Bluegrass legend Peter Rowan talks about his lifelong fascination with the West, amateur historians, and making the album High Lonesome Cowboy with Don Edwards. Learn more about Peter Rowan at www.peter-rowan.com This episode was sponsored by B2 Trading Company. Learn more about them at www.b2tradingcompany.com Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at…

Waddie Mitchell returns to Cowboy Crossroads to celebrate 100 episodes of the podcast. Waddie talks about making phone calls to Kris Kristofferson and S. Omar Barker, classic cowboy poetry, his recording career, and his favorite original poems. This interview was recorded onstage in front of a live audience at the Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering …

Legendary western photographer Barbara Van Cleve talks about growing up at the end of the horse age, her family's Lazy K Bar Ranch, her father Spike Van Cleve, her collaborations with rodeo poet Paul Zarzyski, and her love for horses, ranching, and photography. Learn more about Barbara Van Cleve at www.barbaravancleve.com This episode was co-sponso…

Old-time musician Rex Rideout discusses the life and times of the first cowboy song collector Jack Thorp. Rex discusses the events that led to Thorp's search for cowboy songs, Thorp's book of Songs of the Cowboys, the story of Little Joe the Wrangler, and Thorp's banjo. Find out more about Rex at http://www.timetravelmusic.com Find out more about C…

Ninety-one year-old legendary working cowboy Boots O'Neal talks about his early cowboyin' experiences on the JA Ranch, starting colts with his brother Wes, horse wrecks, and tells stories from a lifetime spent punchin' cows on the most iconic ranches in Texas. Recorded in front of a live audience at the 2023 Ranch Verse event at the National Ranchi…

Oklahoma cowboy poet, rancher, and former bull rider Jay Snider talks about his ranching and rodeo family, the influence of his grandfather, memories from his rodeo career, and the camaraderie of the trail driving era that continues through rodeo and cowboy poetry. Find out more agout Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.p…

94-year-old rancher and Nebraska Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee Clarence Lanka talks about growing up on a ranch in Western Nebraska, riding his horse to a one room school, roping, good horses, and his faith in God. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossorads…

Working cowboy, filmmaker, songwriter, and poet Gail Steiger sends in audio postscripts to continue the conversation from part 1. On this episode Gail talks about his cowboy mentor Bill Murphy, making the film Ranch Album, tracking cattle, handling livestock, international herding cultures, and the friendships he's made through cowboy poetry.…

Working cowboy, filmmaker, songwriter, and poet Gail Steiger talks about his family background, Arizona politics, writing cowboy songs, and tells the facinating story of how he got into the cow business. Find out more about Gail Steiger at www.gailsteigermusic.com Find out more abot Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.pat…

This bonus episode of Cowboy Crosroads features a segment that Andy Hedges narrated for the American Songcatcher podcast about the first cowboy song collector Jack Thorp. In March 1889, Jack Thorp, a born-to-privilege Easterner who had grown into a leather-tough, saddle-wise trail hand, decided to track down the words to songs about cowboy life fro…

Bob Kinnan, the resident historian of the iconic King Ranch gives an overview of the history of the King Ranch from the ending of the Civil War to modern times and discusses the life and legacy of National Golden Spur Award recipient Helen Kleberg Groves. Find out more about the King Ranch at www.kingranch.com This episode is sponsored by the Natio…

Bob Kinnan, the resident historian of the iconic King Ranch, discusses his background and interest in ranching history and tells the story of the King Ranch from 1853 to the end of the Civil War. Fnd out more about the King Ranch at www.kingranch.com This episode was sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center. Find out more about them at ww…

Legendary western artist William Matthews discusses his early life and influences, traveling the world, painting album covers, using watercolor as a medium, and discovering and painting the buckaroo culture of the Great Basin. Find out more about William Mattews at www.williammatthewsstudio.com This episode is sponsored by B2 Trading Company. Find …

Andy Hedges previews his new album "Roll On, Cowboys" and takes a close look at the songs on the second disc with special guests Rod Taylor, Dom Flemons, Pipp Gillette, Corb Lund, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Michael Martin Murphey, Tom Russell, Randy Rieman, Brenn Hill, and Andy Wilkinson. FInd out more about Cowboy Crossroads and order the new album at…

Andy previews his new album "Roll On, Cowboys" and takes a close look at the songs with special guests Brenn Hill, Dom Flemons, Corb Lund, Pipp Gillette, Tom Russell, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Brigid Reedy, Waddie Mitchell, and Andy Wilkinson. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads and order the new album at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.pa…

Cowboy, photographer and retired General Manager of the Pitchfork Ranch Bob Moorhouse talks about managing the Pitchfork Ranch, pulling out the wagon, tradition, cowboy etiquette, photography, horses, and preserving the authentic cowboy image. This episode is sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center. Find out more about them at www.ranchi…

Singer, songwriter, poet, and fiddler Brigid Reedy talks about growing up in Montana, the influence of her parents, playing music with her brother, attending the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, reciting poetry with Wallace McRae, playing music with Glenn Ohrlin, building gear with George Holt, and her future with music, poetry, and horses. You ca…

Fourth-generation rancher Jon Means tells stories from a lifetime of ranching in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. Jon talks about his great-grandfather coming to West Texas in 1884, ranching in the desert, stewardship, and the challenges that face ranching today. This episode was sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center. Find out more a…

Cowboy poet, humorist, and farrier Andy Nelson talks about traveling the Great Basin with his farrier father, his horse shoeing and cowboy mentors, cowboy humor, and writing poetry. Find out more about Andy Nelson at www.cowpokepoet.com This episode is sponsored by Flint Custom Hats. Find out more about Flint Custom Hats at www.flinthat.com Find ou…

Fifth-generation rancher and poet Deanna Dickinson McCall shares stories about her ranching heritage, raising her family on a ranch in the remote Great Basin region of Nevada, and absorbing the cowboy poetry tradition from her Texas grandparents. Find out more about Deanna Dickinson McCall at www.deannadickinsonmccall.com This episode is sponsored …

94 year-old, third generation rancher Jimmie Powell shares stories from a lifetime of ranching in West Texas. Jimmie discusses raising sheep and cattle, ranching conservation practices, his friendship with Elmer Kelton, and tells the story of his grandfather settling in West Texas. This episode is sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center.…

This is the second episode of a two part show exploring the life and work of the late Texas cowboy poet and singer Buck Ramsey. In this second part, cowboy poet Joel Nelson reflects on the importance of Buck Ramsey's book-length poem "Grass." This episode is sponsored by Jayson Jones Bits & Spurs. Find out more about Jayson Jones at www.jaysonjones…

This is the first episode of a two part show exploring the life and work of the late Texas cowboy poet and singer Buck Ramsey. In this first part, Buck Ramsey's widow Bette Ramsey shares about Buck's childhood, the influence of his Uncle Ed, his tragic horse wreck, and how Buck found his tribe through cowboy poetry. This episode is sponsored by Jay…

Third-generation California rancher and Golden Spur Award recipient John Lacey talks about his grandfather first coming to the Owens Valley in 1870, the values he learned from his father, raising Quarter Horses, and the challenges in the future for the ranching industry. This episode is sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center. Find out m…

Part two with horseman, rawhide braider, and reciter Randy Rieman discussing the life and letters of Charles M. Russell. In this episode, Randy talks about Russell's poetry and reads from letters that touch on Christmas, Buffalo Bill, Hollywood, prohibition, the changing West, and Russell's relationship with pioneer preacher Brother Van. Find out m…

Horseman, braider, and reciter Randy Rieman returns to Cowboy Crossroads to discuss the Illustrated Letters of Charles M. Russell. In part one, Randy talks about Russell's life and work, discusses early Montana history, and reads from a few of Russell's letters. Find out more about Randy Rieman at www.randyrieman.com This episode was sponsored by J…

Singer/songwriter Trinity Seely talks about growing up in the remote Chilcotin country of British Columbia, working on ranches in Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Montana, becoming the Director of the Horse Program at The Thatcher School, and conveying emotion through music. Find out more about Trinity Seely at www.trinityseely.com Find out more about …

Part 2 with rodeo announcer, boot salesman, history professor, and writer Dr. Charles "Bud" Townsend. In this episode Dr. Townsend talks about teaching history, how rodeo influenced his academic career, and how he became a salesman with Olsen-Stelzer Boots. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.c…

Dr. Charles Bud Townsend shares stories from a lifetime as a rodeo announcer, boot salesman, history professor, and writer. Tune in to hear about his family history, how he became a rodeo announcer, and the story of writing the definitive biography of Bob Wills. Along the way he tells stories about Jimmie Rodgers, Ruth Roach, and Bob Wills. Find ou…

Fourth-generation rancher Linda Davis talks about growing up on the Tequesquite Ranch in the 1930s, becoming a part of the Bell Ranch cowboy crew as a 5 year old, and spending her life on the historic CS Ranch in northeastern New Mexico. She tells stories about rattlesnakes, learning to read from cowboys, her father's favorite cowboy poet, and her …

Rancher and musician Dale Burson talks about his deep ranching roots, his love of the ranching lifestyle, playing music with his kids, the cowboy code, and the rich musical traditions of the Texas panhandle. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads…

Legendary cutting horse trainer Buster Welch talks about his family history and childhood in Sterling City, Texas, leaving home at 14 to work for the Proctor Ranch in Midland, Texas, and shares stories and observations from a lifetime of working with cutting horses. At 93 years old, Buster Welch is a living link to the last of the old-time cowboys …

Texas cowboy poet and songwriter Red Steagall stops by Cowboy Crossroads to talk about growing up in the Texas panhandle, his songwriting career, his rodeo album For All Our Cowboy Friends, writing cowboy poetry, his experiences on the Four Sixes Ranch and the values of the cow country. Find out more about Red Steagall at www.redsteagall.com This e…

Andy Wilkinson returns to Cowboy Crossroads to talk about the Llano Estacado, Waylon Jennings, Buck Ramsey, and the creative process. He also reads excerpts from his upcoming memoir, Llanero: a boyhood on the 360-of-the-180. Find out more about Andy Wilkinson at www.andywilkinson.org Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Becom…

Singer, songwriter, and guitar builder Michael Stevens talks about growing up in the Ohio horse culture, the guitar scene in Berkeley, California, building Junior Brown's guit-steel, and remembers his cowboy father. Find out more about Michael Stevens at www.stevensguitars.com This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot Company. Find out more about…

Part two with rancher and mountain lion hunter Warner Glenn. Warner talks about the importance of being a steward of the land, the Malpai Borderlands Group, and tells the stories of his encounters with jaguars. Warner's daughter Kelly Kimbro joins the conversation. This episode is sponsored by Republic Boot Company. Find out more about them at www.…

Rancher and mountain lion hunter Warner Glenn talks about his family coming to Arizona from Texas in 1896 and shares about his experiences hunting lions in the Southern Arizona desert. Warner's daughter Kelly Kimbro joins the conversation. This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot Company. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.c…

Photographer and writer Jay Dusard discusses his work to chronicle cowboy culture in his book The North American Cowboy: A Portrait. Along the way he tells stories about Warner Glenn, Russell Lee, Ian Tyson, Kurt Markus, Buster Welch and Gail I. Gardner. He also talks about the importance of the working cowboy and shares the secret to learning the …

Part two with cowboy poet and humorist Baxter Black. On this episode Baxter talks about cowboy poetry, how he got on National Public Radio, appearing on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, his poem Legacy of a Rodeo Man, and what it means to live on the edge of common sense. This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot Company. Find out more about …

Cowboy poet and former large animal veterinarian Baxter Black talks about his childhood, his decision to go to veterinary school, working for the Simplot Livestock Company, his three requirements for the poetry he writes and the two poets who have inspired him most. Find out more about Baxter Black at www.baxterblack.com This episode was sponsored …

Teresa Jordan shares about growing up on a Wyoming ranch, the family economy of ranching, the neglected voices of women in the American West, and reads excerpts from her book Riding the White Horse Home. Find out more about Teresa Jordan at www.teresajordan.com Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patre…

On this special Veterans Day edition of Cowboy Crossroads, working cowboy and poet Joel Nelson shares his experience and poetry from the Vietnam War. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroadsBy Andy Hedges

Utah songwriter Brenn Hill talks about his passion for the Intermountain West, working with Ian Tyson in the studio, the support of the cowboy poetry community, his songwriting process, and plays a brand new song. Find out more about about Brenn Hill at www.brennhill.com This episode is sponsored by Flint Custom Hats. Find out more about Cowboy Cro…

New Mexico cowboy artist Gary Morton talks about his early days on the Bell Ranch, the responsibilities of a camp man and a wagon boss on a ranch, his journey as an artist, running cattle on the Mescalero Indian Reservation, and the importance of getting details right when representing the working cowboy. You can find out more about Gary Morton at …

The legendary Ramblin' Jack Elliott returns to Cowboy Crossroads and rambles about Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, the Newport Folk Festival, Mississippi John Hurt, Jack Kerouac, songs, guitars, Leadbelly, and much more. You can find out more about Ramblin' Jack Ellliott at www.ramblinjackelliott.com This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot Company. T…

Montana poet laureate Henry Real Bird shares about growing up on the Crow Reservation, the history of the Crow Tribe, and the power of poetry and thought. This episode was also brought to you by the Western Folklife Center. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Become a patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads…

Hot Club of Cowtown's Elana James stops by Cowboy Crossroads to talk about her classical training, her Western swing influences, working with Bob Dylan, wrangling horses in Montana, and interpreting traditional music. Don't miss the fiddle tune at the end! You can out more about Elana James at www.elanajames.com This episode was also brought to you…

Myrtis Dightman talks about being the first black cowboy to compete at the National Finals Rodeo in 1964 and shares stories from a lifetime in rodeo. Special guests Pipp Gillette and Waddie Mitchell also share stories and thoughts about Myrtis Dightman. This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot Company. This episode was also brought to you by the…

Singer/songwriter and working cowboy Gail Steiger shares stories and memories about his grandfather Gail Gardner. Gail Gardner is one of the classic cowboy poets and he is best known for writing the poem/song "The Sierry Petes," also known as "Tying Knots in the Devil's Tail." You can find out more about Gail Steiger at www.gailsteigermusic.com Thi…

Montana ranch hand DW Groethe talks about playing music because you have to, becoming a cowboy, the difference in poems and songs, and the isolation of ranch work. This episode was sponsored by Republic Boot Company. This episode was also brought to you by the Western Folklife Center. Find out more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com Beco…