Valerie is a rancher's wife, teacher, writer, crew cook, quilter and reader.  She and her husband, cowboy poet Floyd Beard, live in a remote area in Southeast Colorado and run Corriente cattle with their daughter and son-in-law. They keep a few Border Collies around to stay humble.  She has appeared at many Gatherings across the West including the Arizona Cowboy Poetry Gathering, the Cimarron Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering, and the Western Slope Gathering.  In 2015 she won the Novice Division of the Western Wordsmith Poetry Contest with her first poem, "No Better Life".  Valerie was a top five finalist for IWMA Female Poet of the Year in 2019 and 2021.

Talents: Poet

Awards:

• 2023 Cowboy Poetry CD of the Year
• 2023 Female Poet of the Year
• 2022 Female Poet of the Year
• 2021 Western Wordsmith's Special Achievement Award

Nominations:

• 2023 Cowboy Poetry CD of the Year Nominee
• 2022 Cowboy Poetry CD of the Year Nominee
• 2022 Female Poet of the Year Nominee
• 2021 Female Poet of the Year Nominee
• 2019 Female Poet of the Year Nominee
• 0000 Female Poet of the Year Nominee