Ramona Celebrates Cowboys

The fifth annual National Day of the Cowboy celebration is coming up Saturday at Mountain Valley Ranch in Ramona.

Doug Oliver, owner of Ranger Doug’s Shootists’ Emporium in Ramona, started the event in 2006 in the parking lot at Main and Sixth streets where his shop is located. It outgrew the small quarters by the second year and moved to the outskirts of town in the familiar brown barn on Highway 78 near Magnolia Street.

There will be music, Western re-enactments, cowboy poetry readings and related Western talks throughout the day. Ramona resident Steve Tellam will talk about ranching in the 21st century. Saddlemaker Garry McClintock, of Descanso, will give the history of saddles.

Opportunity drawings with prizes from local merchants will take place at various times. The main prize is a .45 Western revolver. Proceeds from tickets will benefit the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund in Colorado Springs, Colo., Western Folklife Center in Elko, Nev., and the Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center in El Cajon.

Hours will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. There is no admission charge. Call the gun store at (760) 789-GUNS for more information, or check the Web site at www.rangerdougs.com.

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Watching a news video last week of the circus elephants en route to the Sports Arena brought back memories. It was about 20 years ago that I had an opportunity to ride an elephant in the circus parade from Old Town to the Sports Arena.

It was quite an experience. Dumbo was chained to the one in front and all I had to hold on to was the chain around his neck. I am so glad the TV news cameras were not around on that eventful day! But, hey! I have this beautiful framed certificate to prove I was there.

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If you know of people you'd like to see recognized in Talk of Ramona, or if you have any questions about the column, send an email to talkoframona@yahoo.com