In 2004 I started performing live on stage. Since then I have entertained at many parties, churches, gatherings, etc. In addition I was honored to make an appearance on RFD-TV, filmed at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Theatre in Rapid City, South Dakota during Susie Luchsinger’s Cowboy Church at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo in February of 2008.
Also honored to perform at the Friday Night Opry and on the Saturday Stage at the Western Music Association Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in November of 2008.
In addition, I was selected three different times for an “8 Second” Award for Lariat Laureate, a global competition from The Bar-D Ranch’s CowboyPoetry.com.
My CD
Reminiscin'
was selected as the 2009 Cowboy CD/Album of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists. It was also nominated, along with 10 others, for 2009 "Cowboy Poetry CD" by the Western Music Association.
I am currently CBSI Radio’s Cowboy Poet Laureate, appointed to that position by Jim Thompson, station owner, after Rod Nichols passed away. Rod had held that honor for several years, and I was very humbled to receive that distinction.
I feel it appropriate here to mention
Margo Metegrano
who almost single-handedly maintains the Bar-D Ranch's CowboyPoetry.com site. Margo has made it possible for cowboy poets from across the world to gather their works in one place where we can all enjoy. It is because of her outstanding efforts that poets like myself have the opportunity to be honored with awards such as the Lariat Laureate competition's "8 Second" runner up.
For more information, or to schedule a performance, please contact me or log on at:
In 1935, when Slim was one year old, his folks moved to a ranch in the Badlands country on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in southwest South Dakota. They lived in a log house on Bear In The Lodge Creek for a few years and later moved east of there into the Buzzard Basin area south of Eagle Nest Butte. They raised cows and horses and put up a lot of hay.
In 1954 Slim married Darlene Brodkorb and they purchased the Buzzard Basin ranch. They were blest with a daughter and three sons. After several years, they sold the ranch and started “Slim’s Custom Leather”, a saddle and boot repair shop and hand tooled leather business, which they have operated for nearly 40 years, starting in Kadoka, South Dakota and later moving to New Underwood, South Dakota. They are now trying to downsize to the hand tooled and handmade leather items and Cowboy Poetry gatherings.
Sometime during high school Slim started writing poetry. Over the years he has had poems, stories and articles published in various anthologies plus many Cowboy, Horse, and Agriculture magazines and newspapers. Currently, his page on cowboypoetry.com shows several poems published, plus some gathering reports at other locations on that site.
In 2005 Slim started his own publishing company, adding it to their leather business, to publish his books. The company is now called Slim’s Leather & Publishing. Since 1981 he has published five books. Four are cowboy poetry and short western humor stories, and one book contains some of Slim’s original works and some of his mother’s original poetry. He also has published four books for his mother, Troy McNaught Westby. In March of 2006 Slim published his first CD, “A Life of Rhyme”, and a second CD, "Reminiscin' ", in 2008. Slim feels he has been blest in living and working in ranch country and dealing with horse and cow people all of his life and this carries over into his cowboy poetry.
Slim and Darlene have four children, seven grand children, and (at last count) ten great grand children.
There are many pictures in the album below, and the codes look OK, but only a few pictures are coming up. No good reason, the loading mechanism just don't work.
Nothing like the autumn leaves and remembering the good times with my son. God is my strenght and my shield. I love you with all my heart, Dad !!! Brokenarrow82
Slim i was just going through your leather work pictures and once again you have out done yourself. I still use and take care of my Fancy bible cover you made for me from Rodeo bible camp in '05. I've gotten a ton of compliments here in nebraska and ive always told them it was done by a good family friend in South Dakota. i hope all is well and my parents say hello... take care Slim
Happy Anniversary!!! I wish i would have read the blog comments before the show or i would have mentioned it. 55 years... thats a lot of loving! my best to both of you... your the greatest!
most excellent poetry my friend. love your page. i have a buddy here in east texas by the name of Dave Watson. good cowboy poet as well. don't know if you know him or not. keep the fire burning and the coffee hot my friend. we need your kind around as long as possible. happy trails
Ha ha you have to watch them girls...Growing up, I out shot all my boyfriends(which was pretty sad since they were all military) until I met my husband. He's the only one that's been able to out shoot me!