Cowboy Poetry Roundup – Join Us!

Shuswap Association of Writers is the group that organizes and produces the Word on the Lake Writer’s Festival annually in Salmon Arm BC. Two of the founding members, Kay McCracken and Deanna Kawatski, are still active members of the committee.

But there are no strict rules to writing cowboy poetry, and it can reflect all kinds of experiences! It can rhyme, but it doesn't have to. It can be funny and light-hearted or serious and dramatic. Hugh McLennan, Rob Dinwoodie, Blu Hopkins and Pat Thomas are on deck to entertain you.

Hugh McLennan is the voice of the Spirit of the West Radio Show. The weekly episodes include poetry, songs and ranching information. It is available syndicated and online.

Rob Dinwoodie is known for performing in the Cowboy Dinner Theatre at O’Keefe Ranch in Vernon.

Blu Hopkins is a musician and poet who lives in the Shuswap and tours playing music as a duo with his wife Kelly. His roots are folk and country.

Pat Thomas from Enderby is an indigenous poet with a love of horses that shows through in much of his work.

Come along to the Salmon Arm Legion July 22 at 6 p.m. to tap your boots and tilt your hats! Admission is $35 in advance at the Legion or $40 at the door that night.

2023 was the landmark twentieth anniversary Festival celebrated on the May long weekend showcasing authors and poets, and featuring entertainment by Valdy and Blu & Kelly Hopkins. The festival showcases writers, poets, and songwriters as well as publishers and editors and offers public entertainment events.

Always mindful of fundraising opportunities, we decided to ‘make hay while the sun shines’ by holding our Cowboy Poetry Roundup in the summer while the weather is good, and folks are happy to be entertained with a burger and a beer to boot.

Cowboy poetry has gained popularity in recent years, and we are adding storytelling and music to round out the fun. Cowboy poetry dates back to the overland cattle drives of the 1800s and is usually rhymed, metered verse written by those having lived life during the Western Cattle Culture.