The Iron Door Playhouse once again hosted the talents of Idaho Cowboy Poets and International Western Music members, as they presented the audience with a range of topics and approaches on the subject of life in the west.

Talents at this year’s event included Brian Arnold, Zach Martinez, Shawn Green, John Reekie, JB Barber, Gordon Champneys, John Sidle, Brian Dilworth, Terry Fuhriman, Dave Anderson, Thatch Elmer, Ken Wellard, Bobbie Hunter, Chris Mortenseon, Orel Elser, Bob Jackson, Bob Urry, Ty Liddle, Kathy Smith, Dakota Holdaway, and the music of Saddle Strings, Many Strings, and the Sawtooth Mountain Boys.

As with years past, the weekend was a fun time with a solid mix of patriotism, humor, whimsy, philosophy, autobiography, and occasional dad jokes.  Many of the poets took turns for the quieter and more contemplative, as they considered loss both personally and with regard to the cowboy way of life.  The sacrifices of service members, the difficulties of maintaining a marriage and family under the strain of farming and ranching, the changes to the American landscape, and the joys that represent the flip sides of those things were all front and center as each new poet represented a fresh take on the topics at hand.  And even if a particular issue had been written on plenty in the past, the artists found ways to make their takes surprising and welcome.

Malad is part of the great Western tradition in song and story, and this continues to be a marquee event. 

The Event was sponsored by a number of businesses and organizations, including the American Legion, Ernest W.  Jones Post 65, who presented the colors to open the festivities.  Other sponsors include Kay and Gene Caldwell, J Peak Propane, Ward’s Ace and Country Store, Millstream Custom Cutting, Malad Plumbing Repair, Bamma Wamma’s, Jeni Aiken (IFA), Hess NAPA, Hess Auto, Nell J Redfield Memorial Hospital, Malad Drive-In, the Idaho Enterprise, ATC, Scott’s Tax Service, City of Malad, RACOON club, Oneida Family Dental, Mountain Valley Realty, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, the Oneida County Library, Just for Fun Toys, Western Fabrication, Mollies Café (Snowville), Roche Financial Group, IronDoor Smokehouse, Ron Keller Tire, Vickers, Sinclair Central Service, K.C. Mini Mart & RV Park, Edith’s Collective, Physical Therapy Solutions, Malad Dental Clinic, Thomas Electric, Singing Wolf Art Gallery, Thomas Market, Allen Drug, Arrowhead Tree Service, Hess Lumber, The Malad Valley Welsh Festival, Robbins Locksmith, Ireland Bank, Your Mom’s Coffee, the Malad Chamber of Commerce, On the Run.