This just in! Our very own Buffalo Bill (a.k.a. Fearless Leader Kent Shelton) will be performing at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum's Chuckwagon Gathering and Children's Cowboy Festival in Oklahoma City this weekend!

Yes, it's a grand celebration of the Sesquicentennial (that's 150th) Anniversary of the Pony Express (more on this below). As such, Kent won't be appearing alone... he will be sharing the stage with our styrene stallion superstar, Stiffy, the Wonder Horse who will singled-hoofedly portray the legendary Pony!

The festival is scheduled for 2 DAYS ONLY: Saturday, May 29th and Sunday, May 30th, NOT Memorial Day itself (which is technically Monday, May 31st). If you're anywhere near O.C. this weekend, you owe it to yourself to see the most stylish pair of fellas this side of American Idol. So stop on out and have a blast (especially after sampling some notorious chuckwagon beans)!

(Incidentally, this marks an interesting phenomenon in which the Lees will be performing in 4 states simultaneously. Don't ask me how... I think it involves tampering with the space/time continuum.)

This also just in! Due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict (a photo shoot for Penthorse magazine), Stiffy will NOT be appearing at the Festival. Our apologies to those who may have been planning on making the trip to see him.

But don't fret! Kent will still be there.

At last! Spring is finally here after a helluva winter... and record snowfall notwithstanding, the gang at the ranch dodged about 30 tornadoes last night, so apparently it's shaping up to be a helluva summer, too! Is this the dramatic lead-in to the cataclysms of 2012...or simply a meteorological anomaly? (Does it really matter? A tornado is a tornado, after all! You say "tor-nay-do" and I say "tor-nah-do"... You say -- whoops, sorry. I'll get on with the news now, shall I?)

Before we get started, let's share a moment of silence for the legendary Frank Frazetta, who passed away on May 10th at age 82. Farewell, Frank - your legacy is far greater than mere paint and canvas.

A bit of local news up front: The Lees appeared a few days ago in the Luther Alumni Parade in our hometown of Luther, Oklahoma. Our presentation featured 3 persons on horseback and an elaborate float including both medieval and Wild West paraphernalia and characters! And a fun time was had by all. If you missed it, stop out next year and we'll do it again!

Would you believe we won 2nd Place in the "Best Jousting Troupe" category in the 5th Annual Renaissance Awards sponsored by Renaissance Magazine and Celtic MP3s.com? Well, we did! Thanks to all who voted for us. (Alas, the word is that the folks who took 1st Place were not rehired, so hopefully you saw them while you were able.)

A new addition to our 2010 Schedule: On Saturday, May 29th, we'll be appearing at the New Braunfels Public Library (in New Braunfels, Texas, roughly halfway between Austin and San Antonio) to perform a 2 person historical lecture and fight demo. So if you're in the area, stop on out and l'arn somethin'!

As far as the 2010 season goes, we are currently working both coasts simultaneously (not an easy thing to do, but hell - we've got experience in these matters.)

The ever-popular Lee Morrison is back in the saddle again in Southern California, where he is once again appearing as as the Black Knight, that dashing, dastardly character created by our own Steve Cowan. The stalwart Joe D'Arrigo directs the latest show which features several new and exciting naughty bits. The mighty Jeff DeRocker has also returned in his beloved role as a kilted Scots warrior, and the indefatiguable Bond... Joel Bond has abdicated his position as Master of Arms to once again perform his popular and astoundingly painful saddle falls. And Joe Hunt appears as as The Beaver. Be sure to stick around for the fiery finale which includes a flaming whip vs. flaming sword battle, a jousting first!

Holding down the fort in Georgia are the sturdy Matthew Mansour and the valiant Jack Cowan (whose Bio page will be vastly improved once I get a decent - and more importantly RECENT - photo of him), both jousting under the auspices of elder statesman and versatile actor Steve Cowan. Great food in Georgia, by the way, so stop on out and see the show armed with some tasty treats from the Peacock Tea Room. Tell 'em Christian sent you.

Meanwhile, back at the Ranch: Kent and Rosella - who have been making the rounds in the Wild West scene - made some great new friends at the 2010 Western Heritage Awards in Oklahoma City, including legendary actor Buck Taylor (of Gunsmoke fame) - who unofficially adopted Kent as his lookalike "son" - and Rex Linn, better known as Detective Frank Tripp from CSI: Miami.

Kent also took part in a Buffalo Bill lookalike contest at the Pony Express Sesquicentennial Celebration in St. Joseph, MO. Kent did not win, possibly due to a black eye unintentionally caused by a playful mastiff pup who bounded onto the ranch a week previous. I guess things are going to the dogs all over...

That's it for now; check back in a few months for yet another exciting H-LAT update. (I know, the suspense of wondering when the next update will appear can be overwhelming... Just keep your chin up and know that you can count on a pleasant surprise once or twice a year.)