Photo by Denise Ritchie
Lest you think real men don’t like poetry, think again. Indian River County still has its share of real cowmen, and dozens of them – more than a few sporting mustaches that put Sam Elliott’s to shame – donned their Sunday-best hats and boots and moseyed over to the Heritage Center for the ninth annual Poetry and BBQ fundraiser to benefit the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation.
The three featured poets for this year’s Cowboy Poetry readings were wrangled by Vero’s own cattleman, artist and Poet Laureate, Sean Sexton. Although Sexton had lassoed the trio in Elko, Nev., where they headlined the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Joel Nelson and Andy Hedges hail from Texas and Randy Rieman resides in Montana.
“Pretty soon this is going to be the Elko of the East,” said emcee James Johnson, a member of the LRJF Porch Poets, welcoming the sellout crowd. Johnson explained that the nonprofit Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation exists to nurture a passion for writing, supporting writers of all ages and all genres.
Prior to the featured poets, Teen Fellow Awards were presented to select students from the Teen Writing Workshops, and members of the LRJF Porch Poets and the Tuesday Writing Group bravely took the stage to each read their own poetry. Sexton also brought two much-admired native sons to the stage – cowboy poet Will Barker and storyteller Charlie Sembler.
“Whatever I do I kind of like to write about it,” said Barker in his soft drawl, before launching into “A Day Working Cattle.”
Sembler said his writings were compiled from thousands of notes jotted down in the course of many interactions with local ranchers, farmers and fishermen over the years, before reading “Day Work,” based on a day in the life of a Florida cowman.
Robin Blanton told the audience that the foundation’s fundraising efforts will “help move Laura’s historic home about 12 miles,” before explaining ways that people could help fund that mileage through donations and by bidding on the silent auction and other items.
The Florida cracker-style home that the esteemed 20th century American poet lived in with husband Schuyler B. Jackson is being relocated from its current location on the grounds of the Environmental Learning Center to the campus of Indian River State College. Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation supporters hope to raise roughly $500,000 to relocate and preserve the integrity of the home through its Let’s Move It Capital Campaign.
Introducing the headliners, Sexton said, “I met all of them at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering; I’ve listened to all of them, and handpicked them for you. And, by gosh, they all agreed to come.”
With a rumbling voice like distant thunder on the plains, well-respected poet and reciter Joel Nelson started things off, followed by guitarist, reciter and storyteller Andy Hedges, and longtime master reciter Randy Rieman. The three proceeded to enthrall the crowd with humorous and emotive poetry and songs about the lives and loves of a cowboy – their wives, their fellow cowhands and their most steadfast companion, the horse.
“We just want to thank Sean for taking a chance on bringing our community into your community,” said Rieman.
Judging from the reaction of the crowd, as they chatted with friends and chowed down on a delicious BBQ lunch, they would be warmly welcomed back any time.
For more information, visit lauraridingjackson.org.
Photos by: Denise Ritchie
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