Cowboy poets from across Kansas and beyond will compete for the coveted trophy buckle at the finals of the 2017 Kansas Cowboy Poetry Contest on June 9 at the Flint Hills Discovery Center. There is no charge for admission and the public is invited to attend.
“We have an outstanding field of cowboy poets from three states,” said poetry contest chair Ron Wilson of the Lazy T Ranch near Manhattan. “They have earned their way into the finals with excellent performances in our regional contests.”Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The finals will be held on Friday, June 9, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the Discovery Center on the night before the Symphony in the Flint Hills. Celebrity judges include Chief Justice Lawton Nuss of the Kansas Supreme Court, Marie Martin from the Flint Hills Discovery Center Foundation, K-State Provost April Mason, Kansas Farm Bureau President Richard Felts, and Manhattan Mayor Usha Reddi.
Contestants are as follows (towns in Kansas unless listed otherwise): Serious poem category: Terry Arnwine, Cherryvale; Betty Burlingham, Manhattan; John J. Cannon, Fredonia; Tim Keane, Manhattan; Danny McCurry, Ash Grove, Missouri; Donna Penley, Haysville; Dennis Russell, Cimarron, New Mexico. Humorous poem category: Betty Burlingham, Manhattan; Tim Keane, Manhattan; Barbara Lilyhorn, Hutchinson; Danny McCurry, Ash Grove, Missouri; Dana Moodie, Neodesha; Donna Penley, Haysville; Dennis Russell, Cimarron, New Mexico; and Carl Stueve, Olpe.
State champions at the finals will receive the Saddlejack Bradrick Award, the coveted Governor’s Buckle, discounts and gift certificates from leading western wear stores, and two tickets to the Symphony in the Flint Hills plus an opportunity to present their poems in the story circle after the symphony. In addition, the state winners will be invited to compete in the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo. It is not necessary to go through the state contest to enter the national rodeo because anyone can enter the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo directly, but the Kansas winners will have their entry fees paid by the Kansas contest.
For more information, go to www.cowboypoetrycontest.com.
