FEATURING: Jeff Mundell, Painted Horse drum group and horse dancers.

Painted Horse drum group and horse dancers open the keynote with a welcome honoring the day the horse was created.

Steeped in vaquero traditions, Jeff Mundell began learning the art and care of bridle horses when he, as a town kid, wandered into a tack room while visiting his uncle. Working as a buckaroo, he is as well versed in hackamores, two-rein and spade signal bits as he is in stockmanship and regenerative grazing. At the Gabilan Cattle Company, Jeff finds ways to speak to speak to both data-driven scientists and economically-minded, wild-spirited ranchers. Science, says Jeff, is catching up with science to what ranchers and shepherds have long known about nourishing healthy ecosystems. And, ranchers are catching up with science to abandon practices that are no longer sustainable. Trumpeting cooperation and the importance of local solutions to contribute to big issues, Jeff contends that, in today's world, horseback cowboys aren't merely archetypal "shepherds of livestock" but, more accurately, "stewards of land" who herd us toward a bountiful and biodiverse future.

Hosted by Kristin Windbigler.

From the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Jeff Mundell
San Juan Bautista, CA
Growing up as a lost kid in town, Jeff Mundell was captivated by the allure of buckaroos–and their embodiment of freedom and resilience. Remarkable mentors guided him in the ways of early California-style horsemanship, craftsmanship, stockmanship, and art, igniting in him a deep love for the culture and its people. Jeff has dedicated his existence to unraveling the intricacies of this way of life and advocating for its significance in today's fast-paced, technology-driven world. Currently serving as the manager of the Rancho Cienega del Gabilan, Jeff finds himself at the forefront of discussions centered around safeguarding open spaces, managing vegetation for fire fuel reduction, combating invasive species, creating wildlife connectivity, and enhancing ecosystem function on rangelands. Through involvement in these critical conversations, he seizes every opportunity to convey the relevance of this horse culture and our role as stewards of the vast landscapes of the American West.

Painted Horse
Duck Valley Indian Reservation, NV/ID
Shoshone, Paiute, and Pit River tribal members make up Painted Horse–a drum group from the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in northeastern Nevada and southern Idaho. The Painted Horse drum group represents the eighth generation descended from Shoshone tribal member Old Horse, who lived in the Great Basin in the late 1700s. Founded in 1975, the drum group performs for powwows and ceremonial and special events in their home community and throughout the Western States region. They carry forward older traditional and family songs drawing on their Shoshone, Paiute, and Pit River heritage. The Painted Horse family was the last family to hold the horse dance using actual horses in the 1940s. The family group is led by respected horseman, tribal elder, and buckaroo Reggie Sope. Members include Devin Deitch, Silas Horn, Valentina Horn, Lyle “Slim” Lowman, Cammie Jones, Zane Jones, Milo Shay, Bradley Sope, Jenna Sope, Lenora Sope, Murray Sope, Arnold Thomas, and Ty Townsend.

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Filmed in front of a live audience with help from the E. L. Wiegand Foundation at the Elko Convention Center’s Laurena Moren Theater, on Feb. 1, 2024.

Sponsored by the Humanities Center at Great Basin College, made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the multitude of staff, artists, volunteers, and community members working behind the scenes to make this show happen.

Brought to you by the Western Folklife Center, using story and cultural expression to connect the American West to the world.
www.westernfolklife.org

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