Callaway native Natalie G’Schwind is a free-verse poet. Free verse is an open form of poetry, which does not use consistent meter patterns, rhyme, or any musical pattern. Rather, it tends to follow the rhythm of natural speech.

Natalie loves to share poetry about the Sandhills of Nebraska, her home place, horses, and just the love of ranching.

She recently had the opportunity to perform with many talents from across the nation who share her passion at the National Cowboy Gathering in Elko, Nevada. The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is America’s quintessential event honoring the western cowboy.

The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is produced every year in Elko by the Western Folklife Center, whose mission is to present and preserve the traditional and contemporary arts of the American West.

The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering website describes their annual event as follows: “It's a chance to engage with the substance, nuance, and soul of what it means to “cowboy,” whether you're a cowboy or not. And, while there are as many ways to “be” cowboy as there are cowboys, one thing we can say—to be a cowboy is to be human. No matter who you are, you'll find humanity at the Gathering.”

The Gathering typically attracts about 6,000 people each year. This year nearly 18,000 poems were entered in the competition representing 103 nations and more than 8,000 poets.

Natalie has shared her poetry on Facebook many times and has caught the eye of another female poet named Betty McCarthy. Betty was a key person who started the National Cowboy Gathering in Elko in 1985.

Betty nominated Natalie to receive the Della Johns Scholarship, which paid for Natalie’s trip to Elko.

Natalie is a Rangeland Manager of the grassland in the National Forrest of Halsey, McKelvie Nebraska. She also has ownership in her family ranch near Callaway.