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CowboyPoetry.com

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This is an interim blog for CowboyPoetry.com, maintained while a new site is being built. All of the old site remains available at CowboyPoetry.com. This blog includes news, events, poetry, and more.

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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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Find our current individual donors and sponsors here on this blog.

See all of the generous supporters to the Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry and find how to be a part of it all here.

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You can make a donation by check or money order, by mail (please use the form here for mail) or by a secure, on-line credit card payment through PayPal (a PayPal account is not required):

CowboyPoetry.com is a project of The Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry, a tax-exemptnon-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Act. The Center seeks grants and donations from individuals, corporate entities, foundations, and private sources.

Contributions to the Center are fully deductible for federal income tax purposes.

The BAR-D Roundup fair market value is $15 and that amount is not deductible as a charitable contribution.

As in all professional journalistic endeavors, no editorial preference is given to financial sponsors or supporters.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS

Donors

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CowboyPoetry.com celebrates our Western heritage and today’s working West, dedicated to preserving our important history and to promoting the Western arts that carry on those traditions. It’s a part of the non-profit Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry.

The Center was formed to serve a mostly rural and under-served community of Western writers, musicians, and artists; to help preserve Western and Cowboy Poetry and its associated arts; to offer a central resource for poets, libraries, schools, and the public; and to educate the public about the history and value of Western and Cowboy Poetry and its associated arts.

Supporters make a difference. With individual support, the Center can continue its programs, expand some of those efforts, and take on new projects. Individual support helps show institutional funders the community interest in our Western arts.

We thank our supporters, who are listed below. They make an important difference to the community of Western writers, musicians, and artists as we work together to preserve Western heritage and support Western and Cowboy Poetry and its associated arts. Please join us.

The BAR-D supporters make all of the programs of the Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry possible: Cowboy Poetry Week, the Rural Library Program, and CowboyPoetry.com.

2019

RANGE Magazine (sponsor)
Marci Broyhill (sponsor)
Jim Thompson (Sacramento, CA)
Mark Munzert
Marilyn and Kip Sorlie
Shelly Pagliai-Prairie Moon Quilts
LaVerna B. Johnson
Almeda Bradshaw (sponsor)
Georganna Kresl
Susie Knight
Jeff Campbell
Betty and Ken Rodgers
Linda Nadon in memory of Georgie Sicking and Elizabeth Ebert
Al “Doc” Mehl and Doris Daley
Paul R. Brown III
Jeri Dobrowski
Dee Strickland Johnson (“Buckshot Dot”)
Rodney Nelson
Kay Kelley Nowell
Sally Baldus
Dave Stanley
Dale Page
Alan Mollenkopf
James Stanley
Ginger Manley
Jo Kirkwood
Susan Parker (sponsor)
Roshana Floyd
Denise Arvidson in memory of Ross Christian Arvidson
Scott and Diana Overcash
Fred Haines
Patricia Frolander
Wendy Brown
DW Groethe
Stella and Ol’ Jim Cathey in memory of Charles (Charlie) Prentiss
and Loretta Kay (Flake) Kanavel
KC LaCourse
Valerie and Floyd Beard
Ray Hopper
Nancy Flagg
Richard R. Hall
Hugh Cooke
Stan Howe
Karen Bartholoma
K L Fischer
Betty Burlingham
Ken Cook (sponsor)
Keith Ward
George Rhoades
Jeffrey Johnson
Jerry Brooks
Cindy and Chuck Learn (sponsors)

2019 program support:
Laura and Edmund Wattis Littlefield Jr.
Margaret T. Morris Foundation

2018

John Waters
Paul R. Brown III
Almeda Bradshaw (sponsor)
Jim and Stella Cathey in memory of Louise M. Fritts
Marci Broyhill (sponsor)
Buzz Helfert
Al “Doc” Mehl and Doris Daley
Susan Matley in memory of Liz Masterson
Charmaine Ganson
Susan Parker
Marvin and Elaine Del Chiaro
Thomas F. Hawk
Terry Nash
Rodney Nelson
Patrick Sullivan
Jerry A. Brooks
Cindy Quigley
Lawrence Smith
Diana Rice
Susan Shuma
Susie Knight
David Carlton
Russ Westwood
Scott and Diana Overcash in memory of Debi Koppang
M. Todd Hess
David Sudbury
Janet Prezia
Georganna Kresl
L.L. “Lucky Lindy” Segall in memory of Carlos Ashley
Hugh Cooke
Linda Nadon in memory of Georgie Sicking
Don Hilmer
Yvonne Hollenbeck (sponsor)
Yvonne and Glen Hollenbeck
in memory of Liz Masterson, Kenny Krogman, Elizabeth Ebert
Jeff Thomas
Martha Singer
Ken Howry—Sunshine Prairie Farm
Jeri Dobrowski
Ron Secoy
Michael Henley
Jane and Dick Morton
Karen Bartholomew
Stella Callentine
Mark Munzert
Bryce Angell
Maryanne Patterson
Betty Burlingham
Denise Arvidson in memory of Ross Christian Arvidson
C.W. (Charley) Bell
Chuck and Cindy Learn (sponsor)
Kay Kelley Nowell
Charles A. St. Lucas
George Rhodes
Nick Bales
Rhonda Sedgwick Stearns (sponsor)
Bill Siems
Jim and Stella Cathey in memory of Sammie Green
Andy Nelson-Clear Out West (sponsor)
Jean Prescott (sponsor)
Marleen Bussma
Tom Swearingen
Gary McMahan
The Cowboy’s Workshop
Tom Linenbrink
Robert Dennis
Totsie Slover
Michael Henley
Richard Hall
Joseph C and Robin B Thomas
Daniel Wilson
John Walker
Jarle Kvale
Dale Page
Sally Smith-Joelle Smith Western Art
Daniel Bybee
Spalding Labs Flying SL Ranch Radio Show (sponsor)
Jerry A. Brooks
Terry Nash
Ron Secoy
Andria Kidd
Western Folklife Center (sponsor)
Sandy Seaton Sallee
Jean A. Haugen
Brian Sullivan
Smoke Wade
P’let and Mike Tcherkassky
Janice Gilbertson
Jeff Thomas
Mary Beth Piatt
Lynn Kopelke
Teresa Burleson
Deanna Dickinson McCall
Jay Snider (sponsor)
Roberta Rothman
The Cowpoke Fall Gathering (sponsor)
Sherrie Swanson
Linda Kirkpatrick
Rod Miller
Greg Camp

2019 program support:
Laura and Edmund Wattis Littlefield Jr.
Margaret T. Morris Foundation

VISIT OUR SPONSORS

See all of the generous supporters to the Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry below and find how to be a part of it all here.

You can make a donation by check or money order, by mail (please use the form here for mail or mail to PO Box 1107, Lexington, VA 24450) or by a secure, on-line credit card payment through PayPal (a PayPal account is not required):

CowboyPoetry.com is a project of The Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry, a tax-exempt non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Act. The Center seeks grants and donations from individuals, corporate entities, foundations, and private sources.

Contributions to the Center are fully deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Donors at the $50 level* and higher receive the year’s CD and Cowboy Poetry Week poster. (The CD fair market value is $15 and that amount is not deductible as a charitable contribution.) *$65 USD for Canada and other international locations.

As in all professional journalistic endeavors, no editorial preference is given to financial sponsors or supporters.

VISIT OUR SPONSOR SUPPORTERS

CHAPS by Gary McMahan

chapsx

CHAPS
by Gary McMahan

To: Mr Ralph Lauren
505 5th Ave
New York City

I seen on the TV Mr. Lauren
That you have a men’s cologne you call “Chaps”
And it’s probably a manly scent
Or you wouldn’t have called it that.

I confess I’ve never used the stuff
And this may sound a little harsh
But I suspect men use cologne to hide
The fact that they didn’t warsh

So I can’t really comment on the product
Though I’m sure it smells just fine
It’s the way you say the name “chaps”
That chaps my cowboy behind

You see the name is derived
From the Spanish word chaparro, well
It in turn got its name
from the word chaparral

Which again in Spanish means
A dense thicket of thorny brush and trees
Which all manner of cowboys
have ridden through for centuries

Thus needing protection for their legs
These chaparros were fashioned from cowhide
and are the leather leggin’s cowboys wear
That comes without a backside

Then us gringos got hold of the word
And shortened chaparro to chaps
Kinda like when we took the word
Tappaderos and condensed it to “Taps”

So that’s why “ch” is really pronounced
With an “sh” sound you see
And to an ol’ cowboy that’s worn chaps all his life
It seems a travesty

That you would use the cowboy’s manly image
To sell your fancy smell to the herd
And never even take the time
To learn how to say the word

‘Cause fact is Mr. Lauren
Even though I’d like to console ya
anyone who says “chaps” for chaps
Don’t know chit from chineola

You can watch Gary McMahan, accompanied by popular musician Ernie Martinez, as they performed this poem at the Western Folklife Center’s National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. The clip is included in Doug Morrione’s award-winning film, Everything in the Song is True.

(The entire film “of four iconic western characters”: Gary McMahan, Yvonne Hollenbeck, Brice Chapman, and Greg Nourse is available for streaming at Amazon.

Gary McMahan tells that this poem was inspired by a letter that former longtime Western Horseman publisher (and Gary’s father-in-law) Dick Spencer wrote to Ralph Lauren.

The bio at Gary McMahan’s web site tells:

Gary is known for his award-winning songs, captivating stories, uproarious humor, and national championship yodeling. His songs have been recorded by artists such as Garth Brooks, Ian Tyson, Chris LeDoux, Riders in the Sky, Dave Stamey, and Juni Fisher. His songs, stories, and poems embody what many believe to be the heart of the new West.

Gary comes by his cowboy heritage naturally. He was born into it and has ridden, wrangled, and roped all over the West, all the while collecting reflections on cowboy ways. Those reflections are the backbone of all his songs, stories, and poems.

Find more about Gary McMahan at cowboypoetry.com and visit his site, singingcowboy.com (where there are full-length versions of all tracks on all of his albums).

This 1939 photo by Arthur Rothstein is titled, “Spurs, chaps and broad-rimmed hat, the cattleman’s distinctive features of dress. Quarter Circle ‘U’ Ranch, Montana.” It’s from The Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

(Please respect copyright. You can share this poem with this post, but for other uses, request permission. The photo is in the public domain.)

“Shadow of a Cowboy,” by Andy Hedges

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Shadow of a Cowboy is as entertaining as it is authentic. Selections draw from the deep roots of traditional country, cowboy, folk, and Western music. The tracks stretch from Teddie Blue Abbott through Pete Seeger to Tucker Zimmerman and beyond as Andy Hedges interprets the past and creates new sounds.

When asked about the overall inspiration for this CD, he comments, “This record was a bit of a hodgepodge of songs that I had collected but I think a theme began to arise in that the songs came from a variety of sources and spanned several eras. I had a vision to do an album of songs that show that the cowboy music tradition has continued from the trail driving era to the 1920s-30s to the 1950-70s to the present day…”

That earliest period is represented by “The Ogallaly Song,” a traditional piece included in the classic We Pointed Them North book by E.C. “Teddie Blue” Abbott. Abbott writes, “I never counted the verses…but you could keep on singing it all night.” Hedges captures that sense.

An unbroken thread of connections among musicians and songwriters weaves through “Shadow of a Cowboy.” The title track, a song by Tucker Zimmerman, came to Hedges when he contacted Zimmerman about another of his songs, “Oregon,” also included in this project. Andy Hedges tells that he knew “Oregon” from Derrol Adams’ recording. He says, “Derroll Adams was Ramblin’ Jack’s old banjo playing partner and they traveled to Europe together in the 1950s.” Billy Faier, known for his work with Pete Seeger, has his “Song of the Cuckoo” included, and the tag at the end is from “912 Greens” by Ramblin’ Jack.

So much is packed into the ten tracks of Shadow of a Cowboy. The varied songs flow and invite repeated listening. As in earlier projects, inspired, ethereal harmonies of Alissa Hedges add layers of interest to a number of her husband’s tracks. Designer Dirk Fowler’s spare and evocative art reflects the soul of the project.

Other songs include “The Horsetrader’s Song” by prolific songwriter and musician Jimmy Driftwood; Carter Family member Sara Carter and her husband A.P. Carter’s “Lonesome Pine Special”; and folksinger and rodeo cowboy Peter LaFarge’s vivid tale of “Iron Mountain.”

Three other outstanding tracks are the collaborations with three respected cowboy poets, Joel Nelson, John Dofflemyer and Waddie Mitchell.

Andy Hedges heard Joel Nelson perform his stellar “Horseback Man for Hire” a cappella and is quoted, in a Western Horseman article by Jennifer Denison that includes audio, “It stayed in my mind…I’m honored to be the first person to record it… I believe Joel is one of the most important cowboy poets out there today. He’s a thoughtful writer, wonderful reciter, and a respected horseman and working cowboy.”

Andy Hedges says of “Tennis Shoes,” Dofflemyer’s tribute to a friend, “…I don’t believe that I changed a single word. The music came easily for this one.”

“Long Johns On,” from words written by Waddie Mitchell and further enlivened with a melody suggested by Alissa Hedges, is unforgettable fun. Really unforgettable; it has genuine–yet delightful–ear worm qualities. Find a video performance of it from the Western Folklife Center’s 2019 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

That humorous gem brings to mind the work of the late, great, beloved Glenn Ohrlin, music historian, performer, friend of Andy Hedges, and one of his heroes. Earlier this month, he paid tribute to him at the Ozark Folk Center. You can’t help but wish that Glenn Ohrlin was still around to hear “Long Johns On” and this entire album.

Someone once wrote about Glenn Ohrlin that he created “…a style that is at once powerful and understated.” And that comment could serve as well as a perfect description of Andy Hedges and the impressive Shadow of a Cowboy.

Find more at andyhedges.com and while you are there, be sure to tune into his “Cowboy Crossroads” podcasts, which are valuable and entertaining visits with cowboys, poets, musicians, and other representatives of the working West.

HORSEBACK MAN FOR HIRE lyrics by Joel Nelson

56422388_10157228903175859_8628109163269980160_n April, 2019 photo of Randy Rieman, Joel Nelson, Sean Sexton,
and Andy Hedges, courtesy of Andy Hedges

HORSEBACK MAN FOR HIRE
lyrics by Joel Nelson

Twenty miles away the R.E.A.
Ran out of poles and wire
I earn my pay the cowboy way
I’m a horseback man for hire
Yipee-yi-yay
I’m a horseback man for hire

Where I was born every saddle horn
Had a rope tied hard and fast
All the boots were worn – all the shirts were torn
And we held on to the past
Yippee-yi-yay
We held on to the past

Now I take my turns and the mulehide burns
When I need to slip a coil
I play my gig in a double rig
I’m a grandson of the soil
Yippee-yi-yay
I’m a grandson of the soil

I’m no one’s fool – I’ve been to school
I’ve taken my degree
But the cattle bawl and the coyote’s call
Are the things that beckon me
They’re the things that call to me
So I step astride and I start my ride
While the sun is still asleep
I’m bonafide – I been certified
And my roots run mighty deep
Yippee-yi-yay
My roots run mighty deep

I don’t need to smoke your weed
To get me feelin’ right
Just a canvas bed to lay my head
When the stars come out at night
Yippee-yi-yay
With the dipper shinin’ bright

Bridge:
My thumbs ain’t flexed cause I don’t text
Your emails leave me cold
Go lick a stamp that’ll find my camp
On a letter I can hold
Yippee-yi-yay
Send a letter I can hold

I like a good book by my chair
I like hot tea by the fire
Where I can read without a care
When the wind – howls – through – the – wire
Cause I’m a horseback man for hire

Your gilded halls and shopping malls
Can’t hold me very long
So I quit the scene of fine cuisine
To be where I belong
Yippee-yi-yay
Out here’s where I belong

I got a darn good life and a darlin’ wife
She sets my heart on fire
She’s a pretty thing and she wears my ring
She’s horseback and for hire
Yippe-yi-yay
She’s a horseback girl for hire

When I cease to be you can bury me
Or build a funeral pyre
Just scatter my ash and divide my cash
With a horseback man for hire
Yippe-yi-yay
With a horseback man for hire

Bridge:

I need lots of space from the human race
I need solitude from the multitude
I need reverie on the lone prairie
These are things that – I – require
I’m a horseback man for hire
Yippee-yi-yay
I’m a horseback man for hire and
You can’t take it away
I’m a horseback man for…
Hire

Songster Andy Hedges’ rendition of rancher, horseman, and poet Joel Nelson’s lyrics is a standout on his new Shadow of a Cowboy album.

Western Horseman recently debuted the song and quoted Andy Hedges:

Joel Nelson wrote the lyrics to “Horseback Man for Hire,” and I heard him sing it a cappella…It stayed in my mind…I’m honored to be the first person to record it.

I believe Joel is one of the most important cowboy poets out there today. He’s a thoughtful writer, wonderful reciter, and a respected horseman and working cowboy.

Find the song and Western Horseman article by Jennifer Denison here.

Find more about Joel Nelson at cowboypoetry.com.

andyhcover

Two other outstanding tracks are the collaborations with two additional respected cowboy poets, John Dofflemyer and Waddie Mitchell. Andy Hedges says of “Tennis Shoes,” Dofflemyer’s tribute to a friend, “…I don’t believe that I changed a single word. The music came easily for this one.”

(Please respect copyright. You can share these lyrics and this 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.

CPW_Cameron_Poster_2019_R1
Cowboy Poetry Week
Nineteenth annual: April 19-25, 2020

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cpweeknews

Subscribe to our occasional newsletter.

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“Spend Sunday at the Tower,” The Sundance Times, June 19, 2019

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“Alabama longhorn sets Guinness World Record,” kfor.com, June 17, 2019

“Utah Arts Festival 2019: Thatch Elmer, 15, heralds new generation of cowboy poetry,” by Les Roka, The Utah Review, June 17, 2019

“No hitches, small crowd at museum’s Rodeo Day,” by Nickolas Seibel, Silver City Press, June 17, 2019

“Elim Church to host cowboy poet,” by Tammy Real-McKeighan, Fremont Tribune, June 16, 2019

“Over 37,000 cattle lost during brutal 2018 winter in Montana,” The Associated Press, June 16, 2019

“Dozens saddle up for Kansas Cowboy Poetry contest,” by Reina Garcia, ksnt.com, June 15, 2019

“S.D. ranchers raise 33K to fix broken U.S. cattle markets,” tsln.com, June 14, 2019

“Pop Wagner, cinch maker and folksinger,” The Fence Post, June 14, 2019

“Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering to host the barn dance and picnic,” Durango Herald,
June 13, 2019

“Capturing the Vibrant Culture Of Black Cowboys,” by F Jones, theoklahomaeagle.net, June 10, 2019

“Dams Could Protect Ranchers From Climate Change’s Drought…But Could They Also Contribute To It?,” by Melodie Edwards, Wyoming Public Media, June 7, 2019

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“A Cowboy Parade,” by Baxter Black, BaxterBlack.com, June 10, 2019

“Feet to the Fire,” by Amy M. Hale, Contra Viento Journal, Spring, 2019

“One rancher’s plan to establish water buffalo in Colorado,” by Sarah Tory, High Country News, June 7, 2019

“Moody Siblings Push Each Other to Excel in Rodeo,” by Lura Roti, Tri-State Livestock News, June 7, 2019

“Ranching’s Image Gets a Reboot,” dailyyonder.com, June 4, 2019

“As New Beef Campaign Launches, Some Groups seek ‘Transparency, Accountability,” by Bryce Oates, dailyyonder.com, June 4, 2019

“2019 Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering Returns to Prescott, Arizona, for 32nd Year,” Prescott Living Magazine, June 3, 2019

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“Central Texas Cowboy Gathering this weekend at Stagecoach Station Venues,” by Derrick Stuckly, Brownwood Bulletin, June 6, 2019

“Utah Arts Festival 2019: What’s the new vibe for the 43rd edition? Many new faces, events at all venues,” by Les Roka, The Utah Review, June 6, 2019

“Poet Olivia Romo sings to the acequias,” by Teresa Dovalpage, The Taos News, June 6, 2019

“Flooding Leads to Cattle Rescues Around the Country,” by Wyatt Bechtel, drovers.com,
June 5, 2019

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“Training New Neighbors,” by Baxter Black, BaxterBlack.com, June 5, 2019

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“Celebrating Art,” by Rod Miller (blog), June 3, 2019

“Buffalo Commons continues to set the bar high,” McCook Gazette, June 3, 2019

“Get the gate,” by Jessie Veeder, Inforum, June 2, 2019

“Warner Chappell Music Acquires Gene Autry Music Group,” geneautry.com, May 30, 2019

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“Ranchers Play Key Role In Saving Greater Yellowstone’s Wildlife Pathways,” by Lesli Allison, Mountain Journal, May 29, 2019

“USDA ready to help Kansas farmers and ranchers recover from recent flooding, tornadoes,” High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal, May 29, 2019

“‘American Soil’ Is Increasingly Becoming Foreign-Owned,” by Renee Wilde, Harvest Public Media, May 29, 2019

“Group Of Oklahoma Cowboys Come Together To Rescue Livestock From Floods,” by Sawyer Buccy, news9.com, May 28, 2019

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“A Sea Of Sagebrush Disappears, Making Way For Fire-Prone Cheatgrass,” Ashley Ahearn, npr.org, May 30, 2019

“Losing Ground,” John Dofflemyer, Dry Crik Journal, May 29, 2019

“Losing Ground” (2019) – Urban Sprawl Film, Angus TV, (YouTube) May 27, 2019

“Hear Texan Andy Hedges at OKC’s Blue Door,” by Brandy McDonnell, The Oklahoman, May 29, 2019

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“Riverbend Live Announces 2019 Lineup,” by Kyle Bailey, kqennewsradio.com,
May 29, 2019

“Mule Days awards scholarships,” by Ellen Morris Bishop, Wallowa County
Chieftain, May 29, 2019

“Foreign Language,” by Baxter Black, BaxterBlack.com, May 28, 2019

“‘Aloha Rodeo’ Book Illuminates The History Of Hawaiian Cowboys,” by Peter O’Dowd, wbur.org, May 27, 2019

“Telford selected for scholarship,” Times-News, May 26, 2019

“Agnes and Alice,” by Gwen Petersen, The Fence Post, May 24, 2019

“Governor signs bill for National Day of the Cowboy,” by Karen Ricketts, fox16.com, May 20, 2019

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“It’s What I Do,” by Baxter Black, BaxterBlack.com, May 20, 2019

“Cowboy poetry to be featured at gathering in Medora,” kxnet.com, May 20, 2019

“It’s a Cowboy I Will Be,” “The Cowboy Way” Scotland documentary film project

“Not on days like today,” by Jessie Veeder, Inforum, May 19, 2019

“Bard of the Southern Sierra: John Dofflemyer, fifth-generation California cattleman,” by Carolyn Dufurrena, RANGE, Summer 2019

“Leon Rausch, The Voice of Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys, Has Died,” savingcountrymusic.com, May 14, 2019

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“In Texas, cattle rustling evolves into sophisticated multimillion-dollar crimes,” by Brandon Mulder, dallasnews.com, May 12, 2019

“The legacy of a rancher: cows and family,” by Jager Robinson, Rapid City Journal, May 12, 2019

Whoop It Up! Celebrating 100 Years of the Cody Stampede June 7, 2019 – March 31, 2020 Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, Wyoming

“Dakota cowboy poetry gathering to be held in Medora,” by Owen Piehl, Bismarck Tribune, May 10, 2019

The BC Cowboy Heritage Society newsletter May, 2019

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“33rd annual Dakota Cowboy Poetry Gathering set for May 25-26,” by Emma Vatnsdal, inforum.com, May 7, 2019

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“Inheriting the Family Farm,” by Baxter Black, BaxterBlack.com, May 6, 2019

“Wagon train traces historic rail route for 5 days for Gold Spike 150th,” by Matilyn Mortensen, The Herald Journal, May 6, 2019

“If a rancher invented cussing, a rancher’s wife invented the walkaway mic drop,” by Jessie Veeder, Inforum, May 5, 2019

“The Outside Circle Show,” by Bill Reynolds, Western Horseman, May 2, 2019

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“Senate OKs Day of Cowboy resolution,” by Phil Drake, Great Falls Tribune, April 25, 2019

“Genoa Heritage Days get underway Friday in Carson Valley,” Tahoe Daily Tribune, April 25, 2019

“Rural Towns Across The Midwest Struggle To Overcome Damage From Flooding,” by Frank Morris, KCUR, April 25, 2019

“Walmart creates Angus beef supply chain, cutting out meat processors,” by Tom Polansek, Reuters, April 24, 2019

“Kids invited to submit original poems for Santa Maria library’s Cowboy Poetry Contest,”
KSBY, April 23, 2019

“Qualifying contests for Kansas Cowboy Poetry Contest set,” salina.com, April 23, 2019

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“In ‘Shadow of a Cowboy,’ Lubbock Songster Andy Hedges Explores Cowboy Tunes Old and New,” by Matt Joyce, Texas Highways, April 24, 2019

“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” an interview with Colter Wall, Cowboy Crossroads, April 23, 2019

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“80-year-old cowboy finds a way to get back in the saddle,” by Sean Giggy, wfaa.com, April 23, 2019

“Backwoods Wisdom,” by Baxter Black, BaxterBlack.com, April 22, 2019

“Riding with the gauchos of Argentina: a photo essay,” by Amanda Barnes, photography by Greg Funnell, The Guardian, April 19, 2019

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“Marmarth’s Mystic Theatre,” by Jack Dura, Prairie Public, April 22, 2019

“Mankind,” by Paul Zarzyski, for Earth Day, (blog), April 22, 2019

“Guys with Guitars,” by Rod Miller, (blog), April 20, 2019

“The yodeler who sued Yahoo,” by Zachary Crockett, The Hustle, April 20, 2019

“The Top 10 photos farmers post on social media,” by Mark Parker, FarmTalk, April 16, 2019

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“Two Jumps,” by Baxter Black (a poem in the latest column), BaxterBlack.com, April 17, 2019

“Creative expressions: verses by local poets,” Lake County Record-Bee, April 17, 2019

“A Star-Studded 2019 Western Heritage Awards,” by Dana Joseph, Cowboys & Indians magazine, April 16, 2019

“House to consider Day of Cowboy one more time,” by Phil Drake, Great Falls Tribune, April 16, 2019

“Cowboy poetry a family affair as young Zirnhelt carries on grandfather’s legacy,” Williams Lake Tribune, April 14, 2019

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“An Evening of Cowboy Poetry,” The Bungalower, April 12, 2019

“House tells Day of Cowboy proposal to hit the trail,” by Phil Drake, Great Falls Tribune, April 10, 2019

“The Romantic Cowboy,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, April 9, 2019

“The 2019 Cowboy Festival visitor’s guide,” The Signal, April 7, 2019

“26th annual Cowboy Festival to offer entertainment, history, food and drinks,” by Caleb Lunetta, The Signal, April 5, 2019

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“When Poetry Matters: Cattleman, Artist & Poet Sean Sexton Invites Us Onto His Ranch,” by Tania Ortega-Cowan, wqcs.org, April 4, 2019

“The Top 10 things the Extension guys don’t fully appreciate about your cows,” by Mark Parker, FarmTalk, April 2, 2019

“The Idaho Art Lab is searching for community artwork,” by Victoria Varnedoe, rexburgstandardjournal.com, April 2, 2019

“Stories of Hope Flood Out of Nebraska,” by Clinton Griffiths, Drovers, March 29, 2019

“Art Beat: Cowboy Artists of America Bring Their Big Show to Fort Worth, Texas,” by Dana Joseph, Cowboys & Indians, March 27, 2019

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Barbwire Dispatch, newsletter of the Alberta Cowboy Poetry Association (pdf)

“Never go rhyming with a cowboy poet!,” by William Thomas, Niagara This Week, March 29, 2019

“40 Feet High and Rising,” by Richard Oswald, Daily Yonder, March 27, 2019

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“‘Shadow of a Cowboy’ Strikes a Chord in Western Music,” by Jennifer Denison,
Western Horseman, March 28, 2019

“Saskatchewan cow gives birth to live quadruplets,” by Sharon Gerein, CBC News, March 29, 2019

“Women of the West: Monique Miller,” by Ross Hecox, Western Horseman, March 27, 2019

“The Gift,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, March 25, 2019

“More floods loom as high river waters recede in Midwest,” by Karen Dillon, Reuters, March 25, 2019

“From Cow Camp to House Keys,” by Jolyn Young, Western Horseman, March 22, 2019

__________

Kansas Cowboy Poetry Contest two qualifying events and finals

__________

“More floods loom as high river waters recede in Midwest,” by Karen Dillon, Reuters, March 25, 2019

“Rural America and a Tale of Two Columnists,” by Tim Marema, Daily Yonder, March 25, 2019

“Introducing ‘Can-Do Cowkids’ for young readers,” by Amanda Radke, Agweek, March 24, 2019

“Bernadette Ducharme voted the 2019 Keeper of the West,” by Patrick Davies, Williams Lake Tribune, March 22, 2019

“Song Premiere: Andy Hedges’ ‘Shadow of a Cowboy’,” by Hunter Hauk, Cowboys & Indians, March 21, 2019

“Gettin’ Deep & Wide with Andy Wilkinson: Live on High Plains Morning,” by Jenny Inzerillo, hppr.org, March 21, 2019

“Floodwaters threaten millions in crop and livestock losses,” by David Pitt and Margery Beck, AP, March 20, 2019

“The Rookie DVM,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, March 19, 2019

“BLM Will Pay You $1,000 To Adopt A Wild Horse,” by Amanda Peacher, Wyoming Public Media, March 13, 2019

Kevin Martini-Fuller: Portraits of The Gathering at Webster University

__________

“Wit and Wisdom at the 35th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering,” by Sean McCoy, LA Review of Books, March 17, 2019

“Kamloops Cowboy Festival celebrates the western way of life,” by Jill Sperling, cfjctoday.com, March 15, 2019

“Where cowboys still roam, from Tombstone to Deadwood,” by Sara Cagle, L.A. Times, March 15, 2019

“Glendale Folk & Heritage Festival celebrates 30 Years,” by Bette Sharpe, yourvalley.net, March 15, 2019

“It will be a long process for Nebraska farmers and ranchers to recover from snow and flooding,” by Rachel Gabel, The Fence Post, March 15, 2019

“Palo Duro Canyon,” by Christine Hamilton, Western Horseman, March 14, 2019

__________

“Singing for Spurs,” by Rod Miller, blog, March 13, 2019

“Focusing on history of Virgin Valley Settlement,” by VRobison, Moapa Valley Progress, March 13, 2019

“Events Celebrate M.V. Days,” by VRobison, Moapa Valley Progress, March 13, 2019

“Born Again Cowboy on the Steppe,” with Ryan T. Bell, 22.33 Podcast, March 11, 2019

“Caprock Chronicles: The King of the Cowboys: Roy Rogers’ Hungry Life on the
Llano Estacado,” by Chuck Lanehart, lubbockonline.com, March 9, 2019

“The capital of the Western art world in late March is Great Falls, Montana,” by Mark Bedor, Cowboys & Indians, March 1, 2019

__________

“The Hunter’s Son,” a poem by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, March 11, 2019

“Kamloops Cowboy Festival about to celebrate 23 years,” by Jill Hayward, barrierestarjournal, March 8, 2019

__________

“Work Songs of the Cowboy Poets,” photographs by Aubrey Trinnaman, text by Jared Stanley, produced by Eve Lyons, New York Times, March 9, 2019

“International Women’s Day: Women in ag defying stereotypes,” (video), AgDaily, March 8, 2018

__________

“Dom Flemons reclaims his western heritage with Black Cowboys,” by Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald, March 6, 2019

“Pull My Finger,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, March 5, 2019

“The Book of the Horse: Horses in Art,” by Susan Morrison, Western Horseman, March 5, 2019

Western Writers of America Spur Awards winners March 5, 2019

“The Top 10 cold-as-heck symptoms,” by Mark Parker, FarmTalk, March 5, 2019

__________

“I didn’t want a 70th birthday party. I wanted poetry and cowboys in the desert,” by Isabel Healy, The Irish Times, March 1, 2019

Barbwire Dispatch (pdf) Alberta Cowboy Poetry Association, February, 2019

“Cowboy lifestyle on stage at this years Rendezvous,” by Rod Boam, cachevalleydaily.com, February 28, 2019

“Grafting Calves,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, February 26, 2019

“Cultural connection: Cowboy Rendezvous gears up with school outreach,” by Irma Mora, hjnews.com, Febrary 26, 2019

__________

“Loma rancher honored for cowboy prose,” by Erin McIntyre, The Daily Sentinel, February 24, 2019

“Terry Nash Cowboy Poetry,” (video) by Chancey Bush, The Daily Sentinel, February 24, 2019

“Texas Music Revolution & Rodeo 2019,” by Jeff Campbell, Plano Magazine, February 25, 2019

__________

“Yodel-ay-hee-hoo! It’s Wylie!,” by David Rogers, Yakima Herald-Republic, February 20, 2019

“The Top 10 observations on winter weather,” by Mark Parker, FarmTalk, February 19, 2019

“Australian cattle survived years of drought. Then came the deadly floods.” by Kristine Phillips, The Washington Post, February 14, 2019

“Art Gallery: Bill Anton, by Chuck Thompson,” Cowboys & Indians, February 14, 2019

__________

“What happens when you put cowboys in a room to talk politics?,” by Carson Vaughan, The Guardian, February 19, 2019

__________

“Cowboy Cartoonists,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, February 18, 2019

Ranch Horse News (e-zine), Western Horseman, Spring 2019

“A Cowboy and His Poem,” by Jay Nordlinger, National Review, February 18, 2019

“Celebrating cowboy culture in Nevada,” by Liz Beddall, cangeotravel, February 14, 2019

“How This Trailblazing Navajo Cowboy Made Professional Rodeo History,” Vice, February 12 2019

“Ross and Lynne Knox return to Arizona to manage a historic ranch on the border of Arizona” (video), Western Horseman, January 29, 2019

“Winter Whimpers,” by Kelli Neubert, Western Horseman, January 29, 2019

__________

“The black cowboys of Mississippi – in pictures,” by Sarah Gilbert, The Guardian, February 15, 2009

“Miles City Cowboy Poetry Gathering 2019,” falloncountyextra.com, February 15, 2019

“Ninepipes Art Group Fundraiser Fills Leon Hall,” by Carolyn Hidy, Lake County Leader,
February 14, 2019

“Tall Tales Told At The Mesquite Western Roundup,” by V. Robison, Catherine Ellerton, mvprogress.com, February 13, 2019

“BC Cowboy Heritage Society Newsletter,” (Kamloops info) February, 2019

“Western faces,” by Josie Glassberg, doublescoop.art, February 12, 2019

__________

Ian Tyson Tribute (updated video) Western Folklife Center, February 14, 2019

“These Honored Dead,” by Rod Miller, blog, February 14, 2019

__________

“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” tribute to S. Omar Barker with Georgia Snead and Waddie Mitchell, Cowboy Crossroads, February 12, 2019

__________

“Cow Attack,” by Baxter Black (a poem in the latest column), BaxterBlack.com, February 13, 2019

“‘Tinder for cows’ matches livestock in the mood for love,” by Matthew Stock, Reuters, February 13, 2019

“High Lonesome: A Dispatch from the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering,” by Michael Ursell, lithub.com, February 13, 2019

__________

“Ramblin’ Jack – Beyond the Music” film trailer

“Hirsch’s Meat Market,” by Jeff Campbell, Plano Magazine, February 11, 2019

“Meet The Grammy-Nominated Singer Reclaiming Folk Music’s Black History,” by Ja’han Jones, huffingtonpost.com, February 10, 2019

“4Eagle Ranch presents romance of Western music and cowboy poetry,” by Pam Boyd, vaildaily.com, February 9, 2019

__________

“Bringing News Back from the Dead,” by Dave Skinner, flatheadbeacon.com, February 6, 2019

“Lies They Tell Writers, Part 48: The only way to learn to write is to write,” by Rod Miller (blog), February 5, 2019

“Friends honor Ian Tyson at cowboy poetry gathering,” by Toni R. Milano, Elko Daily, February 5, 2019

__________

“Bentley, The Born Again Bull,” by Baxter Black (the latest column), BaxterBlack.com, February 4, 2019

“New Cowboy Poet Pays Homage To History,” by Holly Hutchings, kunr.org, February 3, 2019

__________

2019 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering: Ian Tyson Tribute (YouTube)

2019 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering YouTube Channel

“Winter Whimpers,” by Kelli Neubert, Western Horseman, January 29, 2019

__________

“R.W. Hampton arrives in Elko for Ian Tyson show,” by Toni R. Milano, Elko Daily, February 1, 2019

“Comic art comes to life at cowboy poetry gathering,” by Toni R. Milano, Elko Daily, February 1, 2019

“Regional cowboy poetry gathering, Feb. 24,” Ekalaka Eagle, February 1, 2019

“Poetry, peering into the mirror,” by Cynthia Delaney, Elko Daily, February 1, 2019

“Keynote address personifies Cowboy Poetry Gathering,” by Suzanne Featherston, Elko Daily, January 31, 2019

“Cowboy Poetry Hits The Right Notes Once Again,” by Bob Fenske, nhtrib.com, January 31, 2019

“A Gathering of Cowboy Poets,” by Bill Reynolds, Western Horseman, January 29, 2019

__________

“Poems on the range: the annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering wrangles writers from all over, including Canada,” by Vanessa Greco, CBC Radio, January 28, 2019

“Film festival kicks off during Gathering,” by Cynthia Delaney, Elko Daily, January 28, 2019

“CPU Pioneer Heritage Award,” (Rod Miller), by Rod Miller (blog), January 27, 2019

__________

“Cowboy Poet Honored” (Terry Nash), by Colette Bordelon, Western Slope Now, January 28, 2019

_________

Portraits of the Gathering photography by Kevin Martin-Fuller and audio poems from the Western Folklife Center’s 35th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering

__________

“I Found Myself in Elko,” by John Dofflymyer, Dry Crik Journal (blog), January 28, 2019

“Cowboy’s Grace,” by Baxter Black (a poem in the latest column), BaxterBlack.com, January 28, 2019

“Gathering Magic: 35 Years of Cowboy Poetry,” by Suzanne Featherston, Elko Daily, January 25, 2019

“Workshop gathers veterans to write, work through pasts,” by Toni R. Milano, Elko Daily, January 25, 2019

“Ranching families on Cheyenne River Reservation face a choice…” by Kenneth Dickerman, Emily Schiffer, Dawnee LeBeau and Sylvia Picotte, Washington Post, January 25, 2019

“Arts commission wants to up fellowship odds for folk artists,” by Keith Ridler, Associated Press, January 25, 2019

“Cowboy Poetry events at GBC,” Elko Daily Free Press, January 24, 2019

“Riverdale poet will read his work on stage at National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Nevada,” by Rich Brown, Hub, January 24, 2019

__________

“National Cowboy Poetry Gathering,” by Thea Prieto, Poets & Writers, January/February 2019

__________

“Ol’ Roanie,” by Baxter Black in the latest column, BaxterBlack.com, January 22, 2019

“A home, home on the range in Golden for Wild West artistry,” by Christina Steadman, Arvada Press, January 21, 2019

“As Colorado urbanizes, rural ranch life celebrated at annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering,” by Elise Schmelzer, The Denver Post, January 21, 2019

“The way my grandpa sees the world,” by Jessie Veeder, Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (blog), January 21, 2019

“Video Exclusive: A Red Steagall Poem for Justin Boots,” by Kristin Brown, Cowboys & Indians, January, 2019

“Made in the U.S.A.,” by Bill Reynolds, Western Horseman, January 2, 2019

__________

“Prejudice,” by Baxter Black in the latest column, BaxterBlack.com, January 15, 2019

“Rodeo Alaska cow evades capture wandering Anchorage trails,” apnews, January 15,
2019

Song Writer’s Notebook with Andy Hedges (video), by Rik Palieri, January 13, 2019

“National Cowboy Poetry Gathering,” The Hans India, January 13, 2019

“Museums of Western Colorado brings history, science, adventure to its outings,” by Ann Wright, Grand Junction Sentinel, January 12, 2019

“Windows into the past,” by Cynthia Delaney, Elko Daily Free Press, January 12, 2019

“Female Ranchers Are Reclaiming the American West,” by Amy Chozick, New York Times, January 11, 2019

“Bartley Ranch Regional Park kicks off 2019 music series,” mynews4.com, January 9, 2019

“Cowboy Poetry to return to Mesquite in February,” by V. Robison, myprogress.com, January 9, 2019

“Riding Sloppy,” by Kelli Neubert, Western Horseman, January 8, 2019

“Walk Ride Rodeo,” by Dana Joseph, Cowboys & Indians, January 8, 2019

__________

“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” with Corb Lund, Cowboy Crossroads, January 8, 2019

“The Make-Up Of Ice,” by Paul Zarzyski, blog, January 8, 2019

“It takes a ranch…,”by Dawn Wink, Dewdrops blog, January 7, 2019

“How to Make a Bucking Bull: Good Breeding and, Just Maybe, a Cow’s Love,” by James Gorman, New York Times, January 5, 2019

“Things to do in Butte,” Montana Standard, January 4, 2019

“Temple Grandin reveals her two greatest fears to Georgia 4-H members,” by Sadie
Lackey, onthefarmradio.com, January 4, 2019

__________

“The Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering Is Celebrating Its 30th Anniversary,” by Madeline Taub, 5280, January 2019

__________

“That Time of Year,” by John Dofflemyer, Dry Crik Journal blog, January 2, 2019

“New Year’s resolutions for ranching families,” by Amanda Radke, Agweek, December 30, 2018

“Norwegian farmers keep tabs on cattle with GPS,” Ingrid P. Nuse, ScienceNordic, December 28, 2018

“Coordinated Effort: Using Legs & Hands to Gain Body Control in a Horse,” by Christine Hamilton, Western Horseman, December 18, 2018

__________

“It’s Never Easy To…,” by Baxter Black in the latest column, BaxterBlack.com, December 31, 2018

“Back in the Saddle(bag),” by Rod Miller (blog), December 31, 2018

“Ranch Artist Pens Christmas Book For Kids,” by Amanda Radke, tsln.com,
December 26, 2018

__________

“About Bruce,” by Susan Matley, blog, December 28, 2018 (remembering Bruce Matley, “Nevada Slim,” 1948-2018)

________

“The Top 10 Christmas lessons learned,” by Mark Parker, FarmTalk, December 25, 2018

“Fifty-six bred heifers missing from Aurora, Colo., ranch,” by Rachel Gabel, The Fence Post, December 19, 2018

__________

“What’s Under That Tree?,” by Hannah Williams, hereford.org, December 20, 2018

“Colorado Has A New ‘Poet Lariat’ Who Can Wrangle Words As Well As Cattle,” by Nancy Lofholm, Colorado Public Radio, December 19, 2018

“A song in my heart,” by Rod Miller, blog, December 19, 2018

“Reindeer Flu,” by Baxter Black (a poem in the latest column), BaxterBlack.com, December 17, 2018

British Columbia Cowboy Heritage Society newsletter December, 2018

__________

“National Cowboy Poetry Gathering,” by Thea Prieto, Poets & Writers, December 12, 2018

__________

“Tango Sed,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, December 11, 2018

“‘World’s smallest cow’ stuns owners days after giant steer Knickers went viral,” Daily Mirror, December 10, 2018

“If Santa Rode a Horse,” by Kelli Neubert, Western Horseman, December 7, 2018

“A George Phippen Cowboy Christmas,” by Bill Reynolds, Western Horseman, December 3, 2018

__________

“Cowboy Crossroads with Andy Hedges,” with John Dofflemyer, Cowboy Crossroads, December 5, 2018

__________

“For his protest against rising tourism, Utah rancher lets his cows do the, uh, talking,” by Brian Maffly, Salt Lake Tribune, December 7, 2018

“Dominant Bull Moose Shows Others Who’s Boss at Colorado Ranch,” yahoo.com, December 7, 2018

“Overlooked No More: Charley Parkhurst, Gold Rush Legend With a Hidden Identity,” by Tim Arango, New York Times, December, 2018

__________

“Goat Day,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, December 3, 2018

“Lawler Lions To Take Over Cowboy Poetry,” by Bob Fenske, nhtrib.com, December 1, 2018

“Cowboy Poetry at ND Cowboy Hall of Fame, part of Medora’s Old Fashioned Cowboy Christmas!, bowmanextra.com, November 30, 2018

“‘Beyond the Next Ridge’ Tells True Cowboy Tales,” by Jennifer Denison, Western Horseman, November 28, 2018

“Women of the West: Merilyn Sustacha,” by Jennifer Denison, Western Horseman, November 27, 2018

“Elgin Student Wins Poetry Contest,” swoknews.com, November 26, 2018

__________

“Cowboy Mentality,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, November 26, 2018

“Lowman pens ‘And the Freight Trains Roll’,” by Linda Sailer, Dickinson Press, November 26, 2018

“Hats for all seasons,” by Gwen Petersen, The Fence Post, November 23, 2018

“Cowboy poetry gathering Dec. 7-8,” Wickenburg Sun, November 21, 2018

“Michael Martin Murphey keeping history alive,” By Katie Chicklinski-Cahill, Durango Herald, November 21, 2018

“Burned Out in 2017, A Rancher Confronts Wildfire—Again,” by Bryce Oates, Daily Yonder, November 20, 2018

“A Cowboy Christmas Carol,” by Josh Winquist, castanet.net, November 19, 2018

“Murphey headlining 2 nights of ‘Cowboy Christmas’ concerts at Lubbock’s Cactus,” by William Kerns, lubbockonline.com, November 18, 2018

“Ranch Hand Breakfast feeds more people than ever before,” kiitv.com, November 17, 2018

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

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

__________

“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

__________

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

__________

“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

__________

In Our Thoughts: Dennis Gaines

__________

35th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering- Tickets on Sale Now

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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
__________

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

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

__________

“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

__________

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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

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

___________

“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

__________

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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

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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

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

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

Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering, January 19-21, 2018

PROLAPSE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON by Baxter Black

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PROLAPSE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON
by Baxter Black

It came from outta nowhere,
like a prolapse in the night.
Which, in fact is what it was, my friends,
the cow vet’s scourge and plight.
That pudgy pink projectile
from those monster movie scenes
Like some whopping giant burrito
filled with attitude and beans.

I was soon laid down behind it
on a hillside in the muck
While the cowboy shined his high beams
from his perch there in the truck.
His rope stretched from the bumper
to her front legs tied in haste.
As I wallowed in the darkness
like a frog, stripped to the waist.

It was bigger than a tree trunk.
It was slick as old chow mein.
It was heavy as a carpet
someone left out in the rain.
I tried to gain some purchase
as I pressed my fist in tight,
It was thrashing like a porpoise
and was putting up a fight.

I got it in a hammerlock.
It was like a rabid dog.
I wrapped my legs around it
like a monkey on a log.
I pushed until my shoulder
disappeared inside the mass
As I scrambled for a foothold
in the mud and frozen grass.

But alas, with one huge effort
she expelled me from her grip.
I shot out like a cannon,
rolled and did a double flip.
But I grabbed her tail in passing
and with strength born out of war,
I dove at the appendage
like some punch drunk matador.

I lifted her hind quarters,
and I swung her side to side,
Then, like smart men do,
I used my head to push it back inside!
It was dark there for a second,
it was hard to catch my breath
But there she lay, my patient
I had saved from certain death.

The cowboy rolled his window down, said,
“Doc, are you alright?”
He gunned the engine several times.
The headlights got real bright.
“I’ve seen a prolapse done before
but never quite like that!”
“Oh, they taught us that in vet school…
But I think it ate my hat.”

You must watch Baxter Black performing this poem. Find one video from the Heber Valley Music and Cowboy Gathering and another video here.

Poet and writer Rod Miller, in “Fine Lines and Wrinkles,” an essay at CowboyPoetry.com, writes, “Alliteration, assonance, consonance, and a completely off-kilter view of the world are apparent in these fine, wrinkled lines from ‘Prolapse from the Black Lagoon’ by Baxter Black. (Note that even his name uses alliteration and assonance.)”

In his official bio, where he is described as “a cowboy poet, former large animal veterinarian and entertainer of the agricultural masses,” Baxter Black comments, “My audience is my inspiration. Every cowboy, rancher, vet, farmer, feed salesman, ag teacher, cowman and rodeo hand has a story to tell, and they tell it to me. I Baxterize it and tell it back to ‘em! It doesn’t seem fair, does it?”

He recites Bruce Kiskaddon’s “They Can Take It” on the new MASTERS: VOLUME THREE CD from CowboyPoetry.com and S. Omar Barker’s “Cowboy Saying” on MASTERS: VOLUME TWO.

This message comes from Baxter’s office, a policy announcement:

Since Baxter Black is no longer doing live performances, there are inquiries about others using his material in their performances. His policy is that anyone is welcome use his material in appropriate occasions, including non-profit or paid-for performances. He requests that the poems or stories be performed the way they are written, allowing for editing of length if needed. Please give the author credit.”

His office adds that no one, for any reason, has permission to include his work “on cds, books, or dvds…or to try to sell it in any manner, including online.”

This version of “Prolapse from the Black Lagoon” comes from Poems Worth Saving, Baxter Black’s 2013 collection of 164 poems and stories. Find more about Baxter Black at CowboyPoetry.com, on Facebook; and find much more, including a weekly column, at
BaxterBlack.com.

This photograph is courtesy of Baxter Black.

(Please respect copyright. You can share this poem with this post, but request permission for any other use—except recitation.)

THE OLD NIGHT HAWK, by Bruce Kiskaddon

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THE OLD NIGHT HAWK
by Bruce Kiskaddon (1878-1950)

I am up tonight in the pinnacles bold
Where the rim towers high.
Where the air is clear and the wind blows cold,
And there’s only the horses and I.
The valley swims like a silver sea
In the light of the big full moon,
And strong and clear there comes to me
The lilt of the first guard’s tune.

The fire at camp is burning bright,
Cook’s got more wood than he needs.
They’ll be telling some windy tales tonight
Of races and big stampedes.
I’m gettin’ too old fer that line of talk:
The desperaders they’ve knowed,
Their wonderful methods of handling stock
And the fellers they’ve seen get throwed.

I guess I’m a dog that’s had his day,
Though I still am quick and strong.
My hair and my beard have both turned gray,
And I reckon I’ve lived too long.
None of ’em know me but that old cook, Ed,
And never a word he’ll say.
My story will stick in his old gray head
Till the break of the Judgment Day.

What’s that I see a walkin’ fast?
It’s a hoss a’ slippin’ through.
He was tryin’ to make it out through the pass;
Come mighty near doin’ it too.
Get back there! What are you tryin’ to do?
You hadn’t a chance to bolt.
Old boy I was wranglin’ a bunch like you
Before you was even a colt.

It’s later now. The guard has changed.
One voice is clear and strong.
He’s singin’ a tune of the old time range —
I always did like that song.
It takes me back to when I was young
And the memories come through my head,
Of the times I have heard that old song sung
By voices now long since dead.

I have traveled better than half my trail.
I am well down the further slope.
I have seen my dreams and ambitions fail,
And memory replaces hope.
It must be true, fer I’ve heard it said,
That only the good die young.
The tough old cusses like me and Ed
Must stay still the last dog’s hung.

I used to shrink when I thought of the past
And some of the things I have known.
I took to drink, but now at last,
I’d far rather be alone.
It’s strange how quick that a night goes by,
Fir I live in the days of old.
Up here where there’s only the hosses and I;
Up in the pinnacles bold.

The two short years that I ceased to roam,
And I led a contented life.
Then trouble came and I left my home,
And I never have heard of my wife.
The years that I spent in a prison cell
When I went by another name;
For life is a mixture of Heaven and Hell
To a feller that plays the game.

They’d better lay off that wrangler kid.
They’ve give him about enough.
He looks like a pardner of mine once did.
He’s the kind that a man can’t bluff.
They’ll find that they are making a big mistake
If they once get him overhet;
And they’ll give him as good as an even break,
Or I’m takin’ a hand, you bet.

Look, there in the East is the Mornin’ Star.
It shines with a firy glow,
Till it looks like the end of a big cigar,
But it hasn’t got far to go.
Just like the people that make a flash.
They don’t stand much of a run.
Come bustin’ in with a sweep and a dash
When most of the work is done.

I can see the East is gettin’ gray.
I’ll gather the hosses soon;
And faint from the valley far away
Comes the drone of the last guard’s tune.
Yes, life is just like the night-herd’s song,
As the long years come and go.
You start with a swing that is free and strong,
And finish up tired and slow.

I reckon the hosses all are here.
I can see that T-bar blue,
And the buckskin hoss with the one split ear;
I’ve got ’em all. Ninety two.
Just listen to how they roll the rocks —
These sure are rough old trails.
But then, if they can’t slide down on their hocks,
They can coast along on their tails.

The Wrangler Kid is out with his rope,
He seldom misses a throw.
Will he make a cow hand? Well I hope,
If they give him half a show.
They are throwin’ the rope corral around,
The hosses crowd in like sheep.
I reckon I’ll swaller my breakfast down
And try to furgit and sleep.

Yes, I’ve lived my life and I’ve took a chance,
Regardless of law or vow.
I’ve played the game and I’ve had my dance,
And I’m payin’ the fiddler now.

…Bruce Kiskaddon

This poem appeared in Bruce Kiskaddon’s 1924 book, and was revised for his 1947 book. The 45 variants are included in Bill Siems’ Open Range, which includes almost all of Kiskaddon’s nearly 500 poems. The above poem is the 1947 version.

Bill Siems writes, in another of his books, Shorty’s Yarns (the collected stories of Kiskaddon), about how this poem inspired him. His eloquent comments include how city people and ranchers might see each other, and, he comments on ranch people:

“…Besides feeding us, they are the stewards of our land and keepers of our connection with the natural world. They have come closest, after the Native Americans, to harmony with a landscape that is both beautiful and harsh. This harmony is a significant and difficult achievement, essentially in opposition to our romantic notions that are driven by need but not grounded in reality. It is one thing to love the land from a climate-controlled vehicle, but it is another to love it in the wind and sleet on horseback. Cattle as a backdrop for western entertainment are a world apart from cattle as living creatures that must be cared for and slaughtered. Standing with honesty and humility on such bedrock facts of life gives a person authority, however gently it may be asserted…this is the poem that first caught me up in Bruce Kiskaddon’s words…”

Find more about Kiskaddon, Open Range, and Shorty’s Yarns at CowboyPoetry.com.

In the new triple-CD set from cowboypoetry.com, MASTERS: VOLUME THREE, the poetry of Bruce Kiskaddon, Bill Siems offers an introduction to Bruce Kiskaddon and top poets and reciters present over 60 Kiskaddon poems.

Chris Isaacs, cowboy, packer, poet, and humorist, recites “The Old Night Hawk” on MASTERS: VOLUME THREE.

Chris headlines at the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering, August 8-10, 2019 in Prescott. Other announced performers are headliners Trinity Seely and The Cowboy Way Trio (Doug Figgs, Jim Jones and Mariam Funke). Tickets are available now.

This stunning photograph is by cowboy, writer, and poet Amy Hale Steiger, who cowboys with her husband Gail Steiger in rugged country at Arizona’s Spider ranch. She comments, “We often make camp below this butte when we are working our Cottonwood Pasture. Late evening and early morning highlights the rock faces, and I can’t help but stand in awe.”

For a fine piece of writing about her cowboying life, don’t miss her recent “Feet to the Fire,” in the current issue of Contra Viento Journal.

Amy Steiger has acclaimed books: two novels, two essay collections, and a book of poetry.

Find more about her at her web site, amyhaleauker.com; on CowboyPoetry.com; on Instagram; and follow her on Facebook.

(Please respect copyright. You can share this photograph with this post, but for other uses, seek permission. The poem is in the public domain.)