National Day of the Cowboy ~ Julie Lence

 

July is known for its warm summer days and stunning sunsets, for backyard barbeques and cold lemonade… for swimming pools and swimming holes… flipflops and sandals… sun screen and sun glasses. In the United States, myself and most Americans celebrate our independence from England on July 4^th. Parades, hot dogs, watermelon, and fireworks have become synonymous with the holiday.  Not only do we honor our ancestors and the battles they fought to keep our country free, we honor our way of life… our freedom, traditions, and family… the farmers who grow our food, the military who keeps us safe, and iconic figures such as the American cowboy.

Back in the day, unless you lived in a city or a town, ranching wasn’t just a way of life, it was survival. If you didn’t grow your own food or raise chickens and beef, you didn’t eat. And if you didn’t know how to ride a horse, not only could you not  take care of your cattle grazing in fields, you most likely weren’t walking too far from your homestead. But cowboy-ing isn’t just ropin’ & ridin’, fancy spurs and chaps. It’s waking before dawn and not finding your way back to bed until after the sun sets. It’s long days in the saddle keeping the herd fed and safe… it’s frigid winter mornings breaking ice off ponds and hot summer afternoons chasing off predators. It’s mucking stalls and birthing calves… it’s blisters and sore muscles… forgoing supper to sit with a sick animal… It’s the air you breathe, the spit in your eye, and the grit in your soul. And that’s why we honor the cowboy every 4^th Saturday in July.

The National Day of the Cowboy Organization filed a bill in 2005 with the Wyoming House of representatives to support preserving the state’s cowboy history and culture. The bill passed and as of July 2019, 15 states have passed their own bills honoring the cowboy, to include Montana and Oklahoma City where the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum is located. This year the National Day of the Cowboy is July 26^th.  If you live in a state where celebrations are held, I urge you to attend, and then, please come back to this page and leave a comment regarding the festivities. I would enjoy hearing about your experience.