A cow town state of mind

Get in the pickup, the Gathering’s going to town with all the gregarious rambunctiousness of a crew that’s been out in the brush too long! Pop culture has long cemented the image of the lone cowboy into our collective consciousness as a symbol of agriculture (and way too many other things for that matter), but growing food is and always has been a heartfelt, collaborative endeavor supported by all kinds of people. This year we tip our handcrafted lids to ag communities everywhere with our theme for the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering,  “A Cow Town State of Mind.” From the family and friends who lend a hand during branding time to the people and businesses that share common ground with ranching and farming, we’ll be examining what it really takes to keep rural lands and communities thriving and healthy. Bring on the poets and singers of songs, the cowhands, the land stewards, the ag teachers, the 4-H and FFA kids, the butchers, the beekeepers, and the people whose hearts are in ranching but had to find other ways to make a living. It’s not about what you wear or where you’re from, it's about that cow town state of mind.

See ticketed shows & workshops here!

Banner artwork: Headin' Out (2025), Clara Smith