Today’s Tonkawa tale is a hat tip to our very own real life cowboy and 2021-2022 State Poet Laureate, Joe Kreger. He was born in 1939 and grew up in his hometown of Tonkawa. At an early age, his father introduced him to poetry. He went on to graduate from NOC and continued on to OSU to earn a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s in agricultural education. He became a full-time rancher and entrepreneur. At the age of 56 he began to write poems based on his own life experiences. He has published two books on poetry, ‘Lookin’ at Life’ (which sold out of it’s original printing and is currently out of print) and ’Still Lookin’ as well as several audio albums of his poetry. If you haven’t heard his voice, it’s straight out of a western dream. He has given over 150 readings and presentations across the region and wears the title “The Cowboy Poet”. In an article found at the McCarter Museum he shared his goal. He said this, “My goal is to inspire people, young and old, to appreciate poetry and, if as inclined, to begin writing thoughts, beliefs and experiences that are important in their own lives.”I myself own both copies of his books and they greatly inspire me. I highly recommend you discover his wit and wisdom if you haven’t already done so.Thank you, Joe Kreger! We are sure proud to call you one of our own.
