Celebrate National Day of the Cowboy at AQHA Headquarters Today
AQHA Publicity
The National Day of the Cowboy is an event that is celebrated around the country, including in Amarillo, the home of the American Quarter Horse Association’s international headquarters and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, a program of the American Quarter Horse Foundation. Local groups have joined forces with the Foundation to teach, entertain and celebrate the 8th annual National Day of the Cowboy with the public. The celebration takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 28 at the Hall of Fame. This free event will provide entertainment for the whole family.
A highlight of the event will be the chance to ride an American Quarter Horse. This event has given more than 1,400 children in the past eight years the opportunity to experience their first ride on an American Quarter Horse.
In addition to the Hall of Fame, local partners include the Amarillo Public Library, country music station 97.9 KGNC FM, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Center City, Southwest Cowboy Poets Association and the Amarillo Convention & Visitors Council. These partners are excited to participate by leading activities amidst the fun planned by the Hall of Fame.
Visitors can look forward to these activities and events during the celebration:
- Bouncy horse barrel racing on the lawn from 10 a.m. to noon.
- Ride an American Quarter Horse between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sign-up starts at 10 a.m.
- Listen as employees of the Amarillo Public Library read children stories about cowboys, with readings at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
- Make your own stick pony or cowboy trail mix.
- Listen to cowgirl and cowboy poetry with the Southwest Cowboy Poets Association at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m.
- Employees from the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum will show young visitors how to create their own brand from noon to 2 p.m. Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs/ Curator of Art and Western Heritage Michael Grauer is also a history interpreter and he will appear as an 1890’s cowboy and teach visitors about the real west from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
- Take a tour of the Hall of Fame.
- Explore the Hard Work & Horse Power exhibit
- Make your mark on a Center City stallion statue.
Everyone is welcome to come learn more about cowboys and their trusty mounts, American Quarter Horses. Thanks in part to our underwriters, Plastilite, KGNC, Ford and the American Quarter Horse Foundation, there is no admission fee, and free food and drinks will be provided as long as supplies last.
About National Day of the Cowboy
The National Day of the Cowboy campaign was founded in 2004 to preserve, protect and promote the cowboy and our Western heritage. The campaign lobbies for the passage of the national resolution designating the fourth Saturday of every July a permanent celebration on the national calendar. The campaign believes in honoring cowboys and cowgirls for their enduring contribution and their courageous, pioneering American spirit. For more information on the scope of this day as a national event, go to www.nationaldayofthecowboy.com.
About the American Quarter Horse Foundation
The American Quarter Horse Foundation inspires people to discover and explore their passion for horses through the Hall of Fame & Museum. The Foundation brings the community together on National Day of the Cowboy to inspire and educate families and to help kids to discover their passion for the horse and Western lifestyle by giving them the opportunity to ride a horse for the first time. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.aqha.com/foundation.
AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHAnews on Twitter and visit www.aqha.com/news.
