Christian Peterson
reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com
The National Day of the Cowboy is celebrated each year on the fourth Saturday in July. The celebration is focused on remembering and preserving the cowboy lifestyle, culture and dream. It wouldn't be too extreme to say the movement began long before the 50 states were even formed, way back when ranchers and cowhands were working their herds in the American West. They spent their time on horseback, roping cattle, living life by the saddle horn and camping under the beautiful starry American sky.
In 2005, the Wyoming House and Senate wanted to preserve this memory, history and culture. To do so, they passed a bill making the fourth Saturday in July an official holiday: the National Day of the Cowboy. Since then, states across the country have passed similar bills; as of 2019, 15 have passed the bill. The National Day of the Cowboy organization has not slowed down since 2005. Its political campaign tends to focus on raising awareness about everyday modern-day cowboy activities. This includes things such as rodeos, cowboy history museums and county fairs. Eventually, the organization hopes to see the bill passed in all 50 states.
The history of the cowboy dates back to a significant period in American history. In 1872, the first organized rodeo was held in Cheyenne, Wyo. In 1876, Glurs Taver opened in Columbus, Neb., the first of its kind west of the Mississippi River. In 2005, the state of Wyoming passed the first National Day of the Cowboy bill. In 2019, Montana became the 15th state to pass the National Day of the Cowboy bill. Many may wonder how does one celebrate this perfect American holiday. An obvious option is to attend a rodeo. According to National Today, "Even the most scholarly and urban of Americans must admit that it's simply fascinating to watch bull-riding and steer-roping competitions." Another option is to study the culture of cowboys. "There are some very well-curated museums preserving the history of the American West, including the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City and the Cowboy Museum in Oakdale, California." Another great option is to participate electronically. Take time to surf the internet, dress up like a cowboy, and learn more about cowboys. Individuals can even post about their way of celebrating using the hashtag #NationalDayOfTheCowboy.
Here are some interesting facts about the National Day of the Cowboy from National Today:
• Bullriding became its own rodeo sport when 20 cowboys each chipped in $1,000 to found the Professional Bull Riders Association.
• A ride of eight seconds on the back of a bull qualifies the rider, with three ways to stop the clock – the rider's free hand touching the bull, his other hand coming out of the rope, or the rider touching the ground.
• A bull named Red Rock was never successfully ridden for eight seconds during his stint in professional rodeo, throwing off over 300 riders in the 1980s.
• There is a strict rule in professional bull riding that no spurs, whips or electric shocks of any kind are to be used before, during or after a ride.
• Bull riding originated from "charreada" - ranching and riding skills contests – of Old Mexico, where bulls were literally ridden to death.
There are numerous reasons to support and celebrate the National Day of the Cowboy. The first and most obvious response is that it's a great representation of American history. According to National Today, the day is meant to “preserve that heroic, adventuresome ideal of the pioneer and the rancher, who carved their own slices out of unclaimed land and increased their herds, which meant financial success as well. Other countries have histories of beef ranching, but the true cowboy is a trope that is largely attached to the United States." Another reason to celebrate is simply out of fun! Of course, the real Wild West was incredibly dangerous, rough, dark and even violent. However, that was in the past. Today, one can celebrate by reading books about Billy the Kid or watching cowboy movies like "Django Unchained" or "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." Finally, a good reason to celebrate is to honor the hardworking, tough and committed men who defeated the Wild West. "We guess the best phrase to describe those who live, work, and play within cowboy culture today is 'true grit.' Cowboys have it. Let's celebrate it.'”