Workshops
Waynetta is involved with many story telling activities and enjoys teaching the trade.
Waynetta is a member of:
*Academy of Western Artists
*Country Music Association
*Texas Storytelling Association
*Texas Library Association
*Western Music Association
Learn more about Waynetta, click here to see her resume.
All my life I have loved horses, old cowboys, the sound of western music and stories in song, poetry and prose. I grew up in Pawhuska and Bartlesville, Oklahoma, land of the Osage and a wonderful place for daydreaming about early life in the West.
My grandma took me to pow-wows in Pawhuska, rodeos and the internationally known rodeo, the Cavalcade. A wonderful Quarter Horse named Lucky Me was my pard and companion, during my "growing up" years, and my Grandpa Stephens inspired the love of horses.
Sitting outside in the backyard of my grandparents little farm, and on the front porch of Mr. Miller, my horse trainer, I heard stories galore...Cherokee stories from Mama and Grandma, horse stories from Grandpa Stephens and Mr. Miller, and family stories from my dad. Yep, I loved to hear stories and I loved to tell them...so my mama would say, "Waynetta, is this going to be the long version or the short version?" It usually was always the long version. So today, I am lucky that I get to go out and about telling stories...some true, some tall tale, and some just a little bit embellished.
I enjoy telling stories of The Old West, codgers and critters I've known, folk tales, telling my interpretation of Annie Oakley's story, and stories from my Lucky Me Ranch. A sampling of where I have presented, is at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Festival of the West, Sherman Arts Fest, Multicultural Storytelling Festival at Texas A&M at College Station, and many more fun and interesting places.
And now living on The Lucky Me Ranch, with my husband, Marvin, with horses, Longhorns, Nigerian Dwarf goats, guineas, silky chickens, dogs and cats and various other critters, I can enjoy the dream.
We travel about telling stories, interviewing folks and occasionally hosting Cowboy gatherings at the Lucky Me Ranch. Life is Good!
Listen to my shows:
If you want your stories recorded, Waynetta can record them at Lucky Me Ranch studios. Contact Eryn Tormos for fees and scheduling.
WHAT DOES AN EDUCATOR SAY ABOUT WAYNETTA AUSMUS?
Wooden Elementary has been fortunate to have had Waynetta Ausmus, Professional Storyteller, visit and tell her unique stories over the past three years. Her stories keep even the youngest audience of 4 year olds captivated. Storytelling is a unique and rare art that many students are not frequently exposed to. It is amazing to watch how a grade level of 60 or more students can sit so entralled in her stories without props, pictures, media, or technology. Waynetta Ausmus makes language come alive in her stories.
Good Stories Lead to Good writing.
Cathy Schultz
Wooden Elementary
Red Oak ISD, Texas
