Give Cowboy Poetry a try and support the trail

Over the course of the past 11 years, the annual Cowboy Poetry Festival has become a rite of January here in Chickasaw County, and 2017 will be no exception.Cowboy Poetry will be held on Jan. 27-28, with 6 p.m. shows at the Starlite Ballroom ach night and a new matinee performance that will be held at the Chickasaw Event Center from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28.This has become a unique event, thanks in large parts to the efforts of Gerry and Marilee Mishak, who started the event and continue to be a one-couple promotional team second to none.And over the years, Cowboy Poetry has supported a wide variety of causes — ranging from the Friends of Chickasaw County Conservation to the Chickasaw County Veterans Memorial to DOCS for Hope. This year, proceeds will be donated to the TRIBE Trail, which will connect existing trails in Mikkelson Park and the west-side Industrial Park.For those who haven’t attended a Cowboy Poetry and Western Music event, trust us, you will hear some great music and some even-better stories that will give you more than a few chuckles.Tickets are $25 for the evening shows that include a full dinner and $10 for the matinee where desserts will be served. They’re available at all Chickasaw County Banks, as well as Frederika Savings Bank.So our advice is simple: Try something different and attend Cowboy Poetry this year. You’ll have a blast and support a great cause at the ame time.