Western swing, heritage, and community fellowship take center stage next week as Stockyards City Main Street hosts the first-ever “Big Ball in Cowtown” on Friday, November 6, at FOP Lodge 123 (1624 S Agnew Ave) in Oklahoma City. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. and serves as a major fundraiser to preserve and celebrate the historic district.
Headlining the evening’s live music is Oklahoma State Representative Jay Steagall (R-Yukon) and his band, The Part-Timers, delivering a lineup of western swing classics and dance tunes, including Bob Wills favorites and the event’s namesake track.
Farm Director KC Sheperd recently sat down with Steagall to discuss the event, his musical roots, and the connection between agriculture and public service.
For Steagall, Western music runs in the blood. He is the nephew of legendary Western entertainer, poet, and broadcaster Red Steagall, whose nationally syndicated radio program, Cowboy Corner, has been a Sunday morning staple for farm and ranch families across the region for decades. Steagall’s father is the fifth of six siblings, with Red being the oldest.
While many know Steagall from the Oklahoma State Capitol representing House District 43, his path into politics followed years of service in both music and the military. Shortly after filing to run for office while still serving in the military, Steagall deployed overseas, flying combat missions thousands of miles away while his wife knocked on doors and connected constituents with him via FaceTime. Steagall noted with a laugh that moving legislation requires its own kind of performance, but returning to the stage remains a core passion.
Steagall stressed that supporting Stockyards City goes straight to the heart of Oklahoma’s agricultural footprint.
“Our family, in particular my Uncle Russell—or Red, as everybody knows him—has spent a lifetime’s career promoting and protecting our Western heritage and way of life,” Steagall said. “Our main mission here is to protect our means of feeding ourselves through our own agriculture, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate that way of life and that freedom than joining in this event.”
Steagall and The Part-Timers are assembling a seasoned group of musicians from Oklahoma and Texas for the dance floor:
- John Berch on fiddle (Hempstead/Houston area)
- Darren Brown on lead guitar (Plainview, Texas; inductee into multiple regional Western Swing Society Halls of Fame)
- Steve Story on fiddle and steel guitar (Lawton, Oklahoma; longtime player with Red Steagall)
- Rob Crow on drums (Lawton, Oklahoma)
- Kord Brown on bass (Fort Worth, Texas)
The evening, emceed by KC Sheperd, will feature food stations from the Taste of the Stockyards, an open dance floor, and high-stakes bidding opportunities. Attendees will have the chance to vie for items during a premier live auction, while an extensive silent auction will also take place to raise critical funding for Stockyards City Main Street.
Supporters who cannot make it to the venue in person can still participate in the fundraising efforts. An online silent auction opens Sunday, November 1, allowing bidders anywhere to compete for auction packages and back historic Stockyards City Main Street remotely.
Organizers and event partners, including Shorty’s Caboy Hattery, urge attendees to grab tickets promptly as seating is limited. Individual tickets are $125, and reserved tables are available for groups.
Tickets and event information are available online at www.stockyardscity.org.
