Natalie G’Schwind has been writing poetry for as long as she can remember. “I didn't realize it was poetry until I took a writing class in college and heard a poet reading his work. I realized his poems were not much different than the words I've been writing,” G’Schwind shared.

A graduate of Callaway High School, G’Schwind went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Rangeland Management from Chadron State College. Born and raised in Callaway, she now lives in Halsey, but says she goes back often to help on the family ranch.

Along with writing poetry, G’Schwind also thoroughly enjoys reading her work for others. Nebraska Poet Jewel Rodgers recently visited Custer County and made a special announcement that G’Schwind has been selected to attend the Poetry International Festival in Rotterdam in 2026.

“Natalie was chosen because she gave a wonderful reading,” Rodgers shared in an interview with Custer County Chief Publisher Donnis Hueftle-Bullock. “I felt her work was beautiful, and it seems other folks do too, since her recent collection has received an award. I also have an expressed interest in supporting and elevating writers across our state, especially those in relatively underrepresented communities outside of Lincoln and Omaha.”

According to Hueftle-Bullock, Rodgers went on to talk about how G’Schwind uses her writing to bring visibility to the importance of her culture and experiences on the ranch, as well as some of the practices that are at risk of being forgotten or left behind as our world continues to modernize.

cont. PAGE 3: Local Poet “I think what she writes about is important in the representation of her community. By nature, her work is inherently archival. As a self-described cowboy poet, I think Natalie is playing an important role in cultural preservation and representation in her community,” Rodgers stated. “I also believe her voice being amplified will have ripple effects for others like her, and for those listening to her work.”

G’Schwind has made her works available through two books she has published. “Putting together a collection of poetry is an art of itself and much more challenging than writing poetry in my opinion,” she said. “Figuring out where to place each poem and what poems to include takes quite a bit of time and thought. I have to have enough poems with common themes to create a complete collection. So far, the common themes have naturally come together. I rarely write a poem with a theme in mind, but let the theme come through organically in the first draft and build from there.”

G’Schwind has self-published both of her books and said she did so because, “It seems simpler and faster than traditional publishing routes.”

“I never thought my poetry would ever be heard, especially by people around the world,” G’Schwind shared. “It's an honor to represent our ranching and western culture at the International Poetry Festival.”

She will also be attending the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada, at the end of January. This will be G’Schwind’s second time attending the gathering, and she will be joined by a handful of fellow Nebraskan poets, including RP Smith and Caleb Smith, both of Broken Bow, and Jake Riley from Kearney.

When not pursuing her passion for writing, G’Schwind is busy with another passion in her real job, as Rangeland Management Specialist at the Bessey Ranger District.

“I knew I wanted to do something in agriculture and didn't realize this was a career until I attended Chadron,” she explained when asked how she got into that field. “I grew up very involved with the family ranch and farm. My passion for cattle was very apparent, but looking back, I always enjoyed learning about plants also. It was just less obvious.”

“Another way to describe my career is grassland ecology,” G’Schwind continued. “My job is to manage cattle grazing to help maintain healthy grasslands that promote wildlife habitat and recreational use, all while supporting local ranches. I spend a lot of time driving around the hills looking at and collecting data on plants and grassland conditions. I really enjoy my career, and it shows up often in my poetry through specific plant imagery. The setting of almost all my poems is the grasslands.”

While in Rotterdam, G’Schwind will see various sites and likely read at a few open mics while experiencing the culture and neighborhood. The trip is still being planned, but will likely be 5–7 days.

“My hope for her, and for these trips in general, is to expand her and our artistic horizons. I want her to be inspired, and I want that inspiration to shape and influence her ‘next move’ as she continues to build her career,” Rodgers shared with Hueftle-Bullock. “I want her to develop an expanded perception of what is possible for her. I’m hoping that poetry will show up for her in ways she didn’t even know were possible. That, too, is what I hope for myself.”

There will be a chance for the local communities to hear G’Schwind perform her poetry at a fundraiser “Coffee and Dessert” Bar on Sunday, Feb. 8. The fundraiser will be held at the Callaway Senior Center from 2-4 p.m. with G’Schwind sharing a reading at 3 p.m.