Recorded live at the 2025 Ranch Verse, Joel Nelson returns to Cowboy Crossroads to share stories from his earliest memories of livestock and being horseback. Joel reflects on his time working at the 06 Ranch, the influence of Ray Hunt, horsemanship, and poetry.

This episode was recorded live and sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock. Learn more at www.ranchingheritage.org.

Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com.

Support the podcast and become a Patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads.

Old-time cowboy and fiddler JM Cates was born in 1936. This interview was recorded on August 22nd, just 8 days before his 89th birthday and a little over a month before he passed away on October 2nd. On this episode, JM talks about learning how to work from his father, his early cowboyin' jobs, playing music on ranches and at the Western Cowpunchers Association, and shares cowboy stories and wisdom from a lifetime of experience.

This episode was sponsored by Flint Custom Hats. Check them out online at www.flinthat.com

Thank you to my friends at the Western Cowpunchers Association for arranging this interview. Check them out online at www.westerncowpunchers.com

Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com

Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Cowboy artist Bruce Greene talks about his beginnings as an artist, becoming a member of the Cowboy Artists of America, his artistic influences, his artistic process, and the working cowboy having a oneness with his environment.

Photo by Ben Christensen.

This episode was sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock, Texas. Learn more at www.ranchingheritage.org

Learn more about Bruce Greene at www.brucegreeneart.com

Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com

Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Old-time cowboy singer Skip Gorman talks about his journey into American folk music, attending the Newport Folk Festival as a kid, discovering cowboy music on 78 RPM records, the Celtic roots of cowboy music, the influence of Jimmie Rogers, the music of Jimmie Driftwood, his friendship with Yodeling Slim Clark, the difference between Bluegrass and Cowboy songs, and plays an old-time Texas fiddle tune with host Andy Hedges.

Learn more about Skip Gorman at www.skipgorman.com

Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com

Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

South Dakota poet and ranch wife Yvonne Hollenbeck talks about her fiddle playing father, making quilts, her friendship with Elizabeth Ebert and offers some parting words upon her retirement from the national cowboy poetry stage.

This episode was sponosred by Flint Custom Hats. Learn more at www.flinthat.com

Learn more about Yvonne Hollenbeck at www.yvonnehollenbeck.com

Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com

Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Cowboy, author, and videographer J.B. Zielke, AKA the Lost Cowboy, tells stories about cowboyin' in Australia, Argentina, Sweden, South Africa, Mexico, and Mongolia.

Learn more about J.B. Zielke at www.thelostcowboy.com/

Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com

Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Cowboy poet and rancher Bill Lowman talks about growing up ranching in North Dakota, where his cowboy poetry comes from, the very first Elko gathering, being mistaken for Claude Dallas by the FBI, founding the Dakota Cowboy Poetry Gathering, and shares the poem that got him invited to Elko.

Learn more about Bill Lowman at www.lowmanslodge.com

Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com

Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Fourth generation rancher Craig Haythorn talks about the history of Haythorn Land & Cattle Company, the influence of his father and grandfather, the Nebraska Sandhills, feeding with a team of horses, pulling out the wagon, changes in ranching, and his love for his family.

This episode was sponsored by National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock, Texas. Learn more at www.ranchingheritage.org

Learn more about Craig Haythorn and Haythorn Land & Cattle Co. at www.haythorn.com

Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com

Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Cowboy and fashion photographer Scott Slusher talks about photographing working cowboys, authenticity, staying out of the way, and being in the right place at the right time.

Learn more about Scott Slusher at www.scottslusherphotography.com

Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com

Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads

Arizona cowboy and writer Ed Ashurst tells stories of working with old-time cowboys Whistle Mills and Bill Howell and talks about his experiences on legendary Arizona outfits including the O RO Ranch, the Babbitt Ranch, and the Diamond A Ranch. Recorded onstage in front of a live audience at the 2nd Annual Ranch Verse.

This episode was sponsored by the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock, Texas. Learn more at www.ranchingheritage.org

Learn more about Cowboy Crossroads at www.andyhedges.com

Become a Patron at www.patreon.com/cowboycrossroads