The Poet Lariat of the Plains: A Sketch of Mr. Ron Wilson

A Voice from the Flint Hills

In the heart of our nation, where the vast landscape unfolds into the rolling Flint Hills of Kansas, lies a piece of land that embodies the character of the American West. This is the Lazy T Ranch, a world apart from the stoplights and strip malls of nearby Manhattan—a sanctuary where the deep cerulean sky stretches cloudless over the golden grasses of winter, giving way to the vibrant greens that follow the spring prairie fires. Here, on land distinguished by its original prairie sod, which has never felt the bite of a plow, the Wilson family has practiced agriculture and animal husbandry for three generations, stewarding a legacy that is both timeless and profoundly American.
From this crucible of labor, land, and lineage emerges Mr. Ron Wilson—a man who is both a product of this ancient landscape and a contemporary champion of its virtues. The Lazy T Ranch is more than just his home; it is the wellspring of his philosophy and art. The cyclical drama of the prairie, where controlled burns clear away the old to make way for astonishingly swift renewal, serves as a hopeful metaphor for life itself. This lesson in resilience, learned not in a classroom but from the earth, has instilled in Mr. Wilson a spirit of fortitude and optimism. His voice carries the stories, humor, and enduring values of the Kansas plains to the nation and the world. He is a rancher, a public servant, a historian, and, most uniquely, the officially proclaimed Poet Lariat of his native state.

The Making of a Kansas Man: From Furrow to Forum

The character of a man is often a reflection of the experiences that shape him, and Mr. Wilson’s life is a testament to this truth. He inherits a tradition passed down through generations on both sides of his family, forming a direct link in a chain of American agrarians. He grew up on the Lazy T, where the rhythms of life were dictated by the needs of the land and its creatures. The family raised not only cattle and horses but also wheat, corn, and milo. In this diverse enterprise, young Ron received a practical education in the various duties of a Westerner. This experience taught him diligence, self-reliance, and the profound responsibility of caring for livestock and land.
From an early age, it was evident that Mr. Wilson possessed a capacity for leadership that extended beyond the ranch gate. His peers in youth agricultural organizations, such as 4-H and FFA, recognized his talents, elevating him to the positions of Kansas FFA president and, later, national vice-president of the FFA. His early promise was fulfilled through formal education at Kansas State University. Instead of seeking an escape from his rural origins, he pursued a deeper understanding of them and a more powerful means to serve them. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education, solidifying his expertise in the world that raised him, and later pursued a Master’s degree in Mass Communications. This deliberate combination of studies reveals a young man of remarkable foresight. He was not merely learning a trade; he was building an arsenal of skills, mastering both the substance of the agricultural world and the modern arts of persuasion and public speaking necessary to become its ambassador.

A Season of Service on the Potomac

Like the noble figures of our republic’s past who left their farms to serve the common good, Mr. Wilson answered a call to public service that took him from the open spaces of Kansas to the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. For more than six years, he served as a legislative assistant and staff member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. In the nation’s capital, his focus remained steadfastly on the farmers and ranchers whose lives he understood so intimately, bringing the practical wisdom of the plains to the complex work of federal legislation.
Even amidst the political contests of Washington, Mr. Wilson’s characteristic Western instinct for community-building emerged. He recalled that “the agriculture community in Washington was a family,” reflecting his innate tendency to find common ground and foster cooperation. After his time in federal service, he returned to his home state, first serving as vice president of the Farm Credit Bank of Wichita, and later, in 1990, as the director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University. This homecoming was not a retreat but a rededication to the people and places that shaped him. However, his time in the capital was not merely a diversion; the procedural and political knowledge he acquired there would prove indispensable for his later work, equipping him with a unique ability to navigate the halls of Congress in pursuit of important historical and cultural causes.

The Muse in Cowboy Boots: Anointment of a "Poet Lariat"

A man's true calling often reveals itself not through careful planning but by a stroke of serendipity. For Mr. Wilson, the poetic muse arrived fittingly at a rural development meeting in Colorado. The evening's entertainment featured a cowboy poet, and in the performance's blend of humor, rhyme, and authentic Western experience, something was ignited. Mr. Wilson decided to try his own hand at the craft, and soon his verses, inspired by life on the ranch, began to find an appreciative audience.
His talent was so genuine, and his voice so representative of the spirit of his state, that in 2003, then-Kansas Governor Bill Graves issued a remarkable proclamation. He officially named Ron Wilson the state’s “Poet Lariat.” The choice of title is a stroke of American genius. The traditional honor, “Poet Laureate,” stems from the traditions of ancient Greece and the royal courts of Europe, where it is an honorific bestowed with a crown of laurel. 

However, a lariat is a tool—a rope essential to a cowboy’s daily work and a symbol of his skill and connection to the animals he manages. By substituting “Lariat” for “Laureate,” both the governor and Mr. Wilson performed a masterful act of cultural translation. They reclaimed a formal, elite honor and reframed it in the practical, democratic vernacular of the American West. The title itself serves as a mission statement, declaring that the folk art of the working man is worthy of the highest recognition but on its own terms. The wisdom of this appointment was quickly confirmed when, in that same year, Mr. Wilson won first place at the Kansas Cowboy Symposium in Dodge City.

The Lariat's Art: Verse that Captures the Cowboy Soul

The power of Mr. Wilson’s poetry lies in its profound authenticity and direct appeal to the heart. It is a performance art, meant to be spoken aloud, often in full costume, connecting the performer with the audience for an immediate response. His verses adhere to traditional forms of rhyme and meter, making them accessible, memorable, and perfect for sharing around a bonfire or from a festival stage. The poetry is described as fun, family-oriented, and patriotic, resonating with everyone who appreciates the values of rural life. Through his work, Mr. Wilson captures "the authentic life of a rancher or cowboy," expressing it in a creative way that allows audiences to reflect on both the humorous and heartfelt situations of that life.
His themes are drawn from his own experiences. In one of his most poignant poems, he recounts the life and death of his beloved stock dog, Bonnie. The poem traces her journey from a pup, a gift from his wife, to a loyal and indispensable partner on the ranch. He details her intelligence, her herding instinct, and her simple joy in riding in his truck. The poem concludes with her tragic death in the line of duty, killed by a bull she was helping to pen. The cowboy’s raw grief—“I must admit I cried”—serves as a powerful testament to the deep bond between a man and the animals that share his labor and life. It is a tale of loyalty unto death that resonates with universal emotions.
Mr. Wilson’s poetry also serves as a form of historical preservation. His poems “Wind and Water” and “The Draft Horse” are reverent odes to the humble yet vital forces that facilitated the settlement of the plains. He honors the windmill as a “godsend” and a “sentinel of the plains,” which harnessed the wind to provide life-giving water where none was readily available. He pays tribute to the “mighty draft horse,” the “strong and gentle giant” whose massive feet and shoulders pulled the plows and wagons that contributed to the growth of our nation. Through these works, his lariat of rhyme gathers and preserves the memory of tools and creatures that might otherwise be forgotten in our age of engines and electricity.

Nowhere is his purpose clearer than in his poem titled “Kansas.” It is a sweeping anthem that traces the state’s legacy from the Native Americans who hunted buffalo, through the explorers and cavalrymen, to the legendary cattle drives along the Chisholm Trail. The poem culminates in a celebration of the enduring “cowboy spirit” that he writes “in the heart of a Kansan... lives on.” A set of core virtues defines this spirit: “They work hard and play hard, are honest and free / Values that matter to you and to me.” This is poetry with a distinct moral purpose: to identify, celebrate, and convey the foundational values of his community.

This didactic quality is also evident in his poem “Cowboy Up,” composed after a fire destroyed a machine shed on his ranch. As he comforts his tearful daughter, he transforms the personal disaster into a universal lesson on resilience and character. He tells her to “turn a negative into a positive and make some lemonade,” reminding her that material possessions are transient: “Things are still just things; they’re not the people that we love.” In this way, Mr. Wilson’s art aligns with the great 19th-century literary tradition of providing not just entertainment, but moral instruction and models for a virtuous life.

A Steward of the Western Legacy

While Mr. Wilson's poetry may be his most distinctive contribution, it represents just one aspect of a life dedicated to preserving and promoting the American West. He is both a man of action and a man of letters, embodying the spirit of a modern frontiersman who uses his diverse talents to strengthen the communities he cherishes. As the director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development, he has emerged as a leading voice advocating for the vitality of small-town Kansas. Through his weekly radio program and news column, “Kansas Profile,” he has produced over 1,000 features highlighting the state’s unsung heroes—innovative entrepreneurs, or “ruralpreneurs,” and community leaders who are the backbone of the heartland.
However, his most ambitious project carries national historical significance. Guided by his passion for history and expertise in federal legislation, Mr. Wilson is at the forefront of the effort to have the historic Chisholm and Western Trails designated as National Historic Trails. Achieving this designation requires an act of Congress, a formidable challenge for which his experience in Washington uniquely equips him. His work with the International Chisholm Trail Association is driven by two core principles: the preservation of the history of these vital routes of the American West and the protection of the private property rights of modern landowners along these trails. This dual focus encapsulates his entire career—fostering a deep respect for the past while maintaining a practical commitment to present-day needs.