Summer Blast 2011 $100 Gift Card Winner

Congratulations to Kay Hale, the third place winner of Fort Western Stores' "Summer Blast" shopping spree. The online drawing was held September 1, 2011. Kay received a $100 Fort Western gift card which can be redeemed at Fort Western online, with our catalog or at our Lincoln or Nebraska City, NE retail locations.

Kay is a cosmetologist and barrel racer from Doniphan, Missouri. Her husband, A.B., is a retired 4H Youth Specialist and team roper. Their daughter Kasey is also a barrel racer. They are a rodeo family.

"This is fantastic, I'm so excited about winning!"
-Kay Hale, on winning the $100 Gift Card

Congratulations Kay, and thanks for making The Fort the home for you and your family's western wear needs.

Annoucing Fall Tent Sale $250 Gift Card Winner

Congratulations to Tracy Happold of Nebraska. Tracy is the winner of Fort Western’s Fall Tent Sale $250 Gift Card giveaway. The tent sale was held September 1st through September 4th, 2011. The sale featured hundreds of items including brand name cowboy boots, cowboy hats, jeans, shirts and more.

My husband, Nick, our two daughters (Brandy & Emily) and I
love the country life! We farm and raise cattle with Nick's family in rural Nebraska.

I'm looking forward to spending my gift card at the Fort, our favorite western
store!

The Fort's Fall Tent Sale was a hit again this year! The four day event offered free beverages and popcorn for customers to enjoy while they browsed the sale selection, and kids went home with free balloons.

Montana Silversmiths Sculptures Donated to River City Roundup Trail Ride

Fort Western Stores donated three Montana Silversmiths sculptures to the River City Rodeo Western Nebraska Trail Ride. The sculptures will be offered as raffle prizes to riders as they make their way from Arnold, NE to Omaha, NE.

The Western Nebraska Trail Ride will begin on September 16, 2011 in Arnold, NE and culminate on September 24, 2011 in Omaha, NE. Over 200 Trail Ride participants will embark on a 250 mile journey with scheduled stops along the way. The ride will extend from the sand hills to the big city— across working ranches, canyons and streams. Riders will parade by retirement homes, schools, and hospitals as they make their way through downtown St. Paul and David City, NE. Other towns they plan to visit include Prague, Melmo, Wahoo and Mead. The trail ride will conclude with a final stop at the River City Rodeo parade in Omaha, NE on September 24, 2011.

God Bless America — When Dads Are Broncs — Best Friends

All three sculptures are resin on a wood base, and feature a bronze finish. When Dads Are Broncs has colored accents, and God Bless America is adorned with a cloth American Flag. Each sculpture is precisely cast and hand painted with careful attention to applied patinas -- bringing life-like touches to the finely detailed creation.

The Fort wishes all of the riders a safe and enjoyable ride.

If the Cowboy Boot Fits Wear It - How to Fit a Boot

With summer nearing an end, it's time to kick off those flip flops and pull on a cozy pair of cowboy boots. Though a good pair of boots may cost you more than your flip flops, with the proper fit and care, you'll be wearing them for years to come, maybe even decades. The best way to ensure a proper fit is to visit a Western shop like Fort Western Stores where experts are available to assist you with selecting and fitting a comfortable pair of boot. If the nearest Western store is hours away, don't fret; you can still buy your boots online using the tips and suggestions below to help ensure a proper fit.

What Size Do I Order?
"What Size?" is one of the most common questions asked when purchasing a new pair of cowboy boots. In general, your boot size will match your shoe size, but not always. Size may vary by brand, leather and style. If you're unsure, it's better to order a 1/2 size too big than 1/2 size too small. Also, if you plan to wear boot socks, consider ordering a 1/2 size larger than you normally wear to accommodate the thickness of the socks.

What Does A,B,C,D, EE and EEE Mean?
Cowboy boots often come in different widths as well as sizes. Knowing whether you have a narrow, standard or wide foot will help you determine which width to order.

Men's Boots
B=Narrow
D=Standard
EE= Wide
EEE= Extra Wide

Ladies' Boots
A=Narrow
B=Standard
C=Wide

What's Most Important in Determining Fit?
Cowboy boots are designed for a little wiggle room in places but the "instep" is not one of them. A boot doesn't have laces like a shoe so the instep must fit snug to hold your foot in place. If the instep is too tight you need a wider width, if it's too lose you need a narrower width.

Why Do I Feel Like I'm Walking on My Toes?
The "ball" of your foot is where your foot bends when you walk and it needs to line up with the ball of the boot. If the ball of the boot is too far forward it will push your toes forward so that it feels like you're walking on your tippy toes. If this happens, the boot is too short and you need a larger size or different style boot.

Don't Judge a Boot by Its Heel Slippage
A new boot may feel loose in the heel even with a proper fit; that's perfectly fine. As long as the instep fits snug, you shouldn't have to worry about heel slippage. Over time the sole of the boot will break in and soften and the heel slippage should subside.



Though the general guidelines above will help you select a proper fitting boot, the only way to make certain a boot fits comfortably is to try it on and see how the feels.

---

About Fort Western Stores
Fort Western Stores was established in 1972 and is one of the largest Western stores in the Midwest with retail stores located in Nebraska, a catalog distributed world-wide and an online store. Fort Western Stores offers a huge selection of western wear and home decor at everyday low prices including cowboy hats, work wear, and saddles and tack. Visit one of The Fort's retail stores, or stop by Fort Western online, for friendly and knowledgeable staff prepared to help you with all your western wear needs.