The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering

The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is a grand celebration of western people, their lifestyles and traditions. As January turns to February, cowboys, ranchers, rural and urban people, young and not so young, travel en masse to the small community of Elko, Nevada, to join with friends, family and all those who share their love of rural life in the West. Together, they listen to poetry and music, learn about cowboy culture in the U.S. and around the world, experience great art, watch western films, learn a craft, and gather together to eat, drink and swap stories. For the last 36 years, thousands of people—both rural and urban—have made this pilgrimage time and time again. If you love the West, you must experience its greatest celebration. From the keynote address to the last show of the Gathering, we’ll honor the tradition of storytelling in the rural West and beyond. www.nationalcowboypoetrygathering.org

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not going to be able to gather in 2021, but we’re not going to let that stop us! In ranching, a rodear happens when cattle are gathered together and held in a circle, typically in a remote location where there are no corrals available. This allows the cowboys to perform their work. We find ourselves in a similar position this year—unable to hold our beloved event at headquarters. In the spirit of rodear, that just means we’re going to have to ride out into the landscape and improvise. Read more.