Education & Programs

For 37 years, the Durango Cowboy Gathering has made a concerted effort to build our outreach to local schools at all grade levels in Durango, Bayfield and Ignacio. During the Gathering we send cowboy poets and musicians to perform in classrooms and assemblies. This year we will be sending 35 performers to15 schools in Durango plus schools in Bayfield and Ignacio. We do not charge schools or care facilities for the history and entertainment we provide.

Music & Poetry In Schools Program

The Durango Cowboy Gathering also encourages young poets and musicians to embrace western poetry and music by inviting many of these youth performers to our Gathering, and giving them a show of their own on Saturday afternoon. Several of today’s headliners have been our “Rising Stars” in Durango such as Krystin Harris, Mikki Daniel, Thatch Elmer

Cowboy poet and musician Sid Hausman performed a special week-long educational program at Park Elementary School in Durango to teach the children how to write poetry and write and perform their own cowboy songs.

Young performer Krystin Harris singing in the Poets in Schools program.

Rising Stars

The Durango Cowboy Gathering also encourages young poets and musicians to embrace western poetry and music by inviting many striving youth to be performers at our Gathering. Several of today’s headliners have been our “Rising Stars” in Durango such as Krystin Harris, Mikki Daniel, Thatch Elmer, Hailey Sandoz.

Harmonicas teach Cowboy Lore and History

The Durango Cowboy Gathering strives to share the rich heritage of western rural life and cowboy ethics with present and future generations. Music and poetry were very much a part of that life, especially on cattle drives, and harmonicas were the instrument of choice because of their versatility and portability. Teaching students to play a few simple songs on their harmonicas, Cowboy Gathering professional volunteers are working with 5th graders to share this knowledge and history during the four days of the Durango Cowboy Gathering in October. Each student receives a harmonica to keep—-for many, this is their first and only musical instrument. The goal is to reach 300 students this year.

Poetry and art contests in the schools

In the spring, board member Lindy Simmons visits classrooms and instructs students about the form and substance for writing cowboy poetry. Students are then asked to write an original poem to be judged by a panel, with the winners at each school receiving cash prizes. The winners are then given the opportunity to recite their poems at the Gathering.

Art classes are encouraged to participate in our cowboy art contest. A panel of judges selects winners from each school who also win cash prizes. Their art work is displayed around town during the Gathering.

The goodwill provided by these poets is beyond compare. The history they impart gives an education about our Western Culture to many children and people in our community who cannot otherwise attend performances at our venue in downtown Durango.