AQHA National Day of the Cowboy to be Held Virtually

AQHA Publicity

The National Day of the Cowboy is celebrated around the country, including Amarillo. This year, due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and to protect the health and welfare of visitors and staff, the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo will be hosting the 10th annual event as a virtual celebration, brought to you by presenting sponsor Amarillo National Bank.

Local groups and new organizations have joined forces with the Foundation to teach, entertain and celebrate this event with the public. The celebration takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 25  through the Hall of Fame & Museum’s Facebook page. This free event will provide entertainment for the whole family in the comfort of their own home!

Facebook followers will have the opportunity to participate in competitions available on the National Day of the Cowboy section of the Educational Resources and Activities page. Prizes will be provided to the top 3 entries in the “Cowboy/Cowgirl Craft” and “Horse Craft” activities available on this page. A prize will also be awarded to the best video submission of a youth talking about being a cowboy or cowgirl in their best western-inspired outfit! More information will be released on the Hall of Fame & Museum’s Facebook page beginning July 22 through July 24 at 9 a.m. CST each day.

In addition to the American Quarter Horse Foundation, partners of the National Day of the Cowboy celebration (listed below) are proud to participate and provide great information regarding the cowboy and the American Quarter Horse lifestyle.

Viewers can look forward to these activities available through the Foundation’s Facebook page during the celebration; all activities run for the duration of the event:

10 a.m.

• Share photos of your favorite American Quarter Horse to show us you are ready to celebrate National Day of the Cowboy!
• Howdy from Chief Foundation Officer, Anna Morrison, and Celebrating National Day of the Cowboy with the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum.
• Howdy from AQHA Executive Vice President, Craig Huffhines, and Celebrating National Day of the Cowboy with the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum.

10:30 a.m.

• Listen to Cowboy Mike, Michael Grauer, from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for history about the American cowboy.
• Read ‘Em Cowboy story time with American Quarter Horse Foundation Trustee, Robin Merrill
  11 a.m.
• Learn about the American Quarter Horse Youth Association from Director of Youth Development, Katie Reynolds.
• Create a sheriff’s vest with Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.

11:30 a.m.

• Look inside a cowboy trunk from Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.
• Listen to cowboy poetry presented by cowboy performing artist Red Steagall

12 p.m.

• Learn to tie a lasso presented by American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum
• Watch roping basics with Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.

12:30 p.m.

• Make Cowboy Trail Mix with the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum
• Listen to American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame member Jim Jennings and learn about the history of the American Quarter Horse.

1 p.m.

• Create a Cattle Brand with the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.
• Make a walking paper horse with the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.

1:30 p.m.

• Watch Buster and Ranger from the Working Ranch Cowboys Association show you how to rope.
• Learn about horse shows with AQHA Chief Show Officer, Justin Billings

2 p.m.

• Listen to more cowboy poetry by cowboy performing artist Red Steagall
• Thank you for celebrating National Day of the Cowboy!

Everyone is welcome to join us on Facebook to learn more about cowboys and their trusty mounts, American Quarter Horses. We also encourage you to share the Facebook event with other horse enthusiasts. Thanks to the American Quarter Horse Foundation, Amarillo National Bank and our event partners, there is no fee to participate in the virtual activities.

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 lobbied 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 @AQHA on Twitter and visit www.aqha.com/news.