If you’re looking for an excellent meal and an evening of side-splitting Canadian cowboy humour, then the Rainy River District “Spring Gathering” on Saturday, April 5 at the Chapple Recreation Centre in Barwick is definitely the place to be.
Tickets, which cost $10 apiece, are available from district merchants, Rainy River District Federation of Agriculture directors, and the Rainy River Future Development Corp. offices in Emo and Fort Frances.
Children under six eat for free.
Dinner begins at 6 p.m., with the entertainment following at 8.
One of the purposes of this event is to showcase local foods. Jeannette Cawston, rural agriculture co-ordinator for the RRFDC, said they have committed to presenting two local food events per year.
As many local food initiatives across the country already know, buying local food keeps your dollars circulating in your community. Getting to know the farmers who grow your food builds relationships based on understanding and trust—the foundation of strong communities.
“Most of the food for this supper will be purchased locally from local producers,” said Cawston. “That’s why we are showcasing our local foods as much as possible.”
Cawston also sees this event as a chance for all groups across the district to get together.
She hopes it will be a catalyst for groups, such as the various municipalities, different agricultural groups, and community organizations, to talk about common interests and goals.
Cawston believes the over-riding issue facing our corner of the province is the need for all groups to talk honestly and to work together for the future of our district.
As such, the theme for the evening is “Co-operative Spirits Coming Together.”
“This will be a non-alcoholic family and community event,” Cawston stressed. “We are encouraging families to attend.
“There will be a quiet play area for the kids. Everyone is welcome!”
As well, there will be a silent auction, with proceeds going to a local family with a child in need. The star of the show, “Rhymin” Doug Keith, will be donating one of his pieces of artwork for the auction.
For some people, the highlight of the evening no doubt will be Keith, who is not just another comedian; he’s the real deal.
You may find him on his western Canadian ranch doing what all good cowboys do or you may find him with his feet up sipping on another cup of coffee—brushing up on some of his hilarious cowboy stories.
This well-known cowboy poet, cartoonist, humorist, and western illustrator has travelled extensively across North America, sharing his unique comedic take on everyday cowboy life at some of the most prestigious cowboy gatherings, company parties, and other organizations, wherever and whenever they’re having a community supper.
Keith has shared the stage at the Dauphin Countryfest with stars such as Brad Paisley and Keith Urban. He also was featured on the two-hour Calgary Stampede nationally-televised special on CBC and interviewed on CMT.
In 2005, Keith acted as emcee for the Junofest Country Showcase, featuring George Canyon and many others.
Keith also was featured in a documentary by Espiritu Films and CTV, entitled “Cowboys, Heroes and Horses.” This film, which was broadcast throughout Canada, gave an inside look at Canadian cowboy culture through his eyes.
Meanwhile, his cartoons and western illustrations have earned him rave reviews from all over North America.
Keith has been accepted into the prestigious Cowboy Cartoonists International with artists like Boots Reynolds of Western Horseman magazine, Mike Scovel, the highest-selling artist of Leanin’ Tree Cards, Canadian Cowboy Country Magazine’s Ash Cooper, as well as many other great North American cowboy cartoonists.
Whether it is Keith’s cartoons or his cowboy poems you enjoy, it is his unique mixture of creativity and humour that ring true.
He has a somewhat warped sense of looking at cowboy life that some say “stems from too much time talking to gophers and too many years in a hat two sizes too small.”
Keith is happy whether he’s on his western ranch or promoting cowboy culture through his poems, cartoons, and western art across North America. If you’re a wrangler or you just wish you were one, you are bound to enjoy this exceptional blend of humour and cowboy folklore.
So get your tickets early, support our local food producers, and join together in a spirit of co-operation.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
