The Osage Orange
41st Gathering
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4m 7s
Jake tells a tale from the point of view of a fence post. Jake Riley recites "The Osage Orange" during the "For Story's Sake" show at the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jake Riley
Riverdale, NE
Jake Riley was born in Salida, Colorado, and grew up, for the most part, in the upper Arkansas Valley of the Colorado mountains. He began roping and rodeoing as a kid, which led to helping
out at local ranches, which spawned his love for cowboy culture. Much of Jake’s work involves firsthand ranch and rodeo experiences told from his perspective on the contemporary fringe. He’s shared his work from California to Minnesota. Jake now calls the plains of Nebraska home, living there along with his wife Carley and a teeming horde of younguns with an affection for
western ways.
"The Osage Orange"
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Filmed in front of a live audience with help from the E. L. Wieg Foundation at the Western Folklife Center’s G Three Bar Theater in Elko, NV, on Jan. 30, 2026.
Made possible by the multitude of staff, artists, volunteers, and community members working behind the scenes to make this show happen.
Brought to you by the Western Folklife Center, using story and cultural expression to connect the American West to the world.
www.westernfolklife.org
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