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Thanks for “drifting down to Elko town” for the 40th Gathering!
It’s not too early to mark your calendars for the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering (Jan 25 - Jan 31, 2026).
Interested in performing at the 41st Gathering or know someone who should? We're accepting applications from poets, musicians, gearmakers, storytellers, filmmakers, and all interested cowboy creatives.
Submission deadline is March 31, 2025.
Upcoming Events
The 2025 Gathering
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It’s not too early to become a member and be first in line to buy tickets for the 41st National Cowboy Poetry Gathering (Jan 25 - Jan 31, 2026).
Members enhance their experience with other perks too, including complimentary subscriptions to Western Folklife TV where performances from the 40th Gathering will be available to stream (at the Bronze level and above).
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The Latest
This month, the cowboy poets gather some of the most meaningful moments from their time in Elko as they answer this question asked by Feeling Nostalgic, “Could you describe a uniquely memorable moment you experienced at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko?”
This month, the cowboy poets describe their observations of the fall season as they answer this question posed by Feeling like Fall, “How does the land, and the animals you surround yourself with, change as the days get shorter and darker?”
This month, the cowboy poets whittle down a wide question about their writing as they answer this quandary asked by @carteagraphy, "How do you distill the vastness of the vistas you encounter into the slim space of a poem?"
This month, Elko local and Basque elder Bob Echeverria tells us about the practice of makila carving.
This month, the cowboy poets mull over a dilemma “as old as human fingernails” as they answer a question about transition planning for generational ranches.
This month, the poets describe their “heaven on earth” as they answer this question asked by Anonymous, “What is your favorite place on Earth?”
This month, the poets are asked a question by another poet. Jonathan Odermann asks, “"When inspiration strikes...what is the silliest, strangest, or otherwise most unconventional way you've managed to record a poem before it escaped your consciousness?"
Tipping over horses, caving in the sides of pickups, and charging to kill. While most range cows get ornery every once in a while, some of them become legendary for their temper. This month, the cowboy poets answer Cowpoke’s question, “What’s a story about the most ornery cow you ever came across?”
This month, the cowboy poets reflect on the crucial sensory ingredients that combine to make memorable poetry as they answer this question posed by @carteagraphy: “How much do you think about the sound/music versus the imagery of your poem?”