29 years of history....29 more to go

For 29 years The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering has been doing something beautiful, and I felt so blessed to have been apart of it yet again this year.

I don’t know what I could say my favorite part of the Gathering was this year honestly.

Whether it was the fact that I saw so many younger performers and young people involved, the working cowboys and ranching families that drove hours and hours to attend, or the rush and thrill I get the second my underslungs hit that stage….it all blew me away.

I felt so apart of history at The Gathering this year, and although I know that might sound silly-I think it is because I know there is a new era being ushered in for the world of Cowboy Music.

Folks like Amy Mills, the new Gathering Director- are making a huge difference in our world by allowing the rancher and cowboys voice to be heard in the future of Elko and that is a beautiful and exciting thing because it is the number one reason there even is a Gathering!

I had the chance to talk to so many amazing people that really got me excited about what is coming in the future for Cowboy Music and poetry, one of whom was Jessica Hedges. Jessica and her Young son (Quirt) and husband Sam live and work outside of Burns OR and Jessica has been involved with the Gathering since she was little.

Just seeing Jessica’s enthusuasem for her craft during the weekend was so wonderful and really inspiring! I was able to catch up with old friends like Jessica, Randy Reiman, Paul Zarziski, Tom Russell, Ramblin Jack Elliot, Waddie Mitchell, Dave Stamey, David Bourn, Dick Gibford, DW Groethe, Brenn Hill, Yvonne Hollenbeck, Sam Platts, and so many more as well as making TONS of new friends. I can’t wait for what the future holds for the Gathering, and look forward to another 29 years of history, songs, poems and mutual love of the cowboy world.

xoxo

~Adrian