Through poetry, music, craft, and conversation, we celebrate and amplify the voices, traditions, and stories of the American West.
This month, mystery asker Thinking of Lasca poses an introspective question to the cowboy poets: ”Freedom is felt at various points in each of our lives. Whether it is the first time riding a horse, driving a vehicle, taking a trip, or getting lost, the sense of freedom (and navigating the consequences) seems to stay with us indefinitely. Could you comment on the discovery or loss of a cherished freedom that you have felt?”
For a little over 25 years, Cleo Hansen has been the cornerstone of the Western Folklife Center. As Office Manager and jack-of-all-trades, she’s what keeps the WFC running day to day. If you’ve been an artist, staff, or volunteer at the Gathering, you no doubt have been embraced (literally and figuratively) by Cleo. In this Q&A, we talk to Cleo about her quarter of a century at the Western Folklife Center and what keeps her connected to our mission.
Some things are easier to say in a song or a poem than they are in conversation. Music and poetry give shape to what lives in the heart and soul, helping us put words to what might otherwise remain unsaid and helping us connect to one another. This month, our cowboy poets share the poems that speak most deeply to them as they answer this question posed by Heart & Soul, “What is the one poem that bares your soul? The one that says something you might not otherwise know how to say?”
For almost 11 years, Marianne Molland was the Programs Administrator for the Western Folklife Center. She left last January for a new job as a 911 dispatcher, but she came back a few months later to take on the role of Membership Director & Development Manager. In this Q&A, we talk to Marianne about her change in jobs, in roles, and what brought her back to the Folklife Center family.
Sometimes writing a cowboy poem comes “like it was delivered via a magic carpet,” but other times the writing drags on and on for months or years. This month, the cowboy poets talk about the time it takes them to write poems as they answer this question posed by The Deadline Drifter, “What was the quickest poem you ever wrote? Which one took the longest, and how long did it take to finish?”
Photos by Jessica Brandi Lifland, Marla Aufmuth, and Ian Hallagan
The Western Folklife Center’s Third Annual Ranch Dog Week happened the first week of September on our Instagram. The photos and videos everyone sent us of their canine coworkers were so impressive, we have to share them here, too! Without further ado, here is a recap of this year’s pack.