Trail rides, mustangs, and demonstrations featuring skills used on western ranches will be on display at the Empire Ranch Foundation's Cowboy Festival in Sonoita, Arizona.
The two-day festival begins Nov. 6.
"Bring the whole family out to the Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival on Nov. 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.," the Bureau of Land Management - Arizona wrote in an Oct. 21 tweet.
According to the foundation's website, the fun starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, with an array of activities lined up in the demonstration arena, including a presentation by the B Troop 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, a BLM burro, a wild horse demo, and horsemanship with Lanny Leach.
"Enjoy getting to see a working ranch with horses and cattle along with a wild horse and burro demonstration by the BLM," the Bureau tweeted. "Find out more at empireranchfoundation.org."
The festival will also feature music and cowboy conversations, according to the event schedule. Entertainment acts expected to perform include: Jon Messenger, Dan McCorison, Randy Hutson, and the Dance Troupe of Tucson.
Scheduled cowboy conversations will include a talk about "In Front and Behind the Camera" by Bunker DeFrance, Marty Freese and Gene Freese, "Cowboy Up" by H. Alan Day and Russell True, "The Boice Family Legacy" by Faith Boice, and "The Story of Vail, Arizona" by JJ Lamb.
The event will also feature 45-minute trail rides for $30. Trail ride tickets can be purchased on the festival website.
The Empire Ranch Foundation was established in 1997 as a nonprofit organization run by volunteers that works alongside the BLM. The organization's goa, according to its website, is "to protect, restore and sustain the Empire Ranch historical buildings and landscape as an outstanding Western heritage education center.”
The Empire Ranch has served as a cattle ranch for more than a century.
