This Silver Anniversary of the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering was a very special reunion of hundreds of poets, musicians and gearmakers who have participated in the Gathering over the last quarter century. The event looked at back at how 25 years of cowboy poetry and music performances in Elko have shaped ranchers, cowboys and the traditions themselves, and looked ahead to the next quarter century of Gatherings, by presenting young artists, the future of these traditions.

Highlights of the 25^th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering included:

Keynote by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who grew up on a cattle ranch in Arizona,  delivered the 2009 keynote speech. O'Connor, the first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice, wrote a book with her brother, Alan H. Day, titled Lazy B: Growing Up On a Cattle Ranch in the American Southwest. In it, she describes her early life and experiences on the ranch and how the land, people, and values she learned shaped her life and made her into the self-reliant woman she is today. Click here to listen, selecting the Keynote Address on Thursday, January 29th.

Performances by Nearly 80 Cowboy Poets, Musicians and Western Bands

The 25^th Gathering featured dozens of performances on six simultaneous stages by 53 poets and 24 musicians and musical groups, including 15 individuals who participated in the very first Elko Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 1985. Among the artists who performed in 2009 are Grammy award-winning western quartet Riders in the Sky, Canadian songwriting legend Ian Tyson, nationally syndicated columnist and National Public Radio commentator Baxter Black, the Polish hobo rodeo poet Paul Zarzyski, National Heritage Fellows Glenn Ohrlin and Wally McRae, and many more. For a full list of performers, click here.

A Ride With Bob - A Musical Drama about the Life of Bob Wills

A Ride With Bob is the first-ever play about the life and music of western swing legend Bob Wills of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. This musical was written by and stars Ray Benson of the internationally acclaimed band Asleep at the Wheel, and features other National Cowboy Poetry Gathering favorites such as the Quebe Sisters and Jill Jones. A Ride With Bob is performed by 25 actors and musicians, and includes several dozen costume changes on a colorful theatrical set. Live performances of 15 of Wills' most well-known songs are included in this play that interweaves Ray Benson's present day performances with various stages in Wills' storied career. For more information visit www.aridewithbob.com.

Exhibition ‑‑ Between Grass & Sky: Trappings of a Ranch Life

In celebration of the 25^th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, the Western Folklife Center and the Nevada Museum of Art have partnered to develop a joint exhibition entitled Between Grass and Sky. The Western Folklife Center's exhibition, Between Grass & Sky: Trappings of a Ranch Life, brings together the work of some of the region's finest contemporary gearmakers, poets and artists to illustrate the connection between artistry and our sense of place in the West. The Nevada Museum of Art exhibition, Between Grass & Sky: Rhythms of a Cowboy Poem, features a selection of historic and contemporary paintings, photographs and sculptural works combined with the spoken voices of renowned cowboy poets, to offer insight into the varied experiences arising from life in rural and ranching communities.

Cowboy Poetry Reunion Stage and Reception

For the 25^th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, the Western Folklife Center honored all the performers of the last quarter century by hosting a reunion stage where any of these artists could perform a verse or a song throughout the Gathering. In addition, past and present Gathering poets and musicians had a chance to reconnect with each other at a reunion reception for them and their families.

Other Activities in Elko during the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering: Click here to see what else was going on in Elko during the Gathering.