COWBOY SONG, POETRY SET AT STAR'S RANCH EVENT'S AIM TO RAISE CASH TO RESTORE VINTAGE SADDLES.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

NEWHALL - Cowboy poet J.D. Seibert is familiar with working pens - those that hold cattle and those that write poetry.

The Canyon Country resident who has a hankering for things Western has taken a liking to the William S. Hart Museum in Old Town Newhall. So it didn't surprise museum administrator Janis Ashley that Seibert wanted to organize a fundraiser for one of the museum's projects: preserving its saddle collection.

``I've always been a writer,'' Seibert said. ``I guess I've officially been a cowboy poet for three years. I worked my friend's ranch in Agua Dulce and learned a lot about cowboying.''

``Cowboy Crooners and Prairie Poets'' takes place at 6 p.m. Sunday at Hart Hall, in the shadow of the late silent movie actor's hilltop home.

Seibert will be reciting some of his original works with fellow poet Gary Robertson, a friend he made at Santa Clarita's cowboy festival, where he worked as a stage manager.

Music will be provided by Canyon Country resident Eddie Villalobos, who is a member of the popular Buckaroo Balladeers, and The Pedersen Family, a group of singers that have performed at events in Acton.

Seibert has performed at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles and at the Cowboy Festival, Ashley said.

``He's a very talented young man,'' Ashley said. ``He just wanted to do something to help us out.''

Money raised during the event will go toward conservation of the saddles that are part of the museum's collection. Because of their age and the effects of time, the saddles are due for some professional restoration.

``We'd also like to work on curating the textiles in the museum collection. We have so many of Hart's costumes; there are movie stills on display where you can see the costumes that we have and would like to display.''

Hart wore several of the outfits more than once, she said. ``In pictures from different movies, you sometimes see the same pieces.''

Tickets for the event are $8 per person and may be obtained in advance by calling [phone].

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

IF YOU GO

Cowboy Crooners and Prairie Poets

WHEN: 6 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Hart Hall, William S. Hart Regional County Park

24171 San Fernando Road, Newhall

COST: $8 per person

WHY: Conservation of saddles in the Hart museum collection

INFO: [phone]

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

(color -- ran in AV and SAC editions only) Cowboy poet J.D. Seibert hopes to help raise money to save silent film star William S. Hart's vintage saddles in an upcoming cowboy song and poetry festival on Sunday at Hart Park.

David Crane/Staff Photographer

Box:

(ran in Valley and AV editions only) IF YOU GO (see text)