National Cowboy Poetry Gathering

About the Event

Join us National Cowboy Poetry Gathering 2025

Schedule:

9:00am-12:00pm Elko County Cattlewomen

The Elko County Cattlewomen’s Meatballs Have Near-Legendary Status Among Gathering Crowds And Staff. A Favorite Hors D'oeuvre At The Exhibit Reception For Many Years, And The Star Players In More Than One Gathering Memory (Who Said The Chafing Dishes Blew A Fuse In The Theater?), The Meatballs Are Finally Making Their Comeback. But This Time, You Can Learn How To Make Them, And Other Beefy Appetizers, Too. Join The Ranch Ladies To Learn Marianne Glaser’s Signature Mouth-Watering, Crowd-Pleasing, Spherical Morsels Of Meaty Delight. The Secret Is In The Beef!

Photo By Charlie Ekburg

9:00am-5:00pm Judy Hatch

Learn The Basics Of Cinchmaking And Make Your Very Own Handmade 17-Strand Mohair Cinch With Judy Hatch, Rancher And Owner Of Hatch Idaho Cinches, Llc. Judy, As A Seasoned Instructor In The Art Of Cinchmaking, Will Provide You With Mohair, Buckles, D Rings, Looms, And All Of The Tools You Need. You Will Have The Choice Between Three Base Colors (Natural, Gray, Sand). Show Up Empty-Handed And Go Home With A Finished Cinch! Looms And Supplies To Continue On Your Own At Home Will Be Available For Purchase After The Workshop. 

Photo Courtesy Of Judy Hatch

9:00am-4:00pm Shane Sutton

Join Retired Elko High School Agriculture Teacher Shane Sutton On A Day Trip To Beautiful Clover Valley In Northeastern Nevada. Under The Towering Peaks Of The South Humboldt Mountains, Learn And Share With The Dalton Ranch, A Generational Family Ranch Focused On Commercial Cattle And Producing High-Quality Beef. Then, Have A Barbeque Lunch Prepared By Members Of The Wells High School Ffa. The Last Stop On The Tour Is Lotspeich Family Farms, A Unique Agricultural Operation With A Deep Family Ranching History. Dress Warm For Winter Weather And Don’t Forget To Wear Sensible Footwear!

Photo Courtesy Of Lotspeich Family Farms

9:00am-12:30pm John Dofflemyer

The Unique Places That Shape, And Often Dictate, Our Livelihoods Also Have Distinctive Feelings We've Learned To Recognize And Write About. Adding Human Characteristics To Certain Aspects Of Place, Like The Trees, Rocks, Rivers, And Mountains, Brings Them Alive In Our Poetry And Prose. Many Cultures And Native Philosophies Incorporate Animism As A Part Of Their Worldview, Attributing A Spirit, A Heart, Or A Soul To Some Of These Subjects. Join John Dofflemyer In This Workshop, Where We Will Attempt To Find A Sense Of Spirituality That Is Unique To Where We Live, Hopefully Enriching The Depth And Scope Of Our Poetic Expression.

Photo Courtesy Of John Dofflemyer

1:00pm-3:00pm Wylie Gustafson, Dave Stamey

With Over 200 Songs (And 1.5 Million Downloads) Under His Belt, It’s A Testament To Wylie Gustafson’s Character That He’s Still Buckling Up To Write More. And With Outfits Like True West Magazine Calling Dave Stamey The Greatest Cowboy Balladeer Of All Time (Ok, Ok, They Said, “Best Living Western Solo Musician”), It Speaks Highly Of Dave’s Humility That His Hat Still Fits. Learn The Western Songwriter’s Trade From Not One, But Two!, Of The Best. Wylie And Dave Will Cover A Range Of Topics, Such As Developing Good Writing Habits, Co-Writing, Using Eminent Domain Poems, Avoiding Clichés, Approaching Artists With Your Songs, Placing Songs In Movies Or Tv, Demo Choices And Recording, And Using The Western Lifestyle And Landscape To Inspire And Motivate. 

Sponsored By The Ian Tyson Fund

Photo By Jessica Brandi Lifland

1:00pm-4:00pm Yolanda Rosales

Love Chiles Rellenos (Stuffed Peppers)? Learn To Make This Classic Mexican Dish With Yolanda Rosales, Former Elko Restaurant Owner And Cook. Yolanda Learned The Art Of Making Chiles Rellenos From Her Mother, Following A Recipe That Has Been In Her Family For Generations. Students Will Learn The Joy Of Constructing Chiles Rellenos From Start To Finish, With Tips On Prepping The Chiles, Fluffing The Egg Batter, Stuffing With Cheese, And Frying. Yolanda Will Also Guide You Through Making Two Sauces, Salsa Ranchera (Red Sauce) And Salsa Con Crema (Creamy Bell Pepper Sauce). As The Saying Goes, “Panza Llena, Corazon Contento.” 

Photo By Callie Greenhaw

3:00pm-4:30pm Nick Heguy

Throughout Modern History, Our Obsession With The Cocktail Has Been One Of Adoration Mixed With Innovation, Weighing Creative Passion With Our Capacity For Vice. We Continue This Tradition With An Examination Of The Cocktail’s Evolution Over The Decades And Its Impact On Our Own Local History. Join Us For This Year’s Installation Of Perfect Pour At Duncan Littlecreek. Learn Tips And Tricks To Create Your Own Stunning Libations. Take Some Poetic License On A Few Classic Cocktails, And Learn To Make Some Of The Dlc’s Exclusive Signature Drinks With Nick Heguy. Must Be 21+ With Valid Id.

Photo By Charlie Ekburg

5:00pm-6:30pm Jordan Wright With Sam Platts & The Plainsmen

Brandings Are Fun, Sociable Events, But They Are Also Hot, Grueling Affairs That Depend On The Willingness Of Your Neighbors And Friends. The Wright Family Has Perfected The Art Of Keeping Their Crews Satisfied And Coming Back Every Year. Their Secret? Feed Them Well And Feed Them Everything. So, Belly Up For The Wright Take On Branding Grub. Jordan Wright And His Kitchen Crew Will Serve Up A Dinner That’ll Have You Asking For A Second Helping. No Strangers To The Sweat Of Branding Season, Sam Platts & The Plainsmen Provide Songs Of Work And Revelry While You Supper Up. In The True Spirit Of Brandings, This Fancy Dinner Will Be Served On Paper Plates. Grab Your Koozie And Get In Line!

Photo By Natalie Perez

7:00pm-8:30pm Yvonne Hollenbeck, Dave Stamey, Wylie & The Wild West

When You Throw Together A Crew, This Is The Kind Of Talent You Want. Wylie Gustafson, Along With His Die-Hard Band, Revs Up Ranch Rhythms With The Kind Of Songs You Can’t Stop Humming. Underneath A Seemingly Sweet Ranch Wife Surface, Poet Yvonne Hollenbeck’s Rabble-Rousing Spirit Makes For Spirit-Rousing Poetry. And, Cool-As-A-Cucumber Dave Stamey Stirs Up A Frenzy  When He Lets Out A Yippee-Yi-Yo. When The “Rebel Rouser” Joins Forces With The “Musical Charlie Russell” And The “American Original,” You’ve Got A Crew That’ll Kick Up A Ruckus And Get The Job Done Right. Like Any Good Cowboss, You Just Need To Show Up And Enjoy Yourself. 

Photo By Charlie Ekburg

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