Saskatchewan recording artist Eli Barsi brings the prestigious Wrangler Award home to Canada. She was honoured April 12 in Oklahoma City, being the first Canadian woman to receive the bronze sculpture from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for “Outstanding Western Composition” for her song Portrait of a Cowgirl.
While in Oklahoma, Eli’s home province held their 25th Annual Saskatchewan Country Music Awards. She was also recognized at this event with 2 awards for Roots Artist and Roots Album of the Year for Portrait of a Cowgirl. Blake Berglund and Stephen Macgire accepted the awards on her behalf. Eli is humbled by the simultaneous recognition on both sides of the border and thanks the Saskatchewan Country Music Association and it’s members for their great support.
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Awards were first established in 1961 to honour and encourage the legacy of those who works in literature, music, film and television that reflect the significant stories of the North American West. Each honouree receives a Wrangler – an impressive bronze sculpture of a cowboy on horseback.
Eli’s acceptance speech in Oklahoma included many thanks to some important people that have made a difference in her life and career. The Wrangle Award winning song Portrait of a Cowgirl is the 3rd release from her 13th album of the same name. With this song, Eli pays tribute to her Mom, who was once a one-room school house teacher on the prairies, a farmer’s wife for 60 years, a 4H leader, and a long-standing community volunteer. This comes on the heels of the Canadian release of the song and video. “I couldn’t be more pleased by this honour, and it is certainly good timing”, says Eli. “I wrote this song for someone who has inspired me my entire life, I never dreamed that this personal story would make such a difference to so many outside my family. What a blessing!”
