In their announcement, the Center said, "After careful consideration of logistical challenges and financial hurdles due to the COVID pandemic, we have determined it will be impossible to deliver a Gathering experience that resembles anything close to what we have all come to expect. The Gathering has always been unique—it is so much more than just a week full of entertaining and educational programs. People come here to be together, to hug, to dance, to eat and drink, to sit shoulder-to-shoulder while listening to poetry and music. It's multigenerational, because we celebrate age and wisdom and connection with our elders. It's in winter, when ranchfolk have a little downtime. It's almost exclusively indoors, because we celebrate the nuances of silence and the spoken word (and it's usually cold outside!). It's in Elko, because this is a cowboy town and that's how we like it. Our community, however, is experiencing a very serious surge in COVID numbers. Elko County has seen a rise in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths over the past two months. By order of the governor, masks are currently required indoors for everyone. We know that we cannot enforce that due to the nature of our event, and frankly, we can't imagine it feeling like the Gathering with them."

The WFC continued, "With so much uncertainty, it is unclear what will be required in January, but after surveying our artists, volunteers, members, ticket buyers, and extended workforce, we know now that we will be unable to accommodate the broad spectrum of expectations in producing both a safe and comfortable event for everyone—let alone something that comes anywhere close to their memories of past events. No matter what we do, we know that decreased ticket sales will not cover increased costs to produce the event, and that could jeopardize the future of both the Western Folklife Center and the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering."

"We will be bringing you some special programming, livestreamed from our iconic Elko venue in January (details to be revealed soon). We are also exploring more ways to connect with you in the coming year, both online and in person. We are getting right to work planning the 2023 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering and remain committed to fulfilling the Western Folklife Center's mission to use story and cultural expression to connect the American West to the world. Our nationally recognized cultural center is open to local residents and visitors Monday through Friday 10 AM to 5:30 PM, and 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturday. We hope you will stop by to see us."

Waddie Mitchell, cowboy poet and co-founder of the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, added, "We're all disappointed, but the board has made a wise decision. It's like finding out the road's washed out when you're headed to the yearly dance. You've got a date and you're on the wrong side and there's nothing you can do about it. It's no one's fault. You just have to say, 'Shucks. We'll try it again next year."'

Those interested in supporting the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering may wish to consider becoming a member of the Western Folklife Center. Membership begins at $50 per year, and has a number of benefits, including video access.

Other scheduled performers include Jean Prescott, Dan Roberts, Mikki Daniel, Hailey Sandoz, Kristyn Harris, R.W. Hampton, Chris Isaacs, Jay Snider, Yvonne Hollenbeck, and Straw Berry.

The wagon train left Jacksboro, Texas on Sunday, Oct. 17 and arrives in the Stockyards today.

Past crowds have ranged from 25,000 to 35,000 people throughout the 3-day event. Along with the tens of thousands of visitors, hundreds of ranch rodeo contestants, poets, musicians, wagon train participants, and vendors from all over the country join in on the festivities.

For tickets, see the RSCG website: redsteagallcowboygathering.com

Headliners have included Jean and Gary Prescott, Kristyn Harris, Trinity Seely, and Jeneve Rose Mitchell. This year the Gathering will be headlined by The Cowboy Way trio, featuring Jim Jones, Doug Figgs, and Mariam Funke.

WSCG regularly features award winners such as Floyd and Valerie Beard, Dale Page, Dennis Russell, Terry Nash, and Peggy Malone, to name a handful. In 2021, attendees will see a number of performers new to the Gathering, including Caitlyn Taussig, Evelyn A. Roper, Jo Lynne Kirkwood, and Duane Nelson. Organizers are excited about this year's complete line-up, listed below.

2021 line-up:

• The Cowboy Way
• Floyd Beard
• Valerie Beard
• Nona Kelley Carver
• Bill Clark
• Jo Lynne Kirkwood
• Peggy Malone
• Terry Nash
• Duane Nelson
• Dale Page
• Evelyn A. Roper
• Dennis and Bev Russell (The Russellers)
• Caitlyn Taussig

Check the Gathering website for more information on performers and the event: WesternSlopeCowboyGathering.com

With a mix of ticketed shows and free sessions over two full days, the Gathering offers attendees the chance to hear and meet remarkable singers, writers, and instrumentalists with a cowboy background, while enjoying the beautiful high desert of the Big Bend region. Whether you're interested in hearing spoken word, songs, guitar, banjo, fiddle, bass, or mandolin, you'll find it in the small town of Alpine in February.

Performers announced include:

• Mary Abbott, poet and reciter from western New Mexico;
• Dale Burson, multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and banjo;
• Don Cadden, performing his original poems and songs as well as the classics;
• Bob Campbell, talented singer-songwriter of authentic cowboy songs;
• Craig Carter, Marathon-based rancher, singer, songwriter, and band leader (performing with Zack Casey);
• Allan Chapman and Rodeo Kate, songwriter and fiddler;
• Doug Figgs, singer/songwriter from Lemitar, New Mexico;
• Jack George, 14-year-old reciter of classic cowboy poems;
• Pipp Gillette, performing traditional cowboy music on guitar, banjo, harmonica, and bones;
• Amy Hale, author of novels, nonfiction, and poetry who cowboys on the Spider Ranch in Arizona;
• Kristyn Harris, powerhouse singer, songwriter, yodeler, and swing guitarist;
• Andy Hedges, west Texas songster and host of the Cowboy Crossroads podcast;
• Brenn Hill, singer/songwriter who chronicles the cowboy life from Utah;
• Randy Huston, contemporary singer/songwriter who ranches outside Las Vegas, New Mexico;
• Chris Isaacs, cowboy poet, reciter, author, and humorist from Arizona;
• Jim Jones, singer/songwriter and Western novelist from Rio Rancho, New Mexico;
• Jill Jones and the Jingle Bobs (Bob Goldstein and Zeke Severson), featuring vocals, bass, and guitar;
• Ross Knox, famous cowboy and packer who writes his own poetry and recites the classics;
• Daron Little, writer and singer of contemporary cowboy music;
• Deanna McCall, poet and author who ranches outside Timberon, New Mexico;
• John Moore, outstanding mandolinist, guitarist, vocalist, and equine clinician;
• Glenn Moreland, performing original and traditional cowboy music on guitar and fiddle;
• Andy Nelson, poet, humorist, second-generation farrier, and producer of a weekly radio show from Wyoming;
• Joel Nelson, poet, rancher, and Grammy nominee in the spoken word category;
• Jean and Gary Prescott, singers/songwriters who run a cow/calf operation south of Abilene;
• Vess Quinlan, poet, reciter, and fourth-generation Colorado livestock raiser;
• Brigid and Johnny Reedy, Montana-based brother and sister duo on fiddle and guitar;
• Randy Rieman, horsemanship clinician and noted reciter of cowboy poetry and Australian Bush poetry;
• Jay Snider, poet and reciter who raises ranch horses and cattle in southwest Oklahoma ;
• Dave Stamey, singer/songwriter and balladeer who is a member of the Western Music Hall of Fame;
• Gail Steiger, singer, writer, and foreman of the 50,000 acre Spider Ranch in Arizona;
• Michael Stevens, musician, horseman, and guitar builder, formerly of the Fender Custom Shop in California;
• Rod Taylor, musician and actor, former head of the cowherd for Philmont Ranch;
• Andy Wilkinson, poet and songwriter who is the Artist-in-Residence at Texas Tech University's Southwest Collection; and
• Jim Wilson, singer, guitarist, and former sheriff.

Collectively, these performers have amassed so many awards it's almost impossible to list them all.

Building on the 33-year tradition of the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Alpine, the inaugural Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering was held in February of 2020 with an enthusiastic reception from performers, attendees, Alpine residents, and local businesses. The Gathering is a non-profit organization promoting narratives of the cowboy life told in poetry, song, stories, and art by those who have lived it, and is supported by members and other donors.

How do you compress the unique sights and sounds of the history and culture of the West into four days? Experience the performances of more than 40 cowboy poets and musicians Thursday through Sunday at this year's Gathering of Arizona's Cowboy Poets. Local cowboy poets and singers will be featured.

Night shows are Thursday-Saturday at 7 PM, with daily sessions Friday from 12 to 5 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 8 to 9 AM.

Buy tickets at AZCowboyPoets.org/Tickets. For more information go to AZCowboyPoets.org or call 928-713-6323 or email acpginfo@gmail.com.

Departing on Sept. 24 from Denver, the group should see fall colors in the aspens of the Front Range and San Juan mountains. Train rides include the Georgetown Loop Railroad, the Royal Gorge Railroad, and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad steam train from Antonito, Colorado to Chama, New Mexico. Performers participating include songster Andy Hedges (winner of the 2020 Western Heritage Award for Traditional Western Album for Shadow of a Cowboy), Grammy Award winner Dom Flemons (multi-instrumentalist and songster), western musician Dave Stamey, and Brigid and Johnny Reedy (sister on fiddle, brother on guitar). Private concerts are scheduled for six evenings of the trip.  After two final days exploring Santa Fe, Taos, and the surrounding area, the tour concludes on Oct. 1 with a shuttle to the Albuquerque airport.