Maria Lisa reads her poem about one of the great ranching traditions–neighboring. Maria Lisa Eastman performs "A Different Valley" during the "Home" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Maria Lisa Eastman
Hyattville, WY

Maria Lisa Eastman hails from the village...

FEATURING: Henry Real Bird, Cat Clifford, Miko Marks, Paul Zarzyski

These rodeo pros steer an evening of entertainment from the chute to the dirt, bringing you stories, poems and music from far-flung arenas and the roads in between.

Hosted by Debbie Fant.

From the 36th National Cowboy Poetry ...

Doris Daley performs "Let It Be" during the "I Just Wanna Be a Comic Cowboy" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. This rhyme asks whether poetry or songwriting is more difficult. She references songs and ends with a nod to the Beatles.

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Black Diamond, AB, Canada
Dor...

The Munsick Boys share a true-story song based on the view from a rather frigid situation. The Munsick Boys perform "Seven Below" during the "Ranch Family Show" at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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The Munsick Boys
Dayton, WY
The unique aspect of The Munsick Boys ban...

FEATURING: The Munsick Boys, Brigid + Johnny + John Reedy, Jessie + Gene Veeder

Celebrate family ranching and family music-making with these three father-led family units. It's a show of shared experience, shared genes, and shared songs. Four-man Wyoming operation The Munsick Boys bring fiddling...

Lauren dedicates her performance of this classic to the man most known for it, her grandfather Don Edwards. Lauren Padgett performs "Coyotes" with Elana James on fiddle and Matthew Purpora on guitar during the "Tribute to Don Edwards" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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FEATURING: R.W. Hampton, Ned LeDoux, Trinity Seely.

What does it take to be a cowboy? These songsters will tell you. Pour a cup of coffee, sit back, and listen to these songs of strength. Get a nice buzz with cowpuncher entertainer R.W. Hampton, sagebrush storyteller Ned LeDoux, and cowgirl cha...

FEATURING: Derek Knapp.

Effectively attending to the needs of former combat veterans is a growing major challenge of our time. Drawing on first-hand experience, Derek Knapp brings focus to the groundbreaking work of Restoration Ranch, an experiential learning center for former combat veterans, t...

Waddie speaks with the soothing words of a man to his horse at the close of a day. Waddie Mitchell recites his "Evening Chat" during the Keynote Address at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Waddie Mitchell
Twin Bridges, NV
Waddie Mitchell was immersed in the cowboy way...

FEATURING: Bryan Neubert.

Why are people so captivated by horses? Horseman/buckaroo Bryan Neubert has some thoughts on this subject. Raised on his family’s ranch near Salinas, California, Bryan spent many hours learning from his neighbors Bill and Tom Dorrance and other revered horsemen. His hor...

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,...

Cat reasons his way through the love of the (rodeo) game in this song. Cat Clifford performs "Reason" during the "Straight Chutin' Champions" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Cat Clifford
Porcupine, SD
Cat Clifford, born and raised on the Pine Ridge Indian R...

Paul weaves a rodeo romance in this original poem (that also spawned a song of the same name). Paul Zarzyski performs "Bucking Horse Moon" during the "Straight Chutin' Champions" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Paul Zarzyski
Great Falls, MT
Paul Zarzyski, v...

Cat keeps the rodeo songs coming with this selection from his stockpile. Cat Clifford performs "Reason" during the "Straight Chutin' Champions" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Cat Clifford
Porcupine, SD
Cat Clifford, born and raised on the Pine Ridge Indian...

Dylan brings out the blues in his take on this cowboy standard. Dylan Clough performs "Cowboy's Lament" during the "Blazing Trails" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Dylan Clough
Spanish Fork, UT
Dylan Clough is a horseman, rambler, folklore enthusiast, and s...

Dylan sings a song about the truths found in friendship. Dylan Clough performs "Mi Amigo" during the "Blazing Trails" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Dylan Clough
Spanish Fork, UT
Dylan Clough is a horseman, rambler, folklore enthusiast, and singer-songwrit...

Waddie and Lloyd bring a graceful interpretation to this Kiskaddon classic. Waddie Mitchell and Lloyd Wright perform "The Bronco Twister's Prayer" by Bruce Kiskaddon during the "Cowboy Stew" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Waddie Mitchell
Twin Bridges, NV
...

Be still, take heed. Dave finds the groove with this Marty Robbins' favorite and Don Edwards' standard. Dave Stamey performs "Man Walks Among Us" during the "Tribute to Don Edwards" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Dave Stamey
Orange Cove, CA
Dave Stamey has...

Corb and Forrest decide to do an iconic Great Basin story song by Ian Tyson. Why not? Corb Lund and Forrest VanTuyl perform "MC Horses" by Ian Tyson while Ramblin' Jack Elliott listens during the "The Rambling Boys" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

During its peak, the MC Ranc...

Forrest does a goofy little love song he wrote. Forrest VanTuyl (An American Forrest) performs "Rawhide" during "The Rambling Boys" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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An American Forrest
Goldendale, WA
Forrest VanTuyl paid for his songwriting and wandering add...

Jack performs a poem that's been with him a while (and with some of you a bit longer). Jack George performs the classic "Sierry Petes" during the "Highlights of the Open Mic" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Jack George
Quemado, NM
Jack George works on many ...

Chris is a mule man. He finds a good pace with a mule tale (and an appreciative mule woman). Chris Isaacs performs his poem "Mutual Respect" during the "Cowboy Stew" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Chris Isaacs
Eagar, AZ
Chris Isaacs is an award-winning poet...

Jake tells one of those first-person sidesplitters that’s only funny after the fact. In fact, it’s “almost entirely true”—happened to him in Farmington, New Mexico, in 2000. Jake Riley performs his poem "Sheep Camp" during the "Better Part of Living" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gather...

Dom does his rendition of a classic cowboy misfortune ballad penned by collector Jack Thorp. Dom Flemons performs "Little Joe the Wrangler" during the "Tribute to Don Edwards" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

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Dom Flemons
Naperville, IL
Dom Flemons is an award...