My latest article with photos has been published on The Fence Post magazine’s website. I traveled last Sunday (June 26) to the 100th Greeley Stampede in Greeley, CO to photograph and talk to participants and visitors who were taking part in and having fun at the historic venue. The story focuses on the family-friendly environment and tradition of the Greeley Stampede. Click on the link or image to get to the article. https://www.thefencepost.com/news/100th-greeley-stampede-embraces-history-tradition-and-family/
The Edgerly family from Greeley had a blast participating in a sack race (mom won this one!) and other throw-back family activities on offer during the Sunday Family Funday on June 26th at the 2022 Greeley Stampede. The coffee sacks were a nod to the original events offering free coffee to the regions potato farmers to help entice them to attend back in the 1920’s.
“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~ John 8:32
You can also find Lincoln Rogers on www.lincolnrogers.com and the conservative, Pro-America social mediaplatform USA.Life I like it there!
Inspired by an upcoming Father’s Day back in 2004, I wrote a cowboy poem to honor the impact and importance of dads in the lives of their children. It is titled, “I Knew Him” and was published back in 2004 in a magazine and on a cowboy poetry website. I wanted to share it again for Father’s Day, this year.
Empty saddle image by Lincoln Rogers, 2022. To honor and remember all the dads who are not with us today. I was blessed to be your son, Dad.
I Knew Him
By Lincoln Rogers – May, 2004
I wish I could tell ya I always was good,
Seldom in trouble and did what I should.
But that would be lyin’ as far as I know,
Like a claim of a win when I really got show.
——-
I remember a Cowboy who took me under his wing,
He spoke on many a topic of what life would bring.
His voice deep and rough always told what was true,
It was like bein’ in church amid the dawn and the dew.
——-
He imparted sage lessons about cow and horse,
And taught me of God to keep me on course.
He talked some of family, of kin and of pride,
While we sorted out cattle and rode side by side.
On the subject of women, he’d grow quiet and smile,
Said whatever men knew mostly missed by a mile.
——-
Though the brim of his hat gave him shade from the skies,
I saw his tan, creviced skin showing age ‘round his eyes.
Soon I noticed him hunching against the cold of the weather,
And the strength started fading from hands of hard leather.
——-
The day he stopped riding was the week he went Home,
But he’ll always be with me wherever I roam.
I’ll never forget him, of every memory I’m glad,
You may not know him… but I called him Dad.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. May you be the man God called you to be, using the strength He provides on a daily basis.
“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~ John 8:32
You can also find Lincoln Rogers on www.lincolnrogers.com and the conservative, Pro-America social mediaplatform USA.Life I like it there!
I created a short video that is a brief recap of the concert night that kicked off the 2022 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo in Elizabeth, CO. The video is a compilation of some of my photos and video shot during the event. It is on the Rumble platform. Click the link or the image to go to the video.
Headlining the three performer concert — and singing under the fog, colors, and lights — was Ryan Hurd, whose resume’ includes writing No. 1 singles for Blake Shelton, Lady A, and Luke Bryan.
“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~ John 8:32
You can also find Lincoln Rogers on www.lincolnrogers.com and the conservative, Pro-America social mediaplatform USA.Life I like it there!
One of the great things about county fairs are all the young people raising and showing animals. Raising and showing animal projects teaches and imparts respect, accountability, work ethic, and yes… humility (farm animals will always end up teaching everyone humility at one time or another).
A pair of brothers at the 2021 Douglas County Fair in Castle Rock, CO learned all those lessons and more. Job Knight (15-years-old) and Silas McQuate (9-years-old) also learned how to be respectful and gracious while sweeping the top Market Beef Steer awards at the fair and setting auction records in the fair’s 2021 Junior Livestock Sale.
I was able to get a chance to talk with Job and Silas, along with their parents Seth and Jenn, on the last day of the Douglas County Fair. You can find my article and photos about their accomplishments on The Fence Post magazine’s website: https://www.thefencepost.com/news/oh-brothers/
Big brother Job Knight and Diesel (left), along with younger brother Silas McQuate and Superman (right), made a family clean sweep of the Grand Champion Market Beef Steer and Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef Steer at the 2021 Douglas County Fair in Castle Rock, CO. On top of those awards, Job picked up the Reserve Sr. Showmanship award and Silas won the Jr. Showmanship Champion buckle. As if that wasn’t enough, the Larkspur, CO brothers both set auction records for the winning bids on their Maine Angus cross steers in Douglas County Fair’s 2021 Junior Livestock Sale.
Did I mention in a previous post that having an image of mine be on a magazine cover never gets old? Well… it never gets old.
I had a great time covering the historic Rooftop Rodeo in gorgeous Estes Park, Colorado on July 08, 2021. Rodeo is so family oriented and such a traditional event. It is one of the reasons I like covering it so much. Displaying some of that family atmosphere about rodeo was Rooftop Rodeo Chairman Mark Purdy, as he talked with me and another photographer friend for a bit behind the scenes while holding his two-year-old granddaughter Caroline. I snapped a quick photo while we were talking and I thought it managed to capture the love of a grandpa for his grandchild.
As a pleasant surprise, so did The Fence Post magazine.
Lincoln Rogers’ photo of Rooftop Rodeo Chairman Mark Purdy and his two-year-old granddaughter Caroline on the cover of the July 19, 2021 issue of The Fence Post magazine.
Many thanks to The Fence Post magazine for choosing that image to be on their cover for the week of July 19, 2021.
I look around at a merry atmosphere – Christmas music playing, the blessings of a warm house and plenty of food, the horses safe in the barn, good health and good relationships with family and friends. In the cheerful bustle of the Christmas season, it can be easy to forget how many people struggle emotionally and psychologically during this time of year.
Why? The reasons are legion. People miss loved ones who are gone from their lives – the holidays remind them of family dysfunction and/or childhood abuse – addictive behaviors make frequent appearances during this stressful season – lack of positive/meaningful relationships create a feeling of withdrawal and loneliness – etc., etc., etc.
I have a Masters Degree in Counseling, along with being a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Colorado for a number of years. During my career as a therapist for troubled families, teens and abused children, I saw a lot of the “other side” of the holidays. It’s real and it’s difficult. For those struggling during this time, there are several ways to stave off the holiday blues, including:
Begin a new tradition. Plan a family outing or vacation instead of spending the holidays at home.
Don’t succumb to holiday pressures. Feel free to leave an event if you aren’t comfortable and be willing to tell others, “I’m not up for this right now.”
Volunteer. Work at a soup kitchen, organize a gift drive, help a food pantry or simply help the neighbor dig the snow out of his driveway.
Get back to nature. Going for a walk in the park or the woods helps many people who are feeling overwhelmed to feel better.
Inject the Antidote. Nearly everyone has one or more “toxic” relationships in their lives – relatives or friends/acquaintances who are relentlessly negative and/or needy. Find and “inject” the “antidote” relationships during this season. Consciously spend time with those people who are positive and supportive.
It might be easy to forget how challenging this time of year can be for people, but it’s also easy to remember you can help by being a positive influence to everyone you meet. After all, Christmas is about giving and serving, not about getting.
You know – I am thankful. It might sound trite, old fashioned, passe’, smarmy or… whatever.
I don’t care. I’m still thankful. I thank God for the many blessings in my life. I have the blessings of a home, a loving wife, family members that care, a few incredible friends, food on the table and the ability and opportunity to create art and write for a living.
How can I NOT be thankful?
Have a great Thanksgiving holiday and don’t let your horse come home without ya!