She traded microscopes for morning light,  Forty‑six years riding love into a rancher’s life.  Once a biologist charting secrets too small to see,  Now a cowgirl poet with a voice wide as the prairie.  From Manhattan’s hills to the far‑flung range,  Betty Burlingham’s stories never stay tame.  So settle in close—today her words take the reins,  And carry us across Kansas on the sure‑footed plains.  

Immediately following our annual meeting (2-2:30), come listen to a program of Cowboy Poetry by Betty Burlingham.

Cowboy poetry is a unique and celebrate form of American verse that emerged from the cultural experiences of ranch workers in the West.

Betty Burlingham, a molecular biologist by trade, gave it up unexpectedly for love and ranching 46 years ago, and has owned ranched in KS and NC. She's been writing and sharing poetry about her amazing and everyday experiences for 14 years, most recently on a trip to the Amazon.

Betty is a two-time winner of the Kansas Cowboy Poetry Content and was named 2026 Champion Cowgirl Poet at the Crossroads Gathering Oklahoma.