A drawing by Belle Fourche artist Kaye Sperb, "Ridin' for the Brand," will be featured on posters, programs and name tags for this year's Alzada Cowboy Poetry, Music and Art Show.

The 21st annual benefit will be Sunday, Oct. 4, at the community hall in Alzada, Mont., about 40 miles northwest of Belle Fourche.

The show began in 1989 to celebrate the Montana Centennial and to raise funds to repair Alzada Community Hall. Each year, a different theme is chosen, and the name tags have become collector items. Spurs are this year's theme.

Poet Shirley Snook Andersen and artists Scott and Kelly Waugh, all of Hulett, Wyo., will be featured this year, along with more than 30 other performers and artists.

Now, organizers are looking for other volunteer artists, cowboy poets and musicians from throughout the tri-state area to perform at the event that has become a tradition in the tiny High Plains town.

There are no age restrictions; anyone interested in performing or showing artwork must call Gay Arpan, 406-828-4517, or Chris Maupin at 307-467-5260.

Each poet, musician or musical group may do two selections. Each artist may exhibit three items. Artwork may include paintings in any medium, photographs, leatherwork, sculptures, needlework, quilts, woodwork or other art projects. Exhibits should have hangers for displaying should be at the hall by Saturday, Oct. 3.

The building opens at 10 a.m. for viewing artwork. The free program of poetry and music begins at 1 p.m. There is no admission fee. All funds to help pay for maintenance at the Quonset-style community building come from the pies, cakes and picnic-style lunch sold all day by Alzada Community Club.

The hall was built in 1929, with an addition built in 1993, and is used for community gatherings as well as weddings, anniversary parties and funerals.