Matt gives us a peek into one day in the life of a cowboy. Matt Robertson sings "Just Cowboyin'" during the Ranch Family Show at the 38th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Matt Robertson
Wittmann, AZ
Raised in Wyoming, Matt Robertson grew up on the back of a horse, starting col...

Dakota shares his dislike for "ridin' the rust off a tractor." Dakota Robinson recites "Tractor Stompin'."

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Dakota Robinson
Round Top, TX
Working on ranches from Texas to Kansas, Wyoming to New Mexico, and back again, Dakota Robinson has experienced firsthand the many challenges...

Olivia shares her philosophy of life. Olivia Harms sings "Road of Life."

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Olivia Harms
Canby, OR
Olivia Harms grew up on her family’s 150-year-old ranch in Canby, Oregon, where she spent her childhood chasing cows and riding horses, and accompanying her mother Joni Harms on tour...

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.

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Jake Riley
Riverdale, NE
Jake Riley grew up, for the most part, in the upper Arkansas Valley...

Brigid + Johnny, an amazingly talented sibling duo, share a tune they co-wrote. Brigid + Johnny Reedy perform "Come Along Daisy" during "The New Wave" show for the 2022 Wild Ride.

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Brigid + Johnny Reedy
Dillon, MT
Brigid Reedy first entertained Elko crowds by yodeling at the Pi...

Terry shares a poem that illustrates one day in the life of a cowboy. Terry Nash recites "Sunburned Men on Tired Horses" by Darrell Arnold during the "Paying Tribute" show at the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Terry Nash
Loma, CO
Western Colorado beef producer Terry Nas...

The Sons of the Pioneers will take the stage at the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, NV. January 26 - 31, 2026.

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Sons of the Pioneers
Oakland, CA; Branson, MO; Beaumont & Marshall TX; Seattle, WA
The legendary Sons of the Pioneers are famous the world over for thei...

Darrell recounts a "true" story of his experience with a rattlesnake and a butterfly. Darrell Holden performs "The Butterfly" during the "Talking it All in Stride" show at the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Darrell Holden is a proud fifth-generation rancher who raises c...

Katie recites the lyrics from a cowboy song that some say started out as a poem. It was collected by N. Howard "Jack" Thorp from John Collier, Cornudas Mountain, New Mexico in July 1899. Katie McCall-Owen performs "Windy Bill" during the "Highlights of the Open Mic" show at the 39th National Cowb...

Lone Piñon, shares a light-hearted, old-fashioned satirical Northern New Mexican song (polka). "La Julia" was passed down through generations and the elders always laugh at this song.

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Lone Piñon
Santa Fe & Albuquerque, NM
Lone Piñon is a New Mexican string band, or orquesta tí...

Annie shares a lesson about getting an early start. Annie Mackenzie recites "Dog Tired" during the "Big Skies" show at the 2022 Wild Ride.

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Annie Mackenzie
Jordan Valley, OR
While known as the family rambler, Annie Mackenzie has her roots planted firmly at the fourth-generation ...

Jimmy shares how the things we love and can't replace are a testament to living. Jimmy Cantwell sings "Better Days."

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Jimmy Cantwell
Cañon City, CO
Jimmy Cantwell is a second-generation horseman who’s turned a life full of experience into song. From his time as a soldier to ridi...

Ross regales us with a classic cowboy poem. Ross Knox recites "The Long Eared Bull" by Bruce Kiskaddon during "An Evening of Celebration" show at the 30th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Ross Knox
Skull Valley, AZ
Ross Knox first aspired to be a cowboy as a little boy, when h...

Andy performs his version of this Blind Lemon Jefferson tune. Andy Nelson sings "Black Snake Moan" during "Blues on the Range" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Andy Hedges
Lubbock, TX
Andy Hedges is a songster, reciter, storyteller, guitarist, and collector of...

Dakota reminisces about a life in the saddle. Dakota Holdaway recites "Life of a Horseman."

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Dakota Holdaway
Nephi, UT
Storyteller and poet Dakota Holdaway began his introduction to the cowboy lifestyle on the back of a horse (or mule) with his father and friends in the mountain...

Kristyn extols the benefits of owning a mule. Kristyn Harris sings "The Mule Song" during the 2024 "Ranch Family Show" at the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Kristyn Harris
Burleson, TX
Kristyn Harris is a singer, songwriter, and entertainer known for her western swing s...

Patricia memorializes Rodney Nelson. Patricia Frolander shares "Tall Grass Lonesome, in Memory of Rod Nelson" during the "Back in Elko Town" show at the 38th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Patricia Frolander
Sundance, WY
Patricia Frolander, Wyoming's fifth Poet Laureate, live...

Wylie's performance excites an audience of schoolchildren who are dancing in their seats. Wylie and the Wild West perform "Buffalo Gals" and "Yodeling Fool" during the "Cowkids Stampede" show at the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Wylie & the Wild West
Conrad, MT
Wylie Gu...

Natalie shares the vision of her horse. Natalie G'Schwind recites "A Prairie."

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Natalie G’Schwind
Callaway, NE
Natalie G’Schwind grew up in the canyons around Callaway, Nebraska. She makes her living managing Nebraska’s Sandhills grasslands and helps out at the family ranch ever...

Pipp and Lloyd joke and sing about the foolhardiness of the best-laid plans, with the help of lyrics penned by Waddie Mitchell. Pipp Gillette and Lloyd Wright perform "Grandpa" during the "Cowboy Stew" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Pipp Gillette
Crockett,...