Over 400 people attended this year's Cowboy Concert featuring cowboy songs, cowboy country and some good old-fashioned yodelling.
The concert was headlined by Juno-award winner Gary Fjellgaard, who says he loves the romance of the cowboy myth.
"I think that it's a way of life that is slowly disappearing. I think that a lot of people write about the working cowboy and everything. I don't really write about the working aspect of it, more the romance," he says. "It actually was really hard work, but the romance of it is something that we can treasure always."
Fjellgaard received a standing ovation from the audience in the evening show and the afternoon matinee.
The performers braved dicey road conditions and long waits to drive up to 100 Mile House from the coast.
"We said we're making it there one way or another. Even if we had to walk, we wanted to be here," says cowboy poet, Emily Ireland. The performers each spent over 11 hours on the road to make it to 100 Mile House, arriving just in time for the sound check.
"It was definitely worth the hassle of getting here as far as I am concerned," says Fjellgaard, who came from Gabriola Island to 100 Mile and donated his time for the concert. The Interior is his "stomping grounds" he says.
Ed Wahl opened the concert, providing the audience with fine cowboy tunes to start the show.
The concert, held Feb. 11 at Martin Exeter Hall, is put on by the BC Cowboy Heritage Society. It's a yearly event in 100 Mile House.
Proceeds go towards the BC Cowboy Heritage Society's student scholarships and the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame.
The 21-year-old Ireland is new to the stage.
"I'm just happy to be here. It's cool being of this newer generation trying to draw these young people in to come out to these sorts of things, because they just underestimate how much fun it is."
She says she would come back to 100 Mile House "without giving it a second thought."
According to Ireland: "The best thing about coming to these shows — and we were talking about it backstage — is when you feel a bit nervous before you come on and then you come out here and everyone is just so welcoming. They're all here for one reason because they're so passionate about this kind of heritage and coming out and seeing this kind of music and poetry. It's just really nice to come out and perform for people who love all the same things that you do. It just doesn't get any better than that.