For more than a century now, Motley and Dickens Counties have gathered together to picnic, ride horses, and gab about old times.
Note that reverent emphasis on “old.” But also bringing young folks out the Old Settlers Reunion & Rodeo— set to hold its 101st gathering this weekend in Roaring Springs—will be the key to its survival into its second century, according to one Spur merchant.
Jeromy Rutledge, entrepreneur, innkeeper, storekeeper—and a rancher himself—has tapped into youthful talent himself at his newly opened Salt Fork Outfitters on Burlington Avenue. His sales force incorporates young women who have been trained in matters of boot-fitting and hat-blocking, adding a dash of their own fashion sense.
And now they’re taking the store right to the rodeo.
Rutledge has outfitted two tractor-trailer rigs to haul to the Old Settlers vendor area this year. One is set up as a performance stage (more on that in a bit) and the other as a mobile showroom.
In the big blue Salt Fork Outfitters truck, shoppers will be able to browse a wide selection of boots, hats, belts and accessories for men and women—a sampling of the 4,000-boot inventory from the handsomely styled brick-andmortar store in Spur. The trailer is set up with customdesigned showcases and racks and a cedar-wood checkout counter, and it even features its own dressing stall.
The second trailer will serve as an outdoor stage for a free concert Saturday afternoon from 3 to 5. Justin Ross & Deadwood Revival, out of Fort Worth, should appeal to Roaring Springs rodeo-goers who’d like the chance to stroll at midday, or just sit and listen to the music—a different vibe, of course, from the laterafternoon and evening music suited to Western Swing dancing.
Rutledge believes there’s a niche for that kind of performance, to round out longstanding traditions and draw in a new generation. He wants to bring acts like those playing at Hotel Turkey or the Coyote Store, and he’s already booked his show wagon for several upcoming rodeo dates.
As for Saturday’s show, it’ll be set up on the southside vendor area pasture, so as to provide plenty of space away from the rows of smaller vendor tents and trailers.
As for the music, band frontman Justin Ross, a Fort Worth native, describes his style as a “delectable hybrid of rock, soul, roots, blues, swamp rock, Texas music and much more.” His backup guys Aaron “AC” Capers, Cory Vyse and Bob Lee Simmons add “ all the rock, soul, and country with an arrangement of standup bass, fiddle, guitar” into the mix.
Salt Fork Outfitters joins the roster of more than forty vendors at the rodeo grounds this year, offering up saddles and tack, Western clothing, crafts, food and drink, and more throughout the weekend. And that’s not even counting the Vendor Fair across the street in the Roaring Springs Community Center on Saturday.
As for music: Chad Maines and Friends will perform both days for the Old Folks Dance, with Jake Hooker and the Outsiders and Trent Willmon headlining the evening dances on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
A full lineup of Reunion & Rodeo events, and a full roster of vendors, can be found in the Motley-Dickens 101st Old Settlers Schedule and Vendor Guide keepsake edition, inside this issue.
