The Cowboy Scarecrow

The Cowboy Scarecrow’s Journey to the Barn Dance

Out beyond the last rose garden in Sierra Madre, where the mountains watch over the town and the evening breeze carries the scent of roses, there stood a cowboy scarecrow.
His hat was tipped just so, his boots were dusty, and his old bandana fluttered in the breeze. He had been waiting all year for one very special night—the night of the Barn Dance.
He had heard that this year’s dance would be bigger than ever. There would be music and laughter, square dancers spinning across the floor, friendly critters, giant cowboy boots, and roses blooming everywhere.
So he saddled up and started down the trail.

Along the way, he met a little field mouse who was worried she wouldn’t know anyone at the dance.
“Don’t you fret,” said the cowboy scarecrow. “There’s always room for one more.”
A little farther on, he heard a gentle “Moooooo!”
Standing beside a meadow fence was a friendly cow with bright blue eyes that sparkled in the evening light.
“Are you headed to the Barn Dance?” asked the cowboy scarecrow.
The cow nodded happily.
“I sure am,” she said. “But I’ve never been to a dance before. I don’t know if I can keep up with all that fancy spinning.”
The cowboy scarecrow laughed.
“You don’t have to know all the steps. Just follow the music and have a good time!”
The cow gave a cheerful moo and joined them on the trail, her bright blue eyes shining with excitement.
A little farther on, they met a tired old crow who wondered if he was too different to join the celebration.
“Different?” the scarecrow chuckled. “That’s what makes a barn dance interesting! Come along.”

Now the little mouse, the old crow, and the blue-eyed cow traveled beside the cowboy scarecrow as the sun began to set behind the San Gabriel Mountains.
At last, they saw the warm glow of the barn ahead. They could hear the fiddle playing, boots stomping, and laughter spilling out through the open doors.
Above the entrance was a simple word:

WELCOME.
The cowboy scarecrow smiled.
The cow’s bright blue eyes lit up as she heard the music.
He knew then that the Barn Dance wasn’t just about dancing. It was about friends, family, neighbors, and new faces. It was about the people we choose to bring into our lives and the communities that make us feel at home.
He swung open the barn door and called out,
“Howdy, everyone! Save me a spot on the dance floor!”
The cow gave an excited moo, the little mouse squeaked with delight, and the old crow flapped his wings.
And with that, the music struck up, the dancers began to spin, and everyone joined right in—including the cow, who discovered that she was a natural at the two-step!
After all, there’s always room at the Barn Dance when the door is open and the welcome is warm.

Welcome to the Barn Dance!