MARCH 1, 2014

Douglasville, Georgia

Georgia Cowboy Poets gathered to celebrate their 18th year together in the auditorium of the Chapel Hill High School, and this night, it was the Cowboy Poetry Kids who took over the stage and wowed an audience filled with parents, teachers and many who came for the love of Cowboy Poetry.  Lots of Cowboys with gray hair and faces filled with hair, and standing by ready to recite were there also, including the Georgia Cowboy Jam Band!

Drew Boon, a young musician,  opened up the show playing on his acoustical guitar,  original lyrics to honor the life of the Cowboy!Mike and Maggie Beville, from Elizabethtown, Kentucky opened up the show, and then Cole Myers, a young man from Loganville, Georgia then shared several of his original poems that he wrote written about his livestock business and experiences.  His one poem combined a cattle drive and provided a solution to our nation’s present economic issues.!

Then the stage filled with the “kids”.  Derrion, recited “Burial”  and all in the audience were right with him, as he saluted a fallen fellow cowboy now buried in the western lands.  Jake, Brooke, Chelsea, Chienlo and Bria all followed with dramatic presentations, and Sierra accompanied by Drew, sang lyrics to a love song in honor of Cowboy Love.

Hayden, the youngest at age 13, a FFA member from Thomaston, Georgia recited his original poem that honors the men and women of our military.  This was Hayden’s second time onstage before a live audience!

Charlie Holloway said it best – “these kids are the future of Cowboy Poetry!”.  All of these students with the exception of Hayden, were from the Chapel Hill High School Drama Club, and students of Larry Boon, director.

One of the final sets brought together Jerry Warren, Georgia’s Cowboy Poet and Jim Dorsett and Tom Kerlin.  Between the ballards and the poems recited to honor the Cowboy Life, love and marriage, the evening came to a close with all the poets on stage singing the traditional song..Happy Trails to you!

So what’s the future ahead for Cowboy Poetry?  Taking a quick look at the stage filled with young people, with each bringing forward their own dramatic presentations, and totally engaging the audience before them, we’d say Cowboy Poetry has a great future ahead.