Matt Mason, Nebraska’s State Poet, has achieved a unique milestone by visiting all 93 counties in the state. He has not only traveled to each county but has also conducted poetry readings and workshops in every one.
On Saturday, Mason made his final stop in Trenton, located in Hitchcock County. This visit marked the completion of his goal to hold at least one poetry event in each Nebraska county during his five-year term. “It really feels amazing,” Mason expressed. “It wasn’t easy to schedule everything, so I’m just grateful that even through the pandemic, I was able to achieve this.”
Mason, an Omaha native, was appointed as Nebraska’s state poet by former Governor Pete Ricketts in 2019. He was chosen to promote poetry, literacy, and literature throughout the state.
The Nebraska State Historical Society notes that Nebraska was the first state to appoint a poet laureate in 1921 when the Legislature named John Neihardt to the position. After Neihardt’s death, William Kloefkorn took over as state poet in 1982 until his passing in 2011. In 2013, the appointment changed from a lifetime position to a renewable five-year term.
Mason is the second poet to serve under this new term limit, following Twyla Hansen. He has held a variety of events in schools, libraries, opera houses, theaters, parks, and senior centers, adapting each session to fit the audience’s needs. “I would suit it to whatever they really wanted,” Mason said. “They’re all different in some way.”
Whether through readings or workshops, Mason aimed to broaden people’s perspectives on poetry. “I’m hoping that my travels show people a different side of poetry than they expect it to be,” he noted.
Although Mason’s love for poetry has grown, he initially struggled to connect with it during his high school years. “I didn’t like it, but I started writing it because I found it helped me deal with the world and process things going on around me or internally,” Mason shared. He realized that writing poetry improved his understanding of himself.
In college, a dynamic visiting professor ignited Mason’s enthusiasm for poetry. The professor’s excitement inspired Mason to explore various poets and styles. Now, through his travels, Mason aims to pass on that enthusiasm to audiences of all ages. “I think the best way to teach poetry is just to show excitement about it,” he stated.
Mason’s approach focuses on making poetry enjoyable rather than emphasizing technical aspects like alliteration or similes. He often opens events with humor to engage his audience. “A big part that we have lost sight of for about 100 years is just the enjoyability of poetry. It’s a form of entertainment,” he explained.
Despite successfully visiting each county, Mason’s journey was not without challenges. His schedule was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing him to transition to virtual events on Zoom. “That slowed me down for a couple of years, but since then, I’ve really been getting to a lot of counties,” he said.
As events resumed, Mason strategically planned his trips to balance his home life with his outreach. After selecting a destination, he added stops like library visits and school presentations along the way. He has conducted over 600 events throughout Nebraska, crediting his success to the support of local communities. “There’s no way I could have done this by myself,” he said. “There’s been so much support.”
Mason took the initiative to arrange each event through calls and emails. He built connections at previous events, which helped him reach out to new communities. “I just really appreciate all the people around Nebraska,” Mason remarked. “I’m grateful for everyone who helped make this happen. The arts are important, and poetry adds value to daily life that many don’t realize. It’s great to reach different parts of the state and show students that poetry is fun and interesting.”
After interacting with thousands of Nebraskans over the past five years, Mason described his experience as “a blast and a real honor.” He believes poetry is often overlooked but is a vital way to connect with others’ experiences and emotions. “We need more of that in the world. We need better communication between people so we can understand each other and ourselves,” he stated.
Although Mason’s term concludes in December, he plans to continue visiting schools and communities. “This is what I’m best at and what I love, so I want to keep doing it,” he affirmed.
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