Cowboy poetry consists of two different arts, the writing of it and the telling of it. While some poems are crafted for the page, others are destined for the ear. The cowboy poetry resurgence that came along 40 years ago emphasized recitation, tapping into oral performance (and aural delight!) through the spoken sharing of verse. The better a poem is presented, the better listeners enjoy it. Join reciter extraordinaire Waddie Mitchell to mull over ideas to help you refine your recitations, improve your delivery, and have some fun with the art of sharing cowboy poetry live and in person.
Waddie Mitchell was immersed in the cowboy way of entertaining on the Nevada ranches where his father worked. By age 10, he too was reciting poetry after long days of pushing cows and living off the land. Waddie recites the older classics as well as his own works, eloquently expressing... Read More →
Father and daughter duo Dan Landa and Lauren Landa share their spin on this staple bread of cowboys and townies alike. Learn traditional sourdough bread recipes and techniques that will keep you “sourdough slim.” Then, add some more techniques to your bread-baking saddlebags with sourdough takes on artistic loaves, sweets, and snacks. This workshop will give you just the start you need to rise to the rest of the Gathering.
A love of bread and bread-making runs deep in the Landa family. Dan Landa is a retired Elko firefighter and owner of Bucking Chorizo, a chorizo-flavored almond business. He grew up on the family ranch in Lovelock, Nevada, where he learned Basque culture and traditional practices from... Read More →
Tuesday January 28, 2025 9:00am - 12:00pm PST
First Presbyterian Church1559 Sewell Dr, Elko, NV 89801, USA
Create a one-of-a-kind stamped leather valet tray for that special someone (or yourself). Ranch wife, mother, and leatherworker Jonelle Nutting will take you through the process of prepping and casing the leather, laying out the design, and stamping. Then, you’ll finish the leather with oil and antiquing, if desired. You’ll complete your creation by finishing the edges and applying hardware. Each student will leave with a fully stamped and functioning tray to corral your keys, coins, jewelry, guitar picks, or any stray treasures and trinkets. You will be provided with a set of tools for the workshop and to take home with you. No experience necessary.
Jonelle Nutting was born and raised on her family’s wheat and cattle ranch in eastern Washington. For more than 10 years, Jonelle pursued a career as a licensed large animal veterinary technician, while also nurturing her artistic interests on the side. Coming from a family of leatherworkers... Read More →
Day 2 of 3 Make a pair of teardrop-style floral spur straps adorned with a simple carving with Cow Camp Saddlery’s Mark Barcus. Under Mark’s instruction, you will learn how to lay out and place your design, how to use the tools, how to carve the design, and how to apply a simple oiled finish. At the end of the class, you will leave with well-made single-ply spur straps. Take home a wearable, working piece of art custom carved at the 40th Gathering! For intermediate and advanced students.
For over 20 years, Wyoming leatherworker Mark Barcus has created chaps, saddles, and other leather goods while working ranches in many locations. He got his start in 4-H and with the help of his father. Mark’s extensive experience in ranching and leatherworking has led to countless... Read More →
SOLD OUT Day 3 of 4 Build commemorative 40th anniversary Gathering hobbles with Doug Groves. A skilled teacher and highly respected rawhide braider, Doug started braiding out of necessity, making the gear he used every day as a working cowboy. Once again, he and his friends will share their know-how in this four-day workshop. Learn Doug’s techniques for processing rawhide—from hide harvest to finished string. And, add specially engraved silver to your project. The storytelling, camaraderie, and cooperative learning among fellow braiders makes this workshop a veritable celebration of rawhide and community! For beginning and intermediate experience levels.
Great Basin buckaroo and braider Doug Groves makes rawhide reatas, quirts, reins and bosals of great beauty and function. He started braiding out of necessity, to make the gear he needed as a working cowboy, and eventually as cowboss on the TS Ranch outside of Battle Mountain. A 2009... Read More →
Make not one, but two!, cuff bracelets in this creative jewelry workshop. Silversmith Rodney Mike of the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe will teach you about materials, tools, and finishes. You will start out by making a copper cuff bracelet with a simple finishing process. This will get you in the groove to make your cuff bracelet out of a sterling silver overlay material on day two. Choose between four finishes for your silver bracelet—a smooth polish, satin polish, hammered texture finish, or a combination of these. Suitable for beginners.
Rodney Mike is a highly skilled silversmith and saddlemaker who has been practicing both crafts for 20 years. His preferred style is western bright engraving, although he appreciates all styles of the art form. A member of the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, Rodney was born and raised in... Read More →
Step into the heart of the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering with Be the Poem. Be the Song.--a heartwarming exhibit honoring the individuals and special moments that have animated the Gathering over the past 40 years. This exhibit not only highlights the rich history of cowboy poetry and song, but also brings to life contemporary western experience and expression. Featured artists include Jeff Mundell, Sue Rosoff, Sean Sexton, R. James Shoshone, Don Weller, and gearmakers from around the West.
Stop by the Gift Shop to take a bit of the Gathering home with you, from high-quality western art to whimsical cowboy poetry momentos. Find official National Cowboy Poetry Gathering merch and memorabilia, as well as products from Gathering artists and local artisans. Gathering posters, silk wild rags, one-of-a-kind jewelry, CDs and books from your favorite poets and musicians, mugs, magnets, and more!
Take a trip to the southern hemisphere with home cook Jordan Wright whose culinary journey through his Basque roots gives his food global flavors, from the high desert to the pampas. Jordan will guide you through preparing a hearty Argentine lunch worthy of gourmet gauchos. Make matambre (flank steak rolled with seasonal vegetables and cheese) accompanied by an Argentine-style squash salad topped with chimichurri dressing. While you’re cooking, partake in the time-honored South American tradition of passing a cup of mate (herbal tea) among friends. Finally, wash down your meal with a fernet con coca (fernet with Coke). ¡Qué buena onda!
Jordan Wright grew up in Elko County, being raised in Tuscarora on his family’s cattle ranch. He learned to cook by watching his mother, grandmas, and aunts, who always had the best stories to accompany the recipe lessons. Jordan refined these food service skills working in different... Read More →
Tuesday January 28, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm PST
First Presbyterian Church1559 Sewell Dr, Elko, NV 89801, USA
Learn the age-old basics of hand piecing from master quilter Yvonne Hollenbeck and discover how simple and relaxing this sewing method can be. Yvonne will guide you through various needles, threads, and notions used in constructing quilts. You will receive a kit to make a simple nine-patch block with printed instructions, and you will also receive hints to assist you with your hand work, whether you are attaching binding, making simple blocks, or attempting to make an award-winning heirloom quilt. Be part of the quilting circle at this rewarding and fun-filled workshop doing patchwork as it’s been done for generations.
Yvonne Hollenbeck is a South Dakota cattleman’s wife who writes poetry about her life on a beautiful, remote ranch where she has spent years putting up hay, feeding a crew, doing bookwork, or working cattle. Although her poetry is often humorous about situations that were not humorous... Read More →
Throughout modern history, our obsession with the cocktail has been one of adoration mixed with innovation, weighing creative passion with our capacity for vice. We continue this tradition with an examination of the cocktail’s evolution over the decades and its impact on our own local history. Join us for this year’s installation of Perfect Pour at Duncan LittleCreek. Learn tips and tricks to create your own stunning libations. Take some poetic license on a few classic cocktails, and learn to make some of the DLC’s exclusive signature drinks with Nick Heguy. Must be 21+ with valid ID.
The beginning of Nick Heguy’s strictly academic study of alcohol began, like many, in college. Working his way through various positions and establishments, he gleaned what he could from both smoke-filled dive bar and high-end cocktail lounge alike, amassing knowledge and technique... Read More →
From the Ruby Mountains to the Owyhee Desert, from the Humboldt River to the Jarbidge Wilderness, from the hot springs to the quakies, Nevada’s expanses leave an imprint on a person’s soul. Cowboy poet Ross Knox earned his stripes on the Great Basin’s big outfits. Katie McCall-Owen was raised on the Silver State’s remote ranges. And, special guest Richard Elloyan lives and sings at the edge of Nevada’s dark starry skies. Together, in Elko, they bring you an evening of entertainment that sparkles like a buckaroo’s breath on a sunny winter day.
Richard Elloyan is a singer, songwriter, poet, and performer of unique wit and imagination. Richard grew up in the historic mining town of Virginia City and uses his love of the state, its rich history, and its magnificent vistas as a constant source of inspiration. Richard has performed... Read More →
Ross Knox first aspired to be a cowboy as a little boy, when he watched his father work their ranch in central Oregon. At 16, he quit school and moved to Nevada to buckaroo, where he also began writing poetry to occupy his time alone. He has worked at both the Grand Canyon and Saguaro... Read More →
Cowboy poet Katie McCall-Owen grew up reciting classics, first with her family and then at gatherings. Katie works in town, but still brands and works cows with friends and family every chance she gets. After stepping away from the poetry side of things for nearly 20 years, she is... Read More →
