40th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Join Gail Steiger—musician, poet, filmmaker, and foreman of Arizona’s Spider Ranch—for an engaging discussion on the power of cowboy poetry and music in global cultural exchange. As a cultural ambassador, Gail’s impact extends far beyond the ranch. He has traveled the world, sharing the art of cowboy poetry at the invitation of the Western Folklife Center and the United States State Department in places like Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil, France, Hungary, Mongolia, Spain, and Turkmenistan. Join Gail for stories and videos from these travels, highlighting how cowboy poetry and music transcends borders, fostering understanding through music, storytelling, and shared occupational ties. 
Sponsored by Nevada Humanities and the Humanities Center at Great Basin College, made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities

How do creeks function for us? For the things we care about? By focusing on water, plants, soils, and landforms, we’ve learned that some plants grow tremendous root systems that withstand floods, slow water to build floodplains, and protect soil to create a sponge. Ranchers Agee Smith and Steve Boies, Nevada Range Program Lead Kathryn Dyer, and riparian Extension Specialist Sherman Swanson will use photos and videos to tell firsthand stories showing how water-loving plants grow in response to the movement of wildlife and livestock. While each ranch is unique, they all demonstrate the benefit of animal movement in supporting healthy creek ecosystems and creating abundance. 

Hosted by Dave Voth

Sponsored by Northeastern Nevada Stewardship Group

Rancher-to-Rancher team member Kent Reeves, along with Buffalo Kin, Amy Hale, Lara Manzanares, Deanna Dickinson McCall, Henry Real Bird, Brigid & Johnny Reedy, and Sean Sexton, bring you an entertaining and interactive session about regenerative rangeland management using peer-to-peer learning, holistic thinking, simple demonstrations, and audience participation. Between poetry and music from people who steward the land, we’ll learn more about “how to see” soil health and healthy ecosystem processes (water cycle, carbon cycle, energy flow, biodiversity). And, we’ll cover practical ideas to address drought, productivity, range and pasture regeneration, fire, water quality and quantity, and profitability. All while having some fun!