Seguin: 6th Annual Roundup Cowboy Gathering

[Abel]

In 2003, a group of volunteers in Seguin, Texas dedicated themselves to finding a way to raise funds for our community hospital as well as create an event that would preserve the area’s cowboy and ranching heritage for future generations. With those objectives and with that dedication, Roundup was born as the major annual fundraiser for Guadalupe Valley Hospital Foundation which has since been renamed Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation.

What began as a small group of people with a dream has developed into a nationally recognized Cowboy, Ranching and Western Heritage Gathering supported by the efforts of more than 300 volunteers who commit their time and talents to support Roundup. All of them share a passion for preserving the history that made Texas a legend around the world.

Plans that first year were for a western gala -- An Evening on the Texas Range -- to be held on a Saturday night at the Koehler Family Ranch east of Seguin. But … only a few hours before the gates opened, heavy rains moved in, and volunteers were forced to quickly move Roundup to the city park. Everything was loaded – chuckwagons, longhorns, branding pens, stages, tables/chairs, etc. -- and a caravan of trucks, trailers and chuckwagons made a wild dash to the pavilion at Max Starcke Park where setup was completed only minutes before guests started arriving. It was a cool, soggy, fun-filled night around the chuckwagons with cowboy songs by the Sons of the San Joaquin. The weather didn’t spoil the fun, and everyone agreed it couldn’t get much better than that! But sure enough, it did when Roundup time rolled around again in 2004!

That year, the Steering Committee enlisted the help of legendary cowboy singer and poet Red Steagall to provide advice on ways to grow Roundup into a premier cowboy gathering and to headline the Saturday night gala-- Riding for the GVH Brand. As Roundup was growing, it was moved to a larger, covered venue, the Diamond F Arena & Expo Center, east of Seguin.

Our 2004 day-long gathering drew well over a thousand people and featured chuckwagon cooking and tasting, a horse training exhibition by West Texas cowboy Buster McLaury, ranch horse match races, Old West displays, children’s activities, cowboy music and poetry, and the Western Heritage Classic Then & Now featuring two legendary cowboys -- Jiggs Mann and Boots O’Neil -- telling stories about life as a cowboy and the horses they rode while working on some of the biggest cow outfits in Texas.

In 2005, this annual cowboy and western heritage event became known as the Roundup Cowboy Gathering and Red Steagall became the official host. New activities including a western trade show and campfire gathering were added turning it into a two day event that was attended by more than 2,000 people from all over the United States. A major highlight was recognition of Tio Kleberg of the world-renowned King Ranch and Bob Moorhouse of the famous Pitchfork Land & Cattle Company for their lifetime achievements in the cattle industry. Helping preserve the Spirit of the Old West at the spectacular Saturday night Stockyard Party was singing cowboy R. W. Hampton, Western Music Association’s Top Male Performer of 2005.

More new features were added in 2006… a western swing dance, a chuckwagon cookoff (13 chuckwagons entered!) and a cowboy breakfast. The legendary Red Steagall returned as host and featured performers included Grammy nominated singer-guitarist Don Edwards, yodeler Jill Jones & Lone Star Chorale, Dennis Jay and top western swing bands Billy Mata & The Texas Tradition and Lembo Allen & Friends. Buster McLaury demonstrated how to start a 2-year old and was featured with Red Steagall in our western heritage classic “Then & Now: A Cowboy’s Life”. Topping off Roundup 2006 was a sensational Chuckwagon Party featuring a “Special Tribute to Marty Robbins” by Red Steagall and cowboy balladeer Don Edwards.

In 2007, we celebrated our 5th Anniversary with our valued friend, mentor and advisor Red Steagall as host, and one of the most respected singer / songwriters of American Cowboy Music – Michael Martin Murphey for a “Special Tribute to America’s Favorite Cowboy & Hollywood Legend” at our sensational Saturday Sundown Party . This two-day event focusing on the Western lifestyle and values of the American Cowboy showcased Billy Mata & The Texas Tradition (one of the top Western Swing Bands in Texas), singer/songwriter/western novelist Mike Blakely and Mike Blakely Y Los Yahoos, and award-winning yodeler Jill Jones. Our great friend Buster McLaury demonstrated how to start a yearling – the right way -- and was also featured along with Red Steagall and at our Western heritage classic “Then & Now: Cowboys”.

Plans are already underway for our 6th Annual Roundup Cowboy Gathering. Our Saturday night party will feature the superb western music, legendary wacky humor and way-out western wit of Riders In The Sky. Roundup just keeps getting better so make plans now to attend.

http://www.roundupcowboygathering.com/index.html