A B.C. cowboy poet known as a children’s entertainer has settled down to a slower-paced life in Castlegar and is now taking his talents to a much older audience.
Born in Slocan Park 87 years ago, Jake Conkin was just eight years old when he first spotted a group of cowboys driving a herd of horses — a moment that sparked a lifelong fascination with cowboy culture.
After graduating from Mount Sentinel Secondary School, Conkin left the West Kootenay to attend college and met his wife Carol. They both became teachers and served at various west Kootenay and Vancouver schools with Jake eventually becoming a principal.
But throughout his time as an educator, the passion for all things cowboy never left Jake. After leaving the education field, he went on to work on some large-scale cattle operations and those experiences would fuel the cowboy fire for years to come and provide background for his poetry, children’s novels, and the creation of Buckaroo Jake and Calico Carol.
Jake began to produce cowboy poetry and entertainment events and travelled across western Canada and the United States performing at shows.
He also wrote a book of cowboy poetry called Silk ‘N Silver and a series of children’s novels about Little Jake and his cow dog.
With their background as educators, sharing their passion with children eventually became the focus for the couple and the Buckaroo Jake and Calico Carol show was born. The pair travelled to schools and libraries across B.C. and Alberta, at one point performing 52 times in a single year.
The show featured poetry, tall tales, rope tricks, ventriloquism, songs, and Calico Carol’s yodeling cow puppet Annabelle.
Jake says performing in the schools became a little too hectic for the couple as they aged, so now they are taking a modified version of their show to residents at West Kootenay care homes.
“We get a really positive reaction at the shows,” said the still-spry octogenarian, adding the hobby also benefits the couple and helps keep them young.
“It’s a challenge, it gives my wife and I something to do. This is something we can work on together, enjoy it together, go out and entertain people and give them something different.”
Jake usually starts the show with a traditional call such as, “Wake up Jacob, days a breakin’, coffee’s boiling and biscuits are baking. Roll out cowboy come and get it, come and get it while its hot or I’ll throw a rattlesnake in the pot.”
He rattles it off like poetry and rhythm is second nature.