Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering 21st year is in the books

Entertainers gathered in Grandview Park on the North side of the Grand Encampment Museum this last Friday and Saturday, watched and admired by hundreds of attendees. The 21st Annual Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering kicked off Friday evening with an open mic session. Poets and musicians picked, sang, told stories, and in general, lightened the hearts of those watching.Saturday morning Jack Schmidt provided instruction and poetry to a dozen or so participants as he taught the fine art of Dutch oven cooking. Once again, Doug Figgs offered up his songwriting workshops. Lunch was served by the Encampment/Riverside Lions club at 11 p.m. At noon, a dozen cowboy poets and musicians performed under the direction of Jason Swedlund.

During the afternoon, it was announced that Tim Barkhurst, a lifelong cowboy and rancher from the Valley was inducted into the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame. A moment of silence was taken for those folks that have left the Valley for the heavenly pastures.

At the Saturday evening concert, local folk singer/entertainer Steve Moulton emceed the “All-Star Cowboy Poetry and Music Show”. Performances by Kristyn Harris, a powerful singer from Texas, songwriter, guitarist and yodeler kept the audience riveted. Kaden Miner, a young performer from Utah who shared stories of the West in his song. Inspired by Ian Tyson, Brenn Hill and Chris LeDoux, he took the audience on a journey into the life of a cowboy. Andy Nelson is always a welcome entertainer at the Gathering. His energy is contagious and he takes the listener down a path less traveled using rhyme and storytelling.

An award of appreciation was presented for Jerry Paxton, one of the founders of the Gathering. Fred Lorenz of Encampment held the winning raffle ticket for an RG Finney print.

Sunday morning a Cowboy Ranch Breakfast of biscuits & sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, coffee and juice prepared by Cheryl Monroe, the GECG Outfit crew and volunteers was served, followed by a Cowboy Church Service lead by Ken & Becky Kreusel and the Kyle Berger family.