Cowboy's gift of Spring

After a long cold winter, spring brings new calves, new hope, more work, and new plans.  
The Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering is gearing up with lots of new events too!  
Here's what's coming up, and be sure to visit our Facebook page and be our "friend" to stay updated!  

Vendors and visitors pack the Four States Ag Expo.  The Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering will be in Booth #20 in the Main Pavilion.

The Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering will once again have a featured booth at the Four States Ag Expo to be held at the Cortez, Colorado Fairgrounds on March 14 through 17th.  This annual event draws large crowds from both rural and city dwellers to see what's new in the agricultural industry.  The Cowboy Poetry Gathering booth is always a popular for local poets, musicians and ranch folks to stop by and visit.  If you plan on attending, we'll be in Booth #33 in Main Pavilion with posters, books and lots
of free stuff to give away!

For more information and a schedule of events go to www.fourstatesagexpo.com

Four Corners BackCountry Horsemen's Tack Sale

Spring means time to clean the tack room! The Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering will have booth at the big Tack Sale hosted by the Four Corners BackCountry Horsemen.  This consignment sale brings in gear and horsemen from all over the Four Corners area.  It will be Saturday, April 6th from 9am to 3pm in the Exhibit Hall at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.  Visit www.4cbch.org for complete details, then stop by our booth and say hello!

New events added to the Schedule for 25th Annual Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering!
Besides the amazing line up of performers we have for our Evening shows and Theme Sessions, don't miss these new events!



Juni Fisher will perform two FREE shows at the Rochester Hotel Garden Bar which will be followed by an Open Jam Session.
Amy Hale Auker will host a Western Writer's Workshop.  Get your pencils ready to write about the west!
Krysten Harris will host a special show called "Rising Western Stars" for all our young performers.
Dr. Bob Young will conduct a seminar about the history of the west as written in literature and shown in film.
The Animas Museum will have a big Chuckwagon Breakfast early Saturday morning before the Parade Starts.
Gary Allegretto will be back to do his popular Harmonica Workshop, also on Saturday.
Artist, Duke Beardsley will host "Behind the Canvas", a discussion of modern western art at Toh-Atin Gallery.
The Cowboy Parade, sponsored by Boot Barn, will feature a full line-up of horses and wagons and will honor local ranchers, the Montoya's along with the founder of the Gathering, the late Kevin O'Farrell.

And lots of new performers be in the FREE Saturday Theme Sessions at various locations in downtown Durango.

At the March 6th meeting for the Board of Directors of the Cowboy Poetry Gathering, they were given presentations by both the local FFA Chapter and 4-H Horse Council.  The young people came prepared with request letters and made a formal presentation.   They all did an excellent job with their public speaking and requests for funding.  

The Board will be granting $1500 to the 40 member DHS FFA Chapter to use for their trip to the State Convention, their Blue and Gold Awards and their Supervised Agricultural Experience programs.

The Cowboy Poetry Gathering funds the FFA Blue and Gold Awards given at the County Fair each year.

Tyllor Ledford President of  the La Plata County 4-H Horse Council told the DCPG Board that their annual Horse Camp has become so popular that it is now limited to 40 riders for the three day camp.  As well as having adults teach horsemanship skills, the older, more experienced 4-H members help the younger ones with the challenges of saddling a horse and basic horse care.  The Board of Directors voted again to fund $400 towards the Horse Camp for scholarships and basic expenses, as well as providing a buckle for the end of the year to reward the Cowboy or Cowgirl of the Year.

Be sure to stop by and visit the 4-H Horse Camp this year on May 3 through 5th at the La Plata County Fairgrounds

Emma Van Dyke on her horse "Tink" at last year's horse camp.  The DCPG Board believes that working with horses improves confidence and leadership abilities in kids.