Each year we recognize individuals, duos and groups for the talents in promoting and preserving western music and poetry.
2025 Songwriting Contest winners are:
1st Place: “Light Ranchin’” – written by Kristyn Harris & Randy Huston
2nd Place: “The Ghosts Upon My Back” – written by John Lowell & Joanne Gardner Lowell
3rd Place: “Center of Gravity” – written by Dan McCorison & Miska Paget
Award Sponsored By: Mary Ryland, Sidekick Productions
NOMINEES ARE
Just Keepin' It Ranchy - Ryan Fritz
On the Trail With the Lonesome Pines - Hilary Gardner
Singing To Cows - Chris Guenther
Blessed by the West - Sarah Pierce
Storm on the Mountain - Doug Figgs
Award Sponsored by: IWMA New Mexico Chapter
NOMINEES ARE:
3 Trails West
Jon Chandler
Hot Club of Cowtown
Syd Masters
Riders In The Sky
Award Sponsored By: Chuck Learn
NOMINEES ARE
Jon Chandler
R.W. Hampton
Andy Hedges
Syd Masters
Dan McCorison
Award Sponsored By: Chuck Learn
NOMINEES ARE:
Patty Clayton
Devon Dawson
Kristyn Harris
Mary Kaye Holt
Sarah Pierce
Award Sponsored By Mark Munzert & Kathleen Kelley
NOMINEES ARE:
Aspen Black
Doug Figgs
Ryan Fritz
Chris Guenther
Sarah Pierce
Award Sponsored By: Rik & Audrey Goodell
NOMINEES ARE:
5 AM – Joel Alden White & Randy Palmer
As Cowboy As They Come - Aspen Black
Cowboy’s Legacy – Doug Figgs & Floyd Beard
I Was a Wrangler – Ed Meyer
They Were Cowboys – Doug Figgs
Award Sponsored By: Mary Ryland, Sidekick Productions
NOMINEES ARE:
BLESSED BY THE WEST - written by Randy Palmer, Merel Bregante & Sarah Pierce/performed by Sarah Pierce, Merel Bregante, Randy Palmer & Matthew Cartsonis
COWGIRL FROM ILLINOIS - written by Doug Figgs & Andrea Renfree/performed by Doug Figgs
RANCHER'S PRAYER - written & performed by Joel Alden White
THE HIGHLY EXALTED - written by Darrell Arnold & Lon Hannah/performed by Lon Hannah
WHY HE RIDES - written by Kevin Tuckfield & Nathan Tuckfield/performed by Kevin "Tuck" Tuckfield
Award Sponsored By: Rick & Dawn Heldmann
NOMINEES ARE:
The Arizona Wildflowers
Gone With The West
Kacey & Jenna
The Kristyn Harris Band
Riders In The Sky
Award Sponsored By: Bonnie Rutherford
NOMINEES ARE
Light of the Moon - Lori Beth Brooke
Twilight Blues - Poi Rogers
A Little Western, A Little Swing - Carlos Washington
From the Saddle to Symphony Hall - Dave Alexander
Back Home in the West - The Arizona Wildflowers
Award Sponsored By: Regular Joe Productions
NOMINEES ARE
Gary Allegretto
Lori Beth Brooke
Merna Lewis
Ernie Martinez
Hailey Sandoz
Award Sponsored By: Judy James
NOMINEES ARE:
Floyd Beard
Mike Dunn
Rik "Yonder" Goodell
Mark Munzert
Tom Swearingen
Award Sponsored By: Susie Knight
NOMINEES ARE:
Valerie Beard
Teresa Burleson
Sherl Cederburg
A. K. Moss
Lindy Simmons
Award Sponsored By Tom & Carla Swearingen
NOMINEES ARE:
Cowboyin’ With God – Rik “Yonder”Goodell
Cowcamp Serenade – Duane Nelson
Just Passin’ Through – JJ Steele
Old West Memories – Rocky Sullivan
Thin Clear Air – Danny McCurry
Award Sponsored by: Tom & Carla Swearingen
NOMINEES ARE:
Beauty in Black & White - Sherl Cederburg
Pasture Pastor - Geoff "Poppa Mac" Mackay
Pensive 'n' Playful - Mark Munzert
Ranch Call - Miska Paget
Yonderin' Tales - Rik "Yonder" Goodell
Award Sponsored By: IWMA Columbia Chapter
NOMINEES ARE:
The Arizona Wildflowers
Kailer Hedden
Birdie Nichols
Kaylea Stafford
Caroline Grace Wiseman
1st Place: "Heartbreak Moon"
Written by Tecia McKenna, Micki Fuhrman, Mary Kaye Holt & Merna Lewis
2nd Place: "I'll Rope the Blue Moon"
Written by Jim Jones & Betty Lynne McCarthy
3rd Place: "Half Broke Cavvy of the ZX Range"
Written by Darrell Arnold & Tom Hiatt
Award Sponsored by the Salado Cowboy Poetry Gathering
"Snow on the Wineglass"
John Lowell
Phil Willig
Award Sponsored by Marvin & Theresa O'Dell
Kristyn Harris
Award Sponsored by Marvin & Theresa O'Dell
Patty Clayton
Award Sponsored by Mark Munzert & Kathleen Kelley
John Lowell
Award Sponsored by Janice Brooks
"Drivin' This Herd to the Rail"
written by J. Michael Mullins
Award Sponsored by The Russellers
"Ian and Charlie"
Darrell Arnold & Tom Hiat
Award Sponsored by Diana Raven & Ernie Martinez
3 Trails West
Award Sponsored by Bonnie Rutherford
"Gotta Move"
Hot Texas Swing Band
Award Sposnored by Michael & Judy Muldawer
Hailey Sandoz
Award Sponsored by Chuck & Cindy Learn
Keepers of the West
Doug Figgs & T. Reese Janca
Award Sponsored by Tom & Carla Swearingen
"Real Hands & Treasured Friends"
Miska Paget
Award Sponsored by Tom & Carla Swearingen
"Into the West"
Poppa Mac & Doug Monson
Award Sponsored by the Musgrave Family
Marsha Short
Jim Buchanan
"It's a Crazy Thing"
Tom Swearingen & Randy Palmer
Award Sponsored by Michael & Judy Muldawer
Miss Devon & The Outlaw
Traditional Category: New Someday - Tecia McKenna
Second Place: Old Pard - John Lowell
Gospel Category: What If There's a Heaven - Aspen Black
Second Place: Cleanin' Out My Stable - Devon Dawson, Teresa Burleson, Belinda Gail
Never Cuss the Rain
Lyrics by Darrell Arnold
Music by Tom Hiatt
Barbwire & The Rail - written by Ed Meyer
Last of the Four Sixes Cowboys - written by Allan Chapman & Joel White
Never Cuss the Rain - written by Darrell Arnold & Tom Hiatt
Once I Was a Cowboy - written by Joel White
Way of the Cowboy - written by Randy Huston
Cowboy 'Til I Die - written & performed by Ed Meyer
Ian & Charlie - written by Darrell Arnold & Tom Hiatt & performed by Tom Hiatt
My Wild Norwegian Rose - written by Scott Lambertsen & performed by The Fall River Boys
Never Cuss the Rain - written by Darrell Arnold & Tom Hiatt & performed by Tom Hiatt
The Shelter of the Wildwood - written by Doug Green & performed by Riders In The Sky
Allen & Jill
The Cowboy Way
Kacey & Jenna Thunborg
Miss Devon & The Outlaw
Notable Exceptions
Bunchgrass - Wylie & The Wild West
Roll On, Cowboys - Andy Hedges
Throw a Saddle on a Star - Riders In The Sky
Times Like These - Randy Huston
We Were Cowboys - R.J. Vandygriff
Between The Sun and The Moon – Teresa Burleson
The Girl in the Yellow-Checked Dress – Duane Nelson
No Better Life - Valerie Beard
Proven Up Wise – Rik “Yonder” Goodell
Upon My Horse’s Back – Chris Mortensen
Wisdom in the Wind – Sherl Cederburg