This month's opinion Cowboy. rodeo, western life artists and photographers are an interesting bunch of people, coming from a varied background but all having a basic love of the cowboy and western way, horses, and wildlife. A goodly number of the artists and photographes linked to http://cowboyartshow.com and who are mebers of Cowboy Artists and Photographers of America are working ranchers, farmers, or horse people. Their paintings, drawings, scultptures, and photographs reflect their life experience, apparent in the work they produce. And not only those who have experienced that lifestyle are nvolved in this art sector. There are those who are Western at heart, although they live in the East, and these individuals show their interest and faith in the lifestyle through their advocation. Being online and running a web site such as cowboyartshow.com has provided me with the opportunity to meet - via e-mail and telephone, and once in a while in person - some really interesting people. One such individual is Locke Frazier, the Executive Art Director of Wildlife Art Show, Forestry and Wildlife Consultant and Land Broker. Locke sent me an article that should be of interest to anyone who enjoys having some of nature's wildlife around his or her property, so take a look at what Locke has to say. In addition, CAPA member Sandie Witbeck, the writes about an effect of drought conditions in her part of New Mexico. Sandie, who has the Double W Ranch, will be showing her work at the CAPA Art Show & Sale in Las Vegas this coming December 9-11. Joe Chernicoff, CAPA Exec. Director CAPA Artists If you haven't yet done so, be sure to visit the Cowboy Artists and Photographers of America gallery pages. These pages are for CAPA members who do not have their own web sites, and you'll find some really great rodeo art and photography there. Three of the four artists featured in the gallery will be at the CAPA Show & Sale in December, so take a look at what you might be missing if you're not going to be in Las Vegas during the NFR and Cowboy Christmas days. It looks like CAPA has now filled all regular available exhibit spaces. We have a good mix of painters, pencil and ink drawing artists, sculptors, and photographers who will be telling one big story about cowboy and western life, and rodeo. If you visit , you'll find a number of the member artists who will be at the show. Visit their web sites and enjoy their art.

Rodeo News Rodeo sites of interest include Friends of Rodeo, AQHA Online,and the Korean/American Cowboy Association. The U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. Cup Finale on Thursday June 13, and Friday June 14 provided some exciting rodeo moments. Here are scenes from both nights as photographed by K.M. Cannon and Amy Beth Bennet of the Las Vegas Review-Journal