News Release
The 22nd annual Cowboy Festival at the Empire Ranch on Nov. 4-5 was an outstanding success.
Over 2,000 people attended, with more than 200 presenters, demonstrators and volunteers participating.
Each day started with Sonora Schmitt’s stirring rendition of the National Anthem and the presentation of colors by B Troop 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment (Memorial).
At the Saturday opening session Tucson Audubon Society announced the designation of Las Cienegas National Conservation Area as a Globally Important Birding Area. The presence of the Chestnut-collared Longspur at LCNCA led to the designation.
Arena events included Regi Richter (Horsemanship), and Joel Eliot & George Masek (Cattle Demo). Mounted shooting demonstrations by the Tombstone Ghost Riders and B Troop 4th U.S. Cavalry were especially popular.
Musicians at the event included Carol Markstrom, the Mountain Saddle Band, and Permafrost Road.
Blacksmithing, chuckwagon cooking, leatherworking, branding, reata braiding, trick roping and telegraph operations were demonstrated throughout the weekend.
Cowboy Conversation speakers included Sunshine Arrington, (teenager’s perspective on ranching); Rick Collins (death and danger in the Santa Cruz Valley); Dawn Hawkins (history of the Mescal movie set); Mark Santiago (life in a Spanish Presidio); Dawn Moore Santiago (Estevan Ochoa); Jay Van Orden (Apaches); Bunker DeFrance, Marty Freese, Gene Freese (Western movies); Doug Hocking (mining and prospecting); and Faith Boice McCabe (Boice family legacy).
Authors John Buzzard, Gail Corkill, Doug Hocking, Lewis Kirts, and John McLaughlin were busy all day as were the 16 non-profit organizations and 20 vendors.
Steve Shaw’s mini-ox delivered water to thirsty visitors, the food trucks provided a variety of savory eats for lunch, and the Saturday evening steak fry served up by Lucky 7 Chuckwagon sold out.