Joe Kreger Explained

Joe Russel Kreger (born 1939 in Tonkawa, Oklahoma)^[1] served twice as poet laureate of the American state of Oklahoma.^[2] He was previously appointed in 1998 after the death of Betty Shipley,^[3] and reappointed in 2021. Kreger was the first poet laureate of the state to be considered primarily a "cowboy poet,", preceding Eddie Wilcoxen (2011–2012) and Jay Snider (2023-2024). Born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, Kreger has spent most of his life as a rancher.^{[4] [5]}

His poems have been published as Lookin' at Life (1997, Innovative Broadcast Corp) and Still Lookin' (2000, Doane Agricultural Service).^{[6] [7]}

Early life

Joe Kreger was born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. His father was a medical doctor who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Kreger earned a bachelor's degree in animal science in 1961 and a master's in agricultural education in 1968 from Oklahoma State University.^[8] He served in the U.S. Army Reserves, worked for Redbud Hereford Ranch, taught at Northern Oklahoma College, and then founded his own ranch, Kreger Ranch.

Works

Collections

• Lookin' at Life Innovative Broadcast Corp. 1997.
• Still Lookin' Doane Agricultural Service. 2000.

Publications

The High Plains Journal has published numerous poems by Kreger:^[9]

• Kreger, Joe, "The Road Still Runs Both Ways" High Plains Journal, December 3, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Neighborin'" High Plains Journal, November 19, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Labels" High Plains Journal, November 5, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Headgear" High Plains Journal, October 15, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Grandpa’s Barn" High Plains Journal, October 1, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "In the Winds" High Plains Journal, September 17, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Workin' Slow" High Plains Journal, September 3, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Investing" High Plains Journal, August 20, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Maturity" High Plains Journal, August 6, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Roy" High Plains Journal, July 16, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Jackrabbits" High Plains Journal, July 2, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "A People Living Free" High Plains Journal, June 18, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "The Race" High Plains Journal, June 4, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Fifty-six" High Plains Journal, May 21, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Switchin' Positions" High Plains Journal, (S.P.) May 7, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Pet?" High Plains Journal, April 16, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "His Time" High Plains Journal, April 2, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "That Little Hometown Cafe" High Plains Journal, March 19, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Calvin'" High Plains Journal, Time March 5, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Food" High Plains Journal, February 19, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Ice Storm" High Plains Journal, February 5, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Cold Back" High Plains Journal, January 15, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Grandpa’s Barn" High Plains Journal, January 1, 2018.
• Kreger, Joe, "Cows don't know it's Christmas" High Plains Journal, December 18, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "When Bud left home" High Plains Journal, December 4, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "Try" High Plains Journal, November 20, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "The Wall" High Plains Journal, November 6, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "Walkin’ Home" High Plains Journal, October 16, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "Checkin’ Heats" High Plains Journal, October 2, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "The Seat of Wisdom" High Plains Journal, September 18, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "Death Loss" High Plains Journal, September 4, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "The Overcomer" High Plains Journal, August 21, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "The Lowly Sandbur" High Plains Journal, August 7, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "The Donkey and Me" High Plains Journal, July 17, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "That Gremlin in My Shed" High Plains Journal, July 3, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "The Cowboy Hall of Fame" High Plains Journal, June 19, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "Small Pleasures" High Plains Journal, June 5, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "The City" High Plains Journal, May 15, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "Sellin' Out" High Plains Journal, April 25, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "Shoppin' Trip" High Plains Journal, April 17, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "Sarah’s Babies" High Plains Journal, April 3, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "Second Thoughts" High Plains Journal, March 20, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "Gettin’ Away" High Plains Journal, March 6, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "Elementary Education" High Plains Journal, February 20, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "Options" High Plains Journal, February 6, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "The Gift of Light" High Plains Journal, January 10, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "The Epitaph" High Plains Journal, January 2, 2017.
• Kreger, Joe, "The Drifter" High Plains Journal, December 19, 2016.
• Kreger, Joe, "Speed" High Plains Journal, December 5, 2016.
• Kreger, Joe, "Smooth Mouthed" High Plains Journal, November 21, 2016.
• Kreger, Joe, "In My Mind’s Eye" High Plains Journal, November 15, 2016.

See also

• Poets Laureate of Oklahoma

Notes and References

1. News: Browne . Archibalde . Oklahoma poet laureate Joe Kreger reflects on his life as a 'cowboy poet' . 24 July 2022 . NonDoc . 2 June 2021.
2. News: Martin . Brandon . Joe Kreger named Oklahoma State Poet Laureate . 19 June 2021 . KOKH . 22 April 2021.
3. Book: Holliday, Shawn. The Oklahoma Poets Laureate: A Soucebook, History, and Anthology. Mongrel Empire Press. 2015. 9780990320432. Norman, OK. 202.
4. Web site: Cowboy Poetry . Kreger Ranch . 3 August 2019.
5. Web site: Root . Ken . Joe Kreger: My most unforgettable character . 30 May 2017 . Iowa Agribusiness . 3 August 2019.
6. Web site: Catalogue records . WorldCat . 3 August 2019.
7. News: Burke . Mack . Joe Russell Kreger is Oklahoma's poet laureate again . 24 July 2022 . Oklahoma State University . 25 August 2021.
8. Web site: Joe Kreger . Spears School of Business . November 2014 . 25 August 2019.
9. Web site: Cowboy Poetry by Joe Kreger . High Plains Journal . 24 July 2022.