Western Heritage Roundup kicks off Friday

The 21st Annual Western Heritage Roundup event, organized by the Montana Country Poets and Pickers group, is set to take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Chinook.

Arnold Hokanson, treasurer of the Poets and Pickers, said this event will feature about 30 performers.

“The basics of the whole thing is for people to get together, display their talents and have a good time,” he said. “Cowboy poetry has been around a long time. There were some great cowboy poets (who) originated way back in the 1920s — and they were two open range cowboys.”

Hokanson said the proceeds from this event will go toward Chinook High School’s Future Farmers of America group and the Montana Country Poets and Pickers group.

The Montana Country Poets and Pickers started in 1994 through the Havre-Hill County Library.

“We began as the Montana Country Poets and then after we included a few musicians, we added the pickers element,” Hokanson said. “We have a number of musicians coming in and they dwell largely on the old style of music. Basically the whole thing is we’re trying to keep our Western heritage alive through poetry and song.”

Hokanson said there will be one performance Friday at 7 p.m. and one performance Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Chinook High School auditorium.

“There will be musical groups both nights — they’ll come in and play from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. while the crowd is coming in,” he said.

There will also be free all-day poetry and music jam sessions at the Chinook Motor Inn Saturday.

Hokanson added that there will be a free cowboy church service Sunday at 10 a.m. at Chinook Motor Inn.

“It’s designed largely for spiritual type of poetry and music,” he said.

Tickets are $10 for adults and can be purchased at the door. This event is free for people under 12 years of age.

For more information, call Hokanson at 265-2712 or Dale Mailand at 353-2383.