It began in 1930 when 13 Stamford businessmen got together and dreamed up a way to celebrate during the Great Depression. The gentlemen were itching to boost morale and make folks feel better during hard times. What better way to do so than to make holy the West Texas cowboy? The event was born, and with luck on their side, it was extremely successful in the first year. Four events, including calf roping, wild cow milking, bronc and steer riding, were  held with 98 cowboys participating. About 12,000 people attended. Seven years later, 70,000 folks showed up. By then, grandstands, lighting and entertainment were added.

Today, the Texas Cowboy Reunion is much the same, with crowds going wild over the cowboys, their horses and the events. Event organizers say the amateur rodeo is the biggest in the world. For more information, visit www.tcrrodeo.com.

Frontier Times Museum will proudly induct nine new members into its Texas Heroes Hall of Honor, including Ray Wharton (1956 World Champion tie-down calf roper), Maudeen Marks (started the Houston Fat Stock Show Rodeo along with her father, Emil Marks), and J. Frank Dobie (famous professor, author and lecturer).

The Cowboy General Store Market will be available for all your shopping needs, cowboy style. Children enjoy stick horse races, hoss washin’ and cowboy dress up, as well as the story tellers, trick ropers and cowboy singers.

Breakfast is served promptly at 8 a.m., complete with biscuits and gravy, and washed down with either coffee or juice. At 6 p.m., a BBQ with all the trimmings supper will be ready for all the hungry cowboys and cowgirls.

After your belly is filled, head on over for the rodeo!

You can’t go wrong in helping Bandera to celebrate this special day. Visit Frontier Times Museum for more information, ticket prices and details about scheduled events. Frontier Times Museum touts “a 40,000-piece collection of old west, pioneer, & prehistoric artifacts.”