Tonkawa ‘Cowboy Poet’ Named Oklahoma’s Poet Laureate

Governor Kevin Stitt has named Tonkawa farmer and rancher Joe Russell Kreger as the state’s poet laureate for the next year.

A self-described “cowboy poet,” Kreger has published two books of poetry as well as audio albums. Kreger said his father introduced him to poetry at a young age.

“Joe’s journey to creative writing shows that it is never too late for new ventures and I look forward to this rancher turned ‘cowboy poet’ carrying on our Oklahoma tradition and promoting his work across the state,” Stitt said.

This is his second term as Oklahoma’s poet laureate. Governor Frank Keating named him to the position in 1997.