Cowboys and cowboy poetry are significant and unique parts of the cultural landscape of Kansas. Only a handful of other Western states can claim to be influenced and enriched by this art form and its underlying values. Perhaps no other state has such a dynamic and vital cowboy culture today.
For example, one of the most important events in the United States is the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo, is held in Abilene each year, hosted by cowboy poet Geff Dawson of Alma, although Covid has interfered during the last two years. Some of the most distinguished cowboy poets in the United States call Kansas home. One of those is Tim Keane, who will be our keynote speaker at this year’s convention. Tim is a three-time champion in the Kansas Cowboy Poetry Contest and winner of multiple events at the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo, where he was overall reserve champion in 2016 and 2018.
It has been a goal of mine during the past several years to develop a connection between Kansas Authors Club and the cowboy poetry community in Kansas. To be honest, I only have a vague notion of what that connection would be.
It could entail inviting cowboy poets to district and/or state meetings to give tutorials on writing cowboy poetry. It could involve contests. It would probably start with providing cowboy poets with a broader, more “mainstream” audience, beginning with KAC members as that audience. It could eventually broaden to include the visual arts, depicting the daily and family cowboy life.
But the greater purpose would be to develop relationships and to create a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the values and way of life of the modern cowboy.
As a way to demonstrate Kansas Authors Club’s desire to reach out to our state’s cowboy poets, I would like to invite members to join me in contributing to the District 1 fund to pay the costs of bringing cowboy poet Tim Keane to our annual writers convention in October. We will announce the results of that contribution during the convention as a statement of our support for and appreciation of Kansas cowboy poets and their contribution to Kansas arts and culture.
You can send check to District 1 treasurer Reaona Hemmingway at 115 SW Courtland Ave./ Topeka, KS 66606. Please write “cowboy poet” in the Memo line. Or if you prefer you can use the donation button below.
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Duane R Johnson
president, Kansas Authors Club
For example, one of the most important events in the United States is the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo, is held in Abilene each year, hosted by cowboy poet Geff Dawson of Alma, although Covid has interfered during the last two years. Some of the most distinguished cowboy poets in the United States call Kansas home. One of those is Tim Keane, who will be our keynote speaker at this year’s convention. Tim is a three-time champion in the Kansas Cowboy Poetry Contest and winner of multiple events at the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo, where he was overall reserve champion in 2016 and 2018.
It has been a goal of mine during the past several years to develop a connection between Kansas Authors Club and the cowboy poetry community in Kansas. To be honest, I only have a vague notion of what that connection would be.
It could entail inviting cowboy poets to district and/or state meetings to give tutorials on writing cowboy poetry. It could involve contests. It would probably start with providing cowboy poets with a broader, more “mainstream” audience, beginning with KAC members as that audience. It could eventually broaden to include the visual arts, depicting the daily and family cowboy life.
But the greater purpose would be to develop relationships and to create a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the values and way of life of the modern cowboy.
As a way to demonstrate Kansas Authors Club’s desire to reach out to our state’s cowboy poets, I would like to invite members to join me in contributing to the District 1 fund to pay the costs of bringing cowboy poet Tim Keane to our annual writers convention in October. We will announce the results of that contribution during the convention as a statement of our support for and appreciation of Kansas cowboy poets and their contribution to Kansas arts and culture.
You can send check to District 1 treasurer Reaona Hemmingway at 115 SW Courtland Ave./ Topeka, KS 66606. Please write “cowboy poet” in the Memo line. Or if you prefer you can use the donation button below.
--
Duane R Johnson
president, Kansas Authors Club
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