Fanch and Will, A Tale Of Two Idaho Cowpunchers

"Fanch and Will, A Tale of Two Idaho Cowpunchers"





"Fanch was just a kid from a ranch in the Hollow

Busted his fare share of broncs in his own quick style

All while driving them cowboy-girls wild

However he was gettin older now

But refused to be let down

So the day came

Packed up his gear and trusty cow ponies

Loaded up his ole Chevy truck

And headed up the mountains

He soon arrived in High Valley country

Where the ole Payette River runs through the pines

He then saw a sign for a diner in town and he hadn't had supper yet

So in he went, taking a seat at the counter

Soon the door of the diner opened 'an in walked

The biggiest cowman Fanch had ever seen came in an sat down

Tall, dark hair, looked like he'd seen all the bad rides and bad broncs too

Fanch figured he'd be the fellow to ask about the outfits 'round here

"Hey" Fanch said, "what place's are hirin 'round here"?

The man looked up and said "you ain't gonna find much 'round here, them town folks are taking it all"

"heck after the fall, I'm headin out New Mexico way, might get a better deal out there."

"oh yea things were different once, but once Momma makes you go get educated, things don't look much"

'An no one wants to know the new ways 'o ranchin"

"So kid, my advice to you is to head out and head for that Southwest territory"

Fanch did not see this coming

The ole boy spoke again "well i hear Simplot's a hirin ya might wanna check there"

"But" said Fanch, " I've already worked there, might head down to the Oregon side"

"and look up ole O-town"

The man spoke again, "ahh O-town, i used to hang 'round there"

"Used to meet a young gal with long blond hair"

Fanch realized who this boy was talkin 'bout

"yea" Fanch replied, "I knew her too, pretty petite blond gal"

"She was trainin up in the ole buckaroo ways 'an gettin educated too"

"Heard she ran off with a Texas cat" said Fanch

The tall cowpuncher listened and replied

"We were fixin to get hitched in the summer of 09"

"But she wouldn't be tamed in my ways, 'an I lost her too"

By now it was gettin late and Fanch needed to move on

So the two cowpunchers once strangers now shared a common bond

"hey Hoss" said Fanch "i didn't catch your name"

The ole boy smiled "juss call me Will"

They shook hands and wished each other well

"hey" Fanch hollered, "If'n ya make it in that New Mexico territory holler and ill come out there"

With that, the two parted ways

Neither one has been heard from these days

Yes these Idaho Cowpunchers didn't stay 'round long

Fanch is still around bustin broncs 'round Sand Hollow

As for 'ole Will

Some say he made it New Mexico way but didn't stay

Other's say he's still roaming 'round High Valley

They're probably both still wonderin 'bout that pretty girl they both once knew

But where ever they may be they'll always be known

As Fanch and Will

A couple of Idaho Cowpunchers







© Jenn Eastman, Nevada Buckarette Please ask before you copy or share!!

The Rodeo Coach

The Rodeo Coach

"Every afternoon 'durin the 'schoolin year

A group 'o cowboys and cowgirls head on down

To the fairgrounds in the lil 'ole college town

Trucks and trailers parked bumper to bumper

Laughing, and talking about the previous weekend's rodeo and after party

Soon they hear the sound

Of a red Dodge pick up truck pullin into the grounds

Big stock trailer and a couple of dogs

He climbs out 'a whistlin

Climbs aboard his trusted cow pony Wilson

Chattin on his phone a horseback, making rodeo plans

All while hollerin at the kids goofin off by the stands

Now he ain't no ordinary cowboy or hired hand

Nope this man is the head of this here team

Always quick to smile and laugh it seems

He is also one 'heckuva pick up man too

Helpin save a young bull rider when he goes 'a flyin

Whoopin an hollerin an buckin chutes crashin

He tells them rough stock riding boys

"bare down, give him some slack" 

This cowboy sure has the knack

With his guidance and knowledge

This team will make to it the college finals in 'ole Wyomin'

Many years, tears, 'an occasional bronc rides

This man became a legend in time

'Mentorin the young hands

'Bein a father figure to some

All while trainin up his own two young sons

Who knew that the day would come

We'll never forget that day in September

When the Good Lord called him up

To the arena in the sky

Now the kids still git together down at the rodeo grounds every year

And if'n they listen they will hear

The sound of a whistlin man

The words "holy schnikies" and "now that was some wild cowboy stuff right there"

'An the jingle of his spurs as he climbs on down off of his big bay stud

The crashin, the bangin, and the hollerin as he rides out

To help out a rider who's been thrown from a ole bronc or bull

Yes his spirit still lives on in this Eastern Oregon cow town

Through the eyes of the town folks and students new 'an old

Yes this was a man who was a legend in his time

Thanks to his teachin's

It's our time to ride

And we'll see each other again sometime

At the rodeo in the sky









**Dedicated to the late great college rodeo coach Sonny Hansen of Treasure Valley Community College*** thanks for the rides, advice, wisdom, jokes, and life lessons cowboy, we miss you***