Cowgirl life chronicled

By JULIET BRISKIN | Staff writer

Photographer Barbara Van Cleve is noted in a special exhibition by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth of her work and the American cowgirl. -- Courtesy photo

June 3, 2004 -- In its continued effort to honor the lifestyles of women of the American West, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame (NCMHF) in Fort Worth opened its new exhibition, Holding the Reins: New Photography from Barbara Van Cleve, on May 14.

Van Cleve's photographs chronicle the lives of four young cowgirls living on ranches across the United States and capture the joys and hardships that help define a life in agriculture. In addition to her collection of photographs, Van Cleve collaborated with author Mark Talbert on a book entitled "Holding the Reins: A Ride Through Cowgirl Life (2003)." The book includes text to Van Cleve's pictorial accounts and provides an in-depth look at each of the four cowgirl's life.

Recognizing the academic value of Van Cleve's book and exhibition, the NCMHF hosted a day of education and exploration for children of all ages on May 22. The Ranch Life Discovery Day drew close to 100 children and their parents and provided many with their first hands-on experience with livestock and ranching activities.

One of the goals of the event, according to Lisa Davis, education director for the NCMHF, was to foster learning between the adults and children.

"What was really neat was how the kids and parents worked together on all the activities," she stated. "That was what we were looking for and as it turned out there was a lot of family interaction going on."

Throughout the day the children earned Cowgirl Bucks as they completed certain tasks and answered the ranch life questions listed in their registration packet. Following an afternoon of activities such as bareback riding, cleaning tack, and observing a cow milking demonstration, participants collected their Cowgirl Bucks and headed off to place their bids at the stuffed animal auction.

Ward Heid, a professional auctioneer from Alvarado, delighted the crowd with a sample of his full-speed auctioneer call, then slowed down the pace and detailed what happens at an actual livestock auction. After explaining the process, Heid opened the bidding and the room exploded with little hands waving uniquely numbered sheets of paper.

"From an educational standpoint, this event was extremely successful," stated Davis. "The children were learning on so many different levels; from riding a horse to reading with their parents about the different animals that live on a ranch, and then seeing the photographs of the ranch girls at work. It really was an all around great day."