Cowboys not just characters in westerns

It’s more of a lifestyle than a culture, says Domain rancher

The closest most of us come to cowboy culture is watching old westerns or dressing up in a hat and boots for Halloween.

Doug Keith lives it every day.

“It’s not just the culture, it’s a lifestyle,” he said.

Keith lives on the “bald, windswept Canadian prairies” in Domain, Man. He spends his days promoting cowboy culture through his poems,art and by operating a small ranch.

Keith said he has always loved the culture behind the cowboy lifestyle, and that led him to become a performer.

“I started work on farms and ranches at 13,” he said.

“My grandpa was a cowboy and he told stories all the time. That’s how I got a love for spoken word poetry.”

Spoken word poetry is performance art; the poems are specifically written to be performed aloud.

Keith got his start by memorizing his grandpa’s stories. Then he needed an audience to practice on.

“I started performing for friends,” he said.

In no time. Keith was writing his own material. He was asked by a friend to perform his work at a college and from there his performance schedule took off.

“I got up there, and the next thing you know I’m getting calls from all over,” he said.

Keith, or ‘Diamond Doug Keith’ as he has come to be known, is a cowboy poet, humourist, cartoonist and artist.

Keith’s name is well-known in the realm of cowboy culture. He travels all over North America performing at cowboy festivals and gatherings.

“I’m like a ringer at gatherings — I help draw a crowd,” he said.

He has headlined at the Canadian Mixed curling championships and has performed at Dauphin’s Countryfest mainstage. He was featured in a CTV documentary, has performed at the Calgary Stampede, and was recently named Manitoba cowboy poet of the year.

Keith is also extremely involved with several charities, including the Children’s Wish foundation.

As Keith began travelling the continent the people of Domain started bugging him to do a show at home.

“The community came to me and said ‘You do shows for everyone else, why don’t you do them for us?’” he said.

Thus the community fundraiser known as Them Dang Cowboys was born. The event is the only fundraiser held for Domain Legion, and it also supports an additional charity each year. This year the Military Families Fund was chosen.

“Doug has brought great talent to a small place like Domain,” said Shirley Cole, who sells tickets for the event annually.

She said the event’s popularity has allowed for two shows the past two years.

“We sold out on Saturday and came close on Friday,” she said.

This year marked the fifth year of the fundraiser, which included cowboy poetry, music and storytelling, and it won’t be the last.

“I intend to go until somebody pulls the plug,” said Keith.

“What a great way to raise money,” he said, “while having fun and promoting cowboy culture at the same time.

“It’s something I really believe in.”

Keith’s daughter, Cody Ann, is an aspiring cowboy poet who says she’s been surrounded by cowboy culture all her life.

“I’ve had a pretty eclectic life,” said the 14-year-old.

“I want to continue to incorporate that cowboy country culture into my life in the future.”

She said her dad’s attitude towards performing and helping the community has rubbed off on her.

“Whatever you have in life, you should give back,” she said.

“This is a great way for me and my dad to do that.”