The Prairie Soul Poetry Contest celebrates the voices that rise from open skies, quiet horizons, and the inner landscapes of memory, resilience, and hope. Inspired by the words of Nebraska writer Willa Cather—“It takes a soul to love a prairie”—this contest seeks poems that capture the spirit of place and the depth of human experience, whether rooted in prairie soil or carried from far beyond.

We welcome submissions of original poetry that explore connection—to land, to history, to each other, and to the unseen forces that shape our lives. All forms and styles are welcome, from traditional to experimental, as long as the work speaks with authenticity and imagination.

Prizes:

• First Place: A $500 cash award, publication in the Spring 2026 issue of The Gilded Weathervane, and a contributor copy.

• Runners-up will receive Honorable Mention, publication in the Spring 2026 issue of The Gilded Weathervane, and a contributor copy.

• All submissions will be considered for publication.

  Submission Guidelines:

• Submit up to 5 poems (no more than 10 pages total).

• Previously unpublished work only.

• Simultaneous submissions welcome; please notify us promptly if accepted elsewhere.

• Entry Fee: $25.

• Deadline: Feb. 1, 2026.

Let your words echo across the wide horizon—send us the poetry of your prairie soul.

Lin Marshall Brummels was raised on a dairy farm and honors those roots by boarding horses. She earned degrees from the University of Nebraska and Syracuse University. She is a licensed Nebraska counselor. Her poems received Honorable Mentions in the 2021 and 2024 Nebraska Poetry Society contests and third in the 2025 Story Circle contest. Brummels has poems in Poet Lore, San Pedro River Review, Concho River Review, Oakwood, Plainsong, Nebraska Life, and others. Chapbooks by Finishing Line Press are Cottonwood Strong and Hard Times, a 2016 Nebraska Book Award winner. Books: A Quilted Landscape, Scurfpea Publishing. Forthcoming, The Last Yellow Rose, Sandhills Press.