Congdon and Clouse headline cowboy poetry event
Mineral County Deputy County Attorney Wally Congdon (left) and Shane Clouse teamed up for an afternoon of Cowboy Poetry and western hospitality at the Cattle Lack Ranch in Arlee
As you enter the Cattle Lack Ranch north of Arlee, you’ll instantly see why this has become an extremely popular venue for social events in western Montana.
The original calving barn from the Schall family has a ruffed wood circular bar in the middle with a corner stage for entertainment, an ample sized, yet cozy dance floor with horse saddle chairs, heavy made wood beam benches and tables making whatever event taking place as much fun as possible.
“This location reeks of Native American history as my grandfather homesteaded her in 1911,” shares Sharon Schall-Daniel, 3rd generation Montanan and owner of the unique property that hosts weddings, family reunions, casual corporate meetings or any occasion with a true western theme.
It was the perfect setting for an afternoon with ranchers, farmers, business owners and local residents for an afternoon of Cowboy Poetry, food and beverages, western hospitality and a barn dance to close out the day.
Over 100 people stepped under a Taj Mahal white tent outside as a stockman’s welcome was given by Scott Richards, morning personality on Ranch Radio 107.1 FM and also known to the bull-riding-boys as Barney Sheridan who announces the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) Rodeos most weekends in the summer.
After the Pledge of Allegiance, the first annual Rhymes and Reasons began with Dodd McDermot and Shad Pease who are professional cowboy poets followed by the headliners of the day, Wally Congdon and Shane Clouse.
Congdon, who is the new deputy county attorney for Mineral County has been involved in cowboy poetry for around 50 years. He was inducted into the Montana Hall of Cowboy Poetry in 2019 which he said came as a surprise to him out of the blue.
“It was a combination of years (of cowboy poetry), but what I think that it was is that I worked for a lot of people in Montana. I wrote farm ordinances, agricultural law for the law school (University of Montana) for 20 years, water rights and natural resources law.”
The Congdon family owned the Alberton Gorge and made a swap with Montana FWP so it could become the recreation area that it is today. Wally was the Alberton city attorney for 22 years and his dad served as City Attorney for Superior for 39 years.
“I have known Wally for 40 years and he was one of my 4-H leaders, back in the day. He taught me how to fit cattle and show them,” said Shane Clouse, who is a popular local country artist having spent time in Nashville and Los Angeles. “He actually helped me get started in the cattle business with Highlander and other commercial cattle as well.”
Clouse plays the sheriff in the recently released movie "Eye for Eye" that is streaming on Amazon Prime and many different streaming services all over the world. But today he gently played his guitar while Congdon recited a poem that he wrote called "WhoBeWe?"
“Where we’re from, what’s our history, how we got here and what we did. It’s accumulated articles and readings from different resources that starts in 1680,” Congdon explained.
He has researched his heritage finding how influential the Scottish were to so many major past events that shaped the Big Sky Country. It was more of a history lesson told in 3 different segments with he and Clouse holding the audience tight in their chairs. The selection of music by Congdon consisted of old favorites such as "Galloway Girl," "Cattle Call," "Cool, Clear Water," "Don’t Fence Me In" and the goodbye song in every cowboy’s heart, "Happy Trails."
Congdon graduated from Missoula’s Hellgate High School in 1975. In 1980, he graduated from the University of Montana, and from there attended the University of Montana Law School, graduating in 1983. From 1984-1985, Congdon was awarded a full ride Rotary Scholarship to attend Massey University, the largest Agriculture College in the Southern Hemisphere, in Palmerston North, New Zealand. He received a graduate diploma with a degree in Rural Towns and Regional Land Use Planning.
He is actively ranching today east of Clinton, raising free-range Scottish Highland cattle. Throughout his life as a lawyer, teacher, and rancher he has been an agricultural advocate. And by the applause he generated at the Cattle Lack Ranch, one can add enthusiastic entertainer to the list.