The Third Annual Cowboy Christmas Poetry Gathering at the Rooks County Historical Society and Museum's Western Kansas Reading Room will take place this Sunday, December 7th, at 2:00 p.m. This year's Gathering, sponsored by the Friends of Cottonwood Ranch, will include a host of cowboy poets, including Betty Burlingham, as well as the cowboy balladeer Zerf.

Betty Burlingham has owned ranches for forty-five years in both Kansas and North Carolina. She writes poetry about everyday ranching experiences and is the 2024 Champion of the Kansas Cowboy Poetry Contest in both the serious and humorous categories.

She shares her verse with audiences of all ages and has performed at the Kansas State Fair, festivals, and other community events. Betty believes sharing cowboy poetry is a great way to promote and celebrate Kansas ranching culture and history.

Zerf is a singer/songwriter and a Manhattan, Kansas, native. His repertoire consists of Kansas cowboy and pioneer tunes, and original songs of Kansas frontier towns and characters. The original Kansas Cowboy Minstrel, Zerf, scours the Plains for the native strains of the Kansas frontier. Zerf claims, 'Singing these songs has sent me down fascinating trails rich in geography and characters of this place, this Kansas.'

The Gathering is a free-will donation event with a silent auction to benefit the Rooks County Historical Society and Museum. It will be held at the Rooks County Historical Society's Museum Campus located at 921 South Cedar St., Stockton, Kansas. Refreshments will be served.

Plus, enjoy the annual holiday “Show and Stroll” through the Museum's Christmas Tree Galleries.

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