Drum tells a hilarious tale of self reliance gone wrong...or maybe right.

Drum Hadley recites "A Colt .45 and a Chili Queen" during the very first Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 1985. Drum was a longtime resident of Arizona who was a rancher, poet, and one of the visionaries of the sustainable ranch...

Waddie gives advice to his eldest son. Waddie Mitchell performs, "What Will I Tell Him" during the "Cowboy Jubilee" show at the 10th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Waddie Mitchell
Twin Bridges, NV

Waddie Mitchell was immersed in the cowboy way of entertaining as a boy on th...

Baxter with a long one 'for the boys in the rodeo.' Baxter Black performs his "Legacy of a Rodeo Man" during the "Colorado Poets" session at the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 1985 (in 2000, the event was renamed the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering by an official act of Congress).

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Baxter puts forth his notorious piece on plants' rights. Baxter Black performs "The Vegetarian's Nightmare (or A Dissertation on Plants' Rights)" during the first evening "concert" at the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 1985 (in 2000, the event was renamed the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering by...

Buck's renowned epic prologue is a moving, soul-stirring anthem to the good and the true. Buck Ramsey performs his "Anthem" at the 7th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Buck Ramsey
Amarillo, TX
Buck Ramsey got the nickname Buckskin Tarbox from his father, even though Buck’s bi...

Georgie will let you know what makes a top hand a top hand. Georgie Sicking performs "To Be A Top Hand" during the "The Gather Begins" show at the 10th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Georgie Sicking
Kaycee, WY
Georgie Sicking recited at the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering in ...

Buck will hold you rapt with this lament, a meditation on loss of range and loss of life. Buck Ramsey performs "The Last Wagon" during the "Favorite Cowboy Songs: A Cappella and Otherwise" show at the 10th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Buck Ramsey
Amarillo, TX
Buck Ramsey ...

Paul shares his reverence for Grammy, the grange hall gourmand. Paul Zarzyski performs "Escorting Grammy to the Potluck Rocky Mountain Oyster Feed at Bowman's Corner" during "The Gather Begins" show at the 10th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Paul Zarzyski
Great Falls, MT
Pa...

J.B. brings his timbre to this famous cowboy poem about misjudging the spirit of an outlaw. J.B. Allen recites "The Strawberry Roan" by Curley Fletcher during the "Curley Fletcher in Poetry and Song" show at the 10th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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J.B. Allen
Whiteface, TX
J...

Wally ponders the big questions with serious cowboy philosophy in one of his most well-known poems. Wallace McRae performs his "Reincarnation" during the "Montana Poets" session at the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering in 1985 (in 2000, the event was renamed the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering by an...

Gary rolls through this rundown without a hitch, but with plenty of savvy. Gary McMahan performs "A Cowboyin' Day" during "An Evening of Cowboy Poetry, Music and Entertainment" at the 5th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Gary McMahan
Bellvue, CO
Gary McMahan has made his livi...

Sunny deadpans a yarn about trying to come out on top a booger of a deal. Sunny Hancock performs "The Horse Trade" at the 5th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Sunny Hancock was born and reared on a ranch outside of Williams, Arizona. He was either in or close to the cow busine...

Joel delivers this devastating heartbreak of a poem with dash and danger and life and love. Joel Nelson recites "Lasca" by Frank Desprez during the "Cowboy Classics" show at the 10th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Joel Nelson
Alpine, TX
Joel Nelson has been a cowboy since ag...

Yula Sue shares a mighty classic with a smooth voice and a shy smile in this vintage video. Yula Sue Hunting recites "The Bronco Twister's Prayer" by Bruce Kiskaddon during the "Classic Cowboy Recitations" session at the first Cowboy Poetry Gathering (in 2000, the event was renamed the National C...