The Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering News Archive

News From The 2007 Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering

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Raffle tickets for the “2007 Commemorative Spurs” are available by mail.
$10.00 each — contact committee@cowboy-poetry.org

Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering 2007 Prices & FAQs

Friday February 23 — Sunday February 25, 2007

All daytime sessions are free.
Breakfast $5.00.
Friday and Saturday Stage Shows are $10.00 (children $5.00, lap babies free).
Dance is also $10.00.
Always plenty of tickets Friday morn when they go on sale.

2007 Headliners and Participants

Headliners for the 2007 Gathering are:

Friday Show: Stephanie Davis and Randy Rieman
Saturday Show: Jerry Brooks and Dan Roberts
Dance Saturday Night: Jody Nix and The Texas Cowboys

Red Steagall will attend the 2007 Gathering to perform and be the Master of Ceremonies for the Friday and Saturday Stage Shows.

This year's poster artwork by Wayne Baize of Fort Davis, Texas.

Jerry Falkner of Fort Davis, Texas is making the spurs for this years raffle.

Here are the list of participants confirmed for the 2007 Gathering:

Mary Abbott Apache Adams Oscar Auker Leon Autrey Sally Bates Mike Beck Jerry Brooks Don Cadden Kip Calahan Bob Campbell John Campbell Craig Carter Ivan Cates Robert Chaison Charlie Chambers Doris Daley Stephanie Davis Sam Dawson Ray Fitzgerald Rolf Flake Doug Foshee Jeff Gore Jackie and Valerie Green Andy Hedges Don Hedgpeth & Shug Yvonne Hollenbeck Chris Issacs

Joaquin Jackson Jill Jones Kay Kelley Suzi Killman Linda Kirkpatrick Deanna and Rusty McCall Karen McGuire Pat Meade Chuck Milner Glenn Moreland Joel Nelson Biscuits O'Bryan Ray Owens Tera Peters Gary and Jean Prescott Mike Querner Randy Rieman Dan Roberts Matt Skinner Red Steagall Gail Steiger Michael Stevens Rod Taylor Washtub Jerry Andy Wilkinson Jim Wilson

The details of events have been posted on the Gathering page.

Posted on Wednesday November 29, 2006 by Webmaster
Updated on Sunday February 18, 2007 by Webmaster

News from the 2006 Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering

2006 "Trappings of Texas" at the Museum of the Big Bend - Best of Show Winners

With over 140 items on display the judging for the Best of Show Winners proved a challenge for our panel of judges. The categories for Best of Show are: Saddles, Leatherwork, Braiding and Hitching, Silverwork and Art.

 

Jean Pierre "Pedro" Pedrini entered his full flower carved leather Wade stock saddle with alligator inlaid seat and bucking rolls with silverwork by Jeremiah Watt.

His entry proved to be a winner twice: Best of Show Saddle and Best of Show Leatherwork.

 

The Best of Show Hitching and Braiding award went to gearmaker Vince Donley of Parkman, Wyoming, for his 12 plait Rein and Romal Set. This set was braided of fine color, interwoven sculpted buttons in black and brown on a natural base.

 

In the crowded category of silverwork, the competition was tough. By balancing form and function with beauty, the winner of the Best of Show Silverwork was awarded to Gene Klein of Miami, New Mexico for his set of silver mounted spurs.

Ocotillo, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas, April 17, 2005 by Brent Phelps

 

Photography, watercolors, oils and bronze sculpture were the media that had to be judged. The Best of Show for Art was awarded to newcomer, Brent Phelps of Denton, Texas, for his image taken at Big Bend Ranch State Park.

 

Posted on Wednesday November 29, 2006 by Webmaster

2006 recipient of the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering "Heritage Award"

Glenn Moreland of Fort Davis, Texas was the Heritage Award recipient at the 2006 Gathering.

Joel Nelson on the left and 2005 recipient Chuck Milner with Glenn Moreland Click to Enlarge

Glenn began playing the fiddle and guitar in the late '60s around Austin. He fell in love with cowboy songs and later, took up the fiddle to learn the tunes that were the favorites of the cowhands. Working as a cowboy in West Texas, he added many songs to his repertoire including some that he wrote. He has been nominated by his peers as a performing musician to the Academy of Western Artists. Glenn's quick wit, wry humor and knowledge of cowboy history make him a favorite performer. Sometimes solo, and sometimes with his partner, Washtub Jerry, he has entertained over much of the Southwest, from the Big Bend Ranch to trail drives in New Mexico, as well as many cowboy music festivals throughout Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. He is also a chuckwagon cook, receiving the Will Rogers Award for Chuckwagon of the Year in 1997. He lives and works in Fort Davis with his wife, Patty.

Congratulations Glenn!

A special story concerning the 1st Texas Cowboy Poetry Spur raffle coming soon.

The Gathering committee will raffle another pair of custom spurs in 2007. The spur raffle in 2006 was a success and the proceeds will go a long way in helping us pay our participants better for making the Gathering what is.

We thank all of those who bought tickets. Good luck in 2007.

The Texas Cowboy Poetry Committee

 

Posted on Thursday June 5, 2006 by Webmaster

The 20th Annual Performance of the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering Is Dedicated to the Memory of J.B. Allen July 23, 1938 - Dec. 13, 2005 J.B.'s last wishes were that a group of his poet/singer/cowboy friends do a show (a gathering) for his memorial service in Whiteface, Texas. J.B.'s wife, Margaret, made sure his wishes were honored and daughters Susan and JoAnn were there beside her. Margaret is a truly elegant lady and the best partner that J.B. could have ever hoped to find. At home she called him Joe Bob, as did all his old friends around Whiteface. The Gathering filled the Whiteface High School Auditorium with some folks standing in the lobby. - Joel Nelson

The dates for The 20th Annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Alpine are Friday 24th, Saturday 25th and Sunday the 26th of Feb, 2006.

"2006 is the 20th Gathering of Cowboy Poets and Musicians in Alpine Texas."

One of the special events planned for this Anniversary is a RAFFLE! The Committee commissioned Gene Klein spurmaker from Miami New Mexico to build a a commemoritive pair of spurs for this gathering. The ticket will be drawn on the Saturday night show after the Heritage Award is presented.

The value of these handsome spurs is $750.00 - tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased from any committee member or phone 432 364-2490

To order this 11 by 17 inch poster (artwork by Donna Howell-Sickles* www.donnahowellsickles.com) send check or money order for $7.50 (includes shipping and handling) to:

The Texas Cowboy Poetry Committee
PO Box 395
Alpine, Texas 79831

Our dear friend Bette Ramsey will be signing copies of Buck Ramsey's "Grass" during the Gathering.

“If Buck Ramsey had written nothing but ‘Anthem,’ I would consider him a great poet. No child of the West can read or hear that poem without being moved to pride or tears. ‘Anthem’ is also the mighty prologue to an epic: ‘Grass.’, the story of Billy Deaver’s entry into manhood and the world – a tale that was lived in the flesh by hundreds of young cowboys in the days of the big ranches and long cattle drives. ‘Grass’ by Buck Ramsey is a Texas story, a Western story, an American story that deserves to be called a classic. This beautiful new edition serves as a tribute to a man who is sorely missed, but whose spirit lives gloriously in his work.”– Bryan Woolley

* Also, Donna Howell-Sickles will have a selection of her work available and will also be signing autographs.
We will post the times when these ladies will be signing later here and include it in the 2006 program.

This years headliners are:

The Gillette Bros.
Jean and Gary Prescott

The poets and musicians confirmed for 2006 so far are:

Mary Abbott Oscar Auker Leon Autrey Sally Bates Mike Beck Jerry Brooks Don Cadden Kip Calahan Bob Campbell John Campbell Carig Carter Sam Dawson Ray Fitzgerald Rolf Flake Leon Flick Jeff Gore Audrey Hankins Andy Hedges Fran Hedrick Randy Huston Jayson Jones Jill Jones

Kay Kelley Suzi Killman Linda Kirkpatrick Chuck Milner and Family Glenn Moreland Joel Nelson Biscuits O'Bryan Ray Owens Gary Prescott Jean Prescott Mike Querner Bunni Roach Nessye Mae Roach Jack Sammon Matt Skinner Ann Sochat Gail Steiger Michael Stevens Rod Taylor Texas Sand      (Jackie and Valerie Greene) Washtub Jerry Jim Wilson

Jean and Gary Prescott will headline the Saturday night show. The Gillette Bros. will headline Friday night show. To help celebrate this "20th Gathering" these entertainers will be joined on their respective nights by many other performers, old friends and the core of the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering family.

The Saturday Night Dance will feature "Craig Carter and the Spur of the Moment Band"

Shedule of events for Feb. 2006 will be similar to past years and can be found on The Gathering page. Bios of the artists appearing at the upcoming Gathering (and past Gatherings) can be found on the Poets page.

Updated on Tuesday January 3, 2006 by Webmaster

Texas Yes! is a new initiative from the Texas Department of Agriculture designed to spotlight rural Texas and promote Texas tourism. For more information on Texas Yes! call (866) 4TEX-YES  or visit www.TexasYes.org.

News from the 2005 Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering

2005 recipient of the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering "Heritage Award" was Chuck Milner

Chuck Milner with Joel Nelson and Michael Stevens Click to Enlarge

Singer/songwriter Chuck Milner has been involved in the livestock industry for over twenty years. He's been singing as long as he can remember. As a ten year old Texas kid, he received a horse and a guitar from his grandfather. He spent the next twenty years weaving those two interests into his craft. He has worked as a cowboy and ranch hand in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado, spending several years running his own handful of cows.

Having served as an Artist -in- Residence for the Oklahoma Arts Council, he has taught cowboy songs and poems in the Oklahoma Public School system. In 2001, the Academy of Western Artists awarded him the WILL ROGERS award for Western Music Song of the Year, DOAN'S CROSSING.

The native Texan now resides on the Texas/Oklahoma border near Reydon, Oklahoma where he oversees the cattle grazing program on the Black Kettle National Grassland. Chuck, his wife Beth, children Hallie and Cody Ray, are fourth generation Oklahoma ranchers, running a cow/calf operation and Paint and Quarter Broodmares on their place on Rush Creek. They also own the Smoot/Hood Ranch in Greer County which was awarded an Oklahoma Centennial Ranch award in 2003, having been owned and operated by Beth's family since 1901.

Congratulations, Chuck!

Posted on Thursday June 23, 2005 by Webmaster

EXTRA! Read all about it!

Cowbowpoetry.com have awarded Jack Sammon Lariat Laureate this year for his poem "Looking Back".

Jack performed in Alpine at the 17th Annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering alongside Michael Stevens, Wallace McRae, Rod Taylor, Randy Riemann, Jesse Ballantyne and Paul Zarzyski.

Looking Back
 
You’ve travelled down life’s busy highway,
As you followed a varied career,
And met with the good times and hardships,
Now the end of the road’s drawing near.
But you notice; as you get older,
When your thoughts take you back in the past,
Those years that you worked as a stockman,
Just seem to hold memories that last.

When you think of times in a stock camp,
At the start of another new day,
With leaves in the trees gently stirring,
As the sky in the east turned to grey,
When high in the heavens above you,
The stars slowly blinked out of sight,
And Butcher birds started a chorus,
As they welcomed the growing daylight.

Those mornings when horses were saddled,
As the sun climbed up over the rise,
And showed the vast planes in the distance,
That were met by the vacant blue skies.
Or shone on those rugged red rangers,
To show you the scenery below,
Where rivers cut through the deep gorges,
And the Carbeen and Snappy Gum grow.

Remember the creak of the leather,
When you pulled up the slack of the girth,
The chime of the spur rowel and snaffle,
And the scent of the fresh trodden earth.
The days that you spent in the saddle.
With your hand lightly culching the rein,
The sound of shod hooves striking gravel,
And the clink of a lose hobble chain.

The feel of a horse underneath you,
On the face of a cutting out camp,
Or bronco horse straining the collar,
When you pulled up a calf to the ramp.
The thrill when you galloped through mulga,
Where you swung the wild cattle around,
The rush of adrenaline flowing,
When you pulled a scrub bull to the ground.

You rode through the saltbush and lignum,
When you mustered up cattle, out west,
And drank the Georgina’s grey water,
Where the black swan and pelican nest.
You’ve heard the young calves calling mothers,
In a stock yard when branding was done,
Then ridden a weary horse homeward,
‘Neath the rays of the red setting sun.

And then there are friends that you worked with,
You’ve not seen since the parting of ways,
In your mind you still see there faces,
In the dim light of a campfire’s blaze,
Where you all sat round telling stories,
When the evening shadows had fled,
With smoke from the camp fire curling,
Through the Coolabah boughs overhead.

So now, as you sit on the v’randa
Looking back to what life had once been,
The setbacks and triumphs it brought you,
The people and the places you’ve seen.
There were times you’ll always remember,
There were times that you’d like to forget,
But the time you spent in stock camp,
Was a time that you will never regret.

© Jack Sammon 2004
This poem may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.

For the full story, check out Cowbowpoetry.com

Posted on Monday December 6, 2004 by Webmaster