For State Poet Matt Mason, there’s a lot to love about bringing poetry to Nebraska’s rural counties.
Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason poses for a portrait in his Omaha home earlier this month. Mason said he gets inspiration from driving in the country. “I’ll get out on the rural highways and have to pull over because there’s always something to write about.”
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“We tend to look at poetry as an either I like it or I don’t thing, rather than realizing there’s a bunch of different genres within poetry,” State Poet Matt Mason said.
Gallery: Sights from the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Carin Mari
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Carin Mari performs during the "Right Where We Belong Show" at the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering on Jan. 29, 2024.
Olivia Romo
Olivia Romo gestures as she recites her poetry during the "Right Where We Belong" show at the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering on Jan. 29, 2024.
Carin Mari
Carin Mari performed songs inspired by the Rocky Mountains during "Right Where Belong" during the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering on Jan. 29, 2024.
Olivia Romo
Olivia Romo recites her poetry during the "Right Where We Belong" show at the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
Forrest VanTuyl
Forrest VanTuyl speaks to the audience between songs during the "Right Where We Belong" show at the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering on Jan. 29, 2024.
Volunteer packets for National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Boxes of packets wait to be claimed by more than 200 volunteers on Jan. 25 who donate their services ranging from bartending and shuttle driving to logging events and monitoring doors throughout the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
Children's artwork in the G Three Bar Theater
Artwork by Elko area schoolchildren is displayed inside the G Three Bar Theater on Jan. 25 ahead of the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
Western Folklife Center
Lights glowed from the Western Folklife Center in downtown Elko after sundown on Jan. 25, 2024, the official headquarters of the 39th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
Cowboy Arts and Gear Museum bits and spurs
Handcrafted bits entered by Stephen Hoyt and Dominic Valine in the annual Gear Contest and Auction at the Cowboy Arts and Gear Museum were pictured on Jan. 25, 2024.
Cowboy Arts and Gear Museum Rawhide Romal Rein
Fourteen rawhide romal reins pictured on Jan. 25 have been entered in the annual contest at Cowboy Arts and Gear Museum.
High school art gallery
Art from Elko County high schoolers is displayed on the walls of the Western Folklife Center lobby as part of youth participation in the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Jan. 23, 2024.
Deb Howard with seal embosser
Deb Howard helps Elko County students use a seal embosser in the Wiegand Gallery at the Western Folklife Center, Jan. 23, 2024.
Michelle Wines
Michelle Wines addresses a group of Elko County students at the Western Folklife Center Youth Festival, Jan. 23, 2024.
Hammering
Elko County students at the Western Folklife Center use hammers and stamps to create custom leather bookmarks, Jan. 23, 2024.
Deb Howard - 2
Deb Howard quizzes Elko County schoolchildren on the different pieces of cowboy gear found in the Wiegand Gallery at the Western Folklife Center, Jan. 23, 2024.
Andy Boyer
Andy Boyer instructs participants at the Western Folklife Center Youth Festival on how to stamp letters and icons into a slab of leather, Jan. 23, 2024.
