Will Rogers Medallion Awards announce 2026 gold medal winners

The Will Rogers Medallion Awards named its 2026 gold medallion recipients at a banquet in Tulsa, recognizing Western books, films, music, poetry and illustration across more than 30 categories. The competition drew entries from 25 states and three countries, and the 2027 contest opened Nov. 1.

Why it matters: - The awards spotlight the breadth of Western storytelling across literature, film, music, poetry and illustration. - The 2026 winners reflect how Western subjects continue to reach adult, teen and children’s audiences. - The program also highlights creators helping preserve the history and heritage of the American West.

What happened: - The Will Rogers Medallion Awards announced its 2026 gold medallion recipients during the annual awards banquet at Tulsa’s River Spirit Casino Resort. - Entries came from 25 states and three countries. - More than 30 categories recognized work for adults, teenagers and children. - Bruce Boxleitner and Barry Corbin received the WRMA Lifetime Achievement Award. - Clint Black received the Golden Lariat Award. - Greg White was named WRMA Illustrator of the Year.

The details: - Chris Enss won Western Biography/Memoir for The Sharpshooter and the Showman: May Lillie, Pawnee Bill, and their Wild West Show, published by FarCountry Press. - Mark Bedor won Western Film/Documentary Short Form for Today’s Wild West, Episode 704 Western Creativity in the Spotlight, from Today’s Wild West LLC. - Jonathan Parker won Western Film/Documentary Long Form for Little House Homecoming, produced by Prairie Girls Films, LLC. - Will Ilgen won Western Film/Drama Short for Elkhorn 208: War, from INSP Network. - Carlyle Eubank won Western Film/Drama Feature for Broke, from Wild West Productions. - Manuela Schneider won the Maverick Film award for The Seamstress, from Lone Rider Productions. - Jennifer Rogers and Randall Reeder won Maverick Book for Common Horse Sense from Will Rogers, published by Tremendous Leadership. - Reavis Z. Wortham won Western Humor for “Directions,” published in Saddlebag Dispatches magazine. - Andrew Roth won Western Inspirational for Crossing Paths, from Elk Lake Publishing, Inc. - Craig Johnson won Western Mystery for Return to Sender, published by Viking Press. - Lacy Williams won Western Romance for Love’s Healing Path, published by Lacy Williams Books LLC. - Lynn Downey won Western Photographic Essays for 100 Years of Dude Ranching: Celebrating the Centennial of the Dude Ranchers’ Association, published by Ranch Preservation Foundation. - W. K. Stratton won Western Short Nonfiction for “In Search of the Night Herder,” published in Texas Monthly. - Michelle Ferrer and Sharon Frame Gay tied in Western Fiction Short Stories for Shadows in the Firelight and Banner, both from Saddlebag Dispatches. - The Arizona Wildflowers won Cowboy Songwriting for My Good Horse, produced by Darin Aldridge. - Doug Figgs won Western Songwriting for Ghost of Charlie Glass, produced by Peter Renfree at 8 South Studio. - Joel White also won Western Songwriting for Roads & Barbwire, produced by Merel Bregante. - Sherry Monahan won Western Cookbooks for Culinary Treasures: Dude and Guest Ranches of America, published by Otterford Press. - Sandra Dallas won Historical Fiction for Tough Luck: A Novel, published by St. Martin’s Press. - James Wade won Modern Fiction for Narrow the Road, from Blackstone Publishing. - Chris Mullen won Traditional Fiction for The Reckoning of Men, published by Wolfpack Publishing. - James B. Mills won Western Non-Fiction for In the Days of Billy the Kid, published by University of North Texas Press. - Sherl Cederburg won Cowboy Poetry/Recorded for Wonder of the West, from Ridgetop Recording Studio. - Rik Goodell won Cowboy Poetry/Written for Ponderin’s, from Yonderin’ Tales. - KC LaCourse won Western Poetry/Recorded for Dimestore Cowgirl, with Aarom Meador credited. - Karla K. Morton and Alan Birkelbach won Western Poetry/Written for Santa Fe Trail: Chasing the Big West, published by Madville Publishing. - S.J. Dahlstrom won Young Adult Fiction/Ages 13–18 for Never Curse the Rain, published by Paul Dry Books. - Patrick Dearen won Young Reader Fiction/Ages 7–12 for Halloween on the Butterfield Trail, published by TCU Press. - Linda Apple and Dylan Hale won Young Reader Fiction/Illustrated for Winston’s First Rodeo, published by Solander Press. - Clarissa Willis won Young Reader Non-Fiction for Carrie Ingalls: The Forgotten Sister, also published by Solander Press. - Nancy B. Flood and Jeanne Bowman won Young Reader Non-Fiction/Illustrated for Badger Clark: Poetry Wrangler, published by South Dakota Historical Society Press.

Between the lines: - The winners span established names and niche publishers, showing a wide ecosystem for Western-themed work. - The mix of books, films, recorded poetry and songs suggests the category is broader than a traditional literary prize. - The young reader awards point to an effort to keep Western stories in circulation with newer audiences.

What's next: - The 2027 WRMA competition opened for entries on Nov. 1. - Submission information is available in the contest details. - A complete list of 2026 recipients is available in the full winners list. - The organization also shared updates on its Facebook page.

The bottom line: - The 2026 Will Rogers Medallion Awards reinforced the staying power of Western storytelling across multiple formats and generations.