WLM WLM Fall 2014 | Page 41

Sam DeLeeuw, Bill Barwick, Saddle Strings and many others. His first solo performance was in January in Tooele, Utah at the Singer and Songwriter Series. He was ten years old and received his first standing ovation of around 300 people. This past Memorial Day weekend was spent in Utah with his family for The Legend of Antelope Island and Cowboy Poetry Gathering. He and his family camped for four days and he performed nine times. He said that was… “one of the [most fun] times” he’s had, which included being taught to drive a wagon team by fellow cowboy poet, Paul Bliss. The spotlight that weekend was shared with the celebration of his sister, Austin’s, graduation from Evanston High School. In June, the Elmer family helped raise money for the Evanston Rodeo Series by organizing the First Annual Southwest Wyoming Cowboy Poetry and Western Music Festival at the wonderful Historic Evanston Railyard and Roundhouse. Twenty-one performers participated – the second annual event is in the works for next year…(perhaps you’d like to include it in your schedule!) In 2014, Thatch released his first CD, The First Go Round, availa