The Next Generation at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
By Christina Barr
Every year, as I drive across Nevada to head to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, I have four hours of deep-Nevada-landscape-road-trip time to think about the things that emerge when you stare at miles and miles of endless highway: life, love, work, poetry and of course, the passing of time.
My seven year-old daughter, Sofie, is now my frequent road trip companion. Alan and I have raised her to be a true western girl, unafraid of miles of lightly inhabited mountains and plains. We don't allow screens in the car, so we spend our time talking, singing, reading out loud, and staring out the windows deep in thought. On our recent drive to Elko, Sofie talked quite a bit about why the Gathering was one of her favorite events of the year. She loves gathering with other young friends who come over from Reno and meeting musicians and poets from around the world. She is a huge fan of Brigid Reedy, a 19-year old fiddler who is not afraid to dive into the blanket fort that Sofie and her friends make each year at the Saturday night dance. She loves to don her cowgirl duds and find a new wild rag to commemorate her visit to Elko. She knows she belongs at the Gathering.
As a grown-up, I know that behind the scenes, the Western Folklife Center staff has been working hard to make the Gathering a place that is welcoming to both the next generation of audience members and the next generation of artists. This shows plainly in the dozens of new, young artists that have been invited to perform over the past few years, in the way youth activities were featured throughout the weekend, in the ticketing structure that featured Next Generation discounts, and in the spirit of the programming that has become more and more young-person friendly. This year felt like a turning point for the Gathering. For the first time, the next generation was at the door and on the stage in full force, pushing forward and shouting, "We are here!" I found this incredibly exciting and comforting. It is always a challenge for a program rooted in a traditional past to find its path forward into the future, and now we can all feel confident that the Gathering is in safe hands; the next generation is ready to take control and steer these traditions forward in their own dynamic and gleefully challenging ways.
Nevada Humanities has proudly supported the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering since it was envisioned by ranchers, cowboys, and folklorists 36 years ago. It is thrilling to see it reach a new level of maturity and growth. Here's to 36 more years of western poetry, culture, song, dance, and important conversations about western issues such as land use, sustaining family ranches, thriving rural communities, and the value of a working life lived on the land.
Sofia Barr Deutschman and Coco Luciano make the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering their home away from home. Image/Christina Barr.
Christina Barr is the Executive Director of Nevada Humanities. Image/Christina Barr.