Owen Badgett at the Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Cowboy poet and cowman Owen Badgett will appear Friday and Saturday, August 12 & 13, at the Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Western Music Rendezvous in Lewistown, Montana.

Owen Badgett (second from left) and neighbors on his front porch during a branding event at Rawlston Camp in 2005.
The 2011 Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Western Music Rendezvous is headquartered at the Yogo Inn, Lewistown, MT, and runs August 11-14, 2011. For tickets and information, visit http://www.montanacowboypoetrygathering.com, or call 1-800-860-9646 or 406-535-8721.
Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering is dedicated to the celebration and preservation of the history and heritage of the upper Rocky Mountain cowboy beginning in the late 1880’s to the present. Charles M. Russell, in “Trails Plowed Under” had this to say about the Big Sky cowboy: ‘The cowpuncher east of the Rockies originated in Texas and ranged north to the Big Bow. He wasn’t so much for pretty; his saddle was low horn, rimfire, or double-cinch.’
Owen’s books of poetry, and a documentary on Owen, “The Gypsy Cowman”….a Vanishing Breed,” by award-winning producer Linda Lou Crosby, will be for sale at the Cowboy Poetry Gathering. The film premiered at the Lone Pine Film Festival in Lone Pine, California and Miles City, Montana. The documentary is the story of Owen Badgett, often called the “real deal” as a cowman and poet.
“[Badgett] like his father before him, is a “Gyspy Cowman,” a cattleman who runs his cattle on the ranch where he works as part of his wages. Owen’s stories take you to a place where neighbor helps neighbor, a person’s word is his bond, where love of land underlies it all, and honor means everything. As seen in the film, Badgett, a third generation Eastern Montanan with three books of poetry and stories to his credit, is about as cowboy as they come; tough as nails and no-frills but with a heart of gold.” – Lone Pine Film Festival Premiere, 2009
“For my money, it’s the best I’ve ever seen.” Rick Huff at cowboypoetry.com and The Western Way
The DVD and the books are also available through the Camp IOU General Store, amazon.com, or by calling 760-382-1706.