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Dakota Midday: 100 Years Of 'Sun And Saddle Leather'

South Dakota's legendary cowboy poet Badger Clark published his first collection, Sun and Saddle Leather, 100 years ago in 1915. It includes some of his best-known poems including "Ridin'," "The Glory Trail," and "A Roundup Lullaby."

Clark was born in Iowa, but moved to Dakota Territory with his family when he was three months old. Clark took a doctor’s advice to move to a dry climate after being diagnosed with tuberculosis. He tended a small herd of cattle at a ranch in Arizona and devoted his time to writing. After four years of cowboy life in the southwest, he returned to South Dakota. In 1927 he built a cabin in Custer State Park, which he affectionately called “the Badger Hole.” He was named South Dakota’s first poet laureate in 1937. Or as he liked to say, poet lariat.

On Sunday, August 23 at Custer State Park, Pegie Douglas andRex Rideout are reciting and singing Badger Clark’s poems and telling stories of the life of the legendary poet cowboy. There's a 1 pm program at Badger Hole and a second at 7 pm at the Tatanka Barn Theater.

Douglas leads theBadger Sett Bandand has set several of Clark’s poems to music. She also created the show The Life and Times of Badger Clark. Rex Rideout has been studying Old West song and verse for more than thirty years. As the proprietor of Time Travel Music, he’s performed at countless historic sites and museums across the West playing fiddle, banjo, mandolin and other instruments. He also appeared as a fiddler in the film Cowboys and Aliens playing the fiddle.

Pegie Douglas and Rex Rideout joined Dakota Midday and discussed the life and legacy of Badger Clark.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.
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