October 24–26, 2025
Emerging from ranching and cowboy traditions, cowboy music and cowboy poetry are quintessential components to an authentic Western experience. Cowboy poetry is realistic, often romantic, and paints a picture of real-life events, experiences and lessons learned through the Western way of life. Though open to preferences of the artist, poems usually rhyme and feature metered stanzas. Sometimes humorous, sometimes factual, it’s pure storytelling and an artform all its own.
Likewise, cowboy music share many of the same principles, just in a different artform. Cowboys often spent evenings gathered around the campfire, plucking guitar strings and softly crooning ballads inspired by real life. Both cowboy music and cowboy poetry are unique ways to showcase cowboys’ daily routines and challenges, the relationships they hold dear, partnership shared with their animals and the land, and preservation of the authentic Western lifestyle and its values.
The “Official Cowboy Poet of Texas” since 1991, Red Steagall has authored a number of cowboy poems throughout his career. He likes his poems to have a message, sharing the cowboy code and other values in an entertaining way everyone can appreciate. Among his most famous—and favorite—poems is “The Fence That Me and Shorty Built:”
I called myself a cowboy, I was full of buck and bawl. I didn’t think my hands would fit Post augers and a maul. They sent me out with Shorty And the ranch fence building crew. Well, I was quite insulted And before the day was through, I let him know that I’m a cowboy. “This ain’t what I do. I ain’t no dadgummed nester, I hired out to buckaroo.” He said, “We’ll talk about that son, When we get in tonight. Right now you pick them augers up. It’s either that or fight.”
Musician & Poet
Red Steagall has spent over 50 years as a celebrated recording artist, songwriter, poet and broadcaster. He’s the Official Cowboy Poet of Texas and a former Texas Poet Laureate. Red’s many honors include inductions into multiple halls of fame and the Golden Spur Award. He’s earned 12 Wrangler Awards and continues to share Western culture through his syndicated radio show Cowboy Corner and his RFD-TV series Somewhere West of Wall Street, now in its 12th year.
Musician
Andy Hedges is a songster, storyteller and cowboy poetry reciter from Lubbock, Texas. Raised in Tokio, Texas, he developed a love for traditional music through his father’s cowboy cassette tapes. Andy’s work blends Western ballads, folk-blues and cowboy verse. He hosts the Cowboy Crossroads podcast and has performed with legends like Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. Career highlights include appearances at the Newport Folk Festival, the Grand Ole Opry, and Carnegie Hall with his 2024 album Roll On, Cowboys.
Musician
Award-winning singer-songwriter Dan Roberts spent 18 years in Nashville writing Billboard hits, including Garth Brooks’ #1 “The Beaches of Cheyenne.” He toured with Brooks before moving to Texas in 2000, where he earned Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year honors from the Academy of Western Artists. His albums have received Grammy recognition and chart success. A devoted husband and father, Dan blends cowboy spirit with faith and heart, most recently showcased in his gospel album Family, Faith & Freedom.
Poet
Dennis Flynn, a cowboy poet from Decatur, Texas, draws inspiration from his experiences with horses, rodeo, cattle and family life. He has performed at prestigious events including the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering and the Cowboy Poets Gathering. Dennis won the Academy of Western Artists’ Top Cowboy Poetry Album in 2001 for Life’s Choices and triumphed at the 2019 National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo. He enjoys sharing both original and classic poetry.
Musician
Texas-born fiddler and vocalist Hailey Sandoz is celebrated for her dynamic style rooted in Western swing, jazz, bluegrass and Celtic music. A touring artist for over a decade, she’s performed internationally and was a featured member of Grammy-winner Bobby Flores’ Yellow Rose Band. Hailey has earned multiple honors, including IWMA Instrumentalist of the Year and AWA Young Artist of the Year. With fiery talent and heart, she brings a fresh voice to the traditions of American roots music.
Musician
Jake Hooker grew up immersed in traditional country music, picking up the bass at age 7 and forming his first band by 14. Deeply influenced by legends like Ray Price and Johnny Bush, Jake developed a signature honky-tonk style. Now a favorite in Fort Worth and beyond, he performs on RFD-TV shows like TruCountry and West of Wall Street. A skilled producer and studio musician, Jake also shares his voice at church services across Texas.
Musician
Grammy Award-winning fiddler Jason Roberts brings his signature style to the Jason Roberts Band, captivating fans worldwide. Raised among Texas honky-tonk legends and spending nearly 20 years with Asleep at the Wheel, Jason absorbed the heart of Western swing. With two Grammy Awards and multiple Hall of Fame inductions, he now leads a world-class band that honors tradition while delivering fresh, dynamic performances that keep Western swing alive and thriving on stages across the globe.
Poet
Jay Snider, a lifelong cowboy from Cyril, Oklahoma, is deeply rooted in ranching, rodeo and Western tradition. A respected cowboy poet, he’s performed at top gatherings nationwide, including Elko, Texas, and the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering. Named the 2001 Lariat Laureate and 2008 AWA Cowboy Poet of the Year, Jay’s recordings—like Of Horses and Men—reflect his deep love for cowboy life. He continues raising cattle, roping and honoring Western heritage through poetry.
Musician
Jean Prescott, an award-winning singer-songwriter from south of Abilene, Texas, is known for her rich alto voice and songs that honor the spirit of the West—especially the women who shaped it. Called “the spiritual essence of the West,” her music is featured at the National Cowgirl Museum. Honored by the Texas Legislature and the American Cowboy Culture Association, Jean preserves Western heritage through heartfelt songs like Sweethearts in Carhartts, celebrating ranch wives and real-life heroines.
Musician
Kristyn Harris of Burleson, Texas, is a four-time IWMA Entertainer of the Year and the youngest to earn the title. Known for her powerful vocals, yodeling and swing guitar, she tours nationally and internationally. Her 2021 album A Place to Land was named Outstanding Western Album by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. When not on stage, Kristyn enjoys training horses, raising cattle and trick ridingall with the same energy she brings to her music.
Musician
Mikki Daniel is an award-winning singer, songwriter and author known for her clear voice, strong rhythm guitar and fresh spin on Western classics. She and her husband run a horse-training business in the New Mexico Gilas, a lifestyle that fuels her songwriting. Mikki’s honors include WMA and AWA Female Performer of the Year and the Wrangler New Horizons Award. She’s also a published author, with her acclaimed novel Girls and Gunsmoke and its sequel on the way.
Poet
Straw Berry, born in California and raised in Oklahoma, is a cowboy poet with deep ranching roots. A history graduate and former musician, officer and ag professional, Straw began writing and reciting cowboy poetry around 2000. His work has been featured by Red Steagall and on Cowboy Corner. He lives in Cordell with his wife, Penny, stays active with the Washita County Historical Society and proudly follows the adventures of their eight grandchildren.
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