MINDEN, Nev. — Cowboy poets Tony Argento and Ken Gardner will perform a free, outdoor show at 6 p.m. July 23 at Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park, 1450 Nevada state Route 88 in Minden. The show is part of the park’s storytelling series.
Argento, known for his animated style, is the winner of the 2011 Van Horn, Texas, Crossroads Cowboy Gathering and the Kamikaze Cow poetry, song and story contest.
“Once you get a transfusion of cowboy poetry in your blood, you’ll be hooked for life,” Argento said. “That’s what happened to me. Its unique form shows that the cowboy and the American West is alive with stories of humor and patriotism. It’s a great source of entertainment for the entire family.”
Gardner has performed at Diamond Mountain Casino in Susanville, Calif., and the Blue Goose Fruit Stand in Loomis, Calif. He also has appeared at Elko’s National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, where he opened for Baxter Black in 2006, and was a reunion artist at the Gathering’s silver anniversary in 2009. For the past five years, he has performed at Genoa Cowboy Festival.
Gardner also has taught poetry, written western poems and published three books. He served for 13 years as master of ceremonies at Barns and Terrace in Bridgeport, Calif.
Seating at the outdoor show will be available, but visitors are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs for greater comfort. Soft drinks and water will be available for purchase, or visitors can bring a picnic and their favorite beverage. Dogs are not permitted.
The final performance in the Dangberg’s storytelling series at the park will be Joel ben Izzy with “Tales Too Tall to Tell“ at 6 p.m. Aug. 27. Find Dangberg’s full event schedule at dangberghomeranch.org.
Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park is the 2012 and 2013 Reno-Tahoe Territory winner of the Nevada Commission on Tourism’s Discover Your Nevada contest. The site preserves the home of Heinrich F. Dangberg and his descendants. The Dangbergs were a prominent ranching family in Carson Valley history and founded Minden in 1905. The site includes eight historic structures built between 1857 and 1917, along with a collection of 39,000 artifacts, documents and photographs acquired and used by the Dangberg family. Programs include tours, exhibits and other public events. The park is operated by Friends of Dangberg Home Ranch, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, in cooperation with Douglas County.
