National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
national cowboy poetry gathering formerly elko cowboy poetry gathering annual gathering celebrating cowboy poetry produced western folklife center take place elko nevada united state william wilson secured funding event national endowment art organized team folklorists local cowboy poet including hal cannon waddie mitchell elko cowboy poetry gathering started place western rancher cowboy could gather share poem life working cattle beginning clear men woman found tribe artistic community knew existed three decade later tribe nation western poet musician artisan storyteller sharing creativity across country telling story hard work heartbreak hilarity mean make way rangeland west elko gathering renamed national cowboy poetry gathering thanks act congress known simply elko many gathering embrace role pilgrimage destination thousand ranch folk others love west come learn experience art grows connection rhythm earth sky national cowboy poetry gathering six day poetry music dancing workshop exhibit conversation food fellowship rooted tradition focused today rural west inaugural year featured poet audience less th anniversary gathering retired u supreme court justice sandra day oconnor keynote speaker well known speaker given keynote address include temple grandin stuart udall barry corbin invited artist participant list long included edward waddie mitchell joel nelson wallace mcrae rider sky georgie sicking dalton wilcox ian tyson baxter black elko gathering led way among many gathering across nation texas cowboy poetry gathering held sul ross state university alpine texas followed original event elko alvin g davis attended exposition alpine cowboy poet launched comparable group lubbock formation american cowboy culture association cosponsors annual national cowboy symposium celebration held annually thursday sunday labor day official website guide cowboy poetry gathering collection special collection university library university nevada reno