108th Annual Cattlemen’s Days Celebrates True West in Gunnison, Colorado

Rodeos, parade, county fair, horse shows, dances & more from July 5 – 13, 2008

GUNNISON-CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. (May 19, 2008) – People who love the aura and authenticity of The West, will find plenty of reasons to spend summer in Gunnison, Colo.  The highlight is the 108^th Annual Cattlemen’s Days, granddaddy of Colorado rodeos, July 5 – 13, 2008. 

The 10-day festival is all about celebrating Gunnison’s ranching heritage and Western spirit and will feature three Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeos, horse and livestock shows, horse racing, local team roping and barrel racing as well as a parade, carnival, cowboy poetry, and the Gunnison County Fair.

PRCA Rodeos

As always, the marquee events for Cattlemen’s Days are the rodeos with their thrills, spills and good-natured fun.  The rodeos will be held on the evenings of July 10, 11 and 12 at 7 p.m.

·        For the “Tough Enough To Wear Pink” rodeo on July 10, Cattlemen’s Days will once again pledge a portion of admissions to its local campaign to prevent, detect and treat breast cancer. A Tough Enough to Wear Pink Dance & Auction will follow the rodeo at 9:30 p.m.  This has been the number one rodeo in the nation for raising money for breast cancer awareness and education for the past two years.  All money raised stays local.

·        At the July 12 “Family Night” rodeo, kids 10 and under are admitted free.

·        Live music and dancing is available in the evenings after the rodeos. 

Cattlemen’s Days has teamed up with PRCA to be included in the 2008 Heartland Rodeo Series.  “Again, we are increasing our prize money and incentives to draw the best rodeo cowboys and cowgirls,” says Cattlemen’s Days President Kim Barz.

Not only are talented competitors key to a top rodeo, there must be an experienced producer and stock contractor behind the scenes.  The services of Stace Smith (PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year for 2004 - 2007) have once again been secured.  This year’s specialty act will be Tim “Wild Thang” Lepard and The Ghost Riders. 

2008 Cattlemen’s Days Schedule

Saturday, July 5

4-H Horse Show, 8 a.m.

Sunday, July 6

Open Horse Show, 8 a.m.

Monday, July 7

4-H Activities, all day

Tuesday, July 8

Rabbit & Poultry Show, 8:30 a.m.

Open Wool Show, Time to be announced

Fiber Sheep/Goat Show & Open Showmanship, 10 a.m.

Cowboy Poetry, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, July 9

Watershed Team Roping & Barrel Racing, 7 p.m.

Evening Carnival

Thursday, July 10
Swine Show & Open Showmanship, 10 a.m.

Sheep Show & Open Showmanship, 2:30 p.m.[Back to Press Releases Main]