Mike and Liz Strong

I started “Raised Country!” in 2009 during the first extended period of unemployment I had ever experienced. This blog helped me keep my sanity when I could not find any work in my field of 35 years.

In spite of my white hair, by God’s grace, opportunities began to materialize and I have been gainfully employed for the last two years, and now, I need to devote my time to other things.

Raised Country has been visited by tens of thousands of people from all over the world. This has exceeded all of my expectations.  Still, it’s daily visitation levels are fairly low (about 50 to 100 visitors a day).  Given the tepid interest in the site and my having less time to give to it, I have decided to retire the site.

I may leave it on the air indefinitely, but my contributions to it (which have been mostly press release filler), will slow to a trickle or stop altogether.

My original vision for this blog site was to accumulate great, heart felt or fun “roots” stories from anyone with a memorable story to tell. We even had a Raised Country! Radio Spot that aired for awhile in 2010.

Good stories and tall tales are hard to get now. Indeed, one of the wonderful things about the Internet is that it frees everyone to put up their own blog. You don’t need to piggy back on anyone else’s.  If, however, you still want to submit your tall tale, I will always enjoy getting more stories to share.  Just click on the “Tell Your Tall Tale” link above.

This has been cathartic and fun, and I thank all who have visited this site. I hope you found some enjoyment or benefit from it.

God bless you.

Regards,
Mike & Liz Strong

This post was submitted by admin.

PUEBLO, Colo. (September 15, 2011) – The Professional Bull Riders are teaming up with one of the hottest Australian country music groups around, The McClymonts, for a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip for two to Australia to see the trio live Down Under! The McClymonts will also be giving multiple exclusive performances during the 2011 PBR World Finals in Las Vegas, Oct. 26-30.

The contest is simple: go to www.pbr.com/mcclymonts, watch the music video for their current single, “Wrapped Up Good,” and tell us the color of the winning race car in the video. The Grand Prize winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entrants who correctly identify the car’s color, and will receive a nine day/eight night trip to Australia in January 2012.

The sisters are from New South Wales, which is also the home of PBR riders Brendon Clark and Ben Jones, as well as brothers Jared and Pete Farley.

For the past four years, The McClymonts were named Best Group by The Australian Country Music Awards, and the trio’s most recent album, Wrapped Up Good, was #5 on the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) End of the Year Charts. Their Wrapped Up Good Tour sold out all over Australia in 2010, and the group also shared some dates with U.S. country music stars Jason Aldean and Lady Antebellum, and even rocker Ozzy Osbourne.

Fans can check out some of The McClymonts’ latest hits at http://www.themcclymonts.net. Fans can also see the trio live during the 2011 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals at the PBR Fan Zone and various after parties throughout the week. For the McClymonts full PBR World Finals schedule, please visit www.pbr.com

The 2011 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals in Las Vegas will officially begin on Tuesday, Oct. 25, with the first-ever PBR Legends Reunion at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. This special day gives bull riding fans an opportunity to meet their favorite riders. Every rider who has competed since the PBR began has been invited to Las Vegas to participate in the largest PBR Meet & Greet ever. Just a few of the confirmed attendees include all 40 current BFTS athletes, and former stars such as Ty Murray, Cody Lambert, Cody Custer, Jerome Davis, Justin McBride, Jerome Robinson, Adriano Moraes and over 100 other current and former bull riders.

Only a limited number of PBR Legends Reunion packages are available. Each contains tickets to the Founders Forum, Alumni Meet & Greet, Heroes & Legends Ceremony, and the Built Ford Tough World Finals Kickoff Party, as well as a commemorative Legends Reunion ball cap and autograph book. PBR Fan Club members can purchase a Legends Reunion ticket for $75 by telephone at (800) 732-1727 or at www.TeamPBR.com. The general public can purchase a package that includes the Legends Reunion ticket and World Finals tickets for Round 1 on Wednesday and Round 2 on Thursday for only $150, a savings of $170, by telephone at (866) PBR-SHOW or at www.UNLVTickets.com.

The Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas will host the 2011 PBR World Finals, beginning Wednesday, Oct. 26, and continuing through Sunday, Oct. 30. Bull riding begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. Tickets are on sale now at the Thomas & Mack Center box office, at www.UNLVTickets.com and by telephone at 866-PBR-SHOW. For special PBR World Finals rates at the Mandalay Bay, please visit www.mandalaybay.com/PBR2011 or telephone (877) 632-9001. For more information on the Mandalay Bay, please visit www.mandalaybay.com or telephone (877) 632-7800.

About the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR)
The PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 100 million viewers annually watch over 400 hours of primetime PBR programming on VERSUS, NBC, CBS and networks around the world. The PBR has awarded over $100 million in prize money and 20 riders have earned over $1 million, including Justin McBride with $5.5 million – the most of any western-sports athlete in history. The PBR was nominated as 2010 Sports League of the Year at the Sports Business Journal Sports Business Awards, alongside the National Football League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball. Nearly 2 million fans attend Built Ford Tough Series and Touring Pro Division events each year. For more information on the PBR, go to www.pbr.com, or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamPBR and http://twitter.com/TEAMPBR.

“Male Vocalist of the Year” Nomination in ICM Awards Ceremonies Cap Fall 2011

Nashville, Tennessee (September 14, 2011) – Guy Penrod strikes a strong vocal note of encouragement to the everyday American worker in his powerful new single “More Power To Ya” being delivered to country radio this week via Play MPE and CDX Vol. #531.

The third single from his much acclaimed BREATHE DEEP CD release, Penrod’s choice of the Jon Mabe/Jason Matthews written “More Power To Ya” continues to engage country listeners with a ‘faith & family’ values message that delves deep into the heart of the nation’s ‘can do’ spirit.

“I chose the song because of its down-to-earth grit when it comes to making it through life,” notes Guy.  ”Life often deals us what seems at times to be an unfair hand.  But the message in this great song is that the things that truly matter to us, our families-wives, kids, parents, friends–in short the people we love–are what’s most important. We still get up and get out there and fight to provide for those we love. Things are especially challenging for the American work force at this time, but the numbers still reflect that we, as a people, are going to do what it takes to care for those we love and that grit deserves our applause and encouragement….to which I say, more power to ya!”

With the unveiling of his new single and fall 2011 concert schedule, Guy Penrod remains one of the most “audience connective” live performers in the music industry.  For country fans, his 2010 debut solo tour in support of  BREATHE DEEP put a fresh face” on the unmistakable voice that help propel The Gaither Vocal Band to multi-Grammy wins and multi-million unit record sales. He has to date performed before audiences of more than six million concert-goers in the U.S. alone.  The release of BREATHE DEEP set Penrod on course to be a centerpiece artist at the CMA Music Festival, tour Europe to introduce the new music, and embark on an ambitious country radio promotional tour that boosted his emerging strength in the genre to six figure sales in 2010.

Guy will cap October with an October 28^th appearance/performance at the ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards presentation being held in Nashville at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.  He is nominated in the Male Vocalist of the Year category set to be presented that night.

For additional information on concert dates listed please resource: www.guypenrod.com.

9/18/11            Blowing Rock, NC
9/19 – 9/21      Asheville, NC
9/22/11            Kansas City, MO
9/23/11            Wichita, KS
9/24/11            Westminster, CO
9/25/11            Holdrege, NE
9/26/11            Sioux Falls, SD
9/27/11            Monmouth, IL
10/8/11            Dyersburg, TN
10/14 – 10/16  Pigeon Forge, TN
10/20/11          Flint, MI
10/21/11          Westerville, OH
10/22/11          South Bend, IN
10/28/11          Nashville ICM Awards