Old-West posse to provide HATCHFest security

By AMANDA RICKER Chronicle Staff Writer

Cowboy David Lee Jensen and his seven-member posse will be laying down the law this week during HATCHFest.

Jensen, of Bozeman, and his band of local volunteers will act as the festival’s official security detail, checking for tickets, cameras and cell phones at the door.

But don’t worry. This posse won’t be packing any heat. It’s mostly for show.

“It’s just kind of keeping the Montana tradition alive,” said Lisa Drake, public relations coordinator for the annual arts festival.

For Jensen, however, the Old West look isn’t an act. His beard is real and he regularly wears a 10-gallon hat and cowboy boots.

“I was born and raised on a ranch,” he said. “I just still dress that way.”

Jensen also provided security at last year’s HATCHFest. He was an effective deterrent and he’s being brought back by popular demand, Drake said.

“You didn’t get past him,” she said. “A lot of people were just like ‘Oh wow, look.’”

This year, Jensen was asked to round up a posse. Six of the seven men he found are real-life cowboys, too, Jensen said.

“Cowboys are still alive and they can come out of the woodwork at any time,” he said.

For more information or a schedule of this year’s annual HATCHFest, an international nonprofit film, music, design and technology festival, check out hatchfest.org.

Amanda Ricker can be reached at aricker@dailychronicle.com or 582-2628.

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