Our History

 For the past twenty years people from all over the country and beyond have met in Elko, Nevada each January for the four day National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. The event draws over 8,000 people and generates in excess of $7.5 million. The Spirit of the West Cowboy Gathering is now an annual three-day event staged in Ellensburg, Washington, and modeled after the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko. Over 70% of our attendance traveled from out of the area, with a full 1/3 from the Puget Sound Region.
 The Spirit of the West Cowboy Gathering came to the Northwest for the first time in February of 2005. The event brought some of the best traditional cowboy musicians, poets, and artists together along with a Gear Show, Workshops, and dances that incorporated the entire Historic Downtown of Ellensburg.

Ellensburg
 With The Spirit of the West Cowboy Gathering, Ellensburg is continuing its rich tradition of attracting major events, such as the nationally ranked Ellensburg Rodeo, The National Art Show (second only to Cheyenne), Jazz in the Valley (a huge mid summer success), and now The Spirit of the West.
 Each year we attract over 4,000 visitors to hear worldly known entertainers like: Don Edwards, Waddie Mitchell, Sons of the San Joaquin, Wylie and the Wild West, Cowboy Celtic and many more national and local entertainers. Ellensburg continues to be a popular destination city. And like Elko, The Spirit of the West Cowboy Gathering is drawing attention from beyond our region, bringing old west aficionados and new devotees from Oregon, Montana, Idaho, California, and British Columbia, and as far away as Maine, to name a few.

Our marketing efforts include:

• 15,000 direct mailings
• 250,000 website hits – www.acowboygathering.org
• Advertisements in prestigious magazines such as Cowboys and Indians and Western Horseman
• Advertisements in newspapers such as The Yakima Herald, The Daily Record, The Washington Post
• Advertisement in radio including KMPS (Seattle), KXLE (Ellensburg), KPQ (Wenatchee), and KVLR (Winthrop)
• Inclusion in the Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce Directory, and the Daily Record’s “Four Seasons” (seasonally produced and updated with upcoming events)

 The marketing mentioned above, along with the growing interest in all things “old west”, also resulted in numerous feature articles and editorials in the Yakima Herald, Daily Record, and Capital Press.

 The Spirit of the West Cowboy Gathering would like you to consider becoming a Sponsor of our event for 2007. Your financial participation is instrumental in continuing our mission of honoring the traditions, history and heritage of the old west in a proven and authentic western environment.

 The success and future of The Spirit of the West Cowboy Gathering is brought about through our world-class entertainers, visitors, our community, and generous sponsors such as yourself.