I’ve completed six months of bi-weekly blog posts now about the Seagoing Cowboy and Heifer Project histories. I’m in the process of planning my calendar of posts for this year; and to that end, I’d be happy to know what questions my readers might have that you would like answered about these two histories. I’d also be happy to know what you have particularly enjoyed and what you would like to see more of. You can share your questions or comments with me either through the reply feature of this blog or by emailing me at prmiller@bnin.net.
In this, my first post of the year, I invite you to look back with me at some of my personal highlights of 2014:
Jo Israelson and I. Photo by Alan McNamee
Opening night of Jo Israelson’s exhibit “Heifer Relief: Compass, Ark, Berth” at Heifer International headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas, March 13, 2014, where I was the speaker along with two amazing seagoing cowboys: Merle Crouse and Howard Lord.
Seated, L to R, Seagoing Cowboys Dave Henneman, Bill Pyper, Jick Fancher, Bill Dugan. Standing, L to R, Jack Lorz, whose brother was a seagoing cowboy; me; Neoma Vandiver who husband was a seagoing cowboy. Photo by Rex Miller
A speaking trip to Tonasket, Washington, the end of August that included interviews with all four seagoing cowboys pictured. I was invited by college classmate and friend Sandra Brightbill, President of the Okanogan County Historical Society, to honor the seagoing cowboys from their county.
Rex and I at the Ellisforde Church of the Brethren in Tonasket, WA, where I spoke August 24, 2014. Photo by Jerry Brightbill
And what a joy it was to have my husband, Rex Miller, with me on that trip.
Heifer International honored the Seagoing Cowboys who came to the Beyond Hunger Northern Indiana event with a “Make a Difference Award.” I’m in the upper left and Heifer’s CEO Pierre Ferrari in the middle of the third row. All the others were cowboys or cowgirls. Photo courtesy of Heifer International
Heifer International’s Beyond Hunger Northern Indiana event at Camp Alexander Mack in Milford, Indiana, September 12-14, 2014, was one of the 70th anniversary celebrations Heifer sponsored across the country last year. I co-chaired the event; the planning took up a large portion of my time during the year, but it was worth every minute of it when the event brought together 25 seagoing and flying cowboys and cowgirls from all over the country to be honored by Heifer.
Howard Lord, Richard Hoblin, and Bob Heimberger reunite. They served together on the SS Rock Springs Victory to Ethiopia in 1947. Photo courtesy of Heifer International
What a wondrous reunion it was!
John Baker shares highlights of his trip to Poland on the SS Mexican in December 1945. Photo courtesy of Heifer International
And full of great stories!
Seagoing Cowboys honored by Heifer International at their Beyond Hunger Manheim event, October 25, 2014. Photo by Rex Miller
Another glorious cowboy reunion in Pennsylvania. I participated in Heifer’s Beyond Hunger Manheim event, October 25, 2014, that brought together 35 more seagoing cowboys.
Seagoing Cowboy Al Guyer and I, October 25, 2014.
A joy for me at this event was being reunited with the first seagoing cowboy I interviewed, in January 2002, Al Guyer. He was on the same SS Mexican trip as John Baker pictured above at the Beyond Hunger Northern Indiana event. Al’s Christmas story appeared in my December 26 post.
Brethren Press Managing Editor James Deaton describes illustrator Claire Ewart’s image on the screen to Publisher Wendy McFadden and me. Photo by Jeff Lennard, Brethren Press Marketing Director
The final highlight of my year was a marketing meeting in Elgin, Illinois, with Brethren Press staff in November for my upcoming children’s picture book, The Seagoing Cowboy, due out this fall. We had our first glimpse of illustrator Claire Ewart’s sketches for the book. An exciting day!
Watch for more news about the book’s progress as the year goes along.
Next post: How ten Manchester College students ended up on a cattle boat to Europe
The Seagoing Cowboys 
Goodmorning. 2015 Seagoing Cowboys, information hotline. I am deeply grateful to you for the information for the information you have gathered. First for the wonderfull Documentary Photo Story. A Tribute to the Seagoing Cowboys and followed with photos of the cowboys. now all in their eightes. I would have injoyed attending some of the meetings, however that is not possible due to my dear wife, of 65 years health. Not able to travel very from home,however we do have good times together with our children the Lord has blessed us with. Two sons and three daughtirs, 22 grandchildren and now 42 great grand children, with 2 more by June of 2015. Our youngest daughter lives near us and takes wonderful care of our daily needs. One daughter in VA, the other one PA, also care. One son in VA, the other in GA, also visit. We are well blessed, thank the Lord. Thanks for your report that you sent in the mail. I will place them in a snap ring note book,along with a copy of the diary, I keep of nephew Enos and I. Blessings to you and yours. Cowboy Nelson Heatwole WV
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Hello, Nelson! Thanks for your lovely comments. It’s the appreciation of cowboys like you that keeps me doing what I’m doing. It brings me great joy to keep this story alive. Twenty-two grandchildren — oh my! I can’t keep up with my two! You are truly blessed.
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