National Day of the Cowboy
As our country looks to celebrate the 250th birthday of our country—July 4, 2026—with much fanfare, one of our constants in the High Plains is the National Day of the Cowboy.
While some of our knowledge about cowboys has been embellished by Hollywood, we also have to tip our ten-gallon Stetsons because it keeps the persona in front of us. The classic films that made legends of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood and television series that made James Arness and Michael Landon are examples of Hollywood making those cowboy figures household names.
The National Day of the Cowboy, though, was also set aside to honor the unsung heroes who continue to tend to livestock. Western historians said the Chisholm Trail, the most well-known of the cattle trails, changed our nation’s trajectory. The trail brought cattle to Abilene, Kansas, where they were loaded on a railhead and headed to urban processing centers that allowed people in the East Coast to enjoy the taste of beef. Although the trail only lasted about five years, because open-range communities were changing, it never ended the desire for consumers to want beef on their plates.
Today, the American cowboy remains an icon in all states, but is mostly associated with the High Plains and mountain states where cattle, buffalo and sheep are tended by cowboys on horses in range, pastures and feedlots. Regardless of heat, snow, storms, or other haymakers Mother Nature throws, these men and women take their duties to heart to care for livestock.
First passed by Congress and signed by President George W. Bush, a native Texan, in 2008, the National Day of the Cowboy recognized the heritage and diversity of cultures that symbolize cowboys today. It also recognizes that cowboys and cowgirls work on ranches in all 50 states. It salutes what today’s rodeos mean for entertainment and economic importance to many rural communities.
Communities throughout the High Plains are using July 26 as a day to celebrate those unsung heroes and why they are important to salute. As many farmers and ranchers know, we are in the midst of fair and rodeo season and those activities are an opportunity to appreciate the western heritage that is intertwined with the cowboy image. At High Plains Journal, we have a special affinity for rodeo as our hometown is where the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo occurs and this year it is from July 30 to Aug. 3.
Today’s cowboys and cowboys continue to honor their predecessors by doing what farmers and ranchers continue to do. Their hallmark remains paying attention to many details while adapting to ever-changing conditions.
Today’s cowboys and cowgirls display a way of life that is the signature of the American West and celebrated not only in the U.S., but across the world, as visitors from Europe and Pacific Rim trek to learn about these uniquely American figures.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].
