Floyd Beard has been a cowboy most of his life. Along the way he’s had many other jobs to support his cow habit. Floyd and his wife Valerie currently run a cow calf operation in the canyons south of Kim, CO.
Floyd began writing poetry while out working his cattle in the 1980’s. He would write down lines and verses about what he experienced while out in the saddle and dealing with his livestock and horses. He would then mold these thoughts into stories and songs when he got back to the house that evening. His poetry is about his own experiences and his observations of the western way of life.
Floyd’s stories are inter-woven with his western code of high ethics and integrity and sprinkled richly with humor. Floyd also recites some cowboy poetry classics, from some of the best cowboy poets from the past, keeping the western spirit and history alive.
He has presented his stories and all around Colorado and many other surrounding states, and as far away as Stoney Plains, Alberta Canada.
Floyd served three years as the President of the Colorado Chapter of the International Western Music Association. Floyd has also been honored to win several cowboy poetry awards which include silver buckles at the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo.
Floyd has also been honored to be named International Western Music Association's Male Cowboy Poet of the Year for 2016 and 2017 and 2021. His latest CD, Short Grass Country was nominated and became a Top Five Finalist for IWMA Poetry CD of the Year, and and was been one the Top 10 Cowboy Poetry CD's played on the radio from its release in 2016 through 2021.
His philosophy is simple: “Life is a journey not a destination, and is best viewed from atop a good horse.”
Honors & Awards
2015 Winner Kansas Cowboy Poetry Contest Alma, KS.
2015 Kansas State Cowboy Poetry Champion Serious Division and Champion Humorous Division.
2021 Kansas CowboyPoetry Contest winner Champion in both humorous and serious categories
2015 Winner of the Columbia River Cowboy Gathering Cowboy Idol Contest-
Kennewick, WA.
2015 Winner of the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo Abilene, KS
2016 National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo- Abilene, KS. First in the Silver Buckle division for Reciter-Humorous and Champion of the Poetry Shootout.
2016 International Western Music Association Cowboy Poetry Contest Winner with his poem The Carlsbad.
2016-2017 President of Western Music Association-Colorado
2016 & 2017 International Western Music Association Male Poet of the Year.
2017 Original poem "Ain't a Hermit," won the Academy of Western Writers “Spur Award”in the Best Western Poem category.
2018,2019,2020,2021 Nominated & Top 5 Finalist for Male Poet of the Year International Western Music Association
2021 International Western Music Association Male Poet of the Year
2021 Poetry CD of the year “Horse Tales and Cow Trails”
2023 International Western Music AssociationMale Poet of the Year
2023 - IWMA Poetry Contest winner with poem Don’t tell me to Cowboy Up
