National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Elko, Nev.

From Jan. 30–Feb. 4, the city of Elko, Nev., will host the 33^rd National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

The event was designed to give Western ranchers and cowboys a place to share their poems about the lives they lead. After three decades, the gathering has grown to include not just poets, but musicians, storytellers and artisans.

Over six days, attendees have the chance to take in workshops, performances, food and a sense of community fostered by the unique experiences of cowboys. If you aren’t a cowboy yourself, you are invited to come down and find out more about the art of the American West as seen by ranch folk.

Ranch life holds a certain mysticism for many people in the United States and beyond, and feeds into the pioneering spirit of the country. For foreign visitors, the gathering offers an opportunity to hear about cowboy life from people who have lived it, rather than through the lens of movies or books.

Cowboy poetry has a long tradition, starting more than 150 years ago when the first cowboys would compose rhymes as they rode before sharing them around the fire at night. The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering continues that tradition today, and offers visitors a fascinating window into one of America’s greatest icons.

More information on specific events is available at the event website, where you can also buy tickets.