Announcing the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering’s
Rodear Year Event
We may not be able to gather in Elko, but we’re not going to let that stop us! In ranching, a rodear happens when cattle are gathered together and held in a circle, typically in a remote location where there are no corrals available. This allows the cowboys to perform their work. We find ourselves in a similar position this year—unable to hold our beloved event at headquarters. In the spirit of rodear, that just means we're going to have to ride out into the landscape and improvise. We will visit poets, musicians, storytellers, cooks, and artists, mostly on their home ground, and offer a range of experiences from rural ranch country that audiences can connect with online. We’ll seek out both the familiar and new, examining the touchstones, storied places, landmarks, favorite vistas and watering holes while making new discoveries all along the way. Think of this one-day event as a digital campfire, a way to still bring people together while also sharing a taste of the Gathering with family and friends who have yet to attend in real life.
Join us on January 30, 2021. It will be free for members, and all members
will receive a 37th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Rodear Year poster and pin!
And YOU can be a part of this rodear! Read more.
As always, we’ll be holding the popular online Silent Auction, too. To contribute, read more.
We’re keeping some Gathering traditions in place for the Rodear Year...like the poster and pin! The pin design will be coming soon, but we’re excited to share our poster art selection! Jack Malotte gives us his take on “the earsie,” the iconic and favorite photo of horse folk everywhere. We think Jack perfectly captures the mood of the rural West during this strange year—hopeful with a tiny bit of trepidation, but also a heap of gratitude that we live in a place where social distancing comes naturally, and we can be in the landscapes we love so much. For $10, we will ship them both to Western Folklife Center members when they're ready, or you can pick up yours in our Gift Shop in Elko. We’d love to see you!
“Public Lands,” 2020, the artwork for the 37th Gathering poster - by Jack Malotte!
