Poets and Pickers to gather April 13-15 in Chinook
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Ken Blalock, from Wabamum, Alberta, bills himself as "the wandering poet." While attending the Poets and Pickers Western Heritage Roundup in 2014 he brought his "poetry producing equipment" with him. He said "I want to be able to do poetry whenever an idea moves me" so he carries his electronic notebook and printer with him. The idea of a cowboy writing poetry on the back of a paper feed sack may no longer be applicable.
The 24th annual gathering of the Montana Country Poets and Pickers will begin Friday night, April 13, and run through Sunday noon. Organizers say the event will follow its traditional schedule. The Saturday day session is open to performers wishing to try out their poetry and receive feedback from audiences. Sunday morning will be cowboy church. Daytime events will be at the Chinook Motor Inn and evening performances at the Chinook High School auditorium.
The poets nearing their
Silver Anniversary.
Dale Mailand, who has been involved with the poets and pickers for many years, earlier said, "The group organized when several neighbors, interested in poetry, began to meet at the Havre library. We moved to Chinook, after a few years." A few years ago the Chinook High FFA got involved helping promote the event and provide help with logistics during the weekend.
The event draws audiences and performers, poets and musicians, from all over Montana, Canada and surrounding western states. For years the group gathered in early February and turnout was often affected by bad weather. In 2015 the event was moved to mid-April, allowing more people, especially the folks from up north, to make it to the gathering.
Mailand once said of the Western Heritage Roundup, "Ours is not the largest gathering of poets, but Chinook attracts audiences and participants who understand what it means to be self-sufficient. The poets and the audiences get what we are about."
Schedule of events
The evening performances, at the high school auditorium, begin on Friday and Saturday nights at 7pm, with a few musical selections. Then the poets share their works. The musical interludes break up the poetry sessions and audiences also get to hear some local musicians. Musicians typically move to the Motor Inn, after the evening performances, for more music and jam sessions.
There is a charge for the evening performances and most of the proceeds from the weekend go to support Chinook High's local FFA chapter. FFA members help with the logistics of the event throughout the weekend. The two-day event typically raises about $600 for the local FFA chapter.
Saturday morning, at the Chinook Motor Inn at 10am, there will be live music and then poets get a chance to try out their material. Poets show up and organizers work them in to the lineup. There's no charge for the Saturday session and all are welcome to read poetry or listen. The session typically stretches into the afternoon.
Sunday, at 10am, there will be cowboy church at the Motor Inn. About cowboy church, Mailand explained, "Well, like the rest of what we do, it's very causal." All the events are open to the public and everyone is welcome.
Tickets to the evening performances are sold at the door, prices are $10 for adults and kids under 12 are free. There'll also be a 50/50 drawing, with proceeds going to the local FFA chapter. For more details, call Dale Mailand at 353-2383 or Arnold Hokanson, 265-2712.
