40th Gathering
This collection features performances for the 40th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 2025.
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Sunrise Side of the Sierra
Richard celebrates the beauty of the desert. Richard Elloyan sings "Sunrise Side of the Sierra" during the "Nevada on My Mind" show at the 40th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Richard Elloyan
Virginia City, NV
Singer, songwriter, and poet Richard Elloyan grew up in the histor...
Extras
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Charlotte S. Bigham Cow Kids Stampede 2025
FEATURING: Jessie Veeder
Jessie shares her love of ranching and all things cowboy and cowgirl. Jessie Veeder, along with her father Gene Veeder on guitar and harmonica, and Mike Enrud on dobro and guitar, entertain with song and story.
From the 40th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
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My Wife Is Gonna Kill Me
Jarle shares some matrimonial advice. Jarle Kvale recites "My Wife Is Gonna Kill Me" during the "Bellyaches + Heartbreaks" show at the 40th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jarle Kvale
Dunseith, ND
Jarle Kvale turns his experiences with horses, rodeo, and North Dakota rural liv... -
Bottle of Memories
R.P. immortalizes grandma's memories. R.P. Smith recites "Bottle of Memories" during the "Rebel Rousers" show at the 40th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
R.P. Smith
Broken Bow, NE
R.P. Smith is the fourth generation of his family to have the privilege to care for a small par... -
The Battle of the Breadbasket
Jake describes an incident with a wad of chew. Jake Riley recites "The Battle of the Breadbasket" during the "Bellyaches + Heartaches" show at the 40th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jake Riley
Riverdale, NE
Jake Riley grew up, for the most part, in the upper Arkansas Valley... -
Those Advertising Caps
Yvonne is known for her poetry and quilting, but she is also a creative recycler. Yvonne Hollenbeck entertains us with "Those Advertising Caps" during the "Bellyaches + Heartbreaks" show at the 40th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Yvonne Hollenbeck
Winner, SD
Yvonne Hollenbec... -
January Dawns
Annie shares her list of New Year's resolutions. Annie Mackenzie recites "January Dawns" during the "Rebel Rousers" show at the 40th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Annie Mackenzie
Jordan Valley, OR
Annie Mackenzie is a fourth-generation rancher and part-time cowboy poet. Sh... -
Lazarus
R.P. recounts a difficult calving by a wild heifer. R.P. Smith performs "Lazarus" during the "Bellyaches + Heartbreaks" show at the 40th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
R.P. Smith
Broken Bow, NE
R.P. Smith is the fourth generation of his family to have the privilege to care f... -
Requiem in Lace
Pat shares bittersweet memories of a beloved grandmother. Patricia Frolander recites "Requiem in Lace" during the "Rebel Rousers" show at the 40th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Patricia Frolander
Sundance, WY
Wyoming Poet Laureate Emeritus Patricia Frolander is author of aw... -
Bellyaches + Heartbreaks
FEATURING: Doug Figgs, Yvonne Hollenbeck, Jarle Kvale, Jake Riley, R.P. Smith.
Making a living in agriculture isn't for the faint of heart. Nor is it for the humorless. Some days the ups and downs happen with the intensity of a bucking bronc buzzed by a bee. To keep cool while the ranch tests yo...
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Rebel Rousers
Two ranch wives, a cowgirl and a cowboy walk into the Pioneer Saloon. . . . These four rebel rousers provide a look into life, from the absurd to the ridiculous with a pinch of reflection and reverence. Wyoming Poet Laureate Emeritus Patricia Frolander, Yvonne Hollenbeck aka the "Erma Bombeck" of...
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Creeks & Communities
How do creeks function for us? For the things we care about? By focusing on water, plants, soils, and landforms, we’ve learned that some plants grow tremendous root systems that withstand floods, slow water to build floodplains, and protect soil to create a sponge. Ranchers Agee Smith and Steve B...
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I Held You as a Pup
Love has lasted a lifetime for these pairs. From the first moment they met, they were bound together. By blood or by love, there’s a special connection that forms between generations. One minute, one begins as a mentor holding a baby. The next, that baby is holding them steady. The roles switch b...
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Be the Poem, Be the Song
Close out the 40th by gathering in the spirit of the Gathering’s essence, by gathering for the good and the true. Here, the creative possibilities are endless. The inspiration of everyday people is epic. The poetic expressions become a medium through which we envision, and enact, new possibilitie...
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Play It Right
The West is not all cows and blue skies. Those cows and blue skies represent opportunity, and some western-made opportunities are more upstanding (and legal) than others. From legendary mischief makers to gritty escapades, take a walk on the darker side of cowboy life. From saloons to dance halls...
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Everything Old Is New Again
Committing to a tradition and making it your own is a delicate endeavor. These fresh voices tread the grounds of heritage oh-so-skillfully, balancing reverence and mastery with originality and spunk. Kristyn Harris takes classic country, folk, and swing at her own speed. Lone Piñon reverently stu...
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Now That's Classic
Everybody loves a classic. And, everybody loves it when reciters take the stage to honor the greats of their field. Join poets Marleen Bussma, Andy Hedges, Bill Lowman, Jake Riley, and Tom Sharpe for their favorite classic cowboy poems. They’ll take turns sharing beloved touchstones of the tradit...
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Class of '85 & That Other Guy
What’s better than friendship? Pardship, of course! And who knows what could happen when these old-school buckaroo bard pards take our stage to reminisce about the past 40 years through story, poetry, and song. (Hint: It’s going to be epic!) From before the dawn of the Gathering to clean up ’til ...
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Nevada on My Mind
From the Ruby Mountains to the Owyhee Desert, from the Humboldt River to the Jarbidge Wilderness, from the hot springs to the quakies, Nevada’s expanses leave an imprint on a person’s soul. Cowboy poet Ross Knox earned his stripes on the Great Basin’s big outfits. Rancher and rhymer Katie McCall-...
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Words With Heart
The Gathering has always been about words—words that reflect land, words that reflect work, words that reflect our worlds. And it’s about how those words are shared in the company of others, turning moments into memories and expression into connection. Start the 40th with a quartet of rooted perf...
