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Adrian is a 17 year-old singer-songwriter who
sings cowboy music that reflects her life on a
cattle ranch in Northern California, as well as the
stories of other buckaroos. Adrian is home
educated, which gives her the freedom to day
work on neighboring ranches.  Adrian is working
on a new album, produced by one of her mentors,
Tom Russell. Adrian debuted her first CD,
Highway 80, during the 2008 National Cowboy
Poetry Gathering.  Visit www.buckaroogirl.com/

Mike Beck grew up in California and was a
student of the legendary horseman Bill Dorrance.
He cowboyed in California and Nevada, all the
while writing his own songs. Mike has
collaborated with such luminaries as Ian Tyson
and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, and has several CDs
to his credit. He nows makes his living traveling
extensively in the U.S. and Europe, making
music and conducting horsemanship schools.
Visit www.mikebeck.com

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Baxter Black is a cowboy poet known for his
humor, quick wit and sharp observations. A
former large-animal veterinarian, Baxter's poetry
and stories focus on the ups and downs of every-
day people who live and work with livestock and
on the land. He writes a syndicated newspaper
column and makes public appearances all over
the country. He demonstrates that it is the truth
in humor that makes it funny.  Visit
www.baxterblack.com/

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Marty Blocker has worked on ranches in Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa since he was 16, and currently works for a large ranch company in the north central Nebraska Sandhills.  His stories and poetry reflect on his thirty-some years cowboying, driving teams, starting colts and making a living on a saddle. Marty has been reciting and writing poetry for 12 years, and has released two CDs of his work.  Visit www.martyblocker.com

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Dave Bourne is a multi-instrumentalist who has been playing music professionallysince his first job in the Calico Saloon at Knott’s Berry Farm with the Wagonmasters in 1958. He has played with the Dawn of the Century Ragtime Orchestra and with his western singing group, The Lobo Rangers.  Dave appeared on the HBO series Deadwood, where he played piano in the Gem Saloon.  He has also recorded and released numerous solo albums featuring the saloon piano.  Visit www.saloonpiano.com

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Jerry Brooks lives in southern Utah and grew up reading books and listening to her family’s storytelling. She is a respected reciter of classic cowboy poetry who, for over 20 years, honed her skills by reciting poetry to herself during her drives to the coal mines where she worked. When asked about her love of well-crafted lines, Jerry says, "If we were able to define or describe feelings, they wouldn't be feelings: poetry is as close as we can come to communicating the feel - - with feeble words." Jerry’s new recording of poetry is called Shoulder to Shoulder. 

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Walt "Bimbo" Cheney has cowboyed in Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, Oregon and Nevada. He began writing poetry as a means of passing the time in line camps and behind the bucking chutes and between shows at rodeos, and has been writing poetry for 42 years. A poet, philosopher and western storyteller, Bimbo’s poems transcend their settings, relating to people of all ages and of all walks of life. Bimbo grew up in Holbrook, Arizona, and now makes his home in Spring Creek, Nevada. His latest CD is The Western Land.  

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Cowboy Celtic make the natural connection between traditional cowboy songs and the music of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England and the documented Celtic origins of cowboy music. Whether in the traditional songs, old tunes with new lyrics, or David Wilkie’s original material, their music reflects the real world of the West and the rural Britons. The Canadian-based band is David Wilkie, Denise Withnell, Keri Lynn Zwicker, Joseph Hertz and Nathan McCavana. Visit www.cowboyceltic.com

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Doris Daley was born and raised in ranching country in southern Alberta, Canada, and comes from a pioneer family that has been ranching in the Porcupine Hills of southern Alberta since 1880. Doris was named Best Female Cowboy Poet in North America by the Academy of Western Artists in 2004, and is proud to be a member of “Sweethearts in Carhartts” with Yvonne Hollenbeck, Jean Prescott, Liz Masterson and others who perform poetry and music that salute working ranch women. She lives just outside of Calgary near the Bow River. Visit www.dorisdaley.com

Stephanie Davis is a fourth-generation Montanan known for her well-crafted songs and poetry.  She spent several years as a songwriter in Nashville, having her songs recorded by Garth Brooks, Martina McBride, Don Edwards and others. After moving back to her small ranch in Montana, Stephanie has kept busy taking care of the ranch, writing, touring and heading up her label, Recluse Records. Daily ranch life provides Stephanie constant inspiration. Stephanie has two new releases, Western Bling and Western Bliss. Visit www.stephaniedavis.net

Geno Delafose relies on his traditional Creole sensibility for guidance in music, and divides his time between touring and operating his Double D Ranch outside of Eunice, deep in Southwest Louisiana’s bayou country, where he breeds cattle and raises quarter horses. Born into a family of Zydeco musicians, Geno picked up the rubboard at age seven and joined his father’s band the Eunice Playboys, which he later led. Geno plays various accordions with his band French Rockin’ Boogie. Visit www.genodelafose.net 

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John Dofflemyer is a fifth-generation rancher in the southern Sierra Nevada foothills where he grazes cows and calves on Dry Creek, a tributary of the Kaweah River. John’s deep connection with the land and contemporary ranch life is apparent in his writing. John and his wife Robbin maintain an online journal called Dry Crik Journal: Perspectives from the Ranch. The “Lost” Issue of Dry Crik Review, which John edited from 1991-1994, is one of the many features of his artful and insightful journal. Sadly, John was unable to attend. Visit www.westernfolklife.org/weblogs/artists/dofflemyer

Ray Doyle was born in Dublin, Ireland and spent his early childhood there before moving to rural Ontario, Canada where he developed a lasting appreciation for the natural world.  Ray has contributed to more than a dozen CDs as a longtime member of Wylie & The Wild West, which aids his goal to keep experiencing the West with a newcomer’s point of view, to examine its beauty, history, challenges and possibilities with a fresh perspective. Ray explores the emigrant/immigrant experience, demonstrated on his newest solo CD, The Emigrant Trail. Visit www.raydoyle.net

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Elizabeth Ebert, a South Dakota native, is a widely admired writer who admits that she was a closet poet until 1989. Elizabeth still lives on the home place near Thunder Hawk, South Dakota. Yvonne Hollenbeck calls Elizabeth the “Grand Dame of cowboy poetry.”  Her book Crazy Quilt: A Patchwork of New and Collected Poems focuses on the challenges, pride, courage and tragedies of living on the land.  She also has a CD with cowboy poets Rodney Nelson, Yvonne Hollenbeck and Jess Howard, called Where the Buffalo Rhyme. Sadly, Elizabeth was unable to attend.

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Don Edwards is a historian, author and musicologist well-versed in cowboy lore and musical traditions who gives tremendous depth to his performances. A member of the Cowboy Hall of Fame, Don is celebrating 50 years as a musician. Don taught himself to play guitar when he was young and is interested and influenced by a cross-section of American music, including classical, jazz, blues, mountain music and western swing. He has produced numerous award-winning albums of original and traditional songs that express the realities and romance of cowboy life. Don is one of the great cowboy troubadours.  Visit www.donedwardsmusic.com/

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Ramblin' Jack Elliott, a native of New York, ran away from home at 14 to join Colonel Jim Eskew’s Rodeo. He has ridden saddle broncs, bareback horses and roped off the backs of cow ponies. Jack is known for working with Woody Guthrie, Jack Kerouac, Bob Dylan and scores of other poets, musicians and artists. Jack has never forsaken his affinity for the traditional cowboy music that set him on his troubadour path, and has 40 albums under his belt. Jack received a Grammy for his album South Coast and a National Medal for the Arts. His latest release is A Stranger Here.  Visit www.ramblinjack.com

Richard Elloyan is a singer, songwriter, and poet of unique wit and imagination.  Raised in the historic mining town of Virginia City, Nevada, Richard grew up surrounded by the romantic stories and characters that shaped the growth of Nevada and California.  Using the backdrop of the high desert, Richard writes about the images and philosophies of the cowboy and those who are cowboys at heart. He works and lives in the Sierras, surrounded by ranches and mountains. His latest CD is Rodeo Bones.  Visit www.richardelloyan.net

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Leon Flick has spent most of his life on the back of a horse, using a cow’s tail for a compass.  Ranch-raised and eager, he spent his younger years working alongside his father. At age 21, and for the next nine years, he was a cow-boss for Lynch’s JJ ranch in Plush, Oregon.  Plush, the farthest town in the U.S. from a freeway, is still home, where he and his wife, Billie, day work for about 15 ranches in the Warner Valley. Leon started sharing his poetry and stories on stage in Elko in 1988, and since then he has entertained people in 14 western states and Canada. Visit www.leonflickcowboypoetry.com/

Dennis Gaines survived an epic childhood which took him all over the world, and was allowed to matriculate to the seventh grade, after which he found himself seeking employment in the oilfields of the world and the ranches of the West. He has worked as a ranch cowboy and in his poems and stories, Dennis says, he “tries to preserve some of what is good about cowboy culture and its heritage, with an emphasis on humor, tradition and perhaps even a little bit of nostalgia.” Dennis is known for his high energy, dynamic and unique style on stage. 

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Dick Gibford was raised on a small cow outfit on the central Pacific coast and at age 16 began cowboying in northern California. Upon graduation from high school in 1968, Dick left for Tuscarora, Nevada, where he rode for Willis Packer as a "rep" on the 25 wagon. He has been influenced in every facet of his life by that first experience as a "sagebrush buckaroo." He now cowboys out of an isolated cow camp for the Walking R Ranch in Cuyama Valley, California.  

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Janice Gilbertson lives with her husband, Ron, in the Salinas Valley of California, where she was born and raised. Growing up on horseback in a ranching community, she started riding her own horse when she was four years old and started helping with gatherings by the time she was six. She is proud to be a volunteer member of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Mounted Unit, which is a search and rescue team. Janice writes from her own experiences and a grand imagination. Her new book of poetry is Sometimes, in the Lucias. 

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DW Groethe is a poet and guitar picker who writes about what he lives and breathes. He has played music professionally for more than 30 years and has been writing poems since grade school. DW was a participant in the Library of Congress’ Local Legacies project and he has received a Will Rogers Medallion Award from the Academy of Western Artists. His grandparents homesteaded in North Dakota in 1903 and his family still has the home quarter. For over a decade DW has lived in Bainville, Montana where he works as a day hand. 

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R. W. Hampton has lived and worked on ranches throughout the West. Whether driving cows, shoeing horses, singing around the campfire, or leading horse rides in the high country, R.W. knew it was the life for which he was destined. After 20 years in the entertainment business, he is still pure cowboy, singing both traditional and original cowboy songs. R.W. lives and ranches with his wife, Lisa, and their family on their Clearview Ranch at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains south of Cimarron, New Mexico. Visit www.rwhampton.com and check out his new blog, Notes from Clearview Ranch.

Andy Hedges is a reciter, singer and guitarist. Andy began reciting classic cowboy poems when he was 15. He has since released two cowboy poetry albums, and in 2004 debuted his first music album, City Boys, produced by Andy Wilkinson. Andy lives in Lubbock, Texas with his wife, Alissa. Andy Wilkinson is a writer and singer of contemporary western folk music. Through his poems and songs, he weaves images of people and places in telling the tales of the American West of yesterday and today. Andy Hedges and Andy Wilkinson have once again teamed up on a joint album project, Welcome to the Tribe, performing old songs rediscovered by the young Andy and new songs written by the older Andy. All the songs were arranged by them both. Visit www.andyhedges.com and www.andywilkinson.net

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Carol Heuchan has lived on the land in rural Australia for over forty years, some of the time on a sheep and cattle property in the Snowy Mountains. She now lives on smaller acreage in the Hunter Valley, the horse capital of Australia. Carol has taught riding, competed intensively with her show horses, served on many panels and committees and judged throughout Australia and internationally. Much of her poetry is centered around the horse. Carol’s newest CD is I Say!. Visit www.carolpoet.com.au/index.html

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Brenn Hill is a purist at heart who holds strong to his family ties. The Utah born singer-songwriter creates music that pays homage to Western music’s finest traditions while serving as a passport to today’s mountain West. Brenn has six albums and numerous music industry awards to his credit, with a new album, Equine, in the works.  Brenn sings about the relationships among man, land and livestock. He lives in Hooper, Utah, with his wife and children. Visit www.brennhill.com

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Yvonne Hollenbeck lives near Clearfield, South Dakota, where she and her husband, Glen, own and operate a working cattle ranch. In 2008, the Western Music Association awarded Yvonne "Female Poet of the Year." Her poetry is a reflection of this life, and she describes her poetry as “humorous about situations that were usually not very humorous when they happened.” She always takes the serious side when writing about the hardships of her pioneer ancestors who homesteaded on the prairies of South Dakota and Nebraska. Visit http://www.yvonnehollenbeck.com/

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Linda Hussa lives in Surprise Valley near the small town of Cedarville in northeastern California, where the western edge of the Great Basin begins. She and her husband John, a third-generation rancher, raise cattle, sheep, horses and the hay to feed them. Linda’s poetic voice speaks about the isolated nature of ranching, the commitment to rural communities and to the natural community of the desert landscape. Linda has won many awards and is a member of the Western Folklife Center’s Board of Trustees. 

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Linda Kirkpatrick has been writing cowboy poetry for several years and also writes a regular column for Texasescapes.com. Growing up on a remote ranch in Texas, and managing a 2000 acre cow/calf and white tail deer operation, Linda's life has always involved cowboys in one way or another; it is her cowboy family, and western women especially, that provide inspiration for her poetry. She has been published in many anthologies, most recently on the CD Bar D Roundup, Volume 4 and has published a book and a series of chapbooks. 

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Ross Knox first aspired to be a cowboy when, as a little boy, he watched his father work their ranch in central Oregon. Ross quit school at 16 and moved to Nevada to buckaroo. He began writing poetry to occupy his time alone. He is known for reciting the classics, but also writes original poetry from his life experiences. Ross worked many years at the Grand Canyon and then for Saguaro National Park in Arizona, packing in supplies and tools for trail and fire crews. Ross has more than 100 poems committed to memory. 

Ed Littlefield and Marley's Ghost is renowned for inspired 4-part vocal harmonies, often sung acapella, and their music blends together many styles, including cowboy and western music. The group features former John Denver band member and Tony nominated Broadway star Dan Wheetman on guitar, fiddle, bass, banjo, and blues harp; Folk Legacy, Sierra/Briar and Sage Arts recording artist Jon Wilcox on mandolin, guitar and bouzouki; Ed Littlefield Jr., formerly of the legendary Northwest swing band Lance Romance, on guitars, dobro, pedal steel guitar and Highland bagpipes; and Michael Phelan on guitars, dobro and fiddle. SADLY, MARLEY'S GHOST WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND. DAN WHEETMAN and DAVID P. JACKSON, JR. will appear in their stead. READ THEIR BIO. 

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Corb Lund was born and raised in rural southern Alberta and comes from four generations of Canadian ranchers and cowboys. He grew up riding horseback, chasing cattle and rodeoing on the prairies and in the foothills of the Rockies the first half of his life. His band, the Hurtin’ Albertans, are Grant “Demon” Siemans who plays “anything with strings on it, except the fiddle;” Kurt Ciesla on the string bass; and Brady Valgardson on drums. Visit www.corblund.com/

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Liz Masterson, a Denver native and award-winning singer, began performing western music in 1982. Liz performed for 18 years with Sean Blackburn, recording six albums of swing and western music. Liz honors Sean’s memory by carrying on their work while developing new shows. Along with Jean Prescott and Yvonne Hollenbeck, Liz is a member of the group "Sweethearts in Carhartts." Liz has been the coordinator of the Arvada Center’s Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering since 1991. Liz recently released her first solo CD, Roads to Colorado. Visit www.lizmasterson.com

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Wallace McRae is a third-generation Montana rancher and president of the Rocker Six Cattle Company, a family ranch in Rosebud County. He has been reciting poetry since he was four years old. Wally began writing poetry and prose to record the value, humor and plight of the cowboy occupation. He has received the Governor’s Award for the Arts in Montana and the National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship, and was appointed by President Clinton to serve on the National Council of the Arts in 1996. His latest book is Stick Horses. Wally also serves on the Western Folklife Center’s Board of Trustees. 

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Denise McRea was raised on a ranch in Idaho, worked on a couple of ranches in Montana, and with her husband owned and operated his family’s ranch. Denise continues to do day work on her brother-in-law’s place. She began sharing her poetry in 1991 and has won a number of awards. Recently Denise has received degrees in Secondary Education-Art and Secondary Education-English. With the hopes of encouraging a new generation of cowboy poets, she taught traditional rhyme-and-metered verse to her classes as a student teacher. 

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Lyn Messersmith is from the sandhill country of Nebraska, where she is a third-generation rancher and a freelance writer. She has fed a lot of hungry cowhands and has been one herself. Lyn enjoys passing on the oral traditions of the cattle industry, and has published her poetry in two books and many anthologies. With Deb Carpenter, she has two books that highlight the lives of pioneer women and other pioneer leaders in poetry and song. Lyn lives and ranches with her husband on his family’s ranch in Sheridan County, Nebraska. Visit www.leadersandlegends.com/contactus/contactus.html

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Waddie Mitchell was immersed in the cowboy way of entertaining as a boy on the Nevada ranches where his father worked. During his days as a buckaroo, Waddie learned the art of spinning tales. He recites the older classics of cowboy poetry as well as his own, both eloquently expressing moments grand and common, tragic and humorous. Waddie helped organize Elko's first Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Since then, he has dedicated much of his everyday life to writing, publishing, performing and recording his unique brand of poetry. His series of recordings for Warner Bros. Records and more recently for the Western Jubilee Recording Company have received critical acclaim. Visit www.waddiemitchell.com/WaddieMitchell/index.html

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Jane Morton grew up on the plains of northeastern Colorado amid the drought and the depression of the 1930s. Though her father was a school teacher, the entire family helped out on the farm. In the 1940s, the family went into the cattle business. The family’s farm grew into a large ranch, where Jane and her husband, Dick, both educators, remained involved, helping with branding, roundups and sales. Jane’s poems are connected to the family and the ranch, and she says that instead of writing a family history, she writes poetry. Jane is also a featured filmmaker in several Deep West Videos. 

Michael Martin Murphey lives in Amarillo, Texas. His family-run Rocking 3M Ranch Co. has run cattle and horses in Texas, Wisconsin, Colorado, Kansas and New Mexico. R3M raises and trains award-winning cattle and horses that place in Working Cow Horse and Cutting Horse events. Murphey's music blends many genres, including Pop, Country, Western, Celtic, Jazz and Bluegrass, and focuses on his personal life as a Southwestern “pilgrim.” His song “Wildfire” is among the most-aired songs in radio history. Visit www.michaelmartinmurphey.com/

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Andy Nelson is a second-generation farrier who was raised in Oakley, Idaho, and traveled with his father on farrier jobs throughout the Great Basin until he went off to college. He's released one book and three CDs of his poetry and humor. With his brother Jim, Andy co-hosts the award-winning, weekly syndicated radio show "Clear Out West (C.O.W.) Radio." In 2004 Andy was named the Western Music Association's Male Poet of the Year, and for 2009, Andy was awarded the Skinny Rowland Humor Award by the Academy of Western Artists. Andy now lives in Pinedale, Wyoming, where among other things, he and his wife Jaclyn raise horses and children.  Visit www.cowpokepoet.com

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Joel Nelson helped on a cattle drive to the railroad at the age of six and he’s been a cowboy ever since. He holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry and range management, has built custom saddles, served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division and has made his living working on cow outfits in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Hawaii. Respected as a cowboy’s cowboy, Joel knows the work and handles horses and cattle with a gentleness of spirit. Joel is one of the founders of the Alpine Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Alpine, Texas. Joel is a 2009 recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship. 

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Rodney Nelson and his wife, Teri, live in Sims, North Dakota. Rodney raises a few Red Angus cattle, is a brand inspector and trains horses. He has been on the banquet circuit since he became involved in cowboy poetry in 1987, and has written a bi-weekly humor column for the Farm and Ranch Guide since 1995. Rodney started his rodeo career with a bang when he won third place in the calf riding at a rodeo in l956. He rode saddle broncs, and after a serious slump of 50 years he won the 50+ steer wrestling average at the Senior Pro National Finals Rodeo in 2006. At his current rate of improvement he hopes to win a major bronc riding title by the time he is 80 years old. 

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Rich and Valerie O'Brien draw upon the inspirations of family tradition, passon for history and love of old songs for their repertoire. Their music paints a picture of a simpler rural America. Rich has been inducted into the Western Swing Society's Hall of Fame and his songwriting won him a Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His Music runs the gamut from swing and jazz, to tejano, folk, and classical. Valerie was honored by being selected to represent Texas Country Music as part of an exhibit in the Bob Bullock Museum of Texas History in Austin, Texas, where her first fiddle was on display. Sadly Rich and Valerie were unable to attend. Visit www.somagency.com/RichOBrien/index.html

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Glenn Ohrlin has been a cowboy all of his life. At age 16 he left his home in California to become a rodeo bronc rider in Nevada. He worked as a ranch hand and rode the rodeo circuit for a number of years. Today he ranches and runs a cow outfit in the Ozark hills near Mountain View, Arkansas. Glenn has spent a lifetime absorbing cowboy lore and traditions and is best known as a performer of cowboy songs, range ballads, stories and poems. Glenn received a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow in 1985. 

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Mike Puhallo was raised on a small ranch near Kamloops, British Columbia. He’s been a working cowboy, saddle bronc rider, rancher and horse trainer, spending more than 33 years ranching with his younger brother. Many of his poems and stories are about the unique history and heritage of the cowboy culture of the Pacific Northwest. Mike continues to judge a few rodeos and spends his summers working with cattle and training horses. He has six books of poetry published and has produced three CDs of his work. Mike is the 2009 Academy of Western Artists, Male Poet of the Year. Visit www.mikepuhallo.com

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Vess Quinlan is a rancher, truck driver, philosopher and poet. He spent his childhood summers with his uncles on their ranches. He has worked on ranches since high school and ran a sheep and alfalfa operation for awhile. Vess has been writing poetry and prose since being confined for nearly a year with polio in 1951. Through his writing, audiences get well-acquainted with the people and places that have been meaningful in Vess’ life. His innovations and forward thinking place him in the category of "men ahead of their time." He lives in Alamosa, Colorado. 

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Montana's new (September 2009) Poet Laureate, Henry Real Bird, a native Crow Indian, grew up ranching on the battlegrounds of the Little Big Horn on the Crow Reservation in Montana. He still lives in and draws inspiration from the land of the Little and Big Horn Valleys. A former rodeo cowboy, now a respected cowboy poet, horses picture large in Henry’s life and creative work, and are the major thread in his first audio CD, Rivers of Horse. Other original poetry of Henry’s has been published in chapbooks and anthologies. 

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John Reedy is a poet, musician and photographer spured by a passion for the truth and beauty found in the details of the grand western landscape. John and his wife, Heather, lease a ranch near Boulder, Montana. With eyes open to the changing world, they embrace the romance of an artful existence punctuated by everyday ranch life. They are raising and homeschooling their children among ranchers, cowboys and livestock in the crossroads located at the confluence of many cowboy poets and musicians. John’s debut CD is Twisted Vignettes. Visit www.twistedcowboy.com

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Pat Richardson was raised on ranches in several states, had seven different last names (his dad was a schemer), and went to 13 grammar schools, where he managed to avoid learning anything. He left home at 14 to rodeo, ride colts and work on ranches, until he got married and ended up on his own few acres. Pat is now retired and rents out his pasture. A former professional saddle-bronc and bull rider, Pat used to draw cartoons for the Rodeo Sports News and has sold his pen-and-ink western art throughout the West. Visit www.poetpatrichardson.com/

Riders In The Sky are preserving the genre of traditional western cowboy music, music that was kindled by such singing cowboys as Gene Autry and the Sons of the Pioneers. They have incorporated their own personal style with a mix of classic and original western songs that feature “smooth yodelin’ harmony, hot licks and zany comedy.” Since their beginning in 1977, the Riders have given over 5,000 performances, been awarded the Grammy for Best Musical Album for Children twice, starred in their own Saturday morning children’s TV series, and made several other TV appearances. Riders in the Sky are guitarist Ranger Doug; upright bassist Too Slim; fiddler and vocalist Woody Paul; and accordionist Joey, the Cowpolka King. Visit www.ridersinthesky.com/

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Randy Rieman has spent much of his life making a living "a-horseback," working on ranches in Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, California and Hawaii. Randy is a horse trainer, teaches horsemanship clinics and is a talented rawhide braider, a skill he learned from the late Bill Dorrance. Randy continues to recite traditional cowboy poetry and is known for his classic recitations of poetry from the American West and the Australian Bush. He currently lives on a ranch near Dillon, Montana.  Visit www.randyrieman.com

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Bob Schild was born in Idaho at the height of the Great Depression and raised on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. He was a professional rodeo cowboy, and in 1961 he opened a saddle shop in Blackfoot, Idaho. Although he began reciting poetry on the long drives between rodeos, he says that between March 1961 and the fall of 1984 he had written only a single poem, "The Old Dunn Mare." Bob's poems are drawn from his experiences with ranch, lifestock, spoiled horses, rodeo and saddlery. He has written two books and released one CD, Lazy SB Poetry. 

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Sandy Seaton guides and packs into the Yellowstone country, where she grew up driving four-up stagecoaches and riding horseback into the wilderness. She and her husband, Scott, own and operate Black Mountain Outfitters from their log cabin above the Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley, Montana. They also train horses, mules, and hounds. Sandy’s poetry has been featured in many publications and anthologies, and she has performed around the American and Canadian West, including the 2009 National Folk Festival in Butte. Visit www.blackmountainoutfitters.com/poetry.htm

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Georgie Sicking grew up on a ranch outside of Kingman, Arizona. With both her father and stepfather as teachers, Georgie began riding at the age of two, broke her first horse at nine, and at 16 was on the payroll of the Green Cattle Company in Seligman, Arizona. Georgie’s poetry speaks of her experience as a cowboy through wit and wisdom. She has been inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame and was awarded the 100,000-Miles on Horseback award from the Nevada Cattleman’s Association. More recently Georgie was the focus of the award-winning documentary film Ridin’ and Rhymin’ by Greg Snider and Dawn Smallman. Her latest release is Just More Thinkin' which combines two of her poetry books into one. 

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Jay Snider was raised in southwest Oklahoma to a ranching and rodeo family. His dad was a top roper and rodeo cowboy and his granddad was a brand inspector for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. Jay rodeoed throughout most of his early years and now stays busy raising ranch horses, cattle and team roping. Jay also hosts the annual Invitational Rafter S Ranch Cowboy Reunion. Jay writes poetry about his own experiences and as a means of preserving some of the stories of the old-time American Cowboy. Visit www.jaysnider.net

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The Sons of the San Joaquin sing Western harmony. The Hannah brothers, Jack and Joe, learned about harmony singing from their father and by singing in church. They were soon in demand in the Central California Valley as a vocal duo. Their musical career was put on hold while they both played professional baseball. In 1987, Lon, Joe’s son, approached them with the request to sing some cowboy songs for his grandfather’s birthday, and the Sons of the San Joaquin were born. They have since performed around the west and have produced a number of CDs. Visit http://www.thesons.com/

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Dave Stamey performs his share of classic cowboy songs, but he mainly focuses on his own more contemporary songs of the West and on the plight of the rancher trying to maintain a ranch in these modern times. He has been bucked off and stomped by many horses, stepped on by mules and dragged around branding pens by angry cattle of various sizes. Dave is now an entertainer and finds that he prefers it to being stomped on. Dave lives in Nipomo, California, with his wife, Melissa, two horses and several dogs. View www.davestamey.com/  

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Red Steagall is a native Texan whose career has taken many turns. Red enjoyed a career in Agricultural Chemistry, then spent eight years as a music industry executive in Hollywood, California. His entertainment career as a recording artist, songwriter, and television and motion picture personality has covered a period of 35 years and has spanned the globe from Australia to the Middle East, to South America and to the Far East. Best known for his wonderful Texas Swing dance music, Red is beloved by cowboys for the quiet times they have spent with him around chuck wagon campfires.  Visit www.redsteagall.com

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Gail Steiger learned the guitar from his mother, and he’s been writing songs for twenty years. Gail has worked on many ranches, including the 06 and the Spider Ranch in Yavapai County, Arizona, where he has been the foreman since 1995. Gail’s grandfather, Gail Gardner, wrote well-known cowboy songs including “Tying the Knots in the Devil’s Tail.” Gail works with his brother Lew on various films and multi-media projects and is a member the Western Folklife Center’s Board of Trustees. 

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Milton Taylor has spent his life working in the sheep-shearing industry in Australia.  During his childhood, poetry and yarn-spinning were considered important social skills, and he learned many poems and stories from his father. Milton recites the poetry of the traditional Australian poets, such as Banjo Patterson and Henry Lawson, and feels that by teaching traditional poetry to the younger generation they gain a greater appreciation for history. Milton has won many awards in Australia for his poetry, and currently lives and works on a sheep operation in New South Wales, Australia. 

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Dianne Tribitt is a rancher and poet from Hillman, Minnesota, who kept the ranch going after her husband died in a rodeo accident in July, 2004. Diane’s poetry reflects the great love and respect she has for the working cowboy, bringing their trials, tribulations, humor and rewards to life in every poem she writes. She has authored a book, a CD and a coloring book, Colors of Christmas.  Diane is Senior Executive Director of the International Magazine of Cowgirls, which focuses on recognizing Western women of the past, present and future. Visit www.dianetribitt.com

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Ian Tyson is a singer and songwriter of the highest order, writing or co-writing such western classics as Navajo Rug, Someday Soon, Bob Fudge and countless other songs. Ian grew up in Canada and spent 20 years as a bronc rider and calf roper. Forced into retirement because of an injury, Ian began playing the guitar and writing songs, penning the incomparable song Four Strong Winds. After many years of performing during the folk revival of the 1960s, Ian returned to his cowboy and ranching roots, moved to southern Alberta and began to write many of his legendary cowboy songs.  He has recorded more than a dozen albums; his latest release is Yellowhead to Yellowstone and Other Love Stories. Visit www.iantyson.com/

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Miss "V" the Gypsy Cowbelle has lived on a remote ranch in Wyoming for the past 13 years, honing her homesteader skills such as haying and logging with horses, sewing clothes and tack on treadle machines, building saddles and her signature "plank" banjos with hand tools, hunting and canning elk, grocery shopping once a year, concocting herbal remedies and dandelion wine, running pack strings and helping her neighbors trail cattle through the Rocky Mountains. Miss “V” has self-produced four CDs and is currently listed on the Wyoming Arts Council Artist Roster. 

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Cora Wood is a seven-year-old who loves the ranching life and embodies the cowboy spirit. She would almost rather ride than breathe and thinks school should be suspended on days where there is cow work to do. Cora has been performing poetry and music at gatherings around the west for several years, and continues to add to her repertoire, writing new poetry based on her experiences. Visit www.woodwesternmusic.com/fr_aboutus.cfm

Wylie & The Wild West are self-described as “a good-time cowboy band,” and play a blend of western swing, traditional country, cowboy and folk music that makes the audience want to get up and dance. A prolific songwriter, Wylie lends a fresh and honest perspective to the story of the west. Wylie is the youngest son of Montana rancher, veterinarian, and writer Rib Gustafson. Guitarist Ray Doyle was raised in Dublin, Ireland; he also plays mandolin and harmony vocals. T. Scot Wilburn plays guitar, fiddle and steel guitar. Drummer Rick Bryceon resides in Spokane. Visit www.wylieww.com/

Paul Zarzyski was active in rodeo as a bareback bronc rider for 15 years and has been a rodeo poet for 35. In 2005 Paul was selected as recipient of the Montana Governor’s Arts Award for Literature. His 10 books and chapbooks include Wolf Tracks On The Welcome Mat, winner of the Western Writers of America 2004 Spur Award for Poetry. He’s co-written songs with Ian Tyson, Tom Russell, Wylie Gustafson and others, and has recorded five spoken-word CDs. He attributes everything he knows about writing to his two mentors, Richard Hugo and Wallace McRae. Visit www.paulzarzyski.com/ 

NEW to our Schedule!

 DAN WHEETMAN is a former John Denver band member and Tony-nominated Broadway star who plays guitar, fiddle, bass, banjo, and blues harp for Marley's Ghost. Dan's play, Appalachian Strings, written with Randy Myler, was recently performed at the Cincinnati Playhouse. He won a Drama-Logue Award for Musical Direction for Lost Highway-The Music and Legend of Hank Williams at the Mark Taper Forum in LA. Dan has worked as an actor, musical director, composer, and musician and worked as an opening act for Steve Martin for a year.

Joining Dan onstage at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is DAVID P. JACKSON, JR. David's career began with 3 years on the Andy Williams Show as a comedian and bassist. A songwriter, he co-wrote "Joy to the World" with Hoyt Axton for Three Dog Night and "The No No Song" (also with Hoyt) for Ringo Starr. David has recorded and/or toured widely with others including the late John Denver, and has recorded and/or toured widely with others, including John Denver. He is an active participant in the Jazz Masters Workshops, a non-profit music mentoring organization that brings master musicians to inner city youth and provides access to outstanding musical instruction and experience. David is also accomplished on the accordian.