“Sharing poems and songs about those aspects of our agrarian lives that were personal and deeply felt did a lot to humanize us,” writes Gail Steiger as he reflects on what cowboy poetry means and the connections it opens up.
Ask a Cowboy Poet: Stage Superstitions
Ask a Cowboy Poet: Wrangling Rhymes
Redefining Island Time
Development Director Daniel Neel Retires
Let's Keep the Gathering Sustainable and in Elko
Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Memorable Gathering Moments"
Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Seasonal Change"
Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Distilling Vast Vistas"
Making Makilak
Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Transition Planning"
Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Favorite Place on Earth"
Ask a Cowboy Poet: "When Inspiration Strikes"
Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Ornery Cow"
Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Sound vs Imagery"
The Gathering in Two Words
Ask a Cowboy Poet: "Artistic License"
This month, the cowboy poets discuss artistic license in poems as they answer a question posed by The Man Who Didn’t Shoot Liberty Valance: “Could you comment on how you approach decisions about taking artistic license in your writing? Also, could you comment on any historical poems you’ve researched where you’ve found the legend has outpaced the truth or the truth is in fact stranger than fiction?”
Editing "The Cowboy" Archetype
Respected buckaroo, horseman, and ranch manager Jeff Mundell advocates for the role of the horseback cowboy in a collaborative, future-oriented, regenerative agriculture movement. Read Jeff’s essay about shifting “The Cowboy” archetype with conversations across occupational cultures that connect story-wise cowboys, data-wise scientists, and the living flora and fauna that tie them together.
Board Spotlight: Chrissy Menicucci Benna
Chrissy Menicucci Benna's experience with the poetry and music of western artists transformed her understanding of western ways of life, even after a lifetime spent in Nevada. A memorable moment hearing poet Paul Zarzyski perform spurred her to become an ardent supporter of the Western Folklife Center and an engaged board member. Read about why Chrissy calls the WFC "a beloved treasure" in the second of our board spotlights.