21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Oscar Auker, 13 of Texas recites poetry on the mainstage as his head is swallowed by his huge cowboy hat. He has lived on a ranch his whole life. 2004 was his debut at the Gathering. This year's Gathering's theme is "Across the Generations" with an emphasis on the younger generation carrying on the cowboy culture and traditions. Scenes from Elko and the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Scenes from Elko and the first evening's performance of the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Performers the first night: Don Edwards, The Gillette Brothers, The Quebe Sisters

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Scenes from Elko and the first evening's performance of the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Performers the first night: Don Edwards, The Gillette Brothers, The Quebe Sisters

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Scenes from Elko and the first evening's performance of the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Performers the first night: Don Edwards, The Gillette Brothers, The Quebe Sisters

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Scenes from Elko and the first evening's performance of the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Performers the first night: Don Edwards, The Gillette Brothers, The Quebe Sisters

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Scenes from Elko and the first evening's performance of the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Performers the first night: Don Edwards, The Gillette Brothers, The Quebe Sisters

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Scenes from Elko and the first evening's performance of the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Performers the first night: Don Edwards, The Gillette Brothers, The Quebe Sisters

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Scenes from Elko and the first evening's performance of the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Performers the first night: Don Edwards, The Gillette Brothers, The Quebe Sisters

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Scenes from Elko and the first evening's performance of the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Performers the first night: Don Edwards, The Gillette Brothers, The Quebe Sisters

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Scenes from Elko and the first evening's performance of the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Performers the first night: Don Edwards, The Gillette Brothers, The Quebe Sisters

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Poet and 5th generation rancher John Dofflemyer stepped outside to have a quick cigarettte, drink and a chance to read some poetry. Scenes from Elko and the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Musician Don Richmond who plays in the group The Bill Hearne Trio, tunes his guitar before a performance as the audience piles in to the main auditorium. Scenes from Elko and the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Scenes from Elko and the first evening's performance of the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Performers the first night: Don Edwards, The Gillette Brothers, The Quebe Sisters

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Scenes from Elko and the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

A young fiddler sits outside the Western Folklife Center. Scenes from Elko and the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

From left Susan Hyde, Don Richmond, and Bill Hearne, members of the Bill Hearne Trio play on the main stage. Scenes from Elko and the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

The bass player from Grupo Cimarron performs onstage in the main auditorium. Grupo Cimarron performs music from the the plains of Colombia which is home to a very rich musical tradition of Joropo which draws its themes from the cattle hearding lifestyle. Scenes from Elko and the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Andrew Hardin backstage before performing. Scenes from Elko and the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

A cowboy gets his morning coffe at Cowboy Joes, a local coffee bar downtown. Scenes from Elko and the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Cody Milner, 8 from near Reydon, Oklahoma takes a rope throwing workshop offered as part of the youth programming at the Gathering. Cody is part of a family group taht was invited to perform at the gathering. This year's Gathering's theme is "Across the Generations" with an emphasis on the younger generation carrying on the cowboy culture and traditions. Scenes from Elko and the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

From left, Jordan williams, 6, Ethan Williams, 2, and Austin Williams, 8, yawn by their father as they take a Saturday morning rope throwing workshop offered as part of the youth programming at the Gathering. This year's Gathering's theme is "Across the Generations" with an emphasis on the younger generation carrying on the cowboy culture and traditions. Scenes from Elko and the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

David Bourne plays tunes from the 19th Century on the piano in the Pioneer Bar at the Western Folklife Center which is housed in a resotred old Western hotel once called the Pioneer Hotel. Bourne prides himself in playing anything from before the 1920s. He has appeared on the HBO series Deadwood,playing in the 'Gem Saloon' on the show. Scenes from Elko and the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Oscar Auker, 13 of Texas crosses the street in downtown Elko, headed to the Western Folklife Center. Auker recites authentic cowboy poetry and has lived on a ranch his whole life. 2004 was his debut at the Gathering. This year's Gathering's theme is "Across the Generations" with an emphasis on the younger generation carrying on the cowboy culture and traditions. Scenes from Elko and the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

21st Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Native Crow Indiana and a Cowboy Poet, Henry Real Bird served barbequed buffalo meat to a long line of hungry Gathering participants. Real Bird's people donated the buffalo for the gathering. The head was sold at auction for about $2400 and the meat was served up to anyone in town for the event out in front of the Elko Convention Center. Scenes from Elko and the 21st annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering.