top of page

W I L L   R O G E R S  

M E D A L L I O N   A W A R D   C O N T E S T   I N F O

Categories

 

Cowboy Poetry-Recorded (cd or MP3 file)

Cowboy Poetry-Written (books only; we do not have a category for individual poems)

Western Poetry - Recorded (cd or MP3 file)

Western Poetry - Written (books only; we do not have a category for individual poems)

Western Fiction - Traditional (Pre-1900)

Western Fiction - Modern (Post-1900)

Western Historical Fiction

Western Nonfiction

Western Biography & Memoir

Western Romance

Western Mystery

Western Fiction - Young Readers

Western Fiction-Young Readers/Illustrated

Western Nonfiction - Young Readers

Western Nonfiction-Young Readers/ Illustrated

Inspirational Western Fiction

Western Photographic Essays

Western Cookbooks

Western Fiction Short Stories (an individual fiction short story published in a magazine or as a single short story included in a collection of short stories)

Western Humor- Written

Western Songwriting (submit MP3 file or link to song and copy of music/lyrics)

Cowboy Songwriting (submit MP3 file or link to song and copy of music/lyrics)

Western Film - Drama (The drama and documentary film categories require the submission of copies of both the script/screenplay AND either dvds or an accessible link to the film.)

Western Film - Documentary (see requirements above)

Western Short Non-Fiction (an article or essay 

on the American West, appearing in a printed publication and with a word count between

1,000-5,000 words. If the article was only published by an online digital magazine, we will accept a printed copy of the article; all other articles from a printed magazine must have submitted in the original format - not a xeroxed copy.) If the article is adapted from a book, both the book and the article must have been published during the required previous year.

Judging Criteria

 

The Will Rogers Medallion Award recognizes excellence in Western literature and media. The quality of each entry is judged based on content and artistic presentation. The top three winners in each category will be announced in June, with the final rankings revealed at the banquet/ceremony in October.

*All works must represent an accurate reflection of Western Americana, or cowboy and ranch life, historical or contemporary. Historical accuracy is crucial where applicable.

 

*The work must remain consistent with the values and the language embodied in the works of award namesake, Will Rogers, one of America's most beloved humorists and writers; in other words, innuendo is fine, but neither graphic sex scenes nor graphic language is in our code.

*Books (and films) must have been published (released) during the year prior to that of the award ceremony (must have a copyright/release date of 2024 for the 2025 awards). We can not accept later editions or reprints of a book published prior to the previous year.

*Books and films are judged on their literary quality as well as cover, visual, and interior art.

*Proper editing and formatting are paramount. Before submitting your book, please ensure that spelling, formatting (alignments, spacing, readable fonts, indentions, chapter headings, etc.), and grammar are correct and visually pleasing.

 

*All books must have an ISBN. Self-published works are accepted. Advanced Readers' Copies (ARCs) and e-books will not be accepted. Articles published online require printed copies of the digital article for the judges.

 

*Individual titles may only be entered in ONE category.
 

The Will Rogers Medallion Award recognizes excellence in Western literature and media.  The quality of each entry is judged based on content and artistic presentation.

All works must represent an accurate reflection of Western Americana, or cowboy and ranch life, historical or contemporary. Historical accuracy is crucial where applicable. Books are judged on their literary quality as well as cover art.​ All visual arts will be judged based on their visual quality of the same criteria. 

All books must have an ISBN.  Self published works are accepted.​

Books that are eBook originals or exclusive must be submitted in a printed copy.  No electronic copies will be accepted in any format.


Submission Guidelines

Submissions are now OPEN for our 2025 contest. Deadline for entries is a postmark of March 15, 2025

(no exceptions).

Submit four (4) copies of the published work (for films: please include copies of both the script and DVDs; for songwriting: 4 copies of music/lyrics and a link to or MP3 file of the song), a completed entry form, along with a $50 (or $75 if submitted after December 31, 2024) entry fee (checks payable to Will Rogers Medallion Award) to either Laurie or Chris (see categories below):​

Laurie Cockerell

5313 Santa Marie Ave.

Fort Worth, Tx  76114

Categories:

Traditional Fiction

Modern Fiction

Historical Fiction

Western Nonfiction

Western Cookbooks

Fiction - Young Readers

Fiction/Young Readers/Illustrated

Non-Fiction/Young Readers

Non-Fiction/Young Readers/Illustrated

Western Poetry/Written

Western Poetry/Recorded

Cowboy Poetry/Written

Cowboy Poetry/Recorded

Chris Enss
14583 Silver Pick Court
Grass Valley, California  95945

Categories:
Western Mystery

Western Biography/Memoir

Western Photographic Essays

Western Songwriting

Cowboy Songwriting

Western Short Non-Fiction

Western Film - Drama

Western Film - Documentary

Western Humor

Western Inspirational

Western Romance

Western Fiction Short Stories

Book Entry Form can be found here.

Film Entry Form can be found here.

Songwriting Entry Form found here.

*Please note: once your submission is received, entry fees are non-refundable and books/scripts/music will not be returned. Please ensure that your entry meets our publication date and other guidelines, and that you have submitted your entry to the proper category before mailing your submissions and entry form.

 

If you have trouble printing or viewing the contest entry form from this site (see separate Book, Film, and Songwriting Entry Form tabs under Contest Information tab) or have any questions about the contest, please contact us:

laurie@magnificentsam.com

bottom of page