The Cowboys are coming to Green Forest, Arkansas...... An exciting line-up of nationally-known cowboy entertainers, a cowboy poet talent contest, a western-themed trade show, and cowboy church are all on the schedule on May 8-9, 2010, for the first-ever Green Forest Cowboy Poet Gathering and Trade Show in Green Forest, Arkansas. Headline entertainer shows will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Green Forest Livestock Arena. Featured performers include Glenn Ohrlin, one of America's best-loved cowboy musicians and storytellers. Featured performers include Glen Ohrlin, one of America's best-loved cowboy musicians and storytellers) (at right , and Steven Spalding, a nationally-known cowboy and country gospel recording artist (on the right.) Performers will also include Francine Robison, Oklahoma's Cowboy Poet Laureate from Tecumseh, Oklahoma; Phil Rexwinkle, a working cowboy and poet from Welch, Oklahoma; and Jerry Schleicher, a country humorist and cowboy poet from Parkville, Missouri. The show will also feature a top finisher from the Texas Crossroads Cowboy Poetry Gathering competition, scheduled for Feb. 5-6 in Van Horn, Texas. At 8:30 p.m., following the final headline show, the Loree Blackburn Steakhouse Band will perform in the Livestock Arena. Events kick off from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on May 8 with a Cowboy Poet Talent Contest on the stage of the Cattlemen's Steakhouse. An open mic contest open to all comers will also be held on the Cattlemen's Steakhouse stage from 3:15 to 5:00 p.m. The talent contest will be judged by cowboy entertainers, while the open mic competition will be judged by a team of local cowboys. Top finishers in each event will win a custom-inscribed belt buckle, with ribbons awarded for second and third place. After lunch, the winners of a youth cowboy poetry contest will also be recognized with ribbons and certificates. A cowboy trade show offering western-themed horse and cowboy gear, tack, leather goods, western apparel, and western and American Indian jewelry, will be set up in the parking lot of the Green River Sale Barn, and will be open to the public from noon Friday through noon Sunday, May 9. The event will conclude with Cowboy Church in the Green Forest Livestock Arena on Sunday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.  Pastor Billy Williams will deliver the message, with music performed by Pastor Steven Spalding and Loree Blackburn. For more information, contact Steven Spalding at 417-532-6470 or Pastor Billy Williams at  or Jerry Schleicher at 816-741-2773