
have so many folks come
out and see you. It’s
always good to get to play at
home. It’s always nice to get
to sleep in your own bed.
The rodeo is kind of like our
yearly homecoming. We
love playing the rodeo. My
kids love it to. It’s one of my
few shows that they actually
can come to and have a good time. I think
they really care more about cotton candy
and riding rides than they do about seeing
their daddy sing. Ha ha.
Life as it happens. Fowler is a busy dad,
husband, rancher, musician, songwriter and
more. He sits in traffic, doesn’t always eat
right, loves to be with his family, pays bills,
gets the oil changed in his truck and all the
same
things we all do. Where Fowler leaves most
of us is that he hears a melody and a chorus
when he is doing it, he puts a tune to life and
we can all sing along.“God blessed Texas
with His own hands,” and He blessed Kevin
Fowler with a gift that we all can share. For
more on Kevin Fowler go to
kevinfowler.com. —TJ GREANEY
M
F
My treatise last month in this column
about the ills of present-day 6th Street was
met largely with accusations of advanced
age and terminal unhipness. I said from
the start that I would write in this column
what I think. What I didn’t consider was
that my thoughts might betray what a
surly old curmudgeon I am slowly
becoming. So, pardon me whilst I
backtrack somewhat on the topic, in a
likely futile effort to recover some of my
by Chris Mosser
already damaged coolness.
As long as I’ve been a resident of
Austin, March for me has meant SXSW.
Guy Forsyth said to me in the midst of a
6th Street radio interview on the final,
bleary Sunday morning of a festival long
past that he thought of SXSW as “the
festival of broken dreams,” and I’m afraid
I’d have to agree. Every year hundreds of
bands and performers flock into Austin,
high on the fact that they’ve been selected
to play and starry-eyed at where their
showcase might lead them. Most years,
there are a handful of these that land some
deal or the other, and return to town on a
tour sometime that summer or fall. There’s
usually some purported phenom who
would appear to be the next big thing, as it
were, and occasionally they are, but not
many of these are still top-of-mind a
couple of years later. In reality, it’s spring
break for the music industry and a
perfectly good excuse to drink around the
clock for everyone involved. The engine
of SXSW, though, is largely fueled by the
hopes of the hundreds who will play their
hearts out, lay it all out for their lifelong
dreams, and soon be forgotten and
discarded.
Getting to 6th street, I can recall
some of the first occasions finding myself
on 6th during broad daylight, and these
were almost always during SXSW:
broadcasting from the scene, hopping
between day parties, and indulging in The
Beverage perhaps a bit much for that time
of day. Sixth Street before nightfall,
especially on a warm day, has an aroma all
its own … a cocktail of stale spilled beer,
baking garbage and other byproducts,
which decorum prevents me from listing
here in full detail. It’s different from the
smell of other parts of downtown. It’s not
a particularly florid bouquet, but I’ve come
to associate it with memories of good times
with cool people.
Over the last few years, I’ve ratcheted
down the intensity with which I dive into
SXSW. Little kids, advanced age and
terminal unhipness will do that to a body.
However, now that The Roadhouse is in
full gear, there’s suddenly a whole new
angle on the festival for me. I’m looking
forward to hitting showcases featuring
folks like The Gourds, the Band of
Heathens, and Heybale, all of whom I can
catch any old weekend here in Austin, but
will be fun to see during SXSW, when I
can watch the crowd of out-of-towners
and jaded music industry types light up at
the amazing talent pool of Austin, Tex. As
a person who loves our town’s music, I find
SXSW to be an ego-inflating experience.
When the guy standing next to me from
Houston or Miami or Denver professes
amazement at the performance of Walt
Wilkins, or Joe Ely, or The Gougers, I can
shrug, glance at my watch, and say, hell,
they play here all the time.
CHRIS MOSSER PROGRAMS AND HOSTS
T H E R O A D H O U S E M O N D AY T H R O U G H
S AT U R D AY A N D T H E S U N D AY N I G H T
T E X A S S H O W O N S U N D AY S , A L L
S TA R T I N G AT 7 P. M . O N 9 8 . 1 K V E T.
Counting Your Chickens
Chickens in the City
It’s March 1, so I was going to write
about show chickens — specifically those
being groomed for the Star of Texas Stock
Show and Rodeo. Those folks already know
what they’re doing, and are savvier than I
am. Many more questions are asked about
everyday concerns, such as: Does my hen
need a rooster to produce eggs? Do chickens
get worms? No and yes, in that order.
Egg laying is ovulation and a rooster is
not necessary, that is unless you want to hear
the pitter patter of little feet in the barnyard.
The question of worms or internal
parasites is more common and more
complex. Of the thousands of worm species,
about 100 have been recognized in wild and
domestic birds in the USA. Round worms
(Nematodes) are the most significant in
number of species and economic impact.
Tapeworms (Cestodes) are also a problem
and have been found in the thousands in
individual chickens and turkeys.
“Modern confinement rearing of
poultry had reduced the frequency and
variety of these parasitic infections, which
were common earlier in the range birds and
back yard flocks. However, severe parasitism
may still occur in flood reared game birds.
Things like “built up litter” can cause
explosive growth in intermediate hosts of
parasites that become quickly resistant to
therapeutic drugs”. [This last unwieldy
paragraph was lifted, verbatim, from the
Ninth Edition of the Merck Veterinary
Seattle has one. Raleigh has one. But
Austinites like to be at the leading edge of
all trends. So, when a group of local
backyard poultry enthusiasts realized that
Austin lacked an annual backyard Chicken
Coop celebration, they took action. The
result? Austin’s first free Funky Chicken
Coop Tour.
Urban chicken-keeping is on the rise
in cities across the USA, and for good
reasons. Chickens can be easy-to-care-for
pets, provide insect control, supply
delicious fresh eggs, and help create better
yards and gardens. Most chicken owners
report that it's just plain fun to have them
around.
On Saturday, April 11, Austin-area
chicken coop owners will open their
backyards to the public. The free, selfguided tour will run from 10 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. and showcase a variety of poultry
projects in a variety of settings, from urban
to rural.
Visitors to the tour sites will see how
scavenged materials can be transformed
into a low-cost coop; or how a fashionable
coop can enhance your landscape. Visitors
will have the chance to see how chicken
coops integrate into larger projects, such as
organic gardens, sustainability and
permaculture efforts, and school projects.
The tour hosts will be able to answer
questions on chicken care, compliance
with city ordinances, coop design, and
A Series, Part 6
Manual].
Round worms are passed around usually
bird to bird by ingestion of infective eggs and
larvae, or by ingestion of an intermediate
host. Insects, earthworms or snails etc. are all
carriers. Birds eat the host creatures and are
infected much like a dog swallows fleas.
Chickens don’t sit down at the dinner
table with you. They don’t eat from clean
china nor have the manual dexterity to
handle a knife and a fork. They dine on the
ground. The dirty chicken manure covered
parasite laden, insect loaded ground.
Worms? Trust me, they have plenty of
worms.
Why does this matter? A few Ascarid
class worms can cause weight loss, and larger
numbers may block the intestinal track
resulting in diarrhea and eventually death.
So let’s get to your vet or local feed store and
purchase some wormer. It’s cheap and
reasonably effective.
Your chickens will thank you and I will
thank you for having asked the question in
the first place. Adios! —MIKE YOUNG,
CALLAHAN’S GENERAL STORE
12 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
Austin’s First Funky Chicken Coop Tour
more. If you are thinking about keeping
chickens in your own backyard, you’ll get
some great ideas for your own successful
project.
The Funky Chicken Coop Tour will
include coops all over the Austin area. A
map of participating coops will be available
for download prior to the tour from
fccooptour.blogspot.com.
AU S T I N F U N KY C H I C K E N C O O P TO U R
A P R I L 1 1 • 1 0 A . M . T O 4 : 3 0 P. M .
FREE ADMISSION
F C C O O P T O U R . B L O G S P O T. C O M
BBQ Team Celebrates 20 Years
AT T H E S TA R O F T E X A S B B Q C O O K- O F F
Y
“ YOU COMIN’ OUT TO RODEO?” —
this is the question members of the La
Pasadita BBQ Team will ask a thousand
times the next few weeks. “Rodeo” is how
they refer to their annual shindig at Star of
Texas Fair & Rodeo (STFR hereafter) BBQ
Cook-Off. La Pasadita is more than just a
BBQ team though — with 20 years under
their belt, they’ve grown into a charitable
legacy rich with family, friends and a strong
dose of tragedy-inspired determination.
Like all the other teams, their goal is to
garner sponsorships, throw a great party to
inspire attendees to put tips in their jars, and
donate all the proceeds to the Star of Texas
Scholarship Fund — they’ve been doing just
that for 20 years.
It all started in the spring of 1990 — Bill
and Jane Ann Benton along with Dan
Steakley and a few friends entered a team in
The Travis County Livestock Show BBQ
Cook-Off (now the STFR BBQ Cook-Off)
to promote the title agency they had just
opened and, as they had kids of their own,
thought that helping to send Texas kids to
college was a fitting cause. With the help of
Sid Terry, Kenny Dryden, Bill Archer and
Jay Owens, they pulled a team together and
started raising sponsorships for supplies and
the Scholarship Fund. But they still needed
a team name and furniture for their tent. On
a trip back from a south Texas hunting lease,
three of them came across a defunct bar
selling its furniture — bar stools, tables and
chairs — and that old bar was aptly named
La Pasadita.
The team operated under small tents for
a few years, but by 1995 their venue had
grown to a 40x90-foot tent, a 32-foot bar,
jukebox, 350-square-foot stage and cookers,
plus tables and chairs to seat thousands of
the public for two days. Of course, as the
team’s venue and event grew, the man hours
needed to pull it off also exploded. Luckily
the founders had willing participants in their
sons and their friends, who gradually took
the reins — likely making La Pasadita one of
the only second-generation teams at the
Cook-Off. The team’s numbers have waxed
and waned over the years as friends move
away and return, and friends are invited to
join. The core team though, is made up of
friends primarily from Austin’s Westlake
area, some having known each other since
they were toddlers. The feat is something to
marvel at ... old friends who may not see
each other all year come together to pull off
an event whose size would challenge even a
seasoned party planner. They are as eclectic
as the public who wanders into their tent
and a listing of their professions reads like a
classic joke — an exotics ranch manager, a
loan officer, a yoga studio owner, a wine rep,
an air marshall, a lawyer and the list goes on.
Their rich friendship history comes
together each year for the benefit of kids
throughout the state of Texas. From the
beginning and still to this day, the team’s
number one goal is to be the top fundraiser
for the ST Scholarship Fund. Numbers from
those first couple of years are hard to come
by, but as far as most memories serve, La
Pasadita has been the top fundraiser at the
Cook-Off all but one year since they started.
There’s a scandalous rumor that one year a
last-minute check was written by a sponsor
of another team just to beat the winning run
of La Pasadita. In the end though, that
“missed” year only inspired the team to up
the ante and make sure that Top Fundraiser
was a title they could claim every year since.
That determination has resulted in some
impressive donation totals for a little ol’
BBQ team — in 2006 they raised $47,000
and in both 2007 and 2008 they raised over
$50,000 — all of which put them over the
half-a-million-donated mark at their 19th
showing last year.
But La Pasadita is a team with more
than friendship and a charitable goal driving
them. In 1996, tragedy struck the team when
just a month after the Cook-Off two of its
cherished members, Brent Benton and Chad
McLaughlin, were killed in an auto accident.
It was a devastating loss to their families and
friends. Both young men often expressed
their love of “rodeo,” and eagerly anticipated
its arrival each spring, making it that much
harder for the team to imagine throwing the
event without them. There were many dark
days leading up to the next Cook-Off, but La
Pasadita gathered their strength and
dedicated their efforts in the name of the
friends, the brothers, the sons they lost.
Today you can find two sets of initials
flanking the team’s logo to remind the team
and others that Brent and Chad are right
there with them.
March is here again and the team is
making preparations for their 20th year of
throwing the best party and raising the most
money at the Cook-Off. The event will
commence Friday, March 20 through the
wee hours Sunday, March 22 and you’re all
invited to join them! There will be great
BBQ, free beer and live music by LC Rocks
— a popular 80s rock band here in Austin.
La Pasadita just humbly requests that you put
cash in their tip jars so they can send Texas
kids to college and maybe claim that coveted
Top Fundraiser title once again. —ALYSON
STRINGER STEAKLEY
Become a sponsor! Your donation is tax-deductible and gets
you a spot on sponsor boards, a link on lapasadita.org and
access to the VIP Club on Saturday, March 21 where they
serve members’ harvests — grilled quail, cajun Redfish, Axis
sausage, plus smoked tenderloin, bacon-wrapped shrimp and
more. For more info, email [email protected]. La
Pasadita is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Country Line’s SXSW
Showcase
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
B R A N D O N R H Y D E R If you listen to
Brandon’s first and second CDs, you might
be surprised at what you hear. Songs about
drinking, broken hearts and small town
stories fill the air. The normal, predictable
melodies and progressions play track after
track. Yes, the first couple of CDs might not
fit the mold of what you think when you
think of Brandon Rhyder. The main aspect I
take away from those records is his evolution.
It is obvious not only by his lyrics, songs, and
vocals, but even the album covers tell the
story of where he started from and where he
is now. They say that change is a fact of life,
that you must roll with the times or you will
be left behind. It is very obvious that
Brandon has become a pro at that aspect. His
dedication has led him to a career that takes
him all over the country, yet he still calls
Austin home.
C O D I E P R E V O S T Canadian Codie
Prevost has developed a sound that is truly
unique and unconventional in the realm of
country music. In 2006, Codie was awarded
the Saskatchewan Country Music
Association’s “Rising Star Award” as well as
“Album of the Year” for his debut album, The
Road Ahead. His second and current album
Spin 6-Pak Vol. 1 has received rave reviews
north and south of the border and his current
and latest single “Call Me When You Get
There” is considered one of Codie’s best to
date. Influenced by many illustrious artists as
well as a wide array of music genres, Codie
has written with Texan Willie Mack, Jason
Blaine and Steve Fox, and has opened for
The Oak Ridge Boys, Doc Walker, Emerson
Drive, Aaron Pritchett, Deric Ruttan and
Gord Bamford. With a bona fide passion and
a wholehearted commitment to his art and
fans Codie Prevost’s high energy
performances leave a deep-rooted impression
on all, time and time again.
J A S O N E A D Y You listen to a Jason
Eady song and you go back in time. You go
back to the days where time moved a little
slower, where everything was black and
white, where you could sit and watch the
world turn. For only being in the business for
four years, Jason is mature beyond his years.
A style that mixes blues, bluegrass, and
something more of a timeless nature; his
music stands out among the mix of the
repetitive one-dimensional material you
mostly hear these days on the radio.
J Y P S I Playing a soulful kind of
country and dressing in retro chic, the
Nashville-based band Jypsi has a set of
influences that run from Alison Krauss to
alt-rock. Comprised of four siblings from the
Rische family — Lillie Mae, Frank, Scarlet,
and Amber-Dawn — Jypsi spent years
together on the road playing festivals and
showcases before landing a regular gig on
Nashville’s famed Lower Broadway in 2003.
Their combination of classic country
harmonies and youthful attitude entertain
and captivates any crowd in front of them.
This group of siblings is sure to stand the test
of time, proving that being true to your roots
is always the best way to go.
C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine • 13
MOVIE & BOOK REVIEWS
The Velveteen Rabbit
DVD RELEASE MARCH 17
The Velveteen Rabbit is an
enchanting combination of live-action
drama and animated
adventure that tells the
story of a lonely boy ,
Toby, who wins over his
distant father and strict
grandmother .
This classic novel,
one of the most beloved
family tales of all time
comes to life. Young Toby
who is sent by his busy
father to spend the
holiday season in the
home of his stern
grandmother. Toby’s world
instantly changes when
he discovers the house’s
‘magic attic’ where three forgotten toys —
including a special stuffed rabbit — unlock
a world of imagination that will change all
their lives forever.
Featuring the voice talents of Golden
Globe® winner Jane Seymour (“Dr. Quinn,
Medicine Woman,” Somewhere in Time) as
Mom with Emmy Award® winner Tom
Skerritt (Top Gun, “Picket Fences”) as
Horse and Oscar® winner Ellen Burstyn
(Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Requiem
for a Dream) as Swan, and directed by
Michael Landon Jr. (“Love Comes Softly,”
Saving Sarah Cain), The Velveteen Rabbit is
a heartwarming “…adventure for the
whole family” (The Dove Foundation®).
For
more
information,
visit
thevelveteenrabbitmovie.com
Historic Photos of the Opry: Ryman
Auditorium 1974
JIM MCGUIRE
From its construction
in 1892, the Ryman
Auditorium, named for
riverboat captain Thomas
G. Ryman, has been an
integral part of America’s
cultural fabric. Today this
National
Historic
Landmark, lovingly called
the Mother Church of
Country Music, enjoys present-day status as
both a beloved piece of Americana and a
dynamic venue for contemporary artists.
With photography and text by Jim
McGuire, Historic Photos of the Opry
rediscovers a fascinating chapter in the
history of the Grand Ole Opry and its most
famous former home. More than 100 rare
photographs taken by McGuire in 1974 are
showcased with exceptional clarity in this
beautiful book and brought to life through
insightful
McGuire’s
captions. With a foreword
by Garrison Keillor and
opening remarks by Marty
Stuart, the book sheds light
on a crucial period in the
history of the Ryman
Auditorium, the Grand Ole
Opry, and the country music
genre.
“For those of us who
were serious country music
fans who spent many
Saturday nights on those Ryman pews, the
fact that the Opry was moving from that
building was a very big deal,” Jim McGuire
says. “Everyone was talking about the
opening of Opryland, but
to me, photographing and
preserving this slice of
country music history was
just as important.”
Historic Photos of the
Opry reveals every facet of
the Opry in its final year at
the Ryman through scenes
onstage, backstage and
from
the
gritty
n e i g h b o r h o o d
surrounding. In glimpses of
bluegrass legends, famous
country duos, bona fide
American musical icons,
and the Opry’s ardent fans,
music’s
most
celebrated
country
phenomenon shines in glorious black-andwhite photography, displayed in a large
format.
Historic Photos of the Opry: Ryman
Auditorium 1974 is part of Turner
Publishing’s Historic Photos series. These
books, highlighting the history of the great
cities across America, famous figures, and
places from the past, have been acclaimed as
a staple in the collection of anyone who
loves history. turnerpublishing.com
The Bull Catchers
JIM SAYLES
Local author Jim Sayles just released his
first book, The Bull Catchers, which
chronicles his amazing adventures. The
impending sale of the family ranch and being
released from active duty with the U.S.
Marine Corps, Sayles was
motivated at the age of 24
to leave the security of
home and family and
immigrate to Australia.
There Sayles was taken
under the wing of the most
outrageous character in the
Northern Territory as they
pursued the dangerous
profession of “bull catching”
— capturing wild cattle and
water buffalos on the unfenced open range.
This was not unlike Texas immediately after
the Civil War, only the author, in bare feet
and worn-out cutoffs, used Toyotas instead of
horses and threw them down by the tail
instead of roping them. Crazy!
The author’s experiences also included
exploring areas of Tasmania where no other
man had been before, two years searching for
the Tasmanian Tiger under an IUCN/WWF
grant, living and working with Australian
aborigines, and dangerous
encounters with sharks,
crocodiles, and the planet’s
deadliest snakes. Includes 23
pages of photos (18 color,
five black and white) that
help to illustrate this unique
narrative. Available locally
at
Serendipity
Books
(Marble
Falls)
and
logospubco.com
14 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
I
F
It’s rodeo time! Once a year we get to
experience the excitement of horses, dust,
cowboys and the sound of a roaring crowd.
There’s team roping, bull and bronco riding,
barrel racing, steer wrestling, mutton
busting, the petting zoo, stock shows and
horse shows. It’s the time of year you dress up
and pretend you are a real cowboy. So besides
the glamour of hats and buckles, ever
wondered how the rodeo started?
It started back in the 1700s when the
Spanish cattlemen known as vaqueros ruled
the West. Their influences in dress and riding
equipment played a role in the molding of the
sport. The duties on these ranches included
roping, horse breaking, riding, branding and
herding. In the 1800s, ranchers from the
Southwest organized long cattle drives to
bring the cattle across to stockyards in areas
such as Kansas. At the end of these trails the
new American Cowboys would hold
informal competition against the ranchers
from the east to see which group were the
best riders and had more skill. This formed
the beginnings of the competition known as
the rodeo. The cowboys would pay to ride
and put it in a pot, the winners would take
home the prize money. Eventually they began
holding these shows in front of spectators
who would pay to see the competition and
the sport began to grow.
From the 1890s through the ’50s, the
culture of the West began to dwindle and the
popularity of these rodeos grew. As cowboys
by Laura Haugh
were losing their jobs, more of them began
traveling to ride in the show. Organizations
began starting to protect the safety of the
animals and riders. In 1929, the Rodeo
Association of America emerged to
document the winnings and determine
championships. However, the promoters and
judges were unfair and the prize money
would often be less than agreed upon. In
1936, at the Boston Garden Rodeo, around
60 cowboys decided to walk out because the
promoter refused to add their entry fees into
the prize money. The promoter tried to find
replacements, but was unsuccessful and
folded into the cowboy’s demands. The
group of cowboys called themselves the
turtles because they were slow to organize,
but finally stuck their necks out. The buckle
became the winning trophy as a result of
boxers such as Fritz Truan who would
participate.
All of these events lead to the
popularity of the rodeo today. Today, there
are rodeos at the high school and college
level, as well as the Little Britches Rodeo
Association, which caters to the younger
children. In 1975, the Professional Rodeo
Cowboys Association, known as the PRCA
emerged and created the National Finals
Rodeo, which gained a status amongst the
NFL and NBA. The rodeo will continue as
long as we, the fans, support the sport. So put
on your duds and head on out to the Austin
Rodeo. You’ll see me there!
by Sandra Greaney
W
F
With spring coming well on its way, I
wanted to give you some events to consider
that you may not normally find yourself
attending. So expand your horizons this
March and take some time to enjoy
something new! Be sure to mark your
calendar — March 8 is Daylight Savings
Time (spring forward one hour) and March
17 is St. Patrick’s Day.
in town
MARCH 6 COWBOY BREAKFAST Plan to
attend the annual Cowboy Breakfast that
kicks off Rodeo Austin on Auditorium
Shores in Austin. rodeoaustin.com
MARCH 6 8TH ANNUAL BAGELFEST The
Austin Jewish Academy will be holding the
8th Annual BagelFest/5k/1k Fun Run/Walk
at the Dell Jewish Community Center. 512735-8350, bagelfest5k.com
MARCH 13-28 RODEO AUSTIN It’s rodeo
time and there’s fun for everyone! Check
the Web site and this issue for info on the
fun! rodeoaustin.com
MARCH 13-22 SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST
MUSIC & MEDIA CONFERENCE (SXSW) This festival
showcases hundreds of musical acts from
around the globe on over eighty stages in
downtown Austin. sxsw.com
MARCH 20-21 LA PASADITA’S 20TH
ANNIVERSARY AT RODEO AUSTIN BBQ COOK-OFF
The cook-off is the biggest party at the
rodeo and the most fun you can have with
your boots on! Come on out and help La
Pasadita BBQ Team celebrate their 20th
year of throwin’ a great party and raisin’
college scholarships for Texas youth. Sample
great BBQ, enjoy cold beer and get your
boots dusty on the dance floor to the
rockin’ live music. lapasadita.org
MARCH 29 CAPITOL 10K Ranked among
the top five 10Ks in the nation, the 32nd
Statesman Capitol 10,000 will include
10,000 runners/walkers participate in. Also
offered is a one-mile course for the young
ones that takes place in the form of the
Junior ’Dillo Kids Run on March 28.
statesman.com/sports/content/cap10k
MARCH 30 TASTE OF AUSTIN is an event
designed to showcase Austin-area caterers,
restaurants and hotels. The concept is
simple; allow food lovers the chance to
explore the incredible variety of flavors and
restaurants served up in one event. Taste-size
portions let you sample many different
restaurants and find new venues for eating
out while each participating restaurant will
have the opportunity to provide samples of
key menu items and discover new customers.
tasteofaustin.com
outside of town
MARCH 6 DAWN AT THE ALAMO in San
Antonio. Members of the San Antonio
Living History Association are joined by reenactors from across the country to portray
the armies of the Texian defenders and the
Mexican soldiers led by General Santa
Anna. The event occurs on the anniversary
of the fall of the Alamo, starting at 6 a.m.
like the historic predawn raid on the
Alamo. sanantoniolivinghistory.org
MARCH 7 DRIPPING SPRINGS SCULPTURE
CHALLENGE Visit with and observe sculptors
as they demonstrate their style and
discipline. The event is a benefit for PAWS
Animal and Humane Shelter and admission
is $10 per person. sculpturechallenge.com
512-858-5665
MARCH 13-14 ANNUAL CENTRAL TEXAS
KNIFE SHOW in Round Rock. There will be
roughly 100 tables featuring works of top
knife makers at the Williamson Hotel and
Conference Center in Round Rock. 830367-2246
MARCH 13-15 ST. PATTY’S DAY ON THE
RIVER WALK in San Antonio. The River is
actually dyed green for the day and renamed
“The River Shannon.” On the 13th,
mariachi music gives way to Irish song and
dance and the River Walk turns into a huge
pub crawl. The next day, the river hosts a
floating parade with Irish dignitaries, pipers
and drummers, and the spirit of the old
country. thesanantonioriverwalk.com
MARRIAGE RENEWAL WEEKEND Cornerstone
Marriage and Family Ministries will be
hosting “A New Beginning, Marriage
Renewal Weekend” at Camp Tejas
Christian Retreat Center near Giddings,
Tex. Rediscover the feeling of love you once
had in your marriage. There is an early
registration discounts and financial
assistance available. For more info, please
email [email protected]
MARCH 14 5TH ANNUAL SPOKES ’N’ SPURS
RIDE at Spirit Reins in Liberty Hill. Riders
will enjoy a great route with beautiful views,
gently rolling hills and the wildlife of the
Texas Hill Country. This non-profit
organization provides hands-on therapeutic
programs in which horses are used as a tool
for emotional growth and learning. All ages
and skill levels welcome. spiritreins.org
slows to a tropical pace
Cabo Bob’s first (and only location at
this time), is on the northwest corner of Ben
White/Hwy 71 and IH-35 (500 E. Ben White
Blvd). The interior has a comfortable feel
that aligns itself with the name — surfing
images and Cabo maps adorn the walls and
MARCH 28 CEDAR PARK HERITAGE
FESTIVAL
cedarparktx.us/cp/page32992213.aspx
MARCH 29 HATS OFF FOR HOSPICE at
Texas Old Town in Kyle. Join CTMC
Hospice Care for fun and games, including
the Kiddie Express, hay rides, moonwalks,
auctions, arts and crafts, door prizes, plus
music from Reckless Kelly all at Texas Old
Town in Kyle. 512-754-6159, 866-754-6159
allmonth
ANYTIME DONATE BLOOD! Give the gift
of life —with just a single donation, you can
save as many as two lives. Go by 4300 N.
Lamar in Austin or 2132 N. Mays in Round
Rock to donate today. 206-1266,
inyourhands.org
HILL COUNTRY OUTDOORS If you are an
active adult, love to meet people and be
outdoors, check hillcountryoutdoors.com.
EVERY SATURDAY A U S T I N FA R M E R S
M A R K E T Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and
Wednesdays, 3-7 p.m. at Republic Square
Park (4th and Guadalupe). Buy from local
growers. austinfarmersmarket.org
SUNSET VALLEY FARMERS MARKET offers
fresh local fruits and vegetables at the Tony
Burger Center. sunsetvalleyfarmersmarket.org,
512-280-1976
volunteer
Longtime Austin Restaurateur
I love a good fish taco — if you’ve never
had one you’re missing out! Local
restaurateur Don Brinkman, former CEO of
Mr. Gatti’s, has a concept he’s working on
and you can participate in the shaping of this
project by stopping by and trying the fare.
MARCH 26 HEALTHY LIVING SPA NIGHT at
Healthy Living by Design in Wimberley.
Evening reception (5-9 p.m.) to promote
healthy self care. Enjoy spa services
provided by local practitioners, live music,
cocktails, hors d’oeurves, door prizes,
membership specials, more. 14500 RR 12,
512-847-8026
tables.
The fresh mango picodigio and tortillas
are to die for. They have a giant burrito that
is a pick-your-topping and one is hard to
finish. My favorite is the fish taco, of course.
Don’t miss the chipotle sauces by the drink
dispenser! I wanted to swipe a bottle of it to
take home — I really like this stuff.
Last but not least, Cabo Bob’s is the first
and maybe only restaurant in the U.S. that
serves soda fountain drinks made with the
original cane sugar instead of the fructose
syrup. XXX Root Beer, Dublin Dr Pepper, Big
Red, grape soda and more are all made with
pure cane sugar and taste like a soda should!
Gotta have your breakfast tacos? Cabo
Bob’s serves those too, starting this month!
Tell them Country Line sent ya and let ’em
know you appreciate them having our
magazine in there shop! Good stuff.
FREE
breakfast taco
Present article when ordering. One offer per person per visit.
Offer expires March 31, 2009. Not valid with any other offer.
Not only does volunteering help others, but
it can play a priceless role in the
development of your children — increasing
self-esteem, empathy and social skills. Here
are a few Web sites where you can find
volunteer opportunities for you and your
family to participate in year round.
packedforlife.org • volunteermatch.org
handsoncentraltexas.org
austinparks.org/volunteer.php
next month
APRIL 5 PEACE LOVE HAPPINESS RIDE
Motorcycle enthusiasts can ride free this
year with John Paul DeJoria and his
celebrity friends in the 7th annual Peace
Love Happiness Ride to benefit Austin
Children’s Shelter and The 100 Club of
Central Texas. The ride will start at
Cowboy Harley-Davidson and finish at the
new Backyard. The concert and custom
bike show at the Backyard is $25 and will
benefit the two charities.
austinchildrenshelter.org
I F YO U AT T E N D A N E V E N T L I S T E D H E R E ,
P L E A S E S H O OT M E A N E - M A I L A N D L E T M E
K N O W H O W I T WA S. I W O U L D LOV E TO
H E A R F R O M YO U ! S A N D R A @ C O U N T RY
L I N E M AG A Z I N E . C O M
C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine • 15
by Kendall Hemphill
Wolves & Yahoos
M
VS
F My favorite Ace Reid cartoon shows a
man in the background, obviously trying to
get rid of a snake that’s tangled around his
head and arms, which is probably a lot
harder to do than it sounds. In the
foreground are two cowboys, and one says
something like, “That EPA fellow said we
shouldn’t kill rattlesnakes, because they’re
good for the country. So I gave him one.”
I suspect Ashley Judd would act like
that EPA fellow, if someone were to hand
her an Alaskan wolf. Judd is your basic
Hollywood Yahoo type, who doesn’t seem to
have much of a grip on reality. That doesn’t
stop her from expressing her opinion, which
is only fair. Everyone has an opinion. It just
happens that Ashley Judd’s is wrong.
Judd has gotten hooked up with a group
called Defenders of Wildlife. Now, just to be
clear here, this group has no concept of what
it means to defend wildlife. They just call
themselves that to separate witless citizens
from their money. The DoW never actually
does anything for wildlife. All it does is
attack sound, ethical hunting practices,
practices that pay for conservation programs
that actually help wildlife.
Judd has made a video for DoW blasting
Alaska governor Sarah Palin for promoting
aerial wolf hunting. She is quoted on the
DoW Web site as saying, “I’m outraged by
Palin’s promotion of aerial wolf hunting and
I will fight to stop her.” The video describes
how brutal and inhumane aerial hunting is,
and to be fair, I imagine it’s not easy to make
a clean, one-shot kill on a running animal
from a helicopter or airplane. But then,
something has to be done about the wolves.
See, Alaska has more wolves than it can
say grace over. The situation has gotten
entirely out of hand, and the wolves are
wreaking havoc on the Alaskan populations
of caribou, moose, deer, and other wildlife.
Judd doesn’t mention any of that in her
video, but then, why would she?
Well, this brings us to a dilemma,
assuming we’re dumb enough to believe the
drivel offered by the bunny huggers. They
want the wolves left alone, but they want
the other wildlife to flourish, also. Basically,
they want it both ways.
It’s the old question of what an
‘environmentalist’ does when he sees one
endangered species trying to kill another
by Shirley Baker
SHRIMP NEWBURG
When we lived close to the bay, it was not unusual for the children to fish and seine for their supper.
The shrimp and fish they caught we never had to fear of pollution and they always tasted great. This
is one of their favorite recipes I would prepare for them after their day long efforts at the water.
1 lb cooked and peeled shrimp
2 Tbsp butter
13/4 Tbsp flour
1 cup cream
3 Tbsp tomato catsup
/4 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1
/8 tsp salt
1
/4 tsp paprika
3
?
Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in flour slowly till blended. Add cream very slowly while
continuing to mix. When the sauce starts to thicken, add catsup and Worcestershire. Add
shrimp, salt and paprika. Heat shrimp thoroughly. Serve over a bed of rice or in a rice ring.
(While rice is still hot, put in oiled ring mold, let stand a few minutes before turning out on a
platter. Makes aa very pretty main course. Garnish with parsley.
G R A N D M A’ S H I N T S
?
Foggy windshield problem in the morning?
Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep in car for times like this.
If you seal an envelope and forgot to enclose something,
place envelope in freezer for an hour and it readily opens.
Use hair conditioner to shave legs instead of shaving cream.
Before pouring oil in measuring cup, rinse with hot water for easier cleaning.
?
16 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
?
To keep animals from eating your plants, sprinkle with cayenne pepper.
endangered species. There’s no way to win
that one. Take the rabbit away from the
coyote to save it, and the coyote dies of
starvation. The problem is that these
animals won’t cooperate. They seem to want
to act like, well, animals. Bummer.
So the koala kissers rationalize by
saying, “Well, coyotes are naturally meat
eaters. They’re designed that way, and can’t
help it. So it’s okay for them to eat rabbits.”
The coyotes, to date, have been unavailable
for comment.
But contradiction has always been a
problem with the ‘save the whales’ crowd.
Their very premise defeats their argument.
They claim we’re just animals ourselves, and
therefore we should respect the other
animals’ right to life, because they’re our
equals. But then, if we’re animals ourselves,
and it’s OK for a coyote to kill a rabbit, it has
to be OK for us to kill a coyote. You can’t
have your fox and your hare, too. You have
to choose.
But they don’t want to choose, so they
try to claim we humans have to behave
differently, because we’ve, I don’t know,
evolved into a higher life form and have
greater responsibilities than the other
animals, or something. Except that won’t
work either. Because if we’ve ‘evolved’ up,
then we aren’t equal with the other animals
anymore, and therefore we have different
rules. I know, it’s hazy. Tell you what — you
go argue with one of these space cadets for a
while and let me know how it goes.
The truth is, according to the Alaska
Department of Fish & Game, predators
(wolves and bears) kill 80% of the moose
and caribou that die during an average year.
Humans kill 10%. You can look these stats
up. Of course, so could Ashley Judd, except
she’s too busy complaining about Sarah
Palin.
But the Alaskan wildlife authorities
don’t want to wipe out the wolves, anyway.
They’re using a closely controlled permit
program that allows limited aerial hunting in
certain areas. Currently there are five wolf
control programs in effect in 9.4% of
Alaska’s land area, and they’re designed to
keep the wolf population to a manageable
level. This not only helps the other wildlife,
but it also makes the wolves healthier by
cutting down on disease and ensuring the
habitat can support their numbers.
Unless the wolves are controlled,
Alaska won’t have enough caribou and
moose to allow hunting. Hunting brings in
revenue, which is used to fund programs that
help all the animals, including the wolves.
It’s a win-win situation.
Now if we can just institute a program
that will keep the Hollywood Yahoo
population from getting out of hand, we’ll
have our problems licked …
KENDAL HEMPHILL IS AN OUTDOOR
HUMOR COLUMNIST AND PUBLIC
S P E A K E R W H O A P P R E C I AT E S T H E
YA H O O S , F O R M A K I N G H I S J O B E A S I E R .
W R I T E T O H I M AT P O B O X 1 6 0 0 ,
M A S O N, T X 7 6 8 5 6 O R
J E E P @ V E R I Z O N. N E T
Star of Texas Fair & Rodeo
Cowboy Breakfast
The ever popular Cowboy Breakfast will
be Friday, March 6 at Auditorium Shores.
Break out your boots, hat and appetite then
head out for free breakfast, live music and
Western entertainment and be a part of this
special tradition that officially kicks off 2009
Rodeo Austin.
This year’s breakfast bash will last from
6-9 a.m. The Texas-size buffet has a bigger-isbetter menu to match its bigger-is-better
attitude, set with cowboy coffee, sausage,
brisket, doughnuts, cupcakes, iced tea,
pancakes, milk, orange juice, golden biscuits
with gravy and more.
The breakfast of cowboy champions will
be accompanied by live entertainment, from
Country Singer Jeremy Steding, Trick Roper
Kevin Fitzpatrick, Chainsaw Artist David
Cox, “Cowboy” the saddled longhorn,
Western Comedy Shootouts, T-Bone’s
Puppet Show and Country Line Dance
Lessons from the American Academy of
Music and Dance. Thousands of guests from
all over the city not only get to enjoy free
food and entertainment, but can also park for
free at the Palmer Events Center parking
garage.
The Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo, a
501(c) 3 non-profit organization, contributes
over $1.5 million annually to the youth of
Texas with the help of over 2,500 volunteers,
donors and sponsors. Through its acclaimed
Livestock Show, Fair, and Rodeo, the Star of
Texas continues to work towards the
advancement of its mission, “Promoting
Youth Education — Preserving Western
Heritage.” The Star of Texas delivers superior
entertainment to the community while
boasting an economic impact that exceeds
$54 million annually. Staying true to the
official sport of Texas, the Star of Texas is
proud to host the world’s sixth largest indoor,
regular season ProRodeo known as Rodeo
Austin.
TEXAS SERVICES AND PROFESSIONALS
BEST BROTHERS
CARPET SERVICE
Carpet Cleaning & Flooring
24-Hour Water Extraction
DEPENDABLE • HONEST • PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
512-707-9887
True Texas spring water bottled right
here in Austin. Don’t buy bottled
city tap water when you can enjoy
natures pure refreshing spring water.
KEEPIN’ IT LOCAL!
Home or Office Delivery
Call Today! 512/280-4037
Official Water of
The Texas Outdoor Zone
Texas Proud!
C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine • 17
Sporting firearm
sales have
drastically risen
since the election
I
F
I do not know how many folks are
aware that our new president has a long
history of advocacy with gun control
portion of our population. His reputation
in that area is so infamous that the
economy has shown the effects of his
election. Not concerning anyone’s bail out
package, but in firearm sales.
The National Shooting Sports
Foundation (NSSA) is the trade
association for the firearms, ammunition
and recreational shooting sports industry.
They recently sent out some facts that I
find interesting and I would like to share
with you.
The update I received from them
started thusly; “Despite a weak economy
and slumping retail sales, firearm sales
continue to increase in January,
continuing an upswing that began after the
November election.”
The data following is from the FBI’s
National Instant Criminal Background
Check System (NICS). When ANYONE
goes to purchase a firearm of ANY KIND
This bolt action rifle, built in 1945,
would be considered an assault
weapon under some of the proposed
legislation because it is capable of
hold a magazine with 12 shot
capacity.
their personal information must be
checked with NICS and yes that is even
any firearm purchased from dealers at gun
shows that most media folks would like you
to
believe
spend
their
lives
indiscriminately sells fully automatic guns
to anyone with the money. That is the
same media personage who erroneously
calls anything that goes bang an assault
weapon. The one exception to the NICS
18 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
check is the people who hold a valid
Concealed Handgun License as they have
already been run through a very extensive
background check.
Back to the facts; checks on sale of
firearms jumped 28.8 percent in January
2009 when compared to January 2008.
That is 1,213,855 checks in January 2009
and up from 942,556 in the same month
last year. That increase followed a 24
percent increase in December and
November had a jump of 42 percent when
a record 1,529,635 background checks
were performed.
You know it is disturbing when this
country elects a new president that has a
recorded history that is so anti-gun that
the citizens of the country feel the
necessity to go out and buy up all of the
guns and ammunition that they can for
fear of them being outlawed and the
second amendment of our Constitution
either eliminated or so compromised that
we will end up like some countries where
to own and shoot a firearm is economically
impractical or just plain outlawed, but that
is right where we are today.
Another of the big pushes by the antigun groups is to attack ammunition. They
want lead outlawed because it is harmful to
your health. They want bullets serialized so
they can be traced and the list goes on and
on and on, only limited by the imagination
of those leading the attack on the
Constitution and our individual freedom.
They somehow fail to be able to grasp
the concept that guns do not kill people,
people kill people. It is not something new
to society either because I find a reference
to that very subject in our instruction
manual for life, the Bible, in the book of
Exodus, chapter 20, verse 13; “Thou shall
not kill.”
In spite of what the anti-gun folks
would like you to believe, the nonfatal
firearm-related violent crimes have
dropped from about 1.25 million in 1993
to less that 500 thousand in 2005 and this
information comes from the Bureau of
Justice Statics. Also less than 10 percent of
nonfatal violent crimes involved firearms.
So neighbors all I am saying is to
watch your back and keep an eye open for
subversive, anti-gun and ammunition
legislation in the coming years. Also in the
line of thinking of one of my favorites,
Will Rogers, those folks in government
office are not the ruling class; they are the
hired help and serve at our pleasure and
need to be reminded that we hired them
and we can fire them.
P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y L A R R Y J. L E B L A N C
by Larry LeBlanc
by Don Gordon and Cody Ryan Greaney
I
Classic Impressions
F
I just got back from attending my first
Bassmaster Classic in Shreveport/Bosier
City, Louisiana. In past years, I have watched
it on a 27-inch TV screen, and I will tell you
that they do not have a screen large enough
to grasp the magnitude of this event — it is
the Superbowl of fishing tournaments!
ESPN has put together and incredible
fan-based format. From beginning to end
each pro is treated like a rock star in a highpowered boat. At take off there are hordes of
fans watching from the bank and following
on the water in their boats. The three-day
event culminated at the weigh in site where
capacity crowds filled the Century Tel Arena
on the banks of Red River. There were so
many fans that the facility was closed to
admission on the final day.
Skeet Reese topped the best anglers in
the world with a three-day 15-bass limit that
weighed in at 54.13lbs. This impressed me
because I knew that the weather conditions
were anything but favorable for fishing. A
cold front blew through on Thursday before
the event started and another on Saturday.
The combination of high pressure and cold
temperatures always make for tough fishing.
To fish that well under adverse circumstances
just demonstrates to me that these are the
best anglers in the world! Skeet is a
passionate angler. He had tears in his eyes
when he won Angler of the Year last year,
and I believe this shows his dedication and
commitment level. Congratulations, Skeet
— well done!
“Wild Man” Mike Iconelli, also displays
this level of commitment — first on the
water and last to come in. He earned his
place in BASS the hard way coming up
through the federation. His fervor is usually
visible and audible when he catches a fish
giving us the term “going Ike” when we get
excited about our fishing prowess. He
finished in second place losing by less than a
pound. Ike was gracious and reserved when
interviewed after the weigh in. He said that
he had a Classic win and Skeet did not so
that if he had to lose he’d rather it be to
Skeet than anyone. Good job, Ike!
The rest of the results are available
online. Go to texasoutdoorzone.com and
click on the BASS logo.
My fishing partner, Cody Ryan Greaney,
and I would like to thank Champion Toyota
of Austin for the use of the awesome Tundra.
We also want to thank Jerry Shinn, owner of
Grande Bass, for taking us to the Classic. We
worked the Expo held at the Shreveport
Convention Center. Record crowds went
through looking at everything under the sun
fishing related. Jerry debuted his latest and
largest member of the Rattlesnake line, the
new 6.5-inch Diamondback, to a very
receptive crowd. —DON GORDON
Chad Potts Bass Champs Director interviews Cody Ryan Greaney of TOZ
Team at the Lake Travis event.
T
TOZ Texas Tournament Zone News
F Tournament season has officially kicked
off and done so with a bang! The first
tournament of Bass Champs central division
tested anglers’ ability to not only fight a
tough bite, but also some winds gusting near
35 mph. Lake Travis was the location with
take-off starting in mild temperatures and
moderate winds. Harsh conditions or not,
someone always catches fish and that’s just
what happen.
Realizing that the spawning season was
just around the corner, and according to
some just beginning, the stellar team of
Heath Moody and Allen Shelton schooled
the field with an impressive 20.70 lb. sack of
fish. The 27-foot low water conditions didn’t
affect this winning team as they reported
catching their fish in extremely shallow
water throwing jigs and chatter baits. As
often in pre-spawn conditions, they found
these fish working what’s referred to as a “donothing” bank. Until late in the afternoon,
they had been carrying a two pounder that
they knew had to go if they were going to be
in the winner’s seat and that’s just what
happened when they upgraded with a crucial
four pounder. After winning, they gave much
do “thanks” to their sponsors and to their
wives for “putting up with all the fishing.”
More than two pounds shy of first and taking
second place was Jody Holubek and Dale
Boren with just over 18 pounds. They, along
with Westall Sr. and Jr. taking the 3rd place
spot with 17.46 pounds, rounded off the top
money winners.
Bass Champs delivered an astounding
103% payback and awarded over $60,000 in
this tournament alone. Even though the
winning bar was set high, it wasn’t reached
by many and the weights it took to cash a
check fell off quick. Congratulations also to a
long time TOZ supporter Jody Jackson and
Loy White for their money winning 12.52
lbs. Tying for 28th spot, and the last paying
position was the TOZ friends of Scott
Stagner and Todd Tindel with 11.52 lbs. and
a $500 check.
As far as the TOZ team, Don Gordon
and I, Cody Ryan, we aren’t sitting too badly
in the points standing with finishing 40th
out of 219 teams. We started our day slow,
not picking up fish in our starting waters
where we had left them just a week prior.
Around mid day, with the waters clouding up
in the shallows, we made a long haul to some
favorable waters we had both done well in
the past. Within a 20-minute time frame, we
had gone from not having a fish in the live
well to having three really nice fish including
Don’s that was just over 5 pounds! Time at
this point was our biggest factor and just
couldn’t put together the rest of the fish we
needed.
The next battle for the central division
takes place March 7 on Lake Belton. This
should be in the heart of Central Texas’
spawning time and will yield most likely to
some large bags on the scales. The work has
been in place to make for great year and
thanks greatly to our supporting sponsors of
the TOZ Fishing Team of Don Gordon and
Cody Ryan Greaney. Check our blog
regularly and support our sponsors! —CODY
RYAN GREANEY
CHECK OUT THE
TOZ BASS TEAM BLOG
FOR NEWS AND TIPS AT
TEXASOUTDOORZONE.COM
THANK YOU, SPONSORS!
Champion Toyota Austin
Sportsman’s Warehouse (Round Rock)
Grande Bass Baits
Bass Champs
Country Line Magazine
TTI Blakemor • SmartShield
Vicious Fishing • Sun Signs
Signature Rods
C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine • 19