July 18-20, 2008
email: grandencampmentcowboyoutfit@yahoo.com

website:  http://www.grandencampmentgathering.org

         The sixth annual Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering will be held in Encampment, Wyoming, with activities ranging from a stick horse rodeo and melodrama to cowboy music and poetry.

            Carbon County ranchers have been nominated for the Pioneer Award for their dedication to “The Cowboy Way.” The winner will be announced during the Gathering.

           The Gathering opens on Friday with a gunfighter reenactment at 6:30 p.m. at the Encampment Opera House followed by a melodrama "Van Highstrung" presented by the Grand Encampment Opera Company.  Following the melodrama, join us at Grand View Park for a campfire poetry and music jam session.

           Saturday's events include  the kids Stick Horse Rodeo at 11 am at Grand View Park.  The Grand Encampment Museum will hold a book signing from 10 am to noon involving members of Western Writers of America and Friends. The Encampment -Riverside Lion's Club will serve lunch at the park starting at noon.  Cowboy music and poetry program at the Grand View Park will begin at 1:00 pm.  Daron Little, Tom & Donna Hatton, Al "Doc" Mehl, Ken Kresuel, Jess Gallatin, Paul Harris, Sam Platts, Laurie and Cora Wood, Steve Moulton and the Encampment Community Choir  will perform.  Past performers have been Jake Fleming, Sharon Salisbury O’Toole, Jim Chambers, Jamie Parker-Frank, and the Carr Family Cowboy Band. 

An evening concert on Saturday features favorite cowboy and cowgal poets, and cowboy musicians. This year's featured performers include song writer  Mike Blakely, poet Doris Daly and poets Chuck Larsen and Jake Fleming.  Past performers have been Yvonne Hollenbeck, T.J. Casey and Steve Moulton.  The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Encampment School. Tickets are $15 and will be available in advance or at the door.

         Following the evening events informal music and poetry jam sessions will be held by the campfire in Grand View Park. Anyone interested in sharing music or a poem is encouraged to attend.

            On Sunday, events include breakfast from 8:00-10:00 am and cowboy church at 10 a.m. at the museum.   The museum's annual "Living History Days" will also be a feature with a historical program "Celebrating the Slow & Easy Railroad" at the Grand Encampment Museum from noon-5 p.m. A poetry writing workshop presented by Doris Daley will be at 1 p.m.

            Carbon County ranchers have been nominated for the Pioneer Award for their dedication to “The Cowboy Way.” The winner will be announced during the Gathering.

            The Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering is organized by ranchers, musicians, poets and writers living in the area as a way to help preserve and promote ranching and cowboy culture and lifestyle. It is co-sponsored by the Grand Encampment Museum with assistance from the Town of Encampment and Saratoga-Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce. For more information and tickets please call (307) 326-8855 or 327-5389.

                     
Here are some highlights from past years.