A long-time advocate for the cowboy way of life and local DJ, Barbara Richhart was honored with the national Cowboy Keeper Award this summer.
She was recognized by the National Day of the Cowboy organization for promoting western heritage through her radio show, house concerts and volunteer work.
Other recipients of the award over the years have included politicians, such as former Sen. Craig Thomas, R.-Wyo. and his wife, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., as well as musicians like Riders in the Sky and Michael Martin Murphy.
“That’s the kind of company I’m keeping,” she said, with a smile. She was one of four people to receive the award this year.
After ranching and outfitting near Hartsel in central Colorado for 25 years, she gained a new purpose in life after she retired because she had watched so many ranching families leave the business. She saw the West shrinking as development and land acquisition moved in, putting farmers and ranchers out of work.
“If more people are aware our lifestyle is diminishing, the more people, maybe, that will stand up and protect it, and I intend to protect it until the day I die,” she said.
Richhart began hosting the Cow Trails, a cowboy music show on KSJD, 11 years ago and shortly after started hosting concerts at her home.
Her radio show specifically has been acknowledged before in 2009 when she was honored as the Western Music Association’s DJ of the year. She was the first female DJ to receive the award.
From the beginning, her intent was to share a love of cowboy culture. She thought that music would make a great outlet because it delves beyond superficial themes like the wind and the coyotes.
“It’s like an audio history of the West,” she said.
The mix of music doesn’t deny some of the dark stories of Western heritage. For example, “White Women’s Clothes” by Andy Wilkinson details the true story of a girl who was kidnapped by Native Americans. The subject of the song lived with them until soldiers came killed all the members of the tribe except for her because she was white.
“The darkness that’s it in usually came from government interference,” Richhart said.
To her, cowboys and farmers are still some of the best stewards and protectors of the land, but their importance is being forgotten.
“You would be surprised at the rural children that don’t realize a hamburger comes from a cow,” she said.
For her, advocating for local and state governments to officially acknowledge National Day of Cowboy on the fourth Saturday in July is an important way for their contribution all over the world to be remembered. The organization promoting the holiday was formed in 2005.
So far, eight states have acknowledged the holiday. Richhart is currently advocating that Colorado adopt the holiday.
mshinn@cortezjournal.com
