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Events & Gatherings
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2011
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Mesquite Western Roundup
Cowboy Poetry and Music
February 24, 2012 7 PM
February 25, 2012 1 PM
Featuring...
Mary Kaye, Award Winning Vocalist
JoLynne Kirkwood, Award wining poet and MC
Poetry and Tall Tales by Cowboy Poets from around the region.
Mesquite Strings and Things - Old Time Instrumentals
Mesquite Toes Senior Dance Team
Meet Ann Clemmitt, Miss Rodeo Nevada 2011
Come and enjoy fast paced fun and entertainment in beautiful Mesquite, Nevada.
Mesquite Community Theatre
150 N. Yucca St.
Mesquite, NV 89027
Reserved Seating $10.00 per person which includes drawing for door prizes.
Tickets available at the MCT Box Office
Thursday and Friday 4-7 and Saturday 9-12
Or by phone 702-345-4499
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Cowboy Poetry Week 2012
will have the following schedule.
Thanks to Stan Tixier for arranging this event.
Monday, April 16, 7 PM, Main Library, 2464 Jefferson Ave., Ogden, UT, 84401 – Coyotee Moon (Lisa Stubblefield, Steve Lewis, Terry Lewis), music; Stan Tixier, cowboy poetry.
Tuesday, April 17, 7 PM, Ogden Valley Branch, 131 S, 7400 E – The Drifter and Miss Judy (Jan and Judy Erickson), music; Sam DeLeeuw, cowboy poetry.
Wednesday, April 18, 7 PM, North Ogden Branch, 475 E, 2600 N, North Ogden, UT, 84404 – Dave Anderson, music; Steve Spencer, cowboy poetry.
Thursday, April 19, 7 PM, Southwest Branch, 1950 W, 4800 S, Roy, UT, 84067 – Brian Arnold, music; Bob Christensen, cowboy poetry.
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A Premier Workshop!
an essay by S.A. Jackson
The National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo is looking for a "Few Good Poets" who might like to enhance their writing, reciting and entertaining skills while winning a few $$ dollars and gaining some pretty good publicity.
‘Excellence through competition’ is our theme and over the last dozen years has certainly proven its effectiveness. Among this years (2010) featured performers in Elko were 16 who have competed in the NCPR, five of them silver buckle winners and just about everyone of them will tell you that this competition greatly enhanced their skills.
I realize that not everyone is up to poetry competition. I spoke recently with one fellow who carried a pretty dim view of poetry contests. "Well now," Sez I, "If this were just a cowboy poetry contest I'd throw in with you, however the Cowboy Poetry Rodeo is much more than just a contest, it’s a premier learning experience, the absolute best workshop you could ever imagine. The highest score, or who’s the best poet, isn’t what it’s about. This competition is specifically designed to make ‘fair poets good’ and ‘good poets better’! An event that allows the poet, by participating or just watching, to gain a host of new ways of improving their expertise. Our unique approach is to pit the skills of one poet against those of another in such a manner as to further develop the talents of both, with an over-riding goal of advancing the genre’ of cowboy poetry to a degree benefiting both performer and audience.”
Now here’s a surprise—There are those among us who may not be [quite] so good as their wife, mother or hired hands would have them believe. For that group, this is where ‘The hoof meets the trail, this is where we find out how we stack up against our peers, where we get a good look at ourselves through the eyes of folks not setting at our table. Yes, some feelings will get hurt, a few to the extent they give up performing, (or at least competing) but most say "Whoa---I can do better and they do, but either way both the genre’, and audience come out ahead. Perhaps we could call the process a “Verbicide”
The vast majority use the experience to watch, listen, learn and improve, and by taking that approach, there are no losers! Those not scoring in the money have won something far more valuable, knowledge! So if they are smart (and most cowboy poets are) they now have the tools for improving their writing, reciting, stage presence and total performance, putting themselves in greater demand as entertainers, which in turn gleans a bigger audience eventually bringing with them their friends and their friends, friends Get the picture?
What the heck's a Cowboy Poetry Rodeo?
by S.A. Jackson rev.10/15/10
“Excellence through Competition!”
The Mission:
Encourage ‘fair’ poets to become ‘good’ and ‘good’ poets to become ‘better’.
The Challenge:
To apply fairness and consistency in judging the skills — and choosing the better performers in — a cowboy poetry competition.
The Stage:
The Cowboy Poetry Rodeo is an event, fashioned after a stock rodeo, designed to pit the skills of one cowboy poet against those of another in such a manner as to further develop the talents of both, with an over-riding goal of advancing the genre of cowboy poetry to a degree benefiting both performer and audience.
Each Fall, somewhere in North America an unusual event takes place called the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo. Now, if you might be wondering, “What in tarnation is one-a-them-thar thangs?” read on—
Some years ago, a couple of fellers sensing that the genre of cowboy poetry, if presented in a positive manner, could become a valuable tool in keeping our western heritage alive, as well as a serving as a rostrum for spreading the message that “Most resident stewards of our western lands are doing a noble job as caretakers, and a little less help from outsiders might be in order!” It could even go so far as to help rearrange the general public’s negative opinions toward public land use and, who knows, even salvage someone’s livelihood? Last, but not necessarily least, it could be promoted as acceptable, western Americana entertainment. However, to gain a nobel status of that sort, it must be written and presented in a professional and entertaining manner.
Enter: “Excellence through Competition” via the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo. As previously stated: this event isn’t just about “who’s the best poet,” but is specifically designed to Improve the genre’.
To give it a more distinctive western flavor, the two-day competition, is organized much like a stock rodeo and judged in two divisions; Rising Stars and Silver Buckle. Rising Stars are those poets having never won first place in an event and Silver Buckle consists of those who have. (Once a Rider (Poet) rider wins a silver buckle they must then compete with other winners and can no longer enter the Rising Star division.)
Each Rider pays an entry fee for each event entered and may enter any, or all, of the four:: Poet/serious or Poet/humorous (a “Poet” performs his or her own work) “Reciter/serious” or “Reciter/humorous” (a “Reciter” performs the work of others).
Each poet's “Ride” (delivery of their work) is judged by a panel of 5 individuals with extensive pastoral backgrounds and expertise in cowboy poetry.
The top 50% of the poets from the first day's go-round advance to the second go-round The top score in each of the four Rising Stars events receives a beautiful Silver buckle, with the four winners in the Silver Buckle events each receiving trophies. The rider with the highest “total points” also receives a “High money ” trophy and 50% of the winners are invited to perform in the evening headliner shows.
The 1st through 4th place scores, (totals from round one and round two) in each event, in each division, receives prize money. Purses are awarded as follows: 1st place, 50%; 2nd place, 25%; 3rd place, 15%; and 4th place, 10%. The total purse, usually around $6,000, is comprised of entry fees plus added money from the sponsors.
Judging Criteria: Quality + Theme + Presentation = Score.
Quality:
Scoring weight: Poet field: 1 to 10 points, Reciter field: 1 to 5 points
Criteria:
· Does the material presented tell its story in a clearly painted mind picture?
· Does the poem have rhyme and meter, if it is intended?
Theme:
Scoring weight: Poet and Reciter field: 1 to 5 points
Criteria:
· Is the material interesting and in good taste for a general audience?
· Does the material fit the CPR’s definition of Cowboy Poetry as per our definitions?
· “Humor,” in itself, must not add inappropriate weight to any score.
Presentation:
Scoring weight: Poet field: 1 to 5 points, Reciter field: 1 to 10 points
Criterion:
· Theatrics: body language, facial expression, voice projection, accent, diction;
How well they are used and how well do they fit the theme.
Scoring:
a- For each ride, judges will assign a score of 1 to 20 points, in ½ point increments. The highest and lowest scores are discarded, leaving the sum of the mid three as the rider’s official score for that event.
b- Example: A rider receiving initial scores of 12 ½, 14, 15 ½, 15, and 17 would end up with a total of 44½ points; (both 12 ½ [low] and 17 [high] are discarded). 60 points would be a perfect score. Scores are assigned immediately after each presentation with a tally kept in full view on stage.
I Am a Convert by, Andy Nelson
A smile comes to my face as I remember the life lesson taught to me by a simple roadside sign. It was on an old dirt, two track road and it simply read, “Choose your rut carefully, you will probably be in it for the next 30 miles”. The life lesson part came as I realized that we often choose paths that may trap is in a rut for a good part of our lives, therefore I’ve tried to remain open minded to new things and still hold close the opinions I call my own.
So, when I first considered entering a cowboy poetry competition, my gut reaction was that cowboys expressing themselves in verse is not a competition and has no place in the cowboy lore... then I had to remind myself of a few basic concepts:
• A cowboy once stated that he could ride a bronc better than anyone else in the crew and thus saddle bronc riding competitions were born.
• Another cowboy bragged that he could rope and tie a calf better faster than anyone around and tie down roping contests got their start.
• Then some rancher said that he raised the best beef in the country and challenged any rancher to prove him wrong in the show ring.
• Another horseman boasted that the bloodlines in his remuda turned out the best working ranch horses in the world and the AQHA Congress judged the entries.
I came to the realization that there is no difference between these cowboys and the cowboy that believes he can write a verse or spin a yarn better than anyone. The only flaw in this theory is that there has to be an organization that levels the playing field and judges the contestants. Enter, the “National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo”. The only such organization, whose mission statement is “Excellence Through Competition”. Upon receiving the notice of a cowboy poetry rodeo, I saw the opportunity to show someone other than my family that I was a competent cowboy poet.
Certainly my poetry was good as the expert’s and I shouldn’t have any trouble taking their money, so I entered the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo with high expectations. My poor ego was sorely bruised after that first competition and I left with feelings of betrayal and animosity instead of a buckle and a paycheck. Surely the judges were mistaken and needed one more chance to recognize my brilliance, so I entered the competition the following year without changing a thing, my writing, presentation and demeanor were all the same... and the end result was the same. After the second year of crash and burn, I became more humble and more open to receiving advice. I spent the next years not participating, but learning from those who did. I went, I watched, I studied and I learned from those who competed, as well as from those who didn’t. I became a student of style, rhyme and meter. I had become teachable.
Now, cowboy poetry rodeos are not for everyone, just like bronc riding isn’t for everyone. But if you do decide to participate, perhaps you can learn from those who have gone before you with these simple tips:
• Check Your Ego at the Door: Everyone wants to win. Your poetry is like your children, it is bigger, better, faster, stronger and better looking than everyone else’s. Keep in mind, it is not you against them, it is how can we make each other better.
• Do it for the Right Reason: The driving force behind entering a cowboy poetry rodeo should be the urge to better yourself through competition. If fame and fortune is what you seek, this is the wrong place to do it.
• Close Your Mouth and Open Your Mind: Learn to accept creative criticism in th spirit it is meant, as a way to help you hone your writing and performing skills. Learn, grow and improve from what others are teaching you.
• Exorcize Your Own Demons: We all have personal demons that retard our progression. Be they public speaking, competition, fear of rejection, whatever... learn to cope first, then dismiss them altogether.
• Observe Before You Compete: Take some time to observe how these competitions work before entering. Familiarize yourself with the pace, mechanics and surroundings of the event until you are comfortable with the process.
• Ask the Experts: Make sure you understand the rules. Ask the organizers to clarify anything you do not understand. Ask the judges about what points they will be judging you on. The only stupid question, is the one you didn’t ask.
I can’t say that cowboy poetry competitions have changed my life, taken me to the summit or even given body to my dull, lifeless hair... but I have seen the light in a way. When it comes to writing, I dig deeper for content and meaning, I pay more close attention to rhyme and meter, and I nurture purpose and feeling in my performances. I am truly grateful to friends and associates that thought enough of me to share a kind critique periodically and also for a certain cowboy poetry competition that helped me drive out of a rut that could have been stuck in for the remainder of my life.
This page was last updated: January 16, 2012
Arden Gailey
Kenny Hall
Memorial Day Weekend on Antelope Island
Sam Jackson
Stan Tixier
