Celebrate National Day of the Cowboy the Fourth Saturday in July
On National Day of the Cowboy we pay tribute to the American Cowboy.
The American cowboy (and cowgirl) is an American icon. These hardy souls built the West and exemplify the spirit of honesty, compassion and patriotism.
They lived by their own, unwritten code of conduct—one that stressed personal integrity and care for the land and all its creatures. Today’s cowboys (yes, cowboys still exist) continue to honor and preserve this heritage.
They deserve this day set aside to honor all cowboys and cowgirls past and present.
The non-profit organization, National Day of the Cowboy, created this day the same year it was founded, 2005. Since then, the organization has been actively promoting the day and asking governors to issue proclamations making the day official in their states.
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this unofficial holiday.
Ideas For Celebrating National Day of the Cowboy
Many ranches and communities hold events for National Day of the Cowboy. The day’s official website lists some around the country (largely Texas and Arizona, but other states as well).
If you’ll be in or near Oklahoma City, consider seeing what the National Cowboy Museum has planned for the day.
Or if you’re near Hico, Texas, stop by the Billy the Kid Museum. It’s been known to have National Day of the Cowboy celebrations. And besides, who doesn’t want to learn more about Billy the Kid?
If there’s nothing near you, and you can’t travel for one this year, have your own celebration. Dress like a cowboy and go horseback riding. Or go to a rodeo.
Maybe have your very own hoedown? Serve ranch recipes, play country music, and have cow pie throwing contests. (You do know that cow pies aren’t real pies?).
For a quieter celebration, have a movie marathon of your favorite Westerns. Maybe:
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1967)
- High Noon (1952)
- Blazing Saddles (1974)
- True Grit (1969)
Or maybe you’d prefer something a little more recent. There’s still a lot of great stuff to choose from:
- Django Unchained (2012)
- True Grit (2010)
- 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Whatever you choose to do for this day, make sure you do it with the “Code of the West” or the “Cowboy Code of Conduct” in mind. This code was never formalized in writing (at least not among real cowboys), but it was the informal law by which the cowboys lived.
Since then people started writing down versions of the code. The official National Day of the Cowboy website offers its own version of the code. It includes:
- Live each day with honesty and courage.
- Take pride in your work. Always do your best.
- Stay curious. Study hard and learn all you can.
…
- Be an excellent steward of the land and its animals.
Read the rest of the code here.
Consider becoming part of the Read Em Cowboy© literacy project. This is more than just a one-day project. The project’s goal is to get youngsters interested in reading and even writing cowboy literature. The project hopes to have reading circles around the country.
Future Day of the Cowboy Dates
Make sure you remember to celebrate the cowboy every year on the 4th Saturday of July!
- 2019 – Saturday, July 27
- 2020 – Saturday, July 25
- 2021 – Saturday, July 24
- 2022 – Saturday, July 23
- 2023 – Saturday, July 22
- 2024 – Saturday, July 27
- 2025 – Saturday, July 26
- 2026 – Saturday, July 25
- 2027 – Saturday, July 24
- 2028 – Saturday, July 22
- 2029 – Saturday, July 28
What will you be doing for National Day of the Cowboy this year?
