So what’s your opinion on cowboy hats? Are you a guy or gal who wears one only occasionally for western events or is it part of your permanent, everyday attire, something as necessary as your pants or shirt? Do you think anyone and everyone should wear one, or just the actual cowboys?
My wife grew up in cattle and ranch country and she is more accustomed to seeing “real” cowboys wearing cowboy hats. Her uncle has been a rancher his entire life, and I can’t imagine him without a cowboy hat. I don’t think he’d look like himself at all without it! Her dad, on the other hand, is also a rancher and horseman, but he can usually be seen wearing a Pioneer seed corn cap whenever he’s horseback, and he saves his hat for Sunday-go-to-meetin’ days or special events.
I grew up in farming country and when I see someone wearing a cowboy hat, I feel like they look out of place. Further adding to the mis-placed look is that you rarely see the person that wears them in anything but a really nice Stetson or some other expensive looking hat. It makes it look like that hat is an accessory and statement, rather than an old beat up hat that seems to be as much tool as clothing accessory. In fact, just about the only people around here who wear them seem to be auctioneers, cattle buyers, and wanna-be cowboys who may own a horse or two, but they rarely ride them and don’t own any cows at all—which leads to an inside joke among me and my brothers, “Never trust anybody with a cowboy hat.”
Having said that, I’ll admit, when I was five years old our little town celebrated its centennial and there was a bingo parlor set up in the city park. My grandpa took me along with him to play, and I won the first game. Well, despite my grandmother’s protests, I chose a big straw cowboy hat for my prize! It was white, with a great big brown and red feather on the front of the hat and I cherished it for quite awhile.
Even now, I secretly wish I had a cowboy hat. I wish I had two actually—an old, beat up dirty one that shows I’m a “real” cowboy, and then a nice “goin-to-town” one that cost more than my horse did. Any time I’m at a western store, I make sure no one is watching and I put one on and instantly feel sheepish. So I regretfully put it back and move on. The look probably just doesn’t suit me. Besides…I don’t want people thinking I’m an auctioneer!