Date: August 30, 2009
|
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
|
Devils Tower National Monument
|
|
P.O. Box 10
Devils Tower, WY 82714
307 467-5283 phone
307 467-5350 fax
|
DEVILS TOWER NATIONAL MONUMENT
News Release
August 28, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2009-11
Annual Cowboy Poet Festival and Moonlight Walk at Devils Tower National Monument
Devils Tower National Monument’s 2009 Cultural Program Series comes to a close Labor Day weekend with the 15th annual Cowboy Poet Festival. On Sunday, September 6, between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m., the park invites the public to bring a picnic lunch to the Tower’s picnic shelter and enjoy an afternoon of fun. This year’s roster of cowboy and cowgirl poets and musicians features Robert Dennis, Elizabeth Ebert, Marty Blocker, and Daron Little.
Elizabeth Ebert is a lifelong rancher/farmer. She and her late husband, S.J., ran an operation near Thunder Hawk, close to Lemmon, South Dakota. She has won numerous awards for her poetry and has a lot of fans, including Baxter Black, who claimed she “sure can put a finish on a poem.” This young lady has done it, seen it, and wonderfully writes and recites about it!
Daron Little was raised in the ranching country of Louisiana, and headed west to cowboy at a young age. He currently hails from a ranch near Saratoga, Wyoming. He writes and performs his own songs and is in the running for Singer of the Year in the Academy of Western Artists. He writes and sings what he knows about: cowboys and the cowboy life.
Marty Blocker has been making his way in the Sand Hills of Nebraska since he came to that country fresh out of school. Since then, he’s broke lots of horses and ropes while jingling his spurs, making a living for himself, his wife, and two sons. When Marty cuts loose on a poem, you can taste the dust and hear the horses and cattle. He will be heading to Elko, Nevada, this year for the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
Robert Dennis ranches on the plains of South Dakota, near the Black Hills. He writes, recites, and sings old and new cowboy songs and poems. When not busy with ranch work, he makes saddles and other leather goods. He can usually be found practicing his favorite pastime, pestering and annoying his wife and partner, Cindy!
Moonlight Walk
On Friday evening, September 4, Devils Tower NM will host a full-moon walk at 7:30 p.m. Join long-time Tower ranger John Alosio at the Joyner Ridge Trail parking lot to explore the park’s nocturnal wildlife and get some great moonlight views of Devils Tower. The walk will last about an hour and is relatively easy. For more information or to reserve a spot, contact Hugh Hawthorne at 307-467-5283 x224.
As a reminder to park visitors, Cultural Program Series events and moonlight walks are free but park entrance fees still apply. Also, starting on Monday, September 7, the Devils Tower National Monument visitor center hours will change to 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. For additional information, contact monument staff at 307-467-5283 ext. 224.
-END-
