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cowboybar — This photo, taken in Dodson, Montana, is by Stan Howe, Montana singer, songwriter, musician, storyteller, writer, radio host, auctioneer, and fiddle expert.

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THE HIGH STEPPING KIND by Sunny Hancock (1931-2003)

Hancock Sunny '01-B&W-FINAL-5x5.jpg photo by Kevin Martini-Fuller

THE HIGH STEPPING KIND
by Sunny Hancock (1931-2003)

I was born in the depression
back when times was kind of bad.
Guess I learned the occupation
of cow punchin’ from my dad
Down yonder in the “cedar breaks”
on a “greasy sack” outfit
That was mostly held together
by just work, and hair, and spit.

Back in that stage of history,
at least in my part of the west,
About the time they got you weaned,
why, it was time to leave the nest.
One man was all the labor
those little outfits seemed to need
And a kid my age was nothin’
but another mouth to feed.

Of course that suited me OK
‘cause school seemed pretty slow
And I thought I’d learned most everything
a man had ought to know.
I knew that punchin’ cattle
was the place I’d make my stand
Because by that time I had figured out
that I was quite a hand.
Jobs there were a plenty.
You could find them by the score,
‘Cause we was right there
in the middle of the second world war.
So most outfits was glad to furnish you
with meat and beans
With all the cowboys in the army,
or the navy, or marines.

I hit a salty outfit
I’d heard was rougher than a cob.
The boss said, “Sure, unload your saddle, kid;
you’ve found yourself a job.”
When he talked about the horses
I thought he must have read my mind
Because he asked me
if I could ride that old “high steppin’” kind.
Well, sir, I then informed him
in a voice not meek nor small
That that’s the kind
I figured suited me the best of all.
I said I liked ‘em energetic
and so that’s the kind I’d pick
Because I was built plumb forked,
kinda like a witchin’ stick.

This outfit had been a breeding up
their horses quite a spell,
And they raised the kind
they figured suited these parts pretty well.
You see, they needed something big
and stout, but also they’d allow
That he must have speed and quickness
for to catch and work a cow.
So they got some thoroughbred remount studs
to start this herd of theirs,
And then bred ’em to a bunch
of big old feather-legged Percheron mares.
I’ll tell you, they was catty
and would near outpull a truck.
They could make them long old circles,
and they sure knew how to buck.

Next mornin’ we had breakfast
quite awhile ahead of dawn.
Boss led me out a horse
and said his name was Leprechaun.
And the reason that they’d named him
that, he said was pretty clear,
‘Cuz if you didn’t take his head right quick
it just might to disappear.

So while you’re riding out today,
why just keep a looking around
You’ll see a bunch of little holes
that’s been punched into the ground.
They wasn’t made by badgers
nor by prairie dogs he said,
And they’re just about the same size
as a braggin’ cowboy’s head.

And this old pony, Leprechaun,
he muttered through his nose,
Is probably responsible
for a-quite a lot of those.
Well, I rode that horse that mornin’
down through draws and over knolls.
We didn’t gather many cattle
but we sure drilled lots of holes.
And every day you had to watch it
’round the rope corral, you see,
When we caught horses it was rainin’
and it was mostly rainin’ me.
All them other cowboys got to followin’ me around,
and… do you know why?..
They figured I’d been busy
takin’ lessons “how to fly.”

It was just plumb entertaining,
and I heard one feller say
That he allowed as how
that I was flying further every day.
Another boy piped up then
with a Sunday school smirk,
and said, “Kid, your flyin’s really somethin’,
but, Man, them landings need some work.”

Then the conversation
took another nasty little twist
When the cook said he thought
he’d maybe add some bird seed to his list
‘Cuz if I really started flyin’,
and it seemed as if I might
He could scatter some along the ground
for the times I chose to light.
I don’t know why I didn’t quit,
I know wasn’t pride
Hell, I’d lost all that
when I couldn’t find no horses I could ride.
Nor the reason wasn’t all them
wrecks and spills I took;
I was either bruised or peeled up
some most anyplace you’d look.

I guess the reason was
that if I didn’t stick around
And let ‘em run me off
I knew I’d never live it down.
So when I thought it over
why, I reckoned as of how
I’d called the dance tune
so I guessed I’d pay the fiddler now.
But no matter what you’re doin’,
even if it’s hard or rough,
You’re bound to get some better
if you practice long enough.
And let me tell you, pardner,
down among them rocks and cactus
Them old ponies was a-making sure
I got a lot of practice.

But then one morning early,
why, I pretty nearly crowed
When a big black horse took to me
and I finally got one rode.
I guess it weren’t no time for crowin’
‘cause I heard one feller drawl
Old Hoss thought there was four or five up there
and he couldn’t throw ‘em all.

Then the jigger boss he said to me,
with a sorta sideways glance
You quit whippin’ on them horses’ heads
with the ass end of your pants
But an horse took to me one day
out on the roundup ground.
And someone said, watch it kid,
your ass is gettin’ out of round.

So my luck had got some better
and it seemed that as of late
I didn’t spend all my time
clutterin’ up the real estate.
When they pulled the wagon in that fall,
it was snowy, cold, and damp
And I asked the boss what the chances was
of a winter job in camp.

The old boy looked me over
kind of searchin’ like and slow,
And I figured from the look I got
he was ’bout to tell me no.
But he scratched his head a little,
then he bit him off a chew.
Then he said, “Well now, young feller,
I’ll just tell you what I’ll do.

“I’ve got a camp still open over
on the Peach Springs side,
And I might just let you have it
and some horses you can ride.
Because you just might make a cowboy,
or at least that’s my suspicion
So I’ll keep you through the winter,
only just on one condition.

“You see, this or any outfit
that a man is apt to find
Is always gonna have a few
of that old high steppin’ kind.
But I want you to promise me
that when you go down the pike
You’ll never tell nobody else
that that’s the kind you like.”

I kinda looked down at my boot toes
and I nodded my ascent.
And I’ve been to lots of outfits since,
but no matter where I went
I just tried to ride what they drug out to me
and not to pay no mind,
But I never told ‘em,
“Yeah, I like that old high steppin’ kind.”

…Sunny Hancock
This poem should not be reposted or reprinted without permission

South Dakota rancher, poet, and musician Robert Dennis reminded us of this poem by the late Sunny Hancock.

Sunny Hancock, in his book, Horse Tracks Through the Sage, a collection of his poems and Jesse Smith’s poems, writes about this poem, “This is a true story. I left home when I was pretty young and this is kinda the way things happened. I see kids around now at the age I was then and most of them still need a babysitter when the folks are gone.”

Sunny Hancock’s best-known poems include “The Bear Tale” and “The Horse Trade.” Our 2014 Facebook post of “The Horse Trade” continues to be one of our most viewed posts.

Sunny Hancock cowboyed all over the western U.S. and after he retired, he and his wife Alice settled near Lakeview, Oregon. He was invited to the first Western Folklife Center National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 1985. He was a part of many other gatherings and he received the Gail Gardner Award from the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering. For a time, Sunny Hancock performed with fellow cowboys and poets Chris Isaacs and Jesse Smith as “The Cardiac Cowboys” and they made an excellent recording.

Today there is an annual Sunny Hancock/Leon Flick Memorial Cowboy Poetry Show that honors the poets’ memories and raises funds for a local cowboy crisis/scholarship.

The poetry of Sunny Hancock is featured in the first MASTERS CD from
CowboyPoetry.com, along with that of the late Larry McWhorter, J.B. Allen, and Ray Owens.

Find more of Sunny Hancock’s poetry at CowboyPoetry.com.

This photo of Sunny Hancock is by top photographer Kevin Martini-Fuller, who has photographed participants of Western Folklife Center’s National Cowboy Poetry Gathering for over three decades. Find some of those photos at his site.

Kevin Martini-Fuller will have a special exhibit of his work at the upcoming 35th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, January 28, February 2, 2019. Find more about the event at nationalcowboypoetrygathering.org.

(Please respect copyright. You can share this poem and photograph with this post, but for other uses, request permission.)

News Bits and Links

readingnews “Reading the News,” by Erwin E. Smith, c. 1908 from The Library of Congress

We receive and come across all sorts of interesting information from a wide range of sources. Below, we gather some quick links to news stories, web features, and other items of interest gathered from the web, social media, and from you, the most recent posted first.

Your suggestions for consideration of inclusion are welcome (as well as your comments). Email us.

CP_Smith_Poster_15X20_R3
Cowboy Poetry Week
Eighteenth annual: April 21-27, 2019

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“Grandpa Tommy Saved the World,” the latest column by Baxter Black, baxterblack.com, November 13, 2018

Baxter Black’s new A Commotion of Rhyme book

“Cowboy volunteers ride to the rescue of horses and other animals from fire area,” by Melody Gutierrez, sfchronicle.com, November 10, 2018

“Tour Al Dunning’s Tack Room,” (video) Western Horseman, November 14, 2018

“The Top 10 signs of oncoming winter around the farmhouse,” by Mark Parker, FarmTalk, November 13, 2018

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“Saddle up on a weekend escape to a historic Arizona guest ranch (Ross Knox),” by Sharon Boorstin, Los Angeles Times, November 8, 2018

“23rd Annual World Championship Ranch Rodeo,” by Karl Wehmhoener, myhighplains.com, November 7, 2018

“The Top 10 selling points for your old truck,” by Mark Parker, FarmTalk, November 6, 2018

“Holiday on the Ranch (Kent Rollins),” by José R. Ralat, Cowboys & Indians, November 5, 2018

“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” with “Too Slim” of Riders In The Sky, , Cowboy Crossroads, November 5, 2018

“Peasants Hunting Pheasants,” the latest column by Baxter Black, baxterblack.com, November 5, 2018

“Simmer and Shake,” by Ross Hecox, Western Horseman, November 3, 2018

“Kentucky farmer has ingenious way to round up his cows,” MSN.com, November 1, 2018

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“Ear Tag Identification,” the latest column by Baxter Black, baxterblack.com, October 29, 2018

“Death of Ranch Hand Raises Important Legal Issues,” by Tiffany Dowell, agrilife.org, October 28, 2018

“Comstock To Host 13th Annual Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering,” by Don Schauda, sandhillsexpress.com, October 24, 2018

“25 Mysteries of the West,” by Jesse Hughey, Cowboys & Indians, October 5, 2018

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American Songster Radio with Dom Flemons: Black Cowboys season starts October 26, 2018

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“Hollenbecks receive ranch family honor,” Savanna Simmons, Tri-State Livestock News, October 23, 2018

“Deming Performing Arts Theater to host Mike Moutoux in concert on Saturday at Morgan Hall,” Deming Headlight, October 24, 2018

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“The Half Polled Rooty Toot,” the latest column by Baxter Black, baxterblack.com, October 24, 2018

“Women of the West: Shawna Mahon,” by Ross Hecox, Western Horseman, October 24, 2018

“The Top Ten warnings about trick-or-treating at some farm houses,” by Mark Parker, Farm Talk, October 24, 2018

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“Cattle was important in early Florida,” by Susan Parker, staugustine.com, October 20, 2018

“Heritage Festival offers visitors a glimpse of Iron County tradition,” by JJ DeForest, St. George Spectrum & Daily News, October 20, 2018

“Cowboy artist’s exhibit celebrates movement, color and energy of the rodeo,” by Pamela Knudson, Grand Forks Herald, October 19, 2018

“Alzada show draws 125 despite weather,” ekalakaeagle.com, October 19, 2018

“The Man from Saba: Tommy Lee Jones,” by Gary Vorhes in 1992, Western Horseman, October 19, 2018

“The Making of a One-Piece Spur,” by Katie Frank, Western Horseman, October 17, 2018

“The Inaugural Texas Hill Country Cowboy Gathering: Music & Poetry,” by Anna Hedges, texashillcountry.com, October 17, 2018

“Apache Adams: Texas cowpuncher and storyteller,” (video) Western Horseman, October 19, 2018

“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” with Tom Russell, Cowboy Crossroads, October 16, 2018

“Locals bring artists to town to capture the vibrance of the small agricultural community of Faulkton, S.D.,” by Amanda Radke, Tri-State Livestock News, October 17, 2018

“Life of a rancher’s wife is not typical,” by Shanna Jordan, Bashaw Star, October 16, 2018

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“Hung Up in the Fence,” a poem in the latest column by Baxter Black, baxterblack.com, October 15, 2018

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“Cowboy Crock Pot,” Kent Rollins (video), Western Horseman, October 2018

“Plenty of O-Pinin’ at 29th Annual Event,” The Sheet, October 13, 2018

“Boggsville Days,” by Bette McFarren, La Junta Tribune-Democrat, October 13, 2018

“Classic Reads from the Bunkhouse Bookshelf, Part One,” by Bill Reynolds, Western Horseman, September 26, 2018

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“Heber Valley Western Music and Cowboy Poetry Gathering,” Utah Stories, October 11, 2018

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“Alternative Dining and New Age Spa,” a poem in the latest column by Baxter Black, baxterblack.com, October 10, 2018

“The Top 10 topics for the monthly farm/ranch staff meeting,” by Mark Parker, Farm Talk, October 9, 2018

“Yee-haw! Cowboys share poetry and prose at Western Slope Cowboy Gathering,”
by Cloie Sandlin, Beacon, October 7, 2018

“7 reasons to visit the West this winter,” by Suzanne Van Atten, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 6, 2018

“Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering Parade,” (photos), Durango Herald, October 6, 2018

“Culture Days showcases depth of local culture in Stony Plain,” by Joshua Aldrich, Stony Plain Reporter, October 5, 2018

“Hereford tour showcases adaptability of the cattle to different environmental conditions,” by Rachel Gabel, The Fence Post, October 5, 2018

“Ohio man says rescued cow is a regular backseat passenger,” Associated Press, Yahoo, October 5, 2018

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In Our Thoughts: Dennis Gaines

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35th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering- Tickets on Sale Now

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“Cowboy Poets And Musicians Honour Western Tradition,” by Cory Gialleonardo, highriveronline.com, September 30, 2018

“NCBA Contest Seeks Cowboy Poets,” southeastagnet.com, September 26, 2018

“Legendary Sire Dual Pep Dies at 33,” by Kelsey Pecsek Hruska and Molly Montag, Quarter Horse News, September 26, 2018

“Horses with Heritage,” by Jennifer Denison, Western Horseman, September 21, 2018

“Anatomy Of Beef Cattle,” beef2live.com, September 19, 2018

“Art Gallery: Charles Goodnight,” by Michele Powers Glaze, Cowboys & Indians, September 11, 2018

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“At the Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Tall Tales, Resonant Rhymes,” by Chris Wohlwend, New York Times, September 26, 2018

“I Should’a Brought a Raincoat,” the latest column by Baxter Black, baxterblack.com, September 25, 2018

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“Kick-off to Sierra Valley Art + Ag Trail, Plumas News, September 23, 2018

“Home of rare cattle protected,” TimesUnion, September 22, 2018

“‘Cowboy Bob’ Robert Dale Hagert,” OurayNews, September 22, 2018

“Stranded on I-94 with a load of cows,” by Katie Pinke, Agweek, September 21, 2018

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“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” Part Two with Joel Nelson, Cowboy Crossroads, September 19, 2018

“Cowboy Poetry, Music and Art Show, Oct. 7,” Ekalaka Eagle, September 21, 2018

“Russell, Ramblin’ Jack and a Night at the Opera,” by Chris Aaland, Durango Telegraph, September 20, 2018

“The thinking behind ‘Ride for the brand’,” by Jennifer Dorsey, Jackson Hole News & Guide, September 19, 2018

“Sask. author honoured for years of literary work,” by Jonathan Guignard, Global News, September 18, 2018

“Tee Cross Branding Traditions,” by Jennifer Denison, Western Horseman, September 17, 2018

“Real-World Solutions for Unwanted Horses,” by Christine Hamilton, Western Horseman, September 17, 2018

“Women on the auction block,” by Rae Price, WLJ, September 14, 2018

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“That Time Again,” the latest column by Baxter Black, baxterblack.com, September 17, 2018

“Love and seasons,” by Jessie Veeder, Inforum, September 16, 2018

“Cowboy poets headed to Sweet Home Oct. 6,” by Alex Paul Sep, democratherald.com, September 14, 2018
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“For the love of the ranch,” by Jessica Claypole, Bolivar Herald-Free Press, September 12, 2018

“14th Annual Not Just Cowboy Poetry and 6th Annual Apple Pie Throwdown,” Willits News, September 11, 2018

“The Top 10 excuses heard by veterinarians,” by Mark Parker, FarmTalk, September 11, 2018

“Florida Cattlemen Promoting Events,” Southeast AgNet Radio Network, September 11, 2018

“Photographer Christy Burleson Shoots Pendleton Round-Up,” by Kristin Brown, Cowboys & Indians, September 7, 2018

BC Cowboy Heritage Society Newsletter September, 2018

Cowboys & Indians 2018 NFR SWEEPSTAKES deadline September 30, 2018

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“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” with Joel Nelson, Cowboy Crossroads, September 5, 2018

“Lawn Clippings,” the latest column by Baxter Black, baxterblack.com, September 10, 2018

“Country music, cowboy poetry provide enjoyable evening for Craig arts patrons at Luttrell Barn,” by Andy Bockelman, Craig Press, September 8, 2018

“You can’t put just one brand on Durango,” by Frank Lockwood, Durango Herald, September 8, 2018

“$3M Marana cattle fraud shatters friendship, puts 2 families on financial brink,” by Curt Prendergast, Arizona Daily Star, September 7, 2018

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Western Wordsmiths, the new site of the Western Wordsmiths chapter of the International Western Music Association

“The Chestnut Conundrum,” by Kelli Neubert, Western Horseman, September
6, 2018

Student Cowboy Poetry Contest, Chisholm Trail Heritage Center (deadline November 1, 2018)

Cast Iron Care Tips by Kent Rollins, YouTube series

“The Top 10 ways to spot an out-of-towner at the coffee shop,” by Mark Parker, FarmTalk, September 5, 2018

“Cowboy and Drover Jubilee to celebrate Barkerville’s rich cowboy heritage,” by Lindsay Chung, Quesnel Observer, September 4, 2018

“From rookie to rancher: Learning how to be a cowgirl,” by Carrie Veselka, Progressive Cattleman, August 23, 2018

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“Labor Day on the Farm,” in the latest column by Baxter Black, baxterblack.com, September 4, 2018

“Horses Handle Cattle Best,” by Ross Hecox, Western Horseman, August 16, 2018

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Eye on the West: Photography and the Contemporary West September 1-December 16, 2018 at Yale’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

“Cowboy Symposium celebrating 30th anniversary ,” by Ray Westbrook, A-J Media, August 31, 2018

“Annual Alzada Cowboy Poetry, Music and Art Show, ” Ekalaka Eagle, August 31, 2018

“Cowboy Music And Poetry Gathering Announced At Lincoln Theater,” by BWW News Desk, August 29, 2018

“Lincoln Theater celebrates cowboy culture,” Napa Valley Register, August 29, 2018

“Finding Meaning,” by Skip Hellewell, lagunabeachindy.com, August 20, 2018

“Ranching and rodeo with the Wrights,” by Rod Miller, blog, August 20, 2018

“The Top 10 comments overheard on a cattlemen’s tour,” by Mark Parker, FarmTalk, August 28, 2018

“Museum Minute: Theodore Roosevelts’s Special Saddle,” by Kamila Kudelska, Buffalo Bill Center of the West, August 23, 2018

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“How Poetry Helped Sustain John McCain During His Years as a Prisoner of War,” by Olivia B. Waxman, Time, from April, 2018

“From the Horseman’s Mouth,” by Kelli Neubert, Western Horseman, August 24, 2018

“Centennial Celebration of the First Henry Stampede and Stockman’s Reunion,” by Ellen Carney, The Preston Citizen, August 24, 2018

“WILLA Award Winners & Finalists to be celebrated at this year’s conference,” Women Writing the West, August 22, 2018

“Ranch Horse News,” Western Horseman, Fall 2018

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“She Does the Books,” a poem, in the latest column by Baxter Black, baxterblack.com, August 20, 2018

“Cowboy troubadour,” by Ollie Reed Jr., ABQJournal, August 19th, 2018

“Wild Horses, Wild Life In San Juan; Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo,” by Ashley Ludwig, patch.com, August 17, 2018

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“Central Coast musician shares California’s unsung country music legacy,” by Tom Wilmer, kcbx.org, August 16, 2018

“One Grand Celebration begins today,” heraldextra.com, August 16, 2018

“Naomi Katherine Camden,” Lewiston Tribune, August 15,2018

“Where’s the beef? How Coloradans are getting hooked on local meat,” by Haley Witt, gazette.com, August 15, 2018

“Calving Season: Coming of Age on a Montana Cattle Ranch,” by Nathan Reich, New York Times, August 14, 2018

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“Hoofbeats and paw prints and measuring time,” by Jessie Veeder, Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (blog), August 13, 2018

“The Canine Crew,” by Jennifer Denison, Western Horseman, (undated) posted August 13, 2018

“Historian and cowboy poet recounts good ol’ days of cattle drives on B.C. trail,” CBC News, August 11, 2018

“Fiddles and vittles; Cowboy gathering a peek back into the Old West,” by Tracy Harmon, Pueblo Chieftan, August 11, 2018

“Hay shortage leaves Texas ranchers scrambling for cattle feed,” by Bob Sechler,
American-Statesman, August 10, 2018

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35th annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering featured poets and musicians

“Paisley’s Cowboy Poetry a huge hit,” by S. Garrett Shaw, Lake County Examiner,
August 8, 2018

“Herd of cows help Florida police corner a fleeing suspect,” (video), The Guardian, August 8, 2018

“Beatties reopening Kay El Bar to guests,” by Kevin Cloe, Wickenburg Sun, August 8, 2018

“Federal agency studies unauthorized bridge in North Dakota,” The Associated Press, August 07, 2018

“Cowboy poets gather Aug. 9-11,” Daily Courier, August 2, 2018

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“Four Sixes cowboy Boots O’Neal to receive first-ever RHA Working Cowboy Award,” everythinglubbock.com, August 4, 2018

“An authentic way,” by Gwen Petersen, The Fence Post, August 3, 2018

“Rollin’ out good grub in Pinedale,” by Darius Larson, The Independent, August 3, 2018

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“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” with Amy Hale Auker, Cowboy Crossroads, August 1, 2018

“Crowds ‘buzz’ into annual Paisley Mosquito Festival,” by Michael Acosta, Lake County Examiner, August 1, 2018

“Best Fried Hush Puppies,” (a don’t-miss video; see the last few minutes), by Kent Rollins, YouTube, July 31, 2018

“National Day of the Cowboy makes first ride,” by Angel Carpenter, Blue Mountain Eagle, July 31, 2018

“Millard County Fair Aug. 8-11,” Millard County Chronicle Progress, July 31, 2018

“Outback,” the latest column by Baxter Black, baxterblack.com, July 30, 2018

“Idaho Wildfire Burns 100,000 Acres, Displaces Thousands of Cattle,” by Wyatt Bechtel, Drovers, July 30, 2018

“In the Bunkhouse with Red Steagall,” by Kristin Brown, Cowboys & Indians, July 20, 2018

“It’s a dangerous business,” by Tayler Teichert, Progressive Cattleman, July 12, 2018

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“Plano Musician Braeden Paul,” by Jeff Campbell, Plano Magazine, July 17, 2018

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“Rancher, farmer, cowboy poet: meet the Salem man driving the mule team at the parade,” Ashley Stilson, Daily Herald, July 24, 2018

“The Top 10 trophies they ought to hand out at the county fair,” by Mark Parker, FarmTalk, July 24, 2018

“The Roper’s Rule,” a poem, in the latest column by Baxter Black, baxterblack.com, July 23, 2018

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“Andy Hedges: Cowboy Songster & Poet Extolling the Virtues of the American West,” by Spring Sault, texashillcountry.com, July 20, 2018

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“Wink Ranch, May 2018,” by Dawn Wink, Dewdrops (blog), July 23, 2018

“Troubadours sing about America West at Luna Rossa Winery,” Deming Headlight, July 20, 2019

“The King Ranch,” (video) Western Horseman (at Facebook), July 20, 2018

“Treasures within Treasures — William Clark Letter,” by Nancy McClure, Buffalo Bill Center of the West, July 20, 2018

“Riverbend Live! brings two country acts to Winston,” by Erica Welch, The News-Review, July 20, 2018

“Kansas farmers react to ‘cow cuddling’ trend: ‘Holy cow’,” by Emily Younger, nrtoday.com, July 18, 2018

“Paisley Cowboy Poetry fundraiser kicks off Mosquito Festival,” by Kurt Liedtke, heraldandnews.com, July 19, 2018

“Fake News: ‘Cattle Crusher’ Post Goes Viral on Facebook,” by Wyatt Bechtel, Drovers,
July 18, 2018

“New Prairie City celebration honors Western lifestyle” by Angel Carpenter, Blue Mountain Eagle, July 17, 2018

“Civilized,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, July 16, 2018

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“Inside the Story: 14-year-old cowboy poet bringing back the Old West,” by Dan
Rascon, kutv.com, July 11, 2018

“Kelly Inducted into Utah Cowboy Hall of Fame,” wasatchwave.com, July 11, 2018

“A Flagship’s Proposed Slogan — ‘The World Needs More Cowboys’ — Draws Fire Out
West,” by Claire Hansen, The Chronicle of Higher Education, July 10, 2018

“Wanted: The Perfect Horse,” by Kelli Neubert, Western Horseman, July 6, 2018

“2018 Western Horseman Youth Art Contest Winners,” by Katie Frank, Western
Horseman, July 6, 2018

“Taking Note: Poetry Reading Is Up—Federal Survey Results,” by Sunil Iyengar,
NEA, June 7, 2018

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“A Close Call,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, July 9, 2018

“The Jackie Robinson of Rodeo,” by Christian Wallace, Texas Monthly, July, 2018

“A Hidden History of Black Cowboys, As Told By Dom Flemons…,” by Craig Havighurst, wmot.org, July 6, 2018

“Fiddling, harmonizing Quebe Sisters at Strand,” Village Soup, July 6, 2018

“Horses Had Dentists 3,000 Years Ago,” by Megan Gannon, National Geographic, July 2, 2018

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“The Last Cowboys: A Cattle-Ranching Family Fights to Survive,” by Simon Worrall, National Geographic, June 29, 2018

“Tornado damages ranches in Harding County, South Dakota,” tsln.com, June 29, 2018

“Cowboy Poetry is alive and kicking,” Flint Hills Media Project, June 2018

“Picture This!,” Elko Daily Free Press, June 29, 2018

“Poetry in (rodeo) motion,” Rodeo News, June, 2018

“31st Annual Gathering of Cowboy Poets Set for mid-August,” signalsaz.com, June 28, 2018

“Cowboy poetry at Westgate library,” by Brian Roche, wtvy.com, June 28, 2018

“Where’s the beef? Texas man accused of being all hat, no cattle,” by Patrick Johnston, Wichita Falls Times Record News, June 28, 2018

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“Value on tradition,” by Hunter Marrow, Hunter Marrow, The Argus Observer, June 22, 2018

“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” with Michael Martin Murphey, Cowboy Crossroads, June 19, 2018

“Saddle up! The Reno Rodeo Cattle Drive rides into town…,” DailyMail.com, June 17, 2018

“Manhattanites keep Cowboy Poetry alive,” by Ann Olamiju, wibw.com, June 15, 2018

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“Cattle Couplets and Equine Quatrains,” by Rod Miller, Saddlebag Dispatches, Summer 2018.

“Bar D Chuckwagon celebrates 50th summer season,” by Katie Chicklinski-Cahill, Durango Herald, June 21, 2018

“Singing cowboy Ron Ball still wears the white hat,” by Claire Woodcock, Trail-Gazette, June 21, 2018

“Riverbend Live Just Over Two Weeks Away,” by Kyle Bailey, KQEN, June 21, 2018

“Stavely hosts 18th annual Willow Creek Cowboy Gathering,” by Ian Gustafson, nantonnews.com, June 20, 2018

“2018 Legends and Legacies draws full crowd,” by Roger Cline, Big Spring Herald, June 20, 2018

“A Day to Remember,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, June 19, 2018

“Dryden performs original cowboy poetry at Arizona Heritage Center,” eacourier.com, June 19, 2018

“Working Ranch Cowboys Association: For the Greater Good,” by Savanna Simmons, tsln.com, June 18, 2018

________

“Lies They Tell Writers, Part 44: Editors Love Enthusiasm.,” by Rod Miller (blog), June 18, 2018

“How ranchers in the West survive on their winnings from rodeo riding,” by Carson
Vaughan, Washington Post, June 15, 2018

“In Yellowstone, Heavy Lies the Stetson (on Kevin Costner’s Head),” by Carson
Vaughan, In These Times, June 14, 2018

__________

“The Role Of The Rodeo In A Changing West,” 1a.org, June 14, 2018

“Cowboying Up,” Durango Telegraph, June 14, 2018

“Cowboy Poetry [is] Earlier this year,” by Michael Acosta, Lake County Examiner, June 13, 2018

“Festival celebrates arts, culture,” Independent Enterprise, June 13, 2018

“Big Book of Buzzwords,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, June 12, 2018

“Louis L’Amour’s Legacy,” by Jesse Hughey, Cowboys & Indians, June 7, 2018

__________

“It isn’t always money that makes us rich,” by Jessie Veeder, Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (blog), June 11, 2018

“You Can’t Stop This Two-legged Ranch Dog From Working the Herd,” by Sara Brown, Drovers, June 7, 2018

__________

Rick Huff’s Best of the West Reviews, Summer 2018

__________

“Saddling up for Kansas Cowboy Poetry Contest,” WIBW, June 8, 2018

“Chopper Cowboys,” by Katie Frank and Jennifer Denison, Western Horseman, June 7,
2018

“End of May is payday for cattle ranchers,” by Gilroy Dispatch, June 6, 2018

“On D-Day anniversary, Nampa ceremony honors those ‘too young to shave,’” KTVB,
June 6, 2018

“Horsemen gather in Barriere from all over B.C. to enjoy Rendezvous 2018,” by Jill Hayward, Barriere Star Journal, June 5, 2018

_________

“Rim Country’s hidden gem – Dee Strickland Johnson, AKA ‘Buckshot Dot‘,” by Robin D. Bowen, Payson Roundup, June 5, 2018

__________

“Flynt and Frank,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, June 4, 2018

Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering video

“Gardening season means secret manure stashes, friendly father-daughter rivalry,” by Jessie Veeder, Inforum, June 3, 2018

“Witness Footage of Cows Flying Through a Wyoming Tornado,” rock97online.com, May 29, 2018

“‘The Last Cowboys’ Review: Giving Good Rein,” by Andrew Graybill, Wall Street Journal,
May 25, 2018

__________

“Museum curator on archiving Will James’ art and writing: His ‘work should not be forgotten’,” by Anna Paige, Billings Gazette, June 1, 2018

“A Cowboy’s Crown,” by Katie Frank, Western Horseman, June 1, 2018 (from a 2016 article)

“Wylee Mitchell: Poetry in motion at rodeos,” by Anthony Mori, Elko Daily Free Press, May 31, 2018

“Medora, ND and Mt. Rushmore,” by Vic Anderson, eptrail.com, May 31, 2018

“Nevada authorities ask for help after 200+ cows missing,” Ag Daily, May 21, 2018

__________

“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” with Wallace McRae, Cowboy Crossroads, May 30, 2018

“Feedlot Cowboy,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, May 30, 2018

“The Top 10 hay-making challenges,” by Mark Parker, farmtalknewspaper.com, May 30, 2018

“Rare quadruplet calves born on central Minnesota farm,” by Robin Huebner, agweek.com, May 30, 2018

“Rancher Explores Cowboy Culture In Kazakhstan,” by Jerome McDonnell, wbez.org,
May 8, 2018

__________

2018 National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo and Chisholm Trail Western Music Show August 2-4, 2018, Abilene, Kansas

“Coyotes Conquered North America. Now They’re Heading South,” by JoAnna Klein, New York Times, May 24, 2018

“Tending the fields like a pioneer…,” by Murray Crawford, reddeeradvocate.com, May 23, 2018

“Open Air Art Day in New Raymer June 2,” South Platte Sentinel, May 22, 2018

“A tradition: Dakota Cowboy Poetry Gathering,” thedickinsonpress.com, May 21, 2018

“Marion C. Manwill 1930-2018,” heraldextra.com, May 20, 2018

“Coffee table book displays artists’ renderings of horses,” by Glenn Dromgoole, theeagle.com, May 20, 2018

“‘Black Cowboys’ and ‘The Best Country Blues You’ve Never Heard’ Chart New Trails
through Old-Time Music,” by Mark Reynolds, popmatters.com, May 18, 2018

“Riverbend Live Announces 2018 Season,” by Kyle Bailey, kqennewsradio.com, May 17, 2018

“Town: National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo” (video with Geff Dawson), eaglecomtv.net, May 14, 2018

“Celebrating the Colt,” by Kelli Neubert, Western Horseman, May 10, 2018

__________

“Livestock auction finds community helping youths,” Calaveras Enterprise, May 6, 2018

“Higher Education,” by Rod Miller, blog, May 5, 2018

__________

“Iconic Cap-K Ranch still going strong after 131 years as cattle operation,” by Scott Condon, Aspen Times, May 6, 2018

“Celebrate western heritage and the Air Force this week in Abilene,” by Nathaniel Ellsworth, Abilene Reporter-News, May 6, 2018

“Mom Leads Sons to Cattle Farming,” by Linda Williams, Lancaster Farming, May 4, 2018

“Exploring the impacts of a world without food animals,” farmanddairy.com, May 4, 2018

“Calving conundrums,” by Peggy Sanders, The Fence Post, May 4, 2018

“How the West was one at Abilene’s Western Heritage Classic,” by Greg Jaklewicz, Abilene Reporter-News, May 3, 2018

“Black Cowboys Are Real,” by Rory Doyle, Bitter Southerner, May 1, 2018

__________

“Never felt more like singing the blues: Gibson guitar firm files for bankruptcy,” by Edward Helmore, The Guardian, May 1, 2018

“25th Anniversary Cowboy Festival Gala” (video), sctv.com, May 1, 2018

“Our Amazing Grasslands~Schell Ranch” (video), USDA NRCS South Dakota,
April 30, 2018

__________

“Classified Ads (Interpreted),” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, April 30, 2018

“Mesquite Days returns to bring festivities to the Virgin Valley,” by Terell Wilkins, The Spectrum, April 30, 2018

“Stagecoach 2018: The 10 things we’ll remember about the festival,” by Vanessa Franko and Kelli Skye Fadroski, The Press-Enterprise, April 30, 2018

“Oklahoma wildfire causes significant cattle fatalities,” by Ashley Williams, globalmeatnews.com, April 28, 2018

__________

“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” with John Erickson of “Hank the Cowdog” (audio), Cowboy Crossroads, April 26, 2018

__________

“My Baby, The Bull” By Darrell Arnold, Western Horseman, as written in December 1985, posted April 27, 2018

“Eight members of rodeo’s first family will compete in Clovis. A new book tells their story,” by Marek Warszawski, Fresno Bee, April 26, 2018

“Montana Playwrights Network Writer’s Challenge,” Helena Independent Record, April 25, 2018

“Western writers’ cookbook brings Old West and contemporary, home-style cooking together,” by Kristen Inbody, Great Falls Tribune, April 24, 2018

“Cowboy poet visits Whitecourt,” by Taryn Brandell, Whitecourt Star, April 23, 2018

“‘Black Cowboys’ Sheds Light On Overlooked Music Of African-Americans Who Went
West,” by Eric Westervelt, Here and Now, April 23, 2018

“Whitewood students learn about local Cowboy Poet,” (video) KEVN, April 18, 2018

__________

“Calving season and small triumphs,” by Jessie Veeder, Meanwhile, Back at the
Ranch (blog), April 23, 2018

“Stars Share Spotlight as Cowboy Festival Turns 25,” scvnews.com, April 22, 2018

“‘The Rider,’ starring a real rodeo horseman, is a breath of fresh prairie air for westerns,” by Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, April 18, 2018

“Suspect charged, arrested in million dollar cattle embezzlement case,” High Plains / Midwest Ag Journal, April 16, 2018

________

“Just 14-years-old, this cowboy poet holds his own on the national stage,” by JaNae Francis, Standard-Examiner, April 21, 2018

“Winter Blues,” by Frank Gleeson (poem), Williams Lake Tribune, April 20, 2018

“A sign of the future in Morris: Cows + solar panels + fast electric car charger,” by Elizabeth Dunbar, mprnews.org, April 20, 2018

“A Cowboy’s Artist,” (on Bill Owen), Western Horseman, archived article posted April 20, 2018

“Flashback: Will Rogers’ Short Maguey,” by Dick Spencer III, Western Horseman, as written in April 1975, posted April 20, 2018

__________

“The Dude Wrangler,” by Dave Stamey, Facebook, April 19, 2018

“Dom Flemons Is Rewriting the American Songbook,” by Sriram Gopal, Washington City Paper, April 19, 2018

“Western Folklife Center presents Texas songster Andy Hedges,” Elko Daily Free Press, April 18, 2018

__________

“Ashley: Cowboy poet with Hill Country roots,” by Lindy Segall, Fredericksburg Standard, April 18, 2018

__________

“Q&A: Dom Flemons” (with video), by Kristin Brown, Cowboys & Indians, April 16, 2018

“For Nebraska cowboy poet R.P. Smith, the spirit of the West lives on in rhyme,” by Blake Ursch, Omaha World-Herald, April 16, 2018

“I Was Only Trying to Help,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, April 16, 2018

“Lies They Tell Writers, Part 44: Anyone can learn to write,” by Rod Miller, blog, April 16, 2018

“Al Jackson, a living legend,” by Cynthia Delaney, Elko Daily Free Press, April 14, 2018

“Bovines online: Farmers are using AI to help monitor cows,” by Ryan Nakashima, Yahoo! News, April 13, 2018

__________

“Dom Flemons,” (audio) by Ann Powers, World Cafe, April 12, 2018

“A Devastating Fall Couldn’t Keep This Rodeo ‘Rider’ Off Wild Horses,” by Terry
Gross, Fresh Air, April 10, 2018

“The New Head Catch,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, April 10, 2018

__________

“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” with Jerry Brooks (audio), Cowboy Crossroads, April 10, 2018

“Husband-and-Wife Work Crew,” by Kelli Neubert, Western Horseman, April 9, 2018

The Last Cowboys (forthcoming book)

“The Ranch at the End of the West,” by Mike Coppock, Cowboys & Indians, March 27,
2018

__________

“Neighbor Kelly,” by Jessie Veeder, Meanwhile…Back at the Ranch (blog), April 9,
2018

“Cowboy poet masters skill of storytelling,” by Ryan Soderlin, KMTV, April 9, 2018

“Quiet Pride” (about Shawn Cameron), by Jennifer Denison, Western Horseman, undated

“A Nevada Legacy,” (video) by John Wright, J.M. Capriola, undated

__________

Western Folklife Center seeks Programs Manager April 6, 2018

“Alaskan cowboys bring local beef to the table,” by Jennifer Tarnacki, Homer News, April 5, 2018

“Remembering the Queen of Cowboy Poetry,” by Chynna Lockett, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, April 5, 2018

“Drovers of the Chisholm Trail,” (video), Western Horseman, April 5, 2018

“A Love Story,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, April 4, 2018

__________

“April Events at the Dayton Library,” Waitsburg Times, April 5, 2018

“Poetry reading at Kingman library,” by Vanessa Espinoza, Daily Miner, April
5, 2018

“Cowboy poet releases new album,” by Tammy Rollie, Western Wheel, April 4, 2018

“On New Album, D.C. Musician Dom Flemons Shares the Lesser-Known History of
African American Cowboys,” by Stephanie Williams, dcmusicdownload.com, April 4,
2018

“Genoa celebrates Western Heritage April 27-29,” Record-Courier, April 3, 2018

“Herd of wild horses blocks Arizona road,” by Ben Hooper, upi.com, April 3, 2018

__________

“Hail and Farewell: Elizabeth Ebert, ‘Grand Dame of Cowboy Poetry,’ 1925-2018,”
by Simon Reichley, Melville House, April 4, 2018

“The Days When Cattle Were King and Barns Were Round,” by Jessica Hedges,
Branded in Ink, April 3, 2018

“For Cowboy Poets, One Topic is Taboo,” by Carson Vaughan, In These Times,
April 3, 2018

“Misty Morning Gathers,” Ross Hecox, Western Horseman, April 3, 2018

“GPS finds home on the range,” by Tyler Harris, Nebraska Farmer, March 29, 2018

__________

“Elizabeth Ebert, ‘Grand Dame of Cowboy Poetry,’ Dies at 93,” by Carson Vaughan, New York Times, April 1, 2018

“William S. Hart Park 2018 Events, ” by Johnathan Sanchez, The Signal, March 31, 2018

“Dude ranches of the Wild West,” by Jim Winnerman, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 31, 2018

“For the Compton Cowboys, Horseback Riding Is a Legacy, and Protection,” by Walter
Thompson-Hernández, New York Times, March 31, 2018

“In the Battle for the American West, the Cowboys Are Losing,” by Jim Carlton, Wall Street Journal, March 30, 2018

“6 artists added to the official Kansas Touring Roster,” The Emporia Gazette, March 30, 2018

“Glen Hollenbeck: Still riding for the G2 brand,” by Hannah Johlman, Tri-State Livestock News, March 29, 2018

“Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival Celebrating Our Western Past,” The Magazine of Santa Clarita, March 29, 2018

__________

“Smooth to the Chute,” by Ross Hecox, Western Horseman, March 28, 2018

“A Celebration Among the Saguaros,” by Rod Miller, blog, March 28, 2018

“Cowboy Poetry Named Advocate of the Arts 2018,” Wasatch Wave, March 28, 2018

“Ranchers Get More Grazing Flexibility With New Program,” by Amanda Peacher, Wyoming Public Media, March 27, 2018

__________

“To live in these moments,” by Jessie Veeder, Back at the Ranch blog, March
26, 2018

“Flashback: An Old Ranch Custom,” by Luis B. Ortega, written February 1951,
Western Horseman, March 25, 2018

“…National Cowboy Museum showcases rarely seen oddities and outliers with
exhibit ‘Unlocking the Vault’,” by Brandy McDonnell, NewsOK, March 25, 2018

_________

2018 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering photos by Jessica Lifland, posted March
22, 2018

“My Favorite Book, Part 13,” by Rod Miller, blog, March 22, 2018

“The Top 10 indications spring is officially here,” by Mark Parker, FarmTalk,
March 20, 2018

“Experience Old Florida Folk Fest at Summer Crush Gary Roberts,” TCPalm, March
19, 2018

“Ranch Life: Dirty Boots and Hands,” by Wyatt Bechtel, drovers.com, March 17, 2018

“Western Oklahoma drought intensifying,” by Derrell S. Peel, Progressive Cattleman, March 14, 2018

“Writers present scholarship,” Payson Roundup, March 16, 2018

__________

“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” with Riders in the Sky (audio), Cowboy Crossroads, March 20, 2018

“A Pox on this Column,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, March 20, 2018

“Top Two Houston Steers Sell for $776,000; Reserve Sets World Record,” by Greg Henderson, agweb.com, March 19, 2018

Paul Zarzyski.com and “Butte”

Academy of Western Artists’ awards March 18, 2018

Kansas Cowboy Poetry Contest

“Ranching on the Rocks,” Western Horseman (from 2012), March 19, 2018

__________

“Gads, gut hooks, and grapplin’ irons,” by Rod Miller, blog, March 13, 2018

“The Top 10 items you probably won’t find in town folks’ homes,” by Mark Parker, Farm Talk, March 13, 2018

“Lorraine,” by Baxter Black (a poem in the latest column), BaxterBlack.com, March 12, 2018

“A Time To Stay, A Time To Go” (video), by Baxter Black, drovers.com, March 12, 2018

“The Tragedy of Cattle Kate,” by Eliza McGraw, Smithsonian, March 12, 2018

Spirit of the West Radio with Hugh McLennan

Western Writers of America, Spur Award winners and finalists

“Crews continue work to contain wildfires that have burned more than 1.4
million acres across four states,” by Josh Wallace, newsok.com, March 10, 2017

__________

Western Writers of America Announces 2018 Spur Award Winners, prnewswire, March 9, 2018

“Elko, Nevada, Cowboy Poetry Festival brings out the best in all of us,” by Nadine Bailey, redding.com, March 9, 2018

“Cowboy Festival returning to the River City,” by Sean Brady, kamloopsthisweek.com, March 8, 2018 0

The Faces of the 34th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Western Foklife Center

__________

“Cowculations,” by Kelli Neubert, Western Horseman, March 7, 2018

__________

“Moapa Valley Days Events Planned For This Weekend,” by Maggie McMurray, Moapa Valley Progress, March 7, 2018

“Jekyll & Hide Cattle Company,” by Baxter Black (a poem in the latest column), BaxterBlack.com, March 6, 2018

“The Top 10 farm and ranch rarities,” by Mark Parker, FarmTalknewspaper.com,
March 6, 2018

“A year later, ranchers are healing after Kansas’ largest wildfire,” by Amy Bickel, hpj.com, March 5, 2018

__________

“Cowboys sold out the show,” by Teri Nehrenz, Mesquite Local News, March 2,
2018

“As Washington state looks for cleaner power, a Montana coal town faces an
uncertain future,” by Hal Bernton, Seattle Times, March 1, 2018

“Cowboy Poetry Festival a hit with families,” by David Nystrom, Prescott Valley
Tribune, February 28, 2018

“Eureka County 4-H Youth Share Journey Through Cowboy Poetry,” by Joelle Mackay, Eureka Sentinel, February 28, 2018|

__________

“Fractious Freight,” by Ross Hecox, Western Horseman, February 28, 2018

“Advice Column,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, February 27, 2018

“Wisdom from Down Under,” by Rod Miller (blog), February 26, 2018

__________

“EquiFest draws thousands of horse lovers to Kansas Expocentre,” by By Katie Moore, cjonline.com, February 25, 2018

“Ancient DNA rules out archeologists’ best bet for horse domestication,” by Cathleen O’Grady, arstechnica, February 25, 2018

“Watch what you pray for,” by Yvonne Hollenbeck, Tri-State Livestock News,
February 23, 2018

_________

“Glendale Folk and Heritage Festival,” The Glendale Star, February 22, 2018

“Pitching a wearable to make cattle farming more sustainable…,” by Jonathan Shiever, Yahoo! Finance, February 22, 2018

“Elko Basques teach us a lesson,” by Monika Madinabeitia, Elko Daily, February 22, 2018

__________

“Land lover,” by Josie Glassberg, Reno News, February 22, 2018

“Tunes on the Trail,” by Gene Fowler, TexasCoopPower.com, March 2018

__________

“Heifer’s Hood Ornament,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, February 20, 2018

“Rifters return to Society Hall,” Alamosa News, February 20, 2018

“Humor, Western zeal part of Spirit of the West,” by Daisy Perez, citizentribune.com, February 19, 2018

“At 21, FisherPoets comes of age,” Daily Astorian, February 19, 2018

“Teddy Roosevelt’s Saddle,” by Dick Spencer III, written January 1958, Western Horseman, February, 2018

“Lies They Tell Writers, Part 43: Read Aloud What You’ve Written,” by Rod Miller
(blog), February 17, 2018

“How a coalition of caretakers is keeping Wyoming’s ghost towns alive,” by Elise Schmelzer and Christine Peterson, Star-Tribune, February 17, 2018

BC Cowboy Heritage Society Newsletter February, 2018

“Everyone seemed to have enjoyed it,” by Brendan Kyle, 100milefreepress.net, February 16, 2018

“What Do Gender Relations Look Like in Rural America?,” by Kyle Young, thisisreno.com, February 16, 2018

__________

“Quick Q and A with Dom Flemons,” by Kathy Sands-Boehmer, Everything Sundry (blog), February 15, 2018

“Cowboy spirit to come alive in Ellensburg this weekend,” by Daisy Perez, Daily Record, February 15, 2018

“Western Fest,” Tacoma Weekly, February 15, 2018

__________

“Save American Poetry, Read a Cowboy,” by Max Ufberg, Pacific Standard, February 14, 2018

“Dom Flemons announces a double release,” by Pamm Tucker, Bluegrasstoday.com, February 14, 2018

“Enjoy an evening of cowboy poetry, music,” pvtrib.com, February 14, 2018

__________

“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” with Andy Wilkinson (audio), Cowboy Crossroads, February 13, 2018

“The Mountain,” by Baxter Black (a poem in the latest column), BaxterBlack.com, February 13, 2018

__________

“Gathering Hangover- Cochise Cowboy Poetry Gathering 2018,” by Jessica Hedges, Branded in Ink (blog), February 7, 2018

Kentrollins.com, blog, recipies, and more

__________

Guy William Logsdon, tulsaworld.com, February 8, 2018

“Cowboy Poetry with Pickles,” by Rod Miller, blog, February 8, 2018

“Pig Tales,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, February 6, 2018

“Woody Guthrie Expert, Educator Guy Logsdon Dies,” newson6.com, February 6, 2018

“One More Time,” by TJ Casey & Jim Reader; in honor of late Bill Stearns, Wyoming cowboy and Senior World Champion Bronc Rider, YouTube, February 4, 2018

National Cowboy Poetry Gathering YouTube channel.

_____________________________

“Trail gone cold: Dusty Richards, Rod Miller (blog), January 23, 2018

__________

Cowby Arts and Gear Museum

“Moving the Remuda,” by Ross Hecox (photo blog), Western Horseman, January 22, 2018

“Country Artist and Cowboy Poet Receives National Golden Spur Award,” by Mary Beth Holm, Daily Toreador, January 22, 2018

“New brochure will highlight Elko art,” by Adella Harding, Elko Daily, January 22, 2018

“Time machine: Cowboy Arts and Gear Museum restores G.S. Garcia’s shop,” by Toni R. Milano, Elko Daily, January 20, 2018

“Cowboy poetry set to come to Payson with symposium, program,” by Shelby Slade, Daily Herald, January 19, 2018

“34th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering,” by Dennis Cassinelli, Mesquite Local News,

“Quirky places to eat on your next trip…,” by Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Time, January 19, 2018

__________

“Writing in My Sleep,” by Rod Miller, blog, January 17, 2018

“Braymer Bait,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, January 16, 2018

“Corb Lund and Ian Tyson: The Last cowboys,” by Mike Ross, gigcity.ca, January 14, 2018

“Red Steagall chosen for National Golden Spur Award,” by Ray Westbroom, lubbockonline.com, January 13, 2018

“Small Towns, Cowboy Charm,” Western Horseman, undated

“Trailing Cattle in the Snow,” Western Horseman, January 2018

__________

“Ranching by the signs,” by Rhonda Sedgwick Stearns, tsln.com, January 11, 2018

“Women Writing About the Wild: 25 Essential Authors,” Kathryn Aalto, outsideonline.com, January 9, 2018

__________

“Singer Ian Tyson on his early folk days and being inspired by Bob Dylan,” by Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail, January 8, 2018

__________

“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” with Gary McMahan (audio), Cowboy Crossroads, January 9, 2018

“Things You Can Count On,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, January 8, 2018

“The Birth of the American Cowboy,” Christopher Knowlton excerpt, Delanceyplace.com,
January 8, 2018

“My Favorite Book, Part 12,” by Rod Miller, blog, January 8, 2018

“Cowboy Poets Ramble Back To Golden,” by Jean Lotus, patch.com, January 8, 2018

“Man arrested after allegedly stealing more than $8 million in cattle,” cbs7.com, January
8, 2018

____

NCBA Cowboy Poetry Contest Finalists’ videos, vote through January 15, 2018

“Visiting Kansas’ Iconic ‘Home On The Range,’” by C.J. Janovy, Here and Now, January 3,
2018

__________

“21st Century Working Horses,” by William Reynolds, Western Horseman, January 2, 2018

__________

“2017 – A Year to Forget,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, January 1, 2018

Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering, January 19-21, 2018

THE ARMY MULE by by Bruce Kiskaddon (1878-1950)

armymule

THE ARMY MULE
by Bruce Kiskaddon (1878-1950)

Sometimes mules got in the army ’cause they’d pulled a wicked trick.
Had some trouble with a feller and the feller he got kicked.
That man’s neighbors joined in singin’, while the parson blessed his soul;
“Shall We Meet Beyond the River Where the Surges Cease to Roll.”

But the mule he liked the army when he got his trainin’ done.
And the soldiers didn’t seem to hold his past against him none.
For the packer and the “Skinner,” take ’em as a general rule,
Has a past a heap more shady than the average army mule.

No they didn’t starve or beat him, and he did his share of work.
They knowed how they ort to treat him and the mule he didn’t shirk
If you know the way to use him he’s a mighty handy tool,
And the people that abused him rank a lot below the mule.

There mebby is a stubborn streak that runs among the breed.
Don’t try to move a wheel mule up and work him in the lead.
That works in both directions and you buck the self same deal
If you try to make the lead mule back and work him on the wheel.

He will keep a heavy wagon movin’ right along the road.
In among the hills and mountains he will pack a heavy load.
He might light out for some reason that you never could explain,
But you’ll find him at the picket line in time to get his grain.

‘Course you have to be admittin’ that a mule has got his tricks.
He ain’t harmless like a kitten, and he means it when he kicks.
But you’ll find him mighty useful, and you’ll find he ain’t no fool,
If you chance to get acquainted with a real old army mule.

…by Bruce Kiskaddon

Still thinking of veterans, here’s a tribute to the four-legged kind.

“The Army Mule” appeared in the Western Livestock Journal in 1943 and was included in the 1947 edition Bruce Kiskaddon’s Rhymes of the Ranges.

Western Livestock journalist Frank King wrote, in his introduction to Kiskaddon’s 1924 edition of Rhymes of the Ranges, “Bruce Kiskaddon is a real old time cowboy, having started his cattle ranch experience in the Picket Wire district of southern Colorado as a kid cowhand and rough string rider and later on northern Arizona ranges, especially as a writer for the late Tap Duncan, famous as a Texas and Arizona cattleman, and one time the largest cattle holder in Mojave County, Arizona, where Bruce rode for years, after which he took a turn as a rider on big cattle stations in Australia. All this experience is reflected in his western poems, because he has had actual experience in the themes he puts into verse, He had no college professor teach him anything. He is a natural born poet and his poems show he knows his business. The best cowhand poems I have ever read. His books should be in every home and library where western poetry is enjoyed.”

Much of what is known about Kiskaddon and his work comes from Open Range, Bill Siems’ monumental collection of Kiskaddon’s poetry. Find more in the Kiskaddon features at CowboyPoetry.com.

We are at work on MASTERS: VOLUME THREE, the poetry of Bruce Kiskaddon. We are honored that Bill Siems will tell about Bruce Kiskaddon in an introduction on the CD. Kay Nowell will recite “The Army Mule.” Stay tuned for more news. The double CD will be released for the 18th annual Cowboy Poetry Week, April 21-27, 2019.

This undated photo from The Library of Congress Prints and Photograph Division is titled, “Pack mule of U.S. Army Signal Corps, used for carrying storage batteries for the field wireless telegraph.”

This poem and photograph are in the public domain.

JEFF HART, by Charles Badger Clark, Jr. (1883-1957)

JEFF HART
by Charles Badger Clark, Jr. (1883-1957)

Jeff Hart rode out of the gulch to war
When the low sun yellowed the pines.
He waved to his folks in the cabin door
And yelled to the men at the mines.
The gulch kept watch till he dropped from sight—
Neighbors and girl and kin.
Jeff Hart rode out of the gulch one night;
Next morning the world came in.

His dad went back to the clinking drills
And his mother cooked for the men;
The pines branched black on the eastern hills,
Then black to the west again.
But never again, by dusk or dawn,
Were the days in the gulch the same,
For back up the hill Jeff Hart had gone
The trample of millions came.

Then never a clatter of dynamite
But echoed the guns of the Aisne,
And the coyote’s wail in the woods at night
Was bitter with Belgium’s pain.
We hear the snarl of a savage sea
In the pines when the wind went through,
And the strangers Jeff Hart fought to free
Grew folks to the folks he knew.

Jeff Hart has drifted for good and all,
To the ghostly bugles blown,
But the far French valley that saw him fall
Blood kin to the gulch is grown;
And his foreign folks are ours by right—
The friends that he died to win.
Jeff Hart rode out of the gulch one night;
Next morning the world came in.

…Charles Badger Clark, Jr. from “Sun and Saddle Leather”

On this Veterans Day/Remembrance Day and the the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I, we recognize those who have served with Badger Clark’s timeless poem, written during WWI. It was printed in Collier’s Illustrated Weekly in 1919 and in other newspapers and periodicals of the time. It was added to later editions of Clark’s Sun and Saddle Leather, in a section titled “Grass Grown Trails.”

Clark got his cowboying experience in Arizona. He became the Poet Laureate of South Dakota, where he was born and where he lived for most of his life.

The South Dakota Historical Society Foundation holds Badger Clark’s papers and offers his books for sale.

Read many more poems and more about Badger Clark at CowboyPoetry.com.

This photograph is by writer, poet, teacher, filmmaker, photographer, and Marine veteran Ken Rodgers. He told us, “I took that photo on a summer day in Roseberry, Idaho, a small town north of Boise in Valley County. Roseberry is semi-ghost town whose heyday is long past. The town was settled by Finnish folk in the late 19th Century. The flag was fluttering in a mild summer breeze out in front of the old Roseberry General Store. I liked how the wind whipped the flag in juxtaposition to the old gas pump…”

Ken and Betty Rodgers’ outstanding and important documentary, Bravo! Common Men, Uncommon Valor explores the experiences of the men of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines during the 1968 siege at Khe Sanh, Vietnam, where Ken Rodgers served. The award-winning film is available on DVD and streams on Amazon.

The Rodgers’ latest project is I Married the War, a documentary about the wives of combat veterans.

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Find poetry and more for Veterans Day at CowboyPoetry.com,
(Please respect copyright. You can share this photograph with this post, but for other uses, request permission. This poem is in the public domain.)

Events: Gatherings and More

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Submission information:

We welcome your event date and link for cowboy poetry and Western music events. Please send information at least several weeks before your event. Email us.

We regret that we can’t list individual performers’ or groups’ shows or “shows” that have just one or two performers or groups, including house concerts; those are too numerous for us to maintain. (We do welcome information for established venues with a roster of regularly-scheduled programs, even if those programs feature just one or two performers. The season’s schedule is welcome, at least several weeks before the season begins.)

We sometimes include other events of interest, such as rodeos and art shows.

We will consider separate blog posts with event information. Please send the announcement in plain text, not in graphic or pdf format. You can attach a logo, photo or graphic.

Be sure to include date, times, ticket information, a description, and performers’ names, along with contact information: a phone number, email address, or web link that can be posted.

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AFTER THE FALL ROUNDUP by Bruce Kiskaddon (1878-1950)

AFTER THE FALL ROUNDUP
by Bruce Kiskaddon (1878-1950)

Now the summer work is over and the wagon’s pullin’ in,
And we’ve said good bye to fellers that we mightn’t see agin,
Fer a cow boy don’t write letters so we mighty soon lose track
Of the boys that stops and works a while and never does come back.

When yore clothes is soter tattered and yore hat brim sags and flops,
And yore boots is wore and battered, them that had the fancy tops,
When the owners and the bosses and the hands is most all in.
And them strings of summer hosses is slowed up and lookin’ thin.

When them thin clouds start a trailin through the soft and pleasant sky,
And you watch old buzzard sailin’ soter useless way up high,
And it makes the toughest cow boy soter study after all,
When he’s draggin’ with the wagon to the home ranch in the fall.

Fer he caint help but remember that most cow boys don’t git old
And he’ll git to one November when he caint stand work and cold;
He shore knows that he’ll be sorry when he gits like you and me;
Jest an old man tellin’ stories ’bout how good he used to be.

…Bruce Kiskaddon

This poem is of course reminiscent of Kiskaddon’s masterpiece, “When They Finish Shipping Cattle in the Fall,” which was one of his earliest published poems, appearing in his 1924 book, Rhymes of the Ranges.

This image is an original Los Angeles Stockyards calendar page from 85 years ago, November, 1933. “After the Fall Roundup” was also included in Kiskaddon’s 1935 book, Western Poems.

Poet Bruce Kiskaddon and artist Katherine Field (1908-1951) collaborated on works for the Los Angeles Union Stockyards calendar and the Western Livestock Journal. The two never met in person.

Bruce Kiskaddon worked for ten years as a cowboy, starting in 1898 in southeastern Colorado’s Picketwire area. He published short stories and nearly 500 poems. His poems are among the most admired and the most recited in the “classic” cowboy poetry canon.

Much of what is known about Kiskaddon and his work comes from Open Range, Bill Siems’ monumental collection of Kiskaddon’s poetry. Bill Siems also collected Bruce Kiskaddon’s short stories in a book called Shorty’s Yarns.

We are at work on MASTERS: VOLUME THREE, the poetry of Bruce Kiskaddon. We are honored that Bill Siems will tell about Bruce Kiskaddon in an introduction on the CD. Stay tuned for more news. The double CD will be released for the 18th annual Cowboy Poetry Week, April 21-27, 2019.

Find information about earlier MASTERS volumes here.

This poem is the public domain. The calendar page is from the BAR-D collection.

BILL’S IN TROUBLE by James Barton Adams (1843-1918)

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BILL’S IN TROUBLE
by James Barton Adams (1843-1918)

I’ve got a letter, parson,
from my son away out West,
An’ my ol’ heart is heavy
as an anvil in my breast,
To think the boy whose future
I had once so proudly planned
Should wander from the path of right
an’ come to such an end!
I told him when he left his home,
not three short years ago,
He’d find himself a plowin’
in a mighty crooked row—
He’d miss his father’s counsel,
an’ his mother’s prayers, too;
But he said the farm was hateful,
an’ he guessed he’d have to go.

I know thar’s big temptation
for a youngster in the West,
But I believed our Billy
had the courage to resist,
An’ when he left I warned him
o’ the ever waitin’ snares
That lie like hidden sarpints
in life’s pathway everywheres.
But Bill he promised faithful
to be keerful, an’ allowed
He’d build a reputation
that’d make us mighty proud;
But it seems as how my counsel
sort o’ faded from his mind,
An’ now the boy’s in trouble
o’ the very wustest kind!

His letters came so seldom
that I somehow sort o’ knowed
That Billy was a trampling
on a mighty rocky road,
But never once imagined
he would bow my head in shame,
An’ in the dust’d waller
his ol’ daddy’s honored name.
He writes from out in Denver,
an’ the story’s mighty short;
I just can’t tell his mother,
it’ll crush her poor ol’ heart!
An’ so I reckoned, parson,
you might break the news to her—
Bill’s in the legislatur’,
but he doesn’t say what fur.

…by James Barton Adams
This poem seems to never lose its relevance.

James Barton Adams worked as a cowboy on Captain Jack Crawford’s New Mexico ranch, 1890-92. He became a newspaper columnist, and wrote poems still recited (and put to music) today, including “The Cowboy’s Dance Song” (also known as “The High-Toned Dance”). It was recently determined that he was the author of “The Gol Darn Wheel.”

The late Hal Swift recited the poem on The BAR-D Roundup: Volume Three.

The poem appears in Adams’ 1899 book, Breezy Western Verse. Adams, as told in a 1968 publication of the Socorro County (New Mexico) Historical Society, “…lived and worked in the rugged San Andres mountains of central New Mexico on a ranch owned by Captain Jack Crawford, famous Indian Scout and Poet…Many of his poems were probably drawn from his life and experiences during this period in New Mexico. Adams wrote the foreword to Capt. Jack’s book ‘Whar the Hand O’ God is Seen,’ published in 1913.”

Scott E. Lusby shared photos of James Barton Adams, his great great grandfather, and Captain Jack Crawford in a 2008 Picture the West at CowboyPoetry.com.

Find more about James Barton Adams and more of his poetry at CowboyPoetry.com.

This 1924 photo by Harris & Ewing is from The Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. It is described, “Tex Austin, of Las Vegas, New Mex., calls on Pres. Coolidge to ask the good offices of the Amer. gov’t officials in London for the 100 Amer. cowboys and cowgirls who go to the Brit. Empire exposition to compete in the championship contests in the Imperial Stadium for the International championship titles, Trophies, and $75,000 in purses. Tex Austin will manage the contest…”

(This poem and photo are in the public domain.)