Lincoln Self Reliance (LSR)
"An Evening of Cowboy Poetry & Music 2004"

Susan Park of Wyoming Red fame also has another life. She is the Adult Program Manager for LSR. (www.lsrservices.org) LSR serves adults with disabilities in a Day Habitation setting, serves children with disabilities by providing case management, serves individuals with acquired brain injuries and works with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation in Wyoming to obtain jobs for people with disabilities.

It is time for the Third Annual Lincoln Self Reliance Evening of Cowboy Poetry and Music Event. The title is quite a mouthful but anyone who has ever heard a cowboy poet knows a mouthful is what it is all about. This year's event features artists from three western states (the most notable being Wyoming).

Phil Kennington hails from Sandy, Utah. He was born and raised on a ranch in the hills of eastern Idaho just across the Wyoming border near Star Valley. Phil continued the cowboy way by shooing horses for 30 plus years. Phil is the recipient of the Silver Quill Award from the Cowboy Poets of Idaho and is an inductee of the Idaho Poets' Hall of Fame. Phil writes about what he knows, ranching. If you have ever been "standing road kill" (being caught between a heifer, her calf and a tree) you will know what it means to be a rancher.

Lucky Johnson lives in Boise, Idaho. Lucky grew up ranching, first in Arizona then in Idaho. At the tender age of 14, Lucky discovered the rodeo and tried his hand at bare back/saddle bronc riding and calf roping. He rode one bull but decided he needed more than a rodeo clown between him and death. Lucky is musical and plays guitar, bass, keyboard and pedal steel. His gift of gab and being able to rhyme a sentence or two has won him several awards. For this performance, Lucky will be teaming with his son, Cody. A few rope tricks will be a part of their performance.

Andy Nelson is an extraordinary poet and Master of Ceremony. He is well known for his syndicated radio show "Way Out West" that he produces with his brother Jim. Everything you wanted to know about the Western culture will be discussed on this show. Andy plays the songs of the west that are performed by contemporary singers and song writers. Andy lives in Pinedale, WY with his wife and four children. He is a chiropractor which comes in handy when a horse decides the cowboy on his back looks better on the ground. Now, if he could figure out a way to work on himself….

The west has its share of cowgirls. When cowgirls are mentioned the first one that comes to mind is Leslie Keltner. Leslie has been writing quality poetry for fifteen-years. She has one of those minds that never shut down. Leslie's mind got to racing so much, she had to start writing songs. Of course, if you write songs, you have to perform them, so she learned how to play the guitar in order to accompany herself. Leslie can brand cattle with the best of them, turn around, step up on her wash tub bass and make music with the best or recite an original poem that will blow you away. She makes her home in Cody, WY.

Wyoming Red is a sister duo who sing the contemporary songs of the west. They are sometimes known by their aliases, Rusty Endecott and Susan Park. Rusty lives and works on the Little Jennie Ranch in Bondurant. Susan is one of the Adult Program Managers for Lincoln Self Reliance. As siblings are apt to do, Rusty and Susan have been known to banter a bit on stage. In order to explain how Susan got freckles, Rusty insisted that she walked too close behind a cow. Wyoming Red has won the Golden Note Award from the Cowboy Poets of Idaho and were inducted into the Idaho Poets' Hall of Fame.

The event will take place two nights. Friday, April 22, 2005 it will be in Kemmerer at the Kemmerer High School Auditorium. Saturday, April 23, 2005 it will be in Afton at the Star Valley High School Auditorium. The pre-shows start at 6:30 featuring the persons served at LSR. The show starts at 7:00. Tickets are $7.00 for general admission, $5.00 for Senior Citizens and children twelve and under are free.