All of us at Mirr Ranch Group are excited to be the official sponsor of the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale at the 2008 National Western Stock Show. As Ken Mirr wrote in the Buyers Guide, “We share a common vision with the National Western Stock Show in perpetuating and preserving the culture of the West and educating the stewards of tomorrow.
The Exhibit is a celebration of the western landscape and its heritage, and we are truly fortunate to have the quality of art represented in the collection. To kick off this year’s event, a Red Carpet Reception was held last night, which featured many talented artists from across the West. Good food and drinks were enjoyed by all, and a silent auction was held to benefit the National Western Scholarship Trust. This trust awarded 74 scholarships for the 2007-2008 school year to college students pursuing an education in agribusiness and/or rural medicine at universities and colleges in Colorado and Wyoming! Attendees could also purchase work from the gallery, and the proceeds from those sales contributed to the scholarship fund as well. We’d like to thank all whose time and generosity made this event and scholarship possible: the hard-working team at National Western; members of the Coors Western Art Advisory Committee; the title sponsor, Coors Brewing Company; and all patrons, buyers and volunteers.
All and all, it was a great night, and we invite everyone that is interested in western art to check the gallery out while attending the National Western Stock Show this year. Please help contribute to this all-important scholarship trust, and in turn, you will be preserving our beloved ranching culture and tradition.
The Coors Western Art Gallery is on the 3rd Floor of the Expo Hall at the National Western Complex, and the Exhibit and Sale runs January 12-27, 2008. For more information, check out www.nationalwestern.com.
Photo: (From left to right) Mac McWhorter, Pat Lancaster, Jeff Hubbard, Mallory Boyce, Ken Mirr and Duffy Brown at the 2008 Coors Western Art Red Carpet Reception.