Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering in Sierra Vista, Arizona 

Leaving Manti on the morning of February 1, found me leaving eight inches of snow on the ground and more snow falling as I drove south to hopefully better weather. The event was the Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering in Sierra Vista, Arizona. February 3-5, 2006. The weather did improve as I neared Kanab and from there on it was smooth sailing.

    I arrived in Phoenix for the 5:00pm rush hour and at 6:30pm, I reached the south end of town and decided to call it a day after ten hours of driving. Arriving in Sierra Vista the next day, I met my host family, Bill and Linda Pattison, was taken to lunch after they helped me get signed in and registered. That night everyone involved with the Gathering headed for Tombstone and Big Nose Kate’s Saloon where we all got a turn to take the stage for our favorite poem or song. It went on for three hours and the crowd was great!!

    Several of Utah Poet’s friends were there; Dave Stamey, Mike Dunn, Jim Dunham, with Suzy Killman was looking great and feeling even better. She was singing that weekend with one of her daughters and they sounded wonderful.

    Friday found the “artists” as we were called, in the many school in and surrounding Sierra Vista. Jim Dunham and I teamed up to do three shows in the Apache Middle School. Winners of the youth poetry contests, presented their poem at the Friday and Saturday night performances. Over 2,000 entries were received in the three age groups. There are some very talented kids at the schools in Sierra Vista with very supportive teachers who have make this a part of their poetry curriculum.

    Saturday was host to the “theme sessions” with eight stages going on simultaneously with poets and musicians from all over the West, Canada, Alaska and Australia.

    Each night after the shows, the jam sessions lasted for hours for not only the “artists” , but anyone who wanted to come join in the fun. It was a fun filled weekend and Sierra Vista is the place to visit in February amidst the cold temperatures of Utah. It is only 16 miles from the Mexican boarder with very mild temperatures ranging in the sixties and seventies this year.

    Unfortunately, Sunday came way too fast and I had to leave my host family their dog, Red, and desert turtle (legally kept) Genie! I said goodbye to all my old friends and to the many, many new ones I made over the three days of the gathering. I had a great time and I have pictures to prove it!!!!   - Sam DeLeeuw