CowboyPoetry.com is tireless
efforts in its efforts to make the best cowboy poetry
available to the public. We realize that it costs money to build
and maintain such a site and to carry on all of the other
projects.
Jane Richardson and
Pat
Richardson, Pat Richardson, Unhobbled
We value CowboyPoetry.com as a center
for the preservation of the poems and stories of our cowboy and
ranching history. It is a resource for us, and a place to share our
stories with others. It inspires us to keep learning more about
our heritage and to keep writing and learning new poems. We so believe
in the website that we wanted to contribute to help continue the work.
Dick Morton and
Jane Morton, Cowboy Poetry:
Turning To Face The Wind
I start each day with a visit to the
Bar-D Ranch; if I went online tomorrow and CowboyPoetry.com wasn't
there, I would be deeply saddened. I find CowboyPoetry.com provides
the most timely information available on new releases. Whether
recordings, books or magazines, it has an ear to the ground with news
of poets and entertainers, with an immediacy unmatched by any other
source. If I want to refer someone to a performer, CD or a book,
chances are there is a link to it. When friends ask me if I can locate
an old classic cowboy poem, more than likely, I can find it at
CowboyPoetry.com. What a service that is! I'm sending a
contribution to keep news from the world of cowboy poetry comin'.
Jeri Dobrowski, photographer and
journalist, Cowboy Jam Session
I love to visit CowboyPoetry.com as
often as possible to read the poetry of people who love the history
and culture of the great American cowboy. I draw from each person's
experiences and I get a glimpse of their place in that greatest of all
places on earth -- the American West. Creativity abounds at
CowboyPoetry.com, and I can't get enough of it!
When CowboyPoetry.com said they're seeking donations, I couldn't
resist. Now, I can take pride that I made a contribution whenever I
visit one of my favorite places on the web. The fine product of
CowboyPoetry.com is the result of a lot of hard work on the part of
its personnel and contributors. A financial contribution was the
least I could do. I hope to see CowboyPoetry.com around for many years
to come.
David Althouse,
Yukon, Oklahoma
CowboyPoetry.com is one of the few
places in the world where we can find cowboy poetry done like the old
cowboys (our ancestors) did it. Although it is being eroded with modern
styles and terms like everything else in America, we can still find some
pieces and poets that satisfy the old cowboy in us, still telling the
story of the everyday working cowboy's problems and pleasures. Some of
us still enjoy cowboy poetry the way it was done by the old timers, some
who could not read or write, so passed poetry on by rhyming it so they
could memorize it and then putting a bunch of it to music to further
preserve the content and style. I feel very proud that my Irish
ancestors had a part in that process. The Bar-D makes a place in
their pages for us oldsters who are having a bit of a problem with the
modern trend in what is today referred to as "cowboy poetry".
Thanks for a place we can come and relate to our kind.
One of the things I value most about
CowboyPoetry.com is the wide range of participants and ideas on the
site. I don't agree with all of them, but I really enjoy being able to
take their viewpoints and compare them with mine. It gives me a chance
to broaden my knowledge of what is going on in the world of cowboy
poetry.
My donation in memory of Charlie Hunt
was prompted by the years that I held this man in high esteem. It makes
good sense to support an organization that furthers what Charlie Hunt
was all about. Charlie never met a stranger and I was proud to call him
friend.
Slim McNaught,
custom leather artist, poet, and writer, New Underwood, South Dakota
(donation in
memory of Charlie Hunt)
CowboyPoetry.com is the welcome,
familiar place to go, that feels like a visit home, where many others
also speak the same language that I communicate with. My kindred soul is
steeped in ranch life and others' familiar happenings and experiences
are warmly felt by this reader. I plan to do my share of grease to the
wheels, to make the mare go. Like an old friend,
Sunny
Hancock was a special treasure. He's truly missed... We have seen a
number of good poets cross over to other side...You've made it possible
for us to continue to enjoy their talents.
V.
June Collins, poet, Yreka, California (donation in memory of
Sunny Hancock)
The BAR-D Ranch at
www.cowboypoetry.com
has become the "grange hall" of the cyber-cowboy poetry
community. This site allows poets to have a professional link to share
with presenters and media, all free of charge. It assists many people in
finding rare or obsolete poems, lines of which have often been carried
around in their memories since their grandparents recited the verse to
them forty years earlier. The BAR-D is of invaluable help in
spreading the word about upcoming events, fundraisers and cowboy
obituaries. During the vast western forest fires two years ago, the
website served as a sort of "bush phone," where people could
report the status of the fire and needs for survivors.
In not accepting paid commercial advertising or web site fees, the BAR-D
D has set itself above all the rest. It is much more than a simple
website containing cowboy poetry. As a result of the editor's love for
the genre and commitment to excellence, the BAR-D Ranch has become
something on which we all rely and is a shining example of the good that
can come from this technology."
Virginia Bennett,
editor, writer, and poet, In the Company of Horses
I value CowboyPoetry.com for the appreciation of the art form and the
fact new and "unknown" poets are given a chance to have their
work included.
Samuel Passamonte,
poet, Randolph, New York
. . .I like cowboy poetry and
CowboyPoetry.com helps me enjoy it more with so many poems to read, so
much information on artists, events, publications, so many web links . .
. and I haven't even begun to "scratch the surface" of all
that's available on the site. When I was doing research for a grad
school paper on the literary aspects of cowboy poetry/western verse, the
site was a great resource . . . I thank you and wish you the best as you
continue this valuable endeavor that has struck a poetic nerve in
America.
Thea Gavin, writer, Assistant Professor
of English, Concordia University
CowboyPoetry.com has been a source of
information and inspiration to me as I ride what is rather a lonely
range at times. It has provided leads and trail markings. It has
provided introductions to the work of forefather poets I would not
have found on my own. It has introduced me to other poets now writing
and working in this field...it is difficult to find another poetry
forum with such a robust focus for preserving and expanding the form.
Those of us coming from a rural heritage find on the site a reflection
and a record of that which we held dear. It reflects a form of folk
story passing that is unique...CowboyPoetry.com has provided a
ready base for both the tradition and discussions of the tradition for
those of us who still participate in it. This same capability
allows those unaware of it a single source for a comprehensive
introduction... It is a common ground for writers, performers and
audiences. It is an electronic front porch on which we can gather,
catch up on what's happening and pass on some of our latest
work. In many ways, it is one of the few porches left.
... I applaud the creation of the Center and wish to be at least a
small part of its founding. Perhaps what we do now will plant
the seeds of support for those who follow-- when we are "no
longer in the game" (to quote an old friend from outside the
cowboy world).
William (Bill)
Black, Jr., writer, performer, poet, Arizona
The Cowboy Poetry Rodeo and CowboyPoetry.com
share similar goals: documenting history that might otherwise be
forgotten and improving the genre of Western and Cowboy poetry along
the way. Funds are required for most worthwhile ventures, and
supporting the Center seems the right thing to do.
Sam A. Jackson,
poet, Wild and Woolly Western Verse and other Sagebrush Yarns,
originator and director of the world's only
Cowboy
Poetry Rodeo
This is the important stuff of our
own history. Preserving the writings, stories, and poetry, and the
music; all of it is part of the weave that makes us who revere the
west who we are, and what we are. I come from a farm background, also
rich in western heritage, and I chose for myself a "cowboy"
lifestyle when I was a teenager. Western music, cowboy music, and
poetry is for everyone, not only those who live it, but for those who
want to "visit" occasionally. That's the beauty of Cowboy
Poetry.com. It gives everyone a place to "visit."
Juni
Fisher, singer, songwriter, AWA Top Female Western Vocalist,
Sideshow
Romance (donation in
memory of C. Howard Fisher)
The folks at the Bar-D Ranch are more
than just information gatherers, they're friends and fans themselves.
They have dedicated themselves to preserving a part of American
history that is swiftly falling by the wayside. I thought long and
hard about donating and in the end I realized that there is really no
organization more deserving of our support. I hope that everyone
realizes the uniqueness of the Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry
and supports it to the best of their ability. Cowboypoetry.com is like
a favorite pair of boots: comfortable and an easy fit for the long
ride ahead.
Glen Enloe,
poet, Don't
Ever Sell Your Saddle
Having a place like CowboyPoetry.com to
send memorials is an excellent way to share the memory of a western
entertainer with others. Both Howard Parker and
Sean
Blackburn were constantly working to promote western music and
cowboy poetry and were both a big loss to the business. I am happy
to have found a way to continue this promotion as well as preserve their
memory.
Yvonne Hollenbeck,
poet, From My Window and other poems (donations in memory of
Howard Parker and Sean Blackburn)
Thanks to CowboyPoetry.com, I can go
online and read poems written about the west and the folks who continue
to carry on our heritage. Cowboy Poetry and Music Gatherings are
some of the best entertainment of our day. I appreciate the clean,
family oriented work of fellow writers and performers. My husband Alfred
and I treasure the wonderful friendships we have with these fine folks,
and want to support all efforts to keep this medium of entertainment
going.
CowboyPoetry.Com has allowed me to
share my poetry with others in a way I never dreamed possible.
Keep up the good work!
Nona Kelley Carver,
poet, Carver Country Cowboys and other publications
I set my mind to continue with the
ranching after my husband, Randy, was killed in a rodeo accident.
Randy's cowboy friends from both Minnesota and South Dakota came
together and helped me with the fall work. I gave myself a year to
see how it would go Over that year I fell in love with the cattle
and the ranch and the cowboy way of life, understanding it more, now,
than I ever have...CowboyPoetry.com has linked me to a whole new
"family." They understand cowboying. I find myself
in another life-changing experience, and am very excited about where it
is taking me...
Diane
Tribitt, poet and rancher, Hillman, Minnesota (donation in
memory of Randy Tribitt)
I would like to promote Western heritage and leave something for the
younger generation so they will realize that our country didn't just
happen. I want them to know what a great role the American Cowboy
played in the building of this nation... I believe the general
population has become more interested in this than ever before; thanks
to people like those who hold this web site together.
Tex Tumbleweed,
poet, Dallas, Texas (donation in memory of Wild
Bill Halbert)
CowboyPoetry.com was a tremendous resource for us while researching and
promoting our documentary film about cowgirl poet Georgie
Sicking. The site's valuable collection of historical poetry gives
an in-depth view into the evolution of this unique American art form and
provides a real sense of the community of poets that have shaped the
discipline. Having our film promoted on the site provided us direct
communication with the audience we most wished to reach.
Dawn Smallman and Greg
Snider, Film Directors, "Ridin' & Rhymin'" Far
Away Films, LLC
I was delighted to find a forum that supports and encourages the western
way of life. I made my donation because I am a strong advocate for
those in production agriculture. Cowboy poetry is a way to share
with the general public what we do in agriculture. While many
times my ranching experiences don't even closely resemble the Hollywood
version of the cowboy, there is still much to preserve on this way of
life.
Terry Henderson,
rancher, writer and poet, Shawnee, Wyoming
Cowboypoetry.com is vital to
maintaining the recording of the lifestyle we lead. It is vital to
preserving the style of writing used to express our lives as we live it
"Country Style!" Personally, it gives me the opportunity
to lay down in history, my experiences and those of others, so that
years from now, maybe centuries from now, it will not be forgotten. The
high standard of acceptance at Cowboypoetry encourages me to strive
harder to be a better poet, to read and learn from others, and have
courage to put out to the world my feelings and thoughts.
If my donation can help keep our history stay alive, I am glad to do it.
It is one of the most valuable, heart felt donations, I think I have
made in my life.
Sue
Derksen, rancher and poet, Princeton, British Columbia
I decided to upgrade my contribution
level a bit...because...It was a happy day in my hectic retirement life
when I discovered CowboyPoetry.com. I surfed the various pages and the
poems for hours. It stirred up in my mind the memories of by-gone days when
I did a lot of cowboying myself. And, even more so, it stirred up my own
penchant for rhyming, which had, in recent years, gone pretty stagnant.
Nowadays, while living in a big city environment I can "get away
from it all" and spend some precious time filling my eyes, mind and
heart with a vicarious visit to those "good old days" out on
the ranch, riding the range with the wind in my face. I'd lots rather do
that than ride a rocking chair.
C. W. (Charles) Bell,
retired professor, poet, Utah
I have found this site to be a
wonderful escape where one can find decent folks sharing with each
other. We come from all walks of life and share a common love for
a culture, which holds a sense of values that we can all yearn to feel
in our lives. The talent seems limitless and it builds a great legacy
for our future. For young and old it simply has a "sense of
place" that matters.
Tom Morgan,
sculptor, San Antonio, Texas
We are really excited about
Cowboy Poetry
Week and the avenue it opens for us to achieve some
additional community awareness as well as possibility of a
state-wide proclamation. All of us who work on Cowboy Poet endeavors are
so grateful to CowboyPoetry.com for giving us such a wonderful site to
visit for information and ideas, not to mention just a big old uplifting
of our cowboy spirits
When I first discovered CowboyPoetry.com, I used it only for my own
entertainment purposes, but as time has passed I find myself
accessing it several times per week for research on poets, poetry,
books and all things cowboy posted there.
The reason I decided to support CowboyPoetry.com? Probably guilt, as I
get so much useful information and entertainment from the site and
would miss it so much if it were to go away due to lack of
support, it just seemed the right thing to do.
Ann Blackford, Gila Valley Cowboy Poets,
Safford, Arizona
CowboyPoetry.com has become a
universal gathering place for cowboy poets and those of us who are
interested in Western themes, values, and issues. Not only does the
site provide a forum for new poets, it keeps us abreast of gatherings,
publications, and news of a more personal interest such as health
concerns or the passing of friends from the poetry world.
CowboyPoetry.com is an invaluable asset to the entire Western genre,
and we all need to do what we can to keep the Center alive and strong.
Jo Lynne Kirkwood
(renewing supporter) teacher, poet,
Cowboy
Poets of Utah Secretary, Sigurd, Utah
The phenomenon of CowboyPoetry.com
contributes enormously to the preservation of Western culture and
values.
Paul Kern,
poet, rancher, Sandy, Utah
I value CowboyPoetry.com for the
exposure it gives our gathering and the way it educates the public about
cowboy poetry. I also like the way it gives cowboy poets the opportunity
to share their work, and of course it is an entertaining site as well.
I feel that the least I could do is give back a small portion of what CowboyPoetry.com
has given to our event!
Judy Howser,
Echoes
of the Trail, Ft. Scott, Kansas
Who would have thought that anybody
would or could collect, maintain and make generally available, all the
information CowboyPoetry.com has brought together? I would guess,
most of us who write this stuff from our experience and our hearts are a
bit hard to find, let alone corral and get headed in any one direction.
A contribution seems the right thing to do. What really needs doin',
most folks can't do. So, I for one, appreciate those who can and
are bringing this all together.
Byrl Keith Chadwell, poet and rancher,
Baker, Oregon
What do I value most about CowboyPoetry.com?
As a performer, I am eager to learn more about shows in my neighborhood.
The calendar of events and the updates about submitting applications and
deadlines are invaluable. But perhaps as important is the internet
exposure for cowboy poetry fans who are learning more about this
entertaining oral history and the preservation of the cowboy life and
spirit.
Al Mehl, poet, Colorado
I value CowboyPoetry.com because I,
too, believe strongly in preserving our western heritage and values. I
made a donation to make a difference. My poetry is a ministry to me in
remembrance of my father, Marion Ray Teel. He was a fine and special
man. I just want to honor his life with my own.
Monty Teel, Euless, Texas
I appreciate CowboyPoetry.com and the
availability of promotional materials for Cowboy Poetry Week. I believe
in what the Center is promoting and I wanted to support the endeavor.
Karen Neurohr, Associate Professor, Assessment
Librarian, Oklahoma State University
Cowboy poetry can put value on things
which have value and help us all to remember them by the way they are
described. I sent a donation in memory of Charlie Hunt,
an example of decency. Those who knew him could identify with him
on at least two levels: 1) He was like us the way we are; and 2) he was
like the way we'd like to be.
Don Hilmer, poet,
New Underwood, South Dakota
CowboyPoetry.com provides a
worldwide gathering point for all that are
interested in cowboy poetry and western entertainment. It's kind of like
branding time or fall roundup, where lots of folks can come together and
share some tales. This gathering of poets at CowboyPoetry.com provides a
valuable archive of information as it relates not only to the history of
the
American Cowboy culture, but the web site records the folk life of the
modern cowboy as well. The cowboy way of life has changed drastically in
the
last fifty years, and through the efforts of CowboyPoetry.com, the way of
the cowboy and his lifestyle will be preserved and shared with others.
The Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry has become a powerful resource
tool
for cowboy poets. I would hope that my small donation will help preserve
the
existence of the Center as well as CowboyPoetry.com.
Smoke
Wade, poet, Lewiston, Idaho
Cowboy poetry is about the
stories that all cowboy poets have to tell. The more people are exposed
to this fabulous poetry, the longer the West lives. One day it may
be all that is left of America's heritage. Thank you,
CowboyPoetry.com, for everything you do to keep the West alive.
Susan Parker, poet, Benicia, California
The things I value most
about CowboyPoetry.com are that it keeps the art
form of cowboy poetry alive and preserves our western heritage. It gives
the
common person a place to put their poems out to the public and
encourages us
to us to continue writing. I love reading what others have written in
response to our everyday lives. It is with gratitude for this forum that
I
am pleased to donate what I can to make this venue endure.
Patti Leininger,
poet and horsewoman, Crown Point, Indiana
Having my work as a part of
CowboyPoetry.com, I've made wonderful friends through the exchange of
poems and emails. I have broadened my horizons, have been invited to
events and gatherings, and my poems have been published in a number of
places because of the exposure to and contact with readers from across
the world. Keep up the great work, ya'll.
Linda Kirkpatrick,
writer and poet, Leakey, Texas
The Center for Western
and Cowboy Poetry has done a tremendous job of exposing the true West,
bringing to light writings of a culture often ignored, misunderstood,
and underrated. Cowboypoetry.com has been able to reach out to places
no single gathering or festival could, to not only educate, but to also
bring kindred souls together.
Deanna Dickinson McCall,
writer, poet, and fifth-generation rancher, Timberon, New Mexico
I made my donation because
CowboyPoetry.com is professional and genuine regarding cowboy poetry. I
also appreciate the access to the poetry and the ability to submit
poetry.
Michael Jeffreys, Yucca Valley, California
I support
the Center because the cowboy way of life is the purest expression of
God's plan for human living, I believe. It requires and rewards the best
one has to offer, and quickly weeds out fools. It needs only courage and
ingenuity to be successful. It reveals a big heart transparently (and
much more). I live in the western US, and I pray that the values
and lifestyle I cherish will never be overcome by "Progress."
Television and Ford trucks will do for now, I think.
Noble Collins, Payson, Arizona
CowboyPoetry.com
has inspired me to search and clarify our ranch history. If I hadn't
started to get it down when I did, more of it would be lost than already
is. Through the Western Memories and Picture the West projects, people
can share their stories and their pictures even though they may not feel
they can write a poem. This website is a center that brings us together.
I feel I have taken more than I've given, and the whole family is richer for having so
much of our family history recorded here. Put it all together and it's
the history of the West.
Jane
Morton, poet and writer, Colorado Springs, Colorado and Mesa, Arizona
I value
the length, breadth and depth CowboyPoetry.com goes to present the best
of Western culture in ALL its facets, to the public. I especially
appreciate the volume and range of talent represented on the site and
yet the attention afforded each individual. That type of cultural
substance deserves all the support available to it.
Curly
Musgrave, singer, songwriter, and musician, Lake Arrowhead, California
The Center is a non-profit
organization responsible for historical preservation. Our donation was
in honor of Dr. Lloyd E. Messersmith's 75th birthday. Dr. Messersmith
has a heart as big as the "big sky country" from which he was born. What
better way to honor him then to make a donation to something that he
truly loves and enjoys: cowboy poetry.
Mike and Wendy Messersmith, Sacramento, California (in
honor of Dr. Lloyd E. Messersmith)
I enjoy reading other
people's writings, learning their backgrounds, their views on the West
and the culture—both today's and yesterday's, the pictures and artwork
and the connection to the rest of the community—the gatherings and the
people. I believe in each person doing his share as he is able. It is our responsibility—not someone else's—to support what we enjoy and
believe in.
Stan Howe, singer, musician, and writer, Helena, Montana
CowboyPoetry.com is more
than just a directory of where to locate gatherings, and make
connections. It is "HOME" to the family of poets and musicians,
artists, fans, and history buffs of the Western way of life. It is
undoubtedly THE most dedicated, educational, entertaining and complete
resource for the specific genre of Cowboy and Western arts anywhere.
I chose to make a donation to help promote
Cowboy Poetry
Week, and especially in memory
of poet
Ray Owens,
who so humbly made his mark and gained the respect and friendship of
so many folks with his kindness and quick wit. He was one of our
family and his passing leaves a huge void in the world of Cowboy
Poets. He will be missed, but not forgotten, and my
donation in his memory will, I hope, insure that his name will remain
among the ranks of one of the finest men we have ever known.
Patty Clayton, singer and songwriter , Edgewater, Colorado
CowboyPoetry.com is my
little log cabin way back in the hills at trail's end. I can turn my
horse out and go in there, close the door behind and immerse myself
in the best of the best poets from yesterday and today. I can find
out where gatherings are being held and when, and who will be
performing at each. I can find reference material to help me improve
my own writing and even line up a workshop. I made my donation now
in celebration of
Cowboy Poetry
Week, 2007!
Jim
Hawkins, poet, Madison, North Carolina
In these days when
modern technology can sometimes push aside old-fashioned
fellowship, CowboyPoetry.com is the best of both worlds. It's an
electronic worldwide connection, but it feels more like an
old-time town hall meeting, or maybe coffee hour in the church
basement... friends sharing with friends...
Al Mehl, poet, singer
and songwriter, Boulder, Colorado
We always like to see what's new on the gathering
schedule at CowboyPoetry.com, but what we appreciate the most is the
wide variety of cowboy poetry that is easily accessible and the
background information on the poets themselves. As an important part
of our American heritage, we feel that cowboy poetry, as well as the
music, must be preserved and promoted...keep up the good work!
Bob and Marie Mann, Altadena, California
Here's what
CowboyPoetry.com is for me: the grand cosmic equivalent of the
office water fountain, the auction barn, the local diner, the
private research lab, the cheerleading squad, the professional
development seminar, and the family reunion, all rolled into one.
Doris Daley, poet,
Calgary, Alberta
CowboyPoetry.com is
a deep well of data about the cowboy poetry world. I'm working on
a book about cowboy poetry and it's amazing how often "experts"
have sent me here. It's obvious that anyone who cares about cowboy
poetry really should consider the $40 donation. Not only does that
help bring together this open range community, you get that
fabulous Cowboy
Poetry Week poster!
Anne Lazarus, Poet, writer, and business coach,
Reno, Nevada
Before
CowboyPoetry.com came our way, we just didn't know where cowboy
poetry was heading. My point is very simple: we all need to
support CowboyPoetry.com.
Joe Baker, Backforty
Bunkhouse, Ruidoso, New Mexico
CowboyPoetry.com has become a
"Rock" for those of us who are involved in cowboy poetry.
Chris Isaacs,
cowboy, packer, and award-winning poet and humorist, Eagar,
Arizona
CowboyPoetry.com is
without a doubt the single most current cowboy/cowgirl website in
existence. The virtual daily updates and postings make it the "place"
to find out what is happening...Anyone who desires to be a part of
broadcasting cowboy / cowgirl music and poetry obviously needs to be
connected into the best sources for current
information...Consequently, I support what supports me!
Howard G. Staub,
The Real West from the Old West, Deming, New Mexico
CowboyPoetry.com
gives people who are relatively "unfound" a chance to share their
work with others. I think this place has a lot of value and feel
as much enjoyment as I get out of it, I should try and support it
as best I can.
Robert Dennis,
rancher and poet, Red Owl, South Dakota
CowboyPoetry.com
lets me keep up with folks and cowboy poetry activities and I use
it to research particular poets' work. It's my "go-to site." Our
Nara Visa Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering board was moved to
donate because it was the right thing to do. We like the Rural
Library Project and know libraries benefit from the program. There
are two and only two kinds of people, "givers and takers." We try
to be "givers," like CowboyPoetry.com. Maybe others can be helped.
It takes all of us to keep it going.
Tom Cole,
Nara
Visa Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering, New Mexico
What I value most from CowboyPoetry.com is its
perseverance to preserving Western heritage. I grew up on a farm
and ranch and this way of life is very dear to me. With the
urbanization and fast-paced "lifestyle" this world has changed
towards, holding true to my roots and the Western heritage is very
important.
Aaron Nelson, Editor,
Tri-State Livestock News,
Spearfish, South Dakota
What I value most about
CowboyPoetry.com is learning about various styles of poetry from
reading other poets' work and, most of all, from their thoughts. I am
not a cowgirl, but I'm definitely a country girl and I do not believe
that you have to live the ranching lifestyle to know what's in your
heart...I write my poetry from personal experiences, from when my
family lived in ranching country or from western people I've met and
places seen along the way. I have great respect for farmers and
ranchers because if they didn't exist, we wouldn't be alive to tell
the story.
I continue to learn, not only from other poets,
but from the variety of topics that are discussed on
cowboypoetry.com. The site's information gives a good
understanding of what cowboy poetry is all about and why we should
preserve and promote our western heritage. Also, I appreciate that
readers have an opportunity to learn that western culture is alive
and well here
in Canada.
Mag Mawhinney,
writer, artist, and poet, Passin' it On, British Columbia,
Canada
I donated because I have come to enjoy
CowboyPoetry.com and I didn't want to be like those who show up
for brandings but are never around when there are bales to buck,
waterers to thaw and irrigation ditches to clean.
Tom Nichols,
poet and rancher, Corvallis, Oregon
I'm on a fixed income and don't have much to
give, but I use and enjoy CowboyPoetry.com daily. So I send a
small monthly donation, which accumulates in a meaningful way over
the year. I want to do what I can to keep the things going.
Hal Swift,
poet, Sparks, Nevada
Our contribution seems a small price to pay to
have the whole world of cowboy poetry at your fingertips. We can
catch up on all the current events and have an encyclopedia of
classic and contemporary poetry all in one bucket. Our
contributions have come back to us tenfold.
Sandi and Jay Snider (poet), ranchers,
Cyril, Oklahoma
[At CowboyPoetry.com, people] can get a snapshot of the
cowboy/western/farm/ranch/prairie way of life ... a way of life
that will die out if we let it. CowboyPoetry.com is helping keep
that alive, and I'd like to help. Young people today have no
idea what it was like, and that needs to be preserved.
CowboyPoetry.com's poets do a great job of portraying the life,
and proving through the other features that it is still out
there.
Shelly Pagliai, rancher and
businesswoman,
Prairie Moon Quilts, Macon, Missouri
If a cowboy cares
about something dynamic he has the privilege to work with every
day, like a good horse and CowboyPoetry.com, it's his calling to
take care of it, help it grow, contribute to its well being, and
become a part of its success. Here's the rub: My horses and the
Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry have given more to me and
my craft than I have to theirs. I encourage everyone to saddle
up, donate, And be a part of a great outfit, the -D.
Ken Cook, cowboy and poet,
Martin, South Dakota
There are many reasons that I value
the website, cowboypoetry.com. Yes, the website promotes cowboy
poetry, but also supports the art, music, literature, and
various forms of media that preserve our western culture. It is
an educational resource for workshops and educational links. I
can e-mail a question and get a quick response. The calendar
allows me to keep abreast of western heritage events. One of the
great aspects of the website is keeping in touch with new
friends I meet at different gatherings.
I made a donation to this organization to support and preserve
the genre of western heritage, a heritage with its roots in
agriculture. I feel a calling to give a voice to the men, women,
and children of our past, generating a connection with today's
society. We need to appreciate the tenacity and hardwork; the
hardship and success of all cultures involved in North America's
western expansion. To understand the present and plan for the
future, we must understand our past.
Marci Broyhill,
poet, Dakota City, Nebraska
The
Center for Western and Cowboy Poetry is an
invaluable resource to the world and especially to those of us
who love, read, write, or sing about the cowboy and the West.
Nowhere else are the resources it has available in one place and
in such volume. It is a tremendous boon to poets, writers,
singers, performers, promoters, critics, support resources and
all who love the West. I intend to support this work for as long
as I can draw a breath of Western air.
Van Criddle, poet,
Eugene,Oregon
In his memoir, Education of a Wandering Man,
Louis L'Amour wrote, "That book or that person who can give me
an idea or a new slant on an old idea is my friend." For the
past seven or eight years, I have come to regard
cowboypoetry.com as such a friend. The poets and poetry, the
essays, memoirs and articles published there have not only
entertained and educated me, but have given me ideas for my own
writing. I consider cowboypoetry.com as the world's largest free
library of quality cowboy poetry, and I consider my contribution
as merely the price of my library card.
Jerry Schleicher,
poet and humorist, Parkville, MissouriI
subscribe to several magazines, including some that have
recently "gone under." CowboyPoetry.com is there every day,
filled with news and information, even better than a magazine
(with no irrelevant ads). If its regular readers would donate
what they would spend on a magazine subscription to the Center
for Western and Cowboy Poetry, I know it would make a critical
difference in sustaining CowboyPoetry.com, Cowboy Poetry Week,
the Rural Library project, The BAR-D Roundup, and all of
the work it does.
Yvonne Hollenbeck,
poet and ranch wife, Clearfield, South Dakota
When folks ask
me for my web address I send them to CowboyPoetry.com. Simply
put...it's the best. There's a lot of other sites out there
ranging from decent to disastrous but none come close to the
quality and care to detail as CowboyPoetry.com...when people ask
me where to go...now you know. CowboyPoetry.com.
DW
Groethe, ranch
hand, songwriter, poet (computer-less), Bainville, Montana
Cowboypoetry.com is like a good cup of cowboy coffee, a warm
campfire and a group of friends standing around warming
themselves. Before you know it someone new shows up, it may be a
new poet, a friend from the past, a relative, or someone just
surfing the web... I have met and become friends with other poets,
old friends have found me here, long lost relatives have located
me and just the other day an antique dealer needing information
found me here as well...Cowboypoetry.com is much more than poems,
it is the photos from the past, ranching heritage stories, dates
of upcoming events and reports from previous events.
Ten years ago at the rural school where I work, none of the
students were reciting cowboy poetry. This year there were several
using cowboy poems in their competitions—how good is that and
where did they get their poems: cowboypoetry.com!
Linda Kirkpatrick,
poet, historian, writer, fifth-generation Texan, Leakey, Texas
What I value most about CowboyPoetry.com is the fact that this
website is the most informative and complete website to find out
what is going on in the world of cowboy poetry and Western music
across the whole country. The best poetry of the best poets and
the best songs of the best songwriters are right at our fingertips
as well as up to date news and reviews about what is new in the
world of cowboy poetry and Western music.
A donation to CowboyPoetry.com helps insure that fans of cowboy
poetry and Western music all over the world can stay up to date on
the goings on. I believe that the money I donate goes further to
promote cowboy poetry and Western music than any other avenue.
Jean Prescott, singer and
songwriter, Ovalo, Texas
I appreciate that I can get event information, and I can check up
on the performers who don't have websites. And, I got my tax
refund (!) and I wanted to help.
Cindy Quigley, Oroville California
