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Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry / 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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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.

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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE by Carole Jarvis

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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
by Carole Jarvis

If there’s any of you women out there,
…..who are newly a cowboy’s wife.
And are still experiencing the honeymoon phase,
…..be prepared, there’s an afterlife!

The time will soon come you’ll be asked to help out,
…..So you probably ought to know,
That when he hands you a ripe, with a cow on the end,
…..You’re expected to never let go!

No matter he’s roped the old girl from the ground,
…..then dallied a big cedar post,
While explainin’ to you how bad sick she is,
…..almost ready to “give up the ghost.”

She’s standin’ there, tongue out, legs all a’spraddle,
…..her eyes bulging out of her head,
As the cowboy moves in to give her a shot,
…..for after all, the cow’s about dead.

Not quite! Just as the needle is jabbed in her rump,
…..that hind leg lets go with a whack.
And the cowboy’s shin receives direct hit,
…..as I’m tryin’ to take up my slack.

For the cow has leaped forward, shakin’ her head,
…..throwin’ slobber in every direction.
And with only that cedar post between us,
…..I’ve decided to use some discretion.

I dodge to the side, lettin’ go of the rope,
…..which had just burned the palms of both hands.
And that wild-eyed old cow’s horns barely miss
…..where I was, ’cause that’s where she lands.

“Keep a’hold of the rope!” comes a yell from behind
…..but by then this alliance is through!
One “near death” experience a day is enough
…..and I did all I could possibly do.

Or, at least it seemed, from my point of view,
…..(which was sure not the view I’d have chose)
But I handled the incident logically—
…..and that’s where the problem arose.

Logic wasn’t a choice—I aborted the mission!
…..left my post, in the midst of a battle!
So ladies beware, the honeymoon’s over,
…..when you and the cowboy work cattle.

Award-winning poet Carole Jarvis met her cowboy while working in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and they were married for over 50 years before his death in 2010. She tells in her bio at CowboyPoetry.com:

We’ve lived and cowboyed in Wyoming, Oregon and Arizona, and there’s been a lot of hard work, dusty trails, blisters, sunburns and broken bones along the way, but it’s the life I chose and the one Dan, my husband chose, and we wouldn’t trade it for any other.

“Mission Impossible” is included in Facing West: Voices of Western Women, Volume Two (2019). The book includes poems and stories from over 50 Western women, including Deanna Dickinson McCall, Amy Hale Steiger, Jessica Hedges, Andrea Waitley and daughter Abi McWhorter Reynolds, Betty McCarthy, Dee Strickland Johnson (“Buckshot Dot”), and many others. Facing West was compiled by Sally Bates, who is pictured on the cover in a photo by Mary Abbott.

With proceeds from the first volume, Natalie G’Schwind was presented with the 2019 Facing West, Roni Harper Memorial Scholarship. Find more about both volumes of Facing West and other publications from Arizona Cowboy Connection at arizonacowboyconnection.com.

Find more about Carole Jarvis at cowboypoetry.com.

The photograph is courtesy of Carole Jarvis from the Jarvis Ranch.

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

SADDLIN’ UP TIME, by Andy Wilkinson

SADDLIN’ UP TIME
by Andy Wilkinson

I never looked forward to the end of the day;
Or to evening, drab and melancholy-gray,
Or to featureless shadows of purple-to-black,
Or to work finished-up or simply put back
While the business of living slowly unwinds;
I was always awaitin’ for saddlin’-up time.

I slept of necessity, not pleasure and not
For the comforts of night, when the bosom of God
Cradled mortality in immortal dark,
Nor for the shroud of cool starlight whose spark
Like the lamp of the firefly silently chimed;
I took my pleasure in saddlin’-up time.

And I worried the hectic commotion of morn,
The commerce of mercantile and courthouse lawn,
The meetings and greetings on sidewalk and street
Where horseback-opinions and auguring meet,
And I argued their rhythms, swore at their rhymes,
But was playful as a pup, come saddlin’-up time.

For ’twas then before ever light angled to fill
The round corners, we’d clamor like wolves at the kill
With horse-talk our yap, with our nip and our bite
Latigo leathers snapping cinchas down tight
In the summer’s wet dew or the winter’s sharp rime
As we readied our horses at saddlin’-up time.

When the morning night air was marble we breathed,
Heavy and smooth and as cold as the breeze
That skitters across the new snow-covered plains,
One hand on the horn and the other, the reins
We stepped aboard stirrups, young bucks in our prime,
Salty as the Pecos at saddlin’-up time.

Though I’ve lived for this moment most all of my life,
Beginnings, not endings, put the edge on my knife;
And I’ve cursed too damn much and I’ve never prayed well
And it may be God figures to send me to Hell,
Riding drag for the Devil to pay for my crimes,
But I’m damned if I’ll go ‘fore saddlin’-up time.

This poem by respected poet, songwriter, singer, playwright, teacher, and editor Andy Wilkinson is a part of his Wrangler award-winning “Western folk opera of the dreams and visions of the legendary cowman, Charlie Goodnight” (who was his great-grandmother’s great-uncle). J.B. Allen recites “Saddlin’ Up Time” on the Charlie Goodnight album.

Andy Hedges has his own fine recitation on a “Cowboy Crossroads” podcast Episode 28, with an extended interview with Andy Wilkinson, filled with engaging history and thoughtful, interesting stories about Charlie Goodnight and his times.

Another outstanding recitation of this poem, by Jerry Brooks, appears on her Shoulder to Shoulder CD and on The BAR-D Roundup: Volume Seven.”

See Andy Wilkinson at the new Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Alpine, Texas, February 21-22, 2020. The gathering has been created by an enthusiastic group of people who came together after the announcement of the end of the venerable Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering last year. The program’s outstanding lineup includes Mike Blakely, Dale Burson, Craig Carter, Allan Chapman & Rodeo Kate, Doug Figgs, Jack George, Pipp Gillette, Jeff Gore, Amy Hale Steiger, Andy Hedges, Randy Huston, Jim Jones, Jill Jones, Jarle Kvale, Deanna McCall, Terry Nash, Andy Nelson, Joel Nelson, Rodney Nelson, Gary Prescott, Jean Prescott, Mike Querner, Vess Quinlan, Brigid & Johnny Reedy, Randy Rieman, Jake Riley, Trinity Seely, R.P. Smith, Jay Snider, Red Steagall, Gail Steiger, Michael Stevens, Rod Taylor, The Cowboy Way (Jim Jones, Doug Figgs and Mariam Funke) Andy Wilkinson, and Jim Wilson.

Andy Wilkinson dazzled his audience with his keynote address at the 2017 Western Folklire Center’s National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. The presentation, which focused on the gathering’s theme of storytelling, was a celebration in brilliant poetry, with a few musical interludes. View a video to see why there was a clamoring for a printed version.

Now, the piece, Storyline, has been published by John Dofflemyer Dry Crik Journal. Find it , including Andy Wilkinson’s introduction and order information at drycrikjournal.com.

Find more about Andy Wilkinson at CowboyPoetry.com and at his web site, andywilkinson.org.

This 1939 photo by Russell Lee (1903-1986) is titled, “Cowboy throwing saddle onto horse on cattle ranch near Spur, Texas.” It’s from the Farm Services Administration (FSA) collection at the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Russell Lee taught photography at the University of Texas, Austin, from 1965-1973, and is best known for his FSA photos. Find more about him at Texas State University’s Russell Lee Collection.

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

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.

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

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Subscribe to our occasional newsletter.

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“To be a cowboy,” by Jessie Veeder, Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (blog), January 13, 2020

“Meet Najiah Knight, the 13-Year-Old Girl Upending the World of Professional Bull Riding,” by Corey Seymour, Vogue, January 7, 2020

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“The Last of New York’s Black Cowboys,” By Sarah Maslin Nir, NY Times, January 10, 2020

Webcast with Jerry Brooks, Bill Jones, Vess Quinlan and more from the Library of Congress, November 2019 (transcript)

“Folk & Heritage Festival back to take over Glendale,” Glendale Independent, January 9, 2020

“Poetry, comedy, music and heaping helping of beans,” by Paul Albani-Burgio, Arvada Press, January 8, 2020

“[Lone Star] Poetry Gathering features youth poetry contest,” Orange Leader, Wednesday, January 8, 2020

“Local cowboy singer, poet, and songwriter releases new book,” by Patty Hullett, waxahachietx.com, January 6, 2020

Cowboy Coffee with Kent Rollins and Jeff Goldblum, Youtube/Disney+, January 3, 2020

“Beulah Woman Named ‘Western Woman of the Year’,” by Renee Cooper, kxnet.com, January 2, 2020

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“Cowboy Poets of the New West,” by Meredith Lawrence, Alta, January 7, 2020

“Cow Disturber,” by Baxter Black (latest “On the Edge of Common Sense” column), BaxterBlack.com, January 7, 2020

“A Day In The Life Of A Chuck Wagon Cook,” by Marshall Trimble, True West, December 18, 2019

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“Ding Dong,” by Rod Miller (blog), December 30, 2019

Reckoning, new from John Dofflemyer, dricrikjournal.com

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“Oh Christmas Pug, Oh Christmas Pug…,” by Jessie Veeder, Back at the Ranch (blog), December 30, 2019

Great Falls Symphony Orchestra & Choir premiere Paul Zarzyski’s “Grace” (program and lyrics pdf)

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Heather Hafleigh programs a special Cowboy Poetry and Music edition of The Hear and Now, 10 p.m., Thursday, January 2, 2020, kpfa.org

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Dennis Gaines, 1954-2019

Cleve Rice, 1936-2019, postregister.com, December 27, 2019

“Outside Circle,” by Jan Swan Wood, Tri-State Livestock News, December 26, 2019

“‘It’s just something I crave’: a young Native American finds her home in rodeo,” by Eli Imadali, theguardian.com, December 25, 2019

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“Joe and Maria,” by Baxter Black, (on his Facebook page), December 23, 2019

“Podcasts to Queue for Your 2020 Playlist,” by Hunter Hauk, Cowboys & Indians magazine, December 23, 2019

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“San Simon’s cowboy poets,” by Heather Lentz, willcoxrangenews.com, December 20, 2019

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“36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering celebrates black cowboys,” by the Western Folklife Center, Elko Daily Free Press, December 19, 2019

“Testimony,” by Baxter Black, Tri-State Livestock News, December 19, 2019

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“Branding: Paregien Ranch 2019,” by John Dofflemyer, drycrikjournal.com, December 19, 2019

“Christmas for Axel,” by Bryce Angell, Teton Valley News, December 19, 2019

“Santa Claus’ official veterinarian OK the reindeer for flight,” AGDAILY, December 17, 2019

“Silent Night: Lindsay’s step away from Cowboy Christmas Gathering,” by Evan J. Pretzer, The Observer, December 13, 2019

“Cowboy Christmas brings classic Dickens tale with a cowboy twist to Chilliwack Cultural Centre,” bclocalnews.com, December 8, 2019

“Holiday on the Frontier,” by Jose R. Ralat, Cowboys & Indians, December 6, 2019

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“A Taste Of The Holidays, Cowboy-Style,” by Jim Kent, Weekend Edition Saturday/NPR, December 14, 2019

“History in Focus: The New Tourism,” by James Neton, Craig Daily Press, December 12, 2019

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“Flick benefit concert to aid cowboy in crisis,” by Kurt Liedtke, Lake County Examiner, December 11, 2019

“Wyoming deputies lasso deer that fell through iced-over pond,” Western Slope Now, December 11, 2019

“Someone is gluing miniature cowboy hats on pigeons in Las Vegas,” by Deanna Paul, The Washington Post, December 10, 2019

“Between the Bedroll Sheets: It’s Not What You Think,” by Jolyn Young, Western Horseman, November 20, 2019

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“Leroy and Tom,” by Baxter Black (latest “On the Edge of Common Sense” column), BaxterBlack.com, December 9, 2019

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“Riding the Cowboy Poetry Trail,” by Bill Jones, RANGE, Winter 2020

“Lake County [CA] is seeking its next poet laureate,” Lake County Record-Bee, December 7, 2019

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“Playing the Slots,” by Rod Miller (blog), December 6, 2019

“Elko’s buckaroo roots on display at new Cowboy Arts, Gear Museum,” by Richard Moreno, Nevada Appeal, December 4, 2019

“The Essential West,” by Bill Reynolds, Western Horseman, December 4, 2019

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“Kent Rollins, the King of Cowboy Cooking, is Carrying the Fire,” by Eddie Kim, melmagazine.com, December 3, 2019

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“A conversation with cowboy songster Andy Hedges,” by Will Houk, Nevada Capital News, December 3, 2019

“Kathy Moss wins international poetry award,” by Angel Carpenter, Blue Mountain Eagle, December 3, 2019

BC Cowboy Heritage Society Newsletter with Kamloops news December, 2019

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“Goddess of the Hunt,” by Baxter Black (latest “On the Edge of Common Sense” column), BaxterBlack.com, December 2, 2019

“Sedona Museum Presents: What’s In A Name?! with Michael Peach,” Sedona Times, December 2, 2019

“Cowboy Poetry Contest announces winners,” by Toni Hopper, theadanews.com, November 30, 2019

“Coyotes have expanded their range to 49 states—and show no signs of stopping,” by Christine Dell Amore, National Geographic, November 29, 2019

“Young cowboy poets write about the Chisholm Trail and western life,” The Duncan Banner, November 28, 2019

“Western Folklife Center seeks volunteers for Cowboy Poetry Gathering,” Elko Daily Free Press, November 28, 2019

“Museum holds 2019 Student Cowboy Poetry Contest,” Wickenburg Sun, November 27, 2019

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“A Sheep Thanksgiving,” by Baxter Black (latest “On the Edge of Common Sense” column), BaxterBlack.com, November 25, 2019

“A Cowpuncher’s Night Before Christmas,” (with video) by Ross Hecox, Western Horseman, November 22, 2019

“29th annual Kingsville Ranch Hand weekend,” by Roland Rodriguez, kristv.com, November 22, 2019

“Community spirit takes flight with food bank concert,” by Stephen Tipper, leaderpost.com, November 22, 2019

“Veach Saddlery Turns 100 Years Old,” by Jennifer Denison, Western Horseman, November 21, 2019

“Performers for first Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering Announced,” by Joe Hyde, San Angelo Live, November 20, 2019

“Spur Award Contest Entries Sought,” Western Writers of America, November 10, 2019

“Cowboy Artists Enjoy Move to Fort Worth,” by Ross Hecox, Western Horseman, November 8, 2019

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“Horse Psychology,” by Baxter Black (latest “On the Edge of Common Sense” column), BaxterBlack.com, November 11, 2019

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“Country Christmas comes early to pioneer museum,” by Evan J, Pretzer, leaderpost.com, November 14, 2019

“Three cows vanished during Hurricane Dorian. Months later, they’ve been found chilling on an island miles from shore,” by Antonia Noori Farzan, Washington Post, November 14, 2019

“Cows swept off island during Hurricane Dorian found after swimming for miles,” Edward Helmore for The Guardian, Yahoo News, November 13, 2019

“36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering To Exhibit Artists & Films,” fairfieldsuntimes.com, November 12, 2019

Quanah Parker Exhibit | One Man, Two Worlds (November 6-December 18, 2019)
National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum

“Foal experiences snow for the first time,” ABC News Videos, November 13, 2019

“Medical or Nutritional,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, November 11, 2019

“Time to gather,” Jessie Veeder, Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch blog, November 11, 2019

“Cutting a Pipe Collar off a Cow’s Leg,” by Lizzie Iwersen (video), Western Horseman, November 4, 2019

“Ultimate free-range kids: Two boys, 6 and 10, rode horses to New York — from Oklahoma,” by Eliza McGraw, Washington Post, October 19, 2019

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“‘Climate Change’ Cowboy Logic,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, November 6, 2019

“The Cowboys: How 12 poets, singers and songwriters came together in Grand Junction,” by Dan West, gjsentinel.com, November 4, 2019

“20 Mule Team reenactment visits Death Valley,” The Daily Independent, November 4, 2019

“Bing Crosby’s Nevada get-away ranch on market for $7.28 million,” by WKRC/Local 12, November 2, 2019

“Horse owners scramble to evacuate their animals ahead of California fire,” by Tom Kisken and Kathleen Wilson, Ventura County Star/Yahoo News/USA TODAY, October 30, 2019

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“Cowboy Poet Floyd Beard Performs ‘Canyons’,” Western Horseman (YouTube), October 29, 2019

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“A Hundred Years from Now,” by Baxter Black (latest column), BaxterBlack.com, October 30, 2019

“California Vineyards and Ranchers at Risk as Wildfires Rage,” by Michael Hirtzer and Marvin G. Perez, Bloomberg/Yahoo News, October 30, 2019

“Western Slope Cowboy Gathering,” beaconseniornews.com, October 30, 2019

“Pomegranate Arts and Crafts Festival This Weekend,” by Charlene Paul, Maopa Valley Progress, October 30, 2019

“Wild Westerns: Five Classic “Twilight Zone” Episodes,” by Joe Leydon, Cowboys & Indians, October 23, 2019

“Rural veterinarian shortage: Are you experiencing it?,” by Katie James, Drovers,
October 22, 2019

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“14th Annual Comstock Cowboy Poet Gathering Nov. 2-Nov. 3,” by Gavin Higgins, sandhillsexpress.com, October 28, 2019

“Best Museum: Frisco Historic Park & Museum,” by Jefferson Geiger, summitdaily.com, October 26, 2019

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“Cowboy Poet To Be Honored With Bronze Sculpture in Fort Worth Stockyards,” by Deborah Ferguson, nbcdfw.com, October 25, 2019

“Outside Circle,” by Jan Swan Wood, tsln.com, October 24, 2019

“NFarm Animals in History,” by Baxter Black, latest column at baxterblack.com, October 23, 2019

“WRCA Announces Special Screening of ‘Cowboys: A Documentary Portrait,’” tsln.com, October 23, 2019

“The Heber Valley Western Music & Cowboy Poetry Gathering Starts This Week,” by David Boyle, kpcw.org, October 22, 2019

“A look into the future,” by Rod Miller (blog), October 22, 2019

“Some old west fun: Cowboy poetry, music, dinner set for Nov. 1 and 2 at Seminary,” by Deb Nicklay, Austin Daily Herald, October 19, 2019

“Southeastern Cowboy Festival & Symposium to celebrate 17th year,” by Randy Parker, The Daily Tribune, October 19, 2019

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“Romancing the West comes to Lakeview,” by Margot Dodds, Lake County Examiner, October 16, 2019

Gamble, Steven R. (1959-2019), Bozeman Daily Chronicle, October 16, 2019

“Five Reasons to Attend Grand Junction’s Upcoming Cowboy Poetry Gathering,” kekbfm.com, October 15, 2019

“14 reasons (minus 12) I write about the West,” by Rod Miller (blog), October 14, 2019

“Antique Wagon On Heber’s Main Street Destroyed,” by David Boyle, kpcw.org, October 14, 2019

“A Cowboy Theatre review,” by Lea Leggitt, The Independent, October 14, 2019

“Branding Iron opens for business in Blackfoot,” by John Miller, Bingham County Chronicle, October 14, 2019

“Drone view of 6666 ranch working cattle,” by Wyman Meinzer (video, Facebook), October 13, 2019

“Painting Cows To Look Like Zebras Has A Surprising Benefit,” by Josephine Harvey, yahoo.com, October 9, 2019

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“Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering Set for February 2020 in Alpine,” by Joe Hyde, San Angelo LIVE, October 9, 2019

“Yodeling Conrad cowboy inducted into MT Cowboy Hall of Fame,” Cut Bank Pioneer Press, October 9, 2019

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Andy Hedges interviews Ian Tyson, Cowboy Crossroads, October 2019

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“Noah’s Dispersal Sale,” by Baxter Black, latest column at baxterblack.com, October 9, 2019

Helen Bernice (Clark) Beard 1928-2019, Lewiston Tribune, October 9, 2019

“Cowboy Poetry at Sunshine,” The New Era, October 9, 2019

“Cowboy Parade draws hundreds,” by Bret Hauff, The Durango Herald, October 5, 2019 and video

“Free concert of cowboy music and poetry offered at library,” Great Bend Tribune, October 4, 2019

“Cowboy Poetry Gathering tickets on sale,” Elko Daily Free Press, October 3, 2019

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Bruce Andrew Matley Memorial Service, The Leader, October 3, 2019

“Back to Nature,” by Baxter Black, latest column at baxterblack.com, October 2, 2019

“Longmont Museum Brings New Excitement to Thursday Nights,” by Sheila Conroy, ptleader.com, October 2, 2019

“Cowboy Poetry in Rodeo,” desertexposure.com, October 1, 2019

“Cowboy poetry, music, dinner set for Nov. 1 and 2 at Seminary,” by Deb Nicklay, Mitchell County Press News, October 1, 2019

“Historic Lakeview theater now belongs to the people,” by Kurt Liedtke, Herald and News, October 1, 2019

“Guests hear original poetry and songs at annual Cowboy Poetry fundraiser,” By Aura Whittaker, Willits News, September 30, 2019

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“Betty Strong Encounter Center hosts outlaw poetry,” siouxlandproud.com, September 30, 2019

“Cowboy Poetry in Rodeo,” douglasdispatch.com, September 27, 2019

“Outside Circle by Jan Swan Wood: Barrel races, Alzada poetry, music and art, roughstock school, iron cowgirl,” by Jan Swan Wood, tsln.com, September 26, 2019

True West Magazine Archives Back To 1953

“Western way of life,” by Ron Warnick, qcsaunonline.com, September 25, 2019

“Angelo’s Leather & Saddle Shop in Dexter | a step back in time,” by Doug Marrin, thesuntimesnews.com, September 23, 2019

BC Cowboy Heritage Society Newsletter (Kamloops) September 23, 2019

“Cowboy poetry honours Wild West history,” by Hanna Kost, CBC News, September 22, 2019

“Annual Alzada Cowboy Poetry, Music and Art Show,” by Chris Maupin, Fallon County Times, September 20, 2019

“For These Black Women in Texas, Rodeo Is a Way of Life,” by Walter Thompson-Hernández, nytimes, September 20, 2019

“Mighty MC,” by Kathy Moss, YouTube, September 20, 2019

“Restoring Black Cowboys to the Range,” by Sarah Maslin Nir, nytimes.com, September 14, 2019

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“Trolling for Buffalo,” by Baxter Black, latest column at baxterblack.com, September 4, 2019

“Lady Buckaroo,” by Kathy Moss, YouTube, September 2, 2019

“Karen Kuhlman reviews this year’s Cowboy Poetry and Western Music Rendezvous,” Robert Pfund, kxlo-klcm.com, September 2, 2019

“Lost N Lava Cowboy Gathering starts Sept. 20,” Times-News, September 4, 2019

“Cowgirl photographer Barbara Van Cleve,” by David Rothman, CBS News, August 25, 2019

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Robert “Bob” Ross (1921-2019), Bozeman Daily Chronicle, August 28, 2019

“Nothing’s Forever,” by Jesse Veeder, Back at the Ranch (blog), August 28, 2019

“Sir Loin,” by Baxter Black, latest column at baxterblack.com, August 27, 2019

“The Top 10 product names for fake meats,” by Mark Parker, FarmTalk, Aug 27, 2019

“Wine tasting, Cowboy Poetry make lively events for Craig crowds at Luttrell Barn,” by Barry Steadman and Andy Bockelman, Craig Press, August 26, 2019

“Stony Plain Cowboy Gathering sees surge in attendance,” by Evan J. Pretzer,
The Stony Plain Reporter, August 23, 2019

“Conservationist helps Hawaii cattle ranchers tell their story,” by Jim George, hano-hawaii.org, August 20, 2019

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Cowboy Tracks radio from the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering, August 16, 2019

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“Cowboys gather in Yountville Sept. 7 for music and poetry,” Napa Valley Register, August 21, 2019

“‘Not one crusty old guy at that sale that didn’t have tears in his eyes’: Auction features steer raised by boy who died in accident,” by Laurie Welch, magicvalley.com, August 21, 2019

“Western Heritage Day at Mueller State Park to celebrate the ‘Old West’,” by Sonja Oliver, Pikes Peak Courier, August 21, 2019

“The Lost Chicken,” by Baxter Black, latest column at baxterblack.com, August 20, 2019

“National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo 2019,” Salina Post, August 20, 2019

“What Do Livestock Do For Your Mental Health?,” by Matt Brechwald, offincome.com, August 20, 2019

“Temple Grandin is Our Hero,” by Gene Johnston, agriculture.com, August 12, 2019

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Mike Logan 1938-2019, Independent Record, August 17, 2019

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“The Feedlot Hand,” by Baxter Black, a poem latest column at baxterblack.com, August 13, 2019

Monterey Cowboy Festival (announcing no event in 2019), August 14, 2019

“34th Annual Cowboy Poetry and Western Music Gathering ready to celebrate,” by Robert Pfund, kxlo-klcm.com, August 14, 2019

“Clark County Fair this week,” postregister.com, August 14, 2019

“Plastic bags are killing horses and cows across the state. What’s Texas to do?,” by Lara Korte, Texas Tribune, August 14, 2019

Featured Artists of the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Western Folklife Center, August 13, 2019

“‘We Can’t Live in Fear’: Two Weeks After Shooting, Gilroy Celebrates Its Annual Rodeo,” by Sonja Hutson, kqed.org, August 11, 2019

“Billboard’s decision to nix ‘Old Town Road’ from country charts borders on un-American,” by Julian Smith, dallasnews.com, August 11, 2019

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“Elko Cowboy Music & Poetry Gathering Comes To Napa Valley,” by Broadway World, August 7, 2019

“American History, as told through beef,” by Bryce Oates, Daily Yonder, August 7, 2019

“The Anti-Smoking Device,” by Baxter Black, latest column at baxterblack.com, August 6, 2019

“Community Agriculture Alliance: Back roads and best friends — 104th annual Routt County Fair,” by Michele Meyer, Steamboat Pilot & Today, August 6, 2019

“Word rodeo,” by Jean Bowers, Abilene Reflector-Chronicle, August 5, 2019

Glade Park’s Cowboy & Music Poetry Festival, westernslopenow.com, August 2, 2019

“Poets to gather in Prescott, celebrate culture of the American cowboy,” by Jason Wheeler, Prescott Daily Courier, August 1, 2019

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“Cowboy poetry, music show to return to Craig,” Craig Daily Press, July 30, 2019

“National Day of the Cowboy,” American Quarter Horse Foundation (AQHF), July 30, 2019

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“Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering organizes,” by Jim Street, The Big Bend Sentinel, July 24, 2019

Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering, February 21-22, 2020, Alpine, Texas

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“Talking Dirty,” by Baxter Black, tsln.com, July 30, 2019

“Cowboy Up,” by Jamie A. Hunt, Porterville Recorder, July 29, 2019

“Newport Folk Festival 2019: 10 Best Things We Saw” [includes Andy Hedges], by Jonathan Bernstein and Suzy Esposito, Rolling Stone, July 29, 2019

“Pioneer Bluffs preserves and presents history of ranching with National Day of the Cowboy activities…“, by Tagan Trahoon, kvoe.com, July 27, 2019

“Hitting the trail: Friends make 175 mile trek with horse and mules to promote local rodeo,” by Carrie Stadheim, tsln.com, July 24, 2019

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“Saddle up: National Day of the Cowboy rounds up art exhibits, film series, Wild West shows and more,” by Brandy McDonnell, oklahoman.com, July 26, 2019

International Western Music Association National Day of the Cowboy on Facebook

Doris Daley and Al “Doc” Mehl on Equestrian Legacy Radio July 25, 2019

“Bring chairs for D.W. Groethe…,” by Sharon Cox, The Jamestown Sun, July 25, 2019

“You’re invited to The National Day of the Cowboy this weekend,” by Vanessa Garcia, KFDA Amarillo, July 25, 2019

“An evening of poetry by two greats,” Taos News, July 25, 2019

“Benefit concert to kick off the Dakota Western Heritage Festival,” by John D. Taylor, Capital Journal, July 24, 2019

“Community concert tips hat to cowboys July 27,” by Angel Carpenter, Blue Mountain Eagle, July 23, 2019

“Porterville to celebrate Day of the Cowboy,” by Charles Whisnand, portervillerecorder.com, July 23, 2019

“Celebrating the bison: Buffalo Days starts July 25,” by Alexander Taylor, The Jamestown Sun, July 23, 2019

_________

“A new dispatch,” by Rod Miller, blog, July 19, 2019

“Riverbend Live has Cowboy Poetry/Western Music,” by Kyle Bailey, kqennewsradio.com, July 19, 2019

“Best of the West,” by Rod Miller, Saddlebag Dispatches (page 156), Summer, 2019

“Cowboy Poetry gets ready for a big weekend in August,” by Robert Pfund, kxlo-klcm.com, July 18, 2019

“These Programs Will Pay Kansas Farmers For Crops They Won’t Harvest,” by Corrine Boyer, Harvest Public Media, July 18, 2019

“Suzi And Tuff as Flip,” The Saratoga Sun, July 17, 2019

Buckshot Dot (Dee Strickland Johnson) interview on Blogtalk Radio, July 17, 2019

“The Royal Russells,” by Michele Powers Glaze, Cowboys & Indians, July 12, 2019

__________

“Man travels across Montana, US on vintage tractor, raising funds for veterans,” by Juliana Sukut, Billings Gazette, July 13, 2019

“Butterfield’s hosts first Day of the Cowboy celebration,” Duncan Banner, July 13, 2019

“Nine-year-old girl to trick ride at Last Chance Stampede,” by Linda Pierson, tsln.com, July 12, 2019

“Good Dawg,” by Baxter Black, tsln.com, July 12, 2019

“Three cowboys being inducted into Utah’s western-themed hall of fame,” by Mark Saal, Standard-Examiner, July 12, 2019

“Country music singer reveals the heart of the west to those who listen,” fox13now.com, July 10, 2019

“Saluting the Flag,” by Rod Miller, blog, July 9, 2019

__________

“It’s ‘frog walker’ time,” by Jerry Welch, Agrinews, July 8, 2019

__________

“Ol’ Rookie,” by Baxter Black, BaxterBlack.com, July 8, 2019

“The Culture of Cowboy Art presented at Willits Center for the Arts,” by Alyson Bailey, Willits News, July 4, 2019

“Bob Petermann to Perform at the MonDak Heritage Center As Part of Confluence of Creativity Invitational Art Exhibit, July 14, Sidney,” roundupweb.com, July 3, 2019

“Cowboy singers, artists and poets at the Payson Book Festival,” by Linda Wescott, Payson Roundup, July 2, 2019

__________

Return to Calgary: Charles M. Russell and the 1919 Victory Stampede exhibit June 7 through September 29, 2019 at the C.M. Russell Museum

__________

“Come rain or shine or rain or wind or heat or hail…,” by Jessie Veeder, Meanwhile, back at the ranch (blog), July 2, 2019

“‘J is for Jackalope’ Features Fort Worth Artist’s Western Charm,”by Matt Payne, Fort Worth Magazine, July 1, 2019

“On newsstands now,” by Rod Miller (blog), July 1, 2019

“Red Steagall Honored with Statue,” Fort Worth Business, June 28, 2019

__________

“Poetry Friday: Cowboy Poetry,” by Gillian Ferris and Tom Weathers, knau.org, June 28, 2019

“Ontario’s Tradition Keepers Folklife Festival is Saturday, earns state award,” By Pat Caldwell, The Enterprise, June 28, 2019

__________

“‘Aloha Rodeo’ Offers Alternative To The Cowboy Cliché,” by Carson Vaughn, NPR, June 27, 2019

“Four Rivers Cultural Center’s festival keeps up with tradition,” by Griffin Hewitt, The Argus Observer, June 27, 2019

“Piehl retrospective at Arts Center,” by Kathy Steiner, The Jamestown Sun, June 27, 2019

“Ranchero Days to Be Celebrated at Hagemann Ranch,” The Independent, June 27, 2019

“Bit-Making Showcase and Sale,” by Jennifer Denison, Western Horseman, June 26, 2019

Barbwire Dispatch from Alberta Cowboy Poetry Association (pdf) June, 2019

“Celebrating a century: Belle Fourche’s Black Hills Roundup will honor those who rode before,” by Kaycee Moonens, Tri-State Livestock News, June 26, 2019

“The Top 10 judgment calls you guessed wrong on,” by Mark Parker, FarmTalk, June 25, 2019

“The traditionally horsemen culture of Maremma, Italy, yields to ‘horsewomen’ as a result of new training course,” by Gabrielle Saveri, Washington Post, June 24, 2019

“4-H in my memories, by Jessie Veder,” Meanwhile, back at the ranch (blog), June 24, 2019

“The Cost of Recycling,” by Baxter Black, BaxterBlack.com, June 24, 2019

__________

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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

“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

__________

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

_________

“‘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

__________

Donors

_____

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.

2020

RANGE Magazine (sponsor)
Linda Kirkpatrick
Almeda Bradshaw (sponsor)
Susan Matley
Marci Broyhill (sponsor)
Winnsboro Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering (sponsor)
Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering (sponsor)
Chuck and Cindy Learn (sponsors)

E.W. Littlefield Jr., 2019-2020 significant program support
Margaret T. Morris Foundation, 2020 generous program support

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
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Carol Heuchan: Three poems

cheuchan

photo by Pauline Fredericks

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POEMS

The Magic of the Horse
Curly, Larry, and …Just a Mo
The Dude Ranch Horse

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THE MAGIC OF THE HORSE
Carol Heuchan

Have you ever owned a creature that could thrill you to the bone?
One once distant and defiant, yet whose soul becomes your own?

Felt the power of the panther and the lightness of a bird.
Known a silent, secret language more effective than a word?

Felt the drift of acquiescence at the flexing of a muscle.
Known the pleasure of a lifestyle free from city rush and bustle.

Or the thrills of reckless riding ‘cross a country wild and free,
with a kindred spirit’s pounding heart, right there beneath your knee.

Have you criticised or cursed some deed or action that’s been shown?
Then been humbled by the knowledge that the fault was all your own.

Have you tasted satisfaction of successes, large or small?
Then you must have done the hard yards to deserve them one and all.

Has your livelihood depended on a daunting job to do?
And thanked God for His creation of a partner tried and true?

Have you heard a gentle nicker, had him nuzzle through your hair?
Have you felt as if you’re flying, up where eagles only dare?

Known the fear and found the courage, known you had to see it through.
Learned life’s lessons from a being with a different point of view?

Had a friend who keeps on listening when you never say a word—
never grudges, never judges, just as if he hasn’t heard.

If you’ve never tasted freedom, rode the range or cleared the course,
put your hand on living velvet and had comfort from its source,

Then you’ve never known the magic of the horse…

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“CURLY, LARRY AND…JUST A MO”
by Carol Heuchan

The three of us were always close.
We stuck like super glue.
We were saddle tramps and rovers.
We were cowboys, through and through.

We’d lived this way for fifty years,
No changes were we wishing
Then Mo announced (God help him),
he’d decided to go…fishing.

Fishing!! But we’re Bushies, mate!
You can’t live on the coast!
No Campdrafts and no Rodeos?
You’ll soon give up the ghost.

And sure enough, that’s what he did.
He upped and blooming carked it!
And he left us his directions
to dispense with plot and casket.

No burial, no cemetery,
no farewell drinking bashes—
just one big urn and we two mates
were named to cast the ashes.

And if that wasn’t bad enough,
he’d made a stern decree
for us to take his last remains
and scatter them…at sea!!!

Now me and Curly stood transfixed,
could not believe our ears.
This thing that Mo had asked of us,
beyond our wildest fears.

We’d ridden feral bucking bulls,
been stomped and broke and battered
and done it time and time again
just like it never mattered.

We’d faced horses that’d kill you
if given half a chance,
and we’d laid our swag with spiders, snakes
and fearsome, bighting ants.

Wild boars we’d taken lightly
and we’d bashed up bikie gangs
and we’d sometimes picked up women
who looked like orang-utans.

I reckon we would still be cool
with tigers what’s in Burma,
so long as all the while we had
our feet on Terra Firma.

We don’t do lake; we don’t do sea.
We’re not too keen on rivers.
Hell! A bathtub is enough to give
the pair of us the shivers.

See, we’re country. We’re the Outback.
We’ll handle what we oughta.
But as sure as God made apples,
we will draw the line at water.

So complying with our mate’s request
to put him in the sea,
caused at least some consternation
for the likes of Curl and me.

A fishing fella’s little boat
was offered for the job.
He’d row us out a mile or two
to give the urn a lob.

Not on your blooming Nelly,
was the look our faces said.
Get in a boat with Tanglefoot?
We’d rather we were dead.

“We’ll be right, thanks all the same.
We’ll do our duty here.”
and to each other whispered
“We’ll just find the nearest pier.”

But nearly two hours later
and miles along the shore,
there was not one possibility.
Just water—nothing more.

“Back a ways, I saw a shelf—
a rock shelf—that will do.
We’ll roll up duds and wade a bit,
then toss and tooteloo.

Our legs were skinny, white and stark,
and manly hairs? Oh, no.
From years of rubbing leather,
not a single hair would grow.

But we shed our boots and socks and rolled
our jeans above our knees
and gingerly, on tippy toes,
set out to brave the seas.

Now, every inch that we crept forward,
every inch got deeper, too.
“That’s far enough!” (in unison)
“It’s gonna have to do.”

We said some words, uncapped the urn,
prepared to beat the rumour.
But alas, we hadn’t factored on
King Neptune’s sense of humour.

Precisely when we tipped the lot,
in action brave and bold,
he raised a little tidal wave
and sent it back tenfold.

Well Mo was now all over us!
And covered head to toe.
There simply wasn’t part of us
that wasn’t part of Mo!

We coughed and squawked and choked and spat
and high-tailed back to shore
a’muttering words we reckoned that
we’d never said before.

Those ashes found their way up into
every nook and cranny
and places where they were not stuck,
I’m sure there were not any.

We tried to wash him off one leg—
he flew onto the other.
We looked like two great lamingtons,
home made by someone’s mother.

Our mincing gait along the beach
had onlookers in stitches
and left them not in slightest doubt,
we’d also wet our britches.

Right then and there, we made a pact.
BE BURIED! Somehow, sorta!
And never, ever, ever go
not even close….to water.

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THE DUDE RANCH HORSE
by Carol Heuchan

There’s stories told of horses bold and brave and smart and strong
and legends of the rodeo in tale and verse and song.
Each wondrous feat that’s never beat, a million times before
you’ve listened to in rapture and they’ve held you all in awe.

It’s guaranteed some single deed has earned your admiration
and that has grown and had them known and gained a reputation.
They’ve stood the test ’cause they’re the best and singers sing their song.
I’m here today to have my say and tell you—it’s all wrong!

Now someone ought to write a song or poem just for me
’cause I’m the unsung hero. I’m a Dude Ranch Horse, that’s me.

You’ve heard, I’m sure, of ‘Man o’ War’, the speedster of the track.
I’m slow, I know, when setting out but wait till I turn back!
Then place your dough and watch me go (and listen to the screams).
‘Seabiscuit’ and that ‘Pharlap’, well they’re only in your dreams.

You all have seen on silver screen those scenes that make me bristle –
heroes brag as faithful nag comes runnin’ to a whistle.
They’re puppets! Dopey muppets! Yeah, and I can beat ’em all,
’cause I’m the one that’s really smart. I don’t come when they call!

Now I might look as if I took some chloroform, it’s true.
That’s my disguise ’cause I’m real wise at foolin’ folks like you.
‘Doc’s Spinifex’ and ‘Peppy San’, well neither one could match me
’cause I ignite like dynamite if someone tries to catch me.

Now someone ought to write a song or poem just for me
’cause I’m the unsung hero. I’m a Dude Ranch Horse, that’s me.

I’ve got lop ears and great big feet and head like cardboard box
but it contains a heap of brains. Yeah I’ll outfox a fox.
You all endorse a circus horse for doin’ clever tricks—
I’m way ahead. Yeah I play dead. I do it just for kicks.

And Rodeo, well that’s the go for outlaws tried and true.
Eight seconds they turn inside out to get a bloke askew.
I want a rider off my back, well I can take the crown.
I simply find a sandy patch and then I just…lie down.

I hide my mirth and puff my girth in sheer one-upmanship
and in a while, I start to smile and feel the saddle slip.
Now nothin’ you could ever do could make me work real hard.
If you can’t ride, then step aside. I’ve got a Union Card.

Now someone ought to write a song or poem just for me
’cause I’m the unsung hero. I’m a Dude Ranch Horse, that’s me.

I will go ’neath branches low and squeeze through gateways thin
and take a short cut through the scrub where no man’s ever bin.
Olympic horses? Nah, they’d find my feats beyond compare,
for I can jump a great big stump that isn’t even there!

I’m tough and rough and good at bluff and they can’t hold a candle.
I’m brilliant at a ton of things no other horse can handle.
In my defence, there ain’t a fence can keep me in my place.
But I’ll be back at suppertime and smilin’ in your face.

I can raid the feed shed, even when the door is shut,
and eat real quick and not get sick. I got a cast iron gut.
The things I do for folks like you are cunning if not kind.
I’ve often grinned as I’ve passed wind when people walk behind.

Now someone ought to write a song or poem just for me
’cause I’m the unsung hero. I’m a Dude Ranch Horse, that’s me.

Yes, history pales in telling tales; it’s time to get it right.
Those poets and those lyricists, they really ain’t too bright.
I’m telling you that I can do what famous nags can do
and do it even better and it’s on the quiet, too.

I’ve dealt more blows and squashed more toes than you could ever count
and coped with more stupidity than any other mount.
So stop regaling horses that are not a patch on me
and fix the wrong and write a song about a horse…like me.

Yeah, someone ought to write a song or poem just for me
’cause I’m the unsung hero. I’m a Dude Ranch Horse, that’s me.

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Both SIdes CD front 400w

Both Sides of Carol Heuchan (2019) includes 24 tracks of Bush and cowboy poetry with music by Ernie Martinez. Cover photo by Pauline Fredericks.

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Friends and fans love Australian horsewoman and poet Carol Heuchan, a popular participant in U.S. gatherings. And she loves them back. She told us:

On a personal level, I cannot tell you what the connection to cowboy poetry and coming over to gatherings means to me. Aside from the fact that I am deeply a part of “the land” and horses in Australia, the iconic American Cowboy scenario has always held me in its awe and to be even a small part of that is so amazing. Of course performing is my work now. But perhaps even more valued is the incredible camaraderie and support I have received in the U.S. It is something I have not encountered in Australia (or anywhere in the world) and it is more heart-warming to me than you could imagine.

Her bio (below) tells that she “spent the best years of her life on a sheep and cattle property in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales.”

Carol is featured at the Western Folklife Center’s 36th annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada, January 27 – February 1, 2020.

From Elko, she’ll head to the 28th annual Cochise Cowboy Gathering in Sierra Vista, Arizona, February 7-8, 2020.

The photo above of the eye of a beautiful young Australian Stock horse was taken by Carol at a friend’s place just a week or so ago.

Find more about Carol on Facebook and visit her site, carolpoet.com.au.
(Album cover photo by Pauline Fredericks.)

Official bio, provided January, 2020:

Carol Heuchan, twice Australian Bush Poetry Champion and nine times Laureate winner and winner of the richest prize in poetry history—a Case JX55, thirty four thousand dollar tractor!

She has fifteen professional performance tours of U.S. and Canada under her belt, (including Kamloops, B.C., Canada’s National Cowboy Gathering and Elko, Nevada, U.S. National Cowboy Gathering) and has been nominated as amongst the top five poets in U.S.—yet she lives in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia!

Carol is a fair dinkum Aussie horsewoman, International horse judge, horse events commentator and acknowledged as the cream of Australian Bush Poetry.

She spent the best years of her life on a sheep and cattle property in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales.

Five books and six CDs—the newest is an exciting double album of Cowboy Poetry and Australian Bush Poetry with musical touches by IWMA’s Instrumentalist of the Year, Ernie Martinez.

Carol’s writing runs the gamut—from side splittingly hilarious to utterly gut wrenching! Not to be missed.

carolpoet.com.au

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

Events: January

Find links to all months here.

• January 16-19, 2020
31st Annual Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering Golden, Colorado

• January 18, 2020
Cowboy Poets of Utah Symposium Payson, Utah

• January 18-26, 2020
75th annual Montana Winter Fair Lewiston, Montana

• January 20, 2020
Cowboys of Color Rodeo Fort Worth, Texas

• January 22-26, 2020
International Folk Alliance Conference New Orleans, Louisiana

• January 25, 2020
Youth Showcase and 7th Annual “A Night of Western Music & Cowboy Poetry” Tooele, Utah

• • •

• January 27-February 1, 2020
The 35th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Elko, Nevada

Visit our Sponsor supporters: The Western Folklife Center

• • •

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• Dates not yet received for 2020
Cowboy Poetry Lawler, Iowa

Submission Guidelines

letterfromhome

Send one poem to: poems@cowboypoetry.com:

• Include your poem’s title in the subject line.
• Use plain email, no attachments
• Do not type in all CAPS
• Include your name with your poem

If your poem is accepted, we will reply within four weeks. After that time you are welcome to submit another poem.

Our focus is on stories about the life of rural communities and today’s real working West. We look for poems and lyrics that say something original about cowboying, ranching, or rural life, well-written poems and lyrics with strong, developed stories with themes that are uniquely Western.

We encourage poems and lyrics inspired by personal experiences.

We look for works that go beyond platitudes, seeking those that say something new, or say something in a new way about today’s real working West.

We are not looking for idealized “Old West” poems or lyrics. We do consider works with factual historical themes that relate to cowboying, ranching, or rural life.

We are not looking for poems or lyrics inspired by a “Hollywood” view of the West, worn jokes turned into poems or songs, or “bathroom humor.” We do not accept blatantly political, patriotic, religious or romantic poems or lyrics that are not original, well-developed stories about today’s working West. Our focus does not include Christian cowboy poetry.

Works should be suitable for our wide audience, which includes young readers. Works that have been published elsewhere previously are welcome.

Occasionally, poems outside of those guidelines are posted, at the invitation of the editor. Such works are usually poems of merit by poets with a body of work at CowboyPoetry.com.

All are welcome to submit poetry and lyrics. We respond to all submissions; we do not have the resources to offer critiques. Our editorial decisions are final.

Accepted poems and lyrics are posted.

We look forward to reading your work. We get many submissions, and we strive to give each one the proper attention.

If your poem is accepted, we will reply within four weeks. After that time you are welcome to submit another poem.