We’re back with another personal story from one of our Western Folklife Center Board Members. Chrissy Menicucci Benna spoke to us about the impact the WFC has had on her own life and how the work of the WFC opens peoples’ eyes to others’ lived experiences through the power of entertainment and cultural expression.
Tell us your (personal) story about life in the rural West.
Alex and Chrissy Menicucci Benna. Photo courtesy of Chrissy Menicucci Benna
I’m a second-generation Nevadan, admittedly a city girl but with a tremendous respect for the rich history of the West. I feel privileged to live where I do and be able to experience a bit of what the West has to offer. I have had the opportunity to travel to many areas, see the sights, and experience the culture. Coming home to Nevada gives me such great joy. Nevada will always be home.
What has the WFC brought to your life?
My first experience with cowboy poetry was at an Artown event held at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno on July 2, 2016. Rodeo Poet Paul Zarzyski entertained us as only he can, and I was mesmerized. My husband Alex and I went home, signed up to be WFC members, and traveled to our first Gathering in 2017—and have been active members ever since. To experience the West through stories, poetry, and music has opened my eyes to a western way of life I didn’t experience first-hand as a child. I am transported to the Spider Ranch as I listen to Amy M. Hale recite a poem, doubled over in laughter while Yvonne Hollenbeck shares stories about a “day on the ranch,” and singing along as I listen to Andy Hedges, Jessie Veeder, and all the amazing musicians invite us into their lives with their music.
Describe the WFC in three words.
“A beloved treasure”
What do you think is the WFC's most significant impact?
Alex and Chrissy Menicucci Benna. Photo courtesy of Chrissy Menicucci Benna
As a steward of various western collections and archives, the WFC based in the Pioneer Hotel serves as a gathering place for everyone to absorb themselves in something they may not get to experience daily. The most significant and enduring impact may be the creation of a future for the Pioneer Hotel as a sustaining force for the Western Folklife Center and the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
