by Lilly Platts
Musicians Sam and Lilly Platts. Photo courtesy Lilly Platts
The Gathering feels more like a family reunion than work, and it has been a bright spot in my life as a musician for years now. Some of the most important things in my life have happened in Elko, like when Sam and I got married during the Gathering in 2018. Wylie Gustafson gave us a ride to the Elko County Courthouse, and paid for our license as a wedding gift. We have now celebrated our anniversary here for eight years, surrounded by friends. Back when we called the courthouse from the parking lot in front of Stockmen’s to ask what we needed to get married (it’s just a driver’s license, in case you’re wondering), that decision didn’t feel as spur of the moment as I know it appeared. I honestly believe our story was already woven into the larger fabric that is the Gathering and community here in Elko. We were just following a thread that had already been pulled, which we are still doing to this day.
The Gathering, and what it stands for, has also given me a place where I feel like I belong. I grew up immersed in western life, but knew by my early 20s that actually working on a ranch wasn’t going to be in the cards forever. Eventually, I gave that lifestyle up completely to pursue a life of my own, which came with a pile of mixed feelings. I had a life that so many people dream of, filled with horses, cows, mountains, and open space, and I left it behind. It was the right choice for me, but still a hard one.
Sam and Lilly Platts at the Gathering. Photo by Jessica Brandi Lifland
The Gathering played a huge role in getting to a place where I feel like I still belong in this world. It reminded me that the West is filled with kind, supportive people at a time when I felt pretty bitter about cowboy culture. It continues to teach me that there are many ways you can be a member of the western community, and contribute to its future. There are so many people, from pivot mechanics to FFA teachers, who, like me, don’t swing a leg over a horse but still contribute to the West and agriculture.
Even when I checked all of the boxes for being a proper western person, from the gear I used to how I made money, I frequently found myself still feeling like an outsider. If you’ve ever walked into a room full of cowboy hats and felt a chill in the air, you weren’t imagining it. This world can be closed off. The line between preserving culture and fostering its future is a delicate one, and it’s easy to become a gatekeeper instead of a leader. Fortunately, you are surrounded by leaders here at the Gathering, who understand that celebrations like this are about a much bigger picture. This culture and lifestyle aren’t something to keep from the public.
“I wholeheartedly believe that western art and music are the first door many people walk through before learning more about agriculture.”
I wholeheartedly believe that western art and music are the first door many people walk through before learning more about agriculture. It might not seem like buying tickets for a show here at the Gathering has anything to do with the food on your plate, but I believe it does. Songs, poems, and art have been telling the story of the West forever, and if something inspires you to read a book, watch a documentary, or do anything to dig deeper, that is incredibly positive.
Lilly Platts playing the fiddle at the Gathering. Photo by Charlie Ekburg
In my daily work as an ag communicator, I am acutely aware of the challenges facing farmers and ranchers across the country, and especially in the West. The alarming loss of land to development, increasing age of producers, and prohibitive cost for young people who want to become involved just scratches the surface. People can’t support something they don’t know about, and the Gathering helps close this gap. This week is so much fun, but it also serves the larger purpose of exposing people to the West, and ultimately, making sure people know why it matters so much.
This year’s theme, “A Cow Town State of Mind,” perfectly captures the relationship I now have with western culture. There are so many attributes that society as a whole can find value in, from being resilient and hardworking, to understanding where your food comes from, and I feel so fortunate to play a small part in sharing that. A cow town state of mind is open, curious, and recognizes that this world is for everyone.
Photo courtesy Lilly Platts
Lilly Platts grew up in a ranching family in Southwest Montana, in the same county where her mom’s family homesteaded. Her early passion for the West bloomed into a degree in English writing and agricultural business. Lilly is managing editor for the American Simmental Association, and writes for agricultural and lifestyle publications, including her column in the Western Ag Reporter, In the Swing of Things. An accomplished fiddle player, Lilly met her husband Sam through music. She has played in his group for ten years. Lilly and Sam live in South-central Texas with their herd of dogs: Maxine, Daphne, Woody, Albert, Fred, and Mae.
