By Traci Chapman
Published on August 21, 2008

Supporters of Mustang’s Western Days are ready to help the festival burst “Out of the Gate” in little more than two weeks.

Chamber of Commerce Director Becky Julian said the theme’s full name — “Out of the Gate in ’08” — was chosen by Western Days committee members from about 50 ideas submitted by residents.

Organizers “hardly take a breath” between the event from year to year, Julian said. Many committee members have served year after year, donating “hours of their time and putting a lot of themselves into this effort,” she said.

“It seems we just finished one up, and then we’re starting all over again,” she said. “The fun part is finding new and interesting events and seeing the interest build as we get closer to the time.”

Three of those new events are the battle of the bands, a horse-whispering clinic and the Silver City antique tractor show.

Extreme Church stepped in to sponsor and organize the battle of the bands, Julian said. The idea surfaced last year, she said, when she turned to Mustang High School’s DECA club for suggestions.

“We wanted to get a younger perspective and hopefully find a way to attract teens and young adults to the events,” she said.

DECA students said many teens had the impression Western Days did not hold much of interest to them, except for the parade. They responded with a wide variety of ideas to make the event “teen friendly,” from a dance or sock hop and a battle of the bands to lowering the cost of carnival ride tickets. Students also suggested selling “state fair food,” such as turkey legs. Julian said the notion of having a battle of the bands immediately “clicked” with her and other Western Days committee members. The idea then got a lift after Mike Buckley and Jerry Jackson from Extreme Church volunteered to help.

Buckley said the church was looking for a way to reach out to the community, and he and Jackson wanted to be a part of the Western Days celebration.

“This just seemed natural — music is such an important part of our ministry — and we thought we could really make this a fun event,” he said.
Entries will be whittled down to a field of 10, Buckley said, and the roster will perform between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sept. 6. The winning band will receive a $1,000 cash prize.

Julian said she hoped more bands would apply for the event before the Sunday submission deadline.
“This is an idea we got from our teens, and we would like to see a lot of interest from our local students,” she said.

Area resident Dale Rorick will conduct two natural horsemanship demonstrations Sept. 6. Julian said Rorick recently jumped back in the saddle after breaking his leg earlier this year. Rorick said natural horsemanship incorporates communication and equine psychology.

“It takes into consideration the horse’s personality — the main thing is to let the horse have respect for you, and you have respect for the horse,” he said. “You don’t use whips — it’s totally communication, and really it’s very similar to teaching a class of kindergartners.”

Silver City Tractor Club member Don Beighle said Western Days will help him combine his love of two things — antique tractors and history — when club members team with Mustang Historical Society to give demonstrations on threshing corn and cooking with Dutch ovens.

“I’ve been working with Dolly Priest (historical society president), and we’re hoping to make cornbread right there — let people see how it was done a long time ago,” he said. “I think the kids in particular will really enjoy this.”

Mixed with new events will be staples residents come back for year after year, Julian said. The Mustang Kiwanis carnival begins Sept. 4, and the “main event” will kick off at 10 a.m. Sept. 5 with judges determining the winner of the store decorating contest.

That evening, events hit full throttle with the chili cook off, best dressed cowboy and cowgirl contest, the Mustang Roundup Club rodeo and live gospel music.

Entertainment organizer John Fisher said four performers are lined up for Friday’s gospel show, from Laura Green, who will also sing the National Anthem at the beginning of the parade, to Fisher himself. Fisher serves as vice president for the Country Music Singers Association, and he said many of the musicians he has found are members of the association. All of the performers appearing at Western Days have volunteered their time and talents, he said.

Events Sept. 6 start off early, with the Kiwanis annual pancake breakfast, which begins at 6:30 a.m. After filling up on pancakes, Mustang’s elementary school students can line up at the Mustang High School track to compete in the Western Stampede Run.

That morning, the Oklahoma Mustang Car club will begin its open car show. Cars will be displayed throughout the day, with trophies being awarded at 4 p.m. Club member Bill Henson said close to 200 cars were entered in last year’s contest.

At 9:45 a.m., parade entries will line up, gearing up for a 10:45 a.m. start time. Julian said she received 33 entries as of press time, but “the bulk of the applications usually come in after school starts.” About 100 entries are expected this year, she said.

A pet show is expected that afternoon, and chamber president Jack Price said about 29 vendors booths and food stands have signed up for the event.

Festivities will continue into the evening, with more gospel music planned and a performance by Elvis Presley impersonator Kirk Heldreth scheduled for 7 p.m. Rodeo events also continue that evening, beginning at 8 p.m.

“This is obviously our big event of the year, and we think it will be bigger than we’ve ever seen it,” Julian said. “As always, we think about Oklahoma weather and pray about that, but it always seems to be a hit, rain or shine.”