Cowboy Gathering at the Stockyards 2012

The Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering 

and Western Swing Festival

Ft Worth, Texas       October 26-28, 2012

This past Thursday through Sunday we went on our yearly trip at the Fort Worth, Texas Stockyards to attend the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering. We love going to the gathering and have attended for the past Eleven years. This year we were blessed that My Sister, Margie and Brother-in-law, Scott from Buckeye, Arizona were able to attend and share our passion of stepping back in this Cowboy era. 

 Red Steagall posed with my sister and I outside the Cowboy Trappings and Trade Show. 

We love the Cowboy Gathering and that feeling you get being down at the Stock Yards. I can just imagine what it would have been to walk those same brick streets so many years ago. This was then....

This is now..

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This small little button gets you through a weekend of fun which includes the Cowboy Trappings & Trade Show, The ChuckWagons,Cowboypoetry,Fiddler competition, and of coarse the Ranch Rodeo where authentic ranch cowboys competed in events that have aspects of traditional ranch work. Ranch Vet, Team Sorting, Calf Branding, Bronc Riding and Wild Cow Milking are all in a days work for these cowboys. 

This year's Ranch's competing were:

B & S BAR 9 RANCH •  BLUE STEM CATTLE CO •  BONDS RANCH • GREEN LAND & CATTLE CO.     MASTERSON RANCH  •  NAIL RANCH• NANCE RANCH  •  SAUNDERS RANCH •  SWENSON LAND & CATTLE CO  •  TUB HANDLE CATTLE CO • WAGGONER SAUDER RANCH  • WEAVER RANCH  •  YOUNG RANCH • PITCHFORK RANCH

Texas Longhorn and the American cowboy are two of the most enduring symbols of the Old West. They're a big reason why Fort Worth earned the nickname "Cowtown." And they formed the core of the great cattle drives of the late nineteenth century. Now, the romance and mystique of cowboys and cattle drives returns to Fort Worth with The Herd - Texas Longhorns driven by genuine Texas cowhands - offering an unforgettable glimpse into the past. You'll hear the jingle of spurs, the cattle bawling, and the rhythm of the hoof beats. As The Herd passes, a bygone era comes to life before your eyes. 

It was a fun weekend. James and I always love the Cowboy Poetry with Red Steagall and the Boys in the Bunk House Band and of coarse The Quebe Sister's fiddling and singing.  We ate way too much, Walked way too many hours , but I think we saw a little Cowgirl and Cowboy in my sister and her husband. Maybe next Spring we can share another gathering in their neck of the woods...or should I say, desert...

In the mean while, I'll share some more of our vacation together...