Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame 2015 Inductee
The first Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering was held in Big Timber, Montana in 1986, organized by poet and author Gwen Petersen. It has continued to thrive with the mission to celebrate and preserve historic cowboy traditions through the art of cowboy poetry and Western music. The event is open to new performers and participation by young people is strongly encouraged. With 60+ performers and 20+ artists and vendors, it features over seventy hours of entertainment over four days.
The 40th Gathering takes place at Fergus High School in Lewistown featuring the ever popular Dave Stamey as the Saturday headliner. Thursday evening opens with a welcome dinner and show. On Friday the listening rooms are open from 9 to 5, and a Jam’n Dance takes place at the Elks. Daytime musicians gather to play great dancing music and the public is welcome. On Saturday, the listening rooms are open all day, the vendor show is hopping, and the Saturday evening headliner concert occurs. The Judith Mountain Players performs a Western-themed play on Saturday afternoon, free to the public. Sunday features Cowboy Church.
Past Saturday headliners have included Baxter Black, Sons of the Pioneers, Riders in the Sky, the Bellamy Brothers, Suzy Boggus, Kathy Matea, Red Steagall, Kristyn Harris, and R W Hampton.
Some of the longtime poets and musicians supporting our event include Jim Hamilton, John O. Drivdahl, Lloyd McKenna, Margaret Wilhelm, Steven Hughes, Stan Wall, Penny Smith, Christine Schuman, Doc Shores, Phyllis Rathwell, Craig Nelson, Dale Mailand, John Murnane, Maria Murnane, Hazel McKinlay, Keith Kluck, Jerry Laskody, John Glawson – Ol’ Ugly, Ferg (Gary Ferguson), Bryce Burnett, Noel Burles, Scotty Bettise, Owen Badgett, John Bacon and Nancy Ayres, John Ulberg, Filly Fitz, and Ledoux Hansen.
Karen Kuhlmann retired from the Gathering Director position in 2024, after twenty years of producing the event. Karen’s passion for the event was a huge part of its growth and continual success. Charlotte Carroll, the Performer Coordinator for thirteen years, stepped into the role of Gathering Director. The eleven-member Board of Directors has also been responsible for the success and growth of the gathering. Notable long-term board members include Henry Gottardi, Nancy Weaver, Norm Ernst, Marci Henderson, Jeanette Henderson, Bill Kuhlmann, John Bullions, Karen Miller, Lloyd McKenna, Scott Dubbs, Foss Wilson, Bill Garcia, Jayson Shobe, and Steven Hughes. Newer key members are Monica Drew and Naomi Snyder.