The Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival, held in November, is the Foundation’s annual public event celebrating Arizona’s Western history and culture. Previously called the Roundup & Open House (2000-2017) the Festival also showcases Bureau of Land Management and Empire Ranch Foundation’s efforts to preserve the Empire Ranch for future generations. Each year more than 3,000 visitors come to the ranch to enjoy Western heritage demonstrations, arena and livestock exhibits, cowboy cooking and Western entertainment.

2024 Cowboy Festival Program

Saturday, November 2, 2024

ARENA DEMONSTRATIONS

Presenting the Colors, Sonoita Rodeo Royalty; National Anthem, Sonora Schmitt

10 am – Regi Richter Horsemanship

10:30 am – Joel Eliot & George Masek Cattle Demo

11:15 am – Kids Stick Horse Races

11:30 am – Charros y Modelos de Tucson

12 pm – BLM Wild Horse & Burro Demo

12:45 pm – Spanish Barb Horses

1:15 pm – Charros y Modelos de Tucson

1:45 pm – Kids Stick Horse Races

2 pm – Regi Richter Horsemanship

2:30 pm – BLM Wild Horse & Burro Demo

3:15 pm – Joel Eliot & George Masek Cattle Demo

COWBOY CONVERSATIONS

11 am  – Dan Judkins –  “49’er Trails in Southern Arizona, and Early Roads & Trails”

12 noon – John Fahey, MD – “The Military Roads That Helped Establish the Empire Ranch 1856-1876.”

1 pm – Grace Au-Clair – “Dress Through Time: A layer-by-layer look through women’s dress in 18th Century New Spain”

2 pm – Joan Breiner – “Exploring Las Cienegas National Conservation Area”

3 pm – Ian Tomlinson – “Ranching in the Sonoita Valley”

MUSIC STAGE

9 am – Mountain Saddle Band

10 am Doug Figgs

11 am Ramblin’ Rangers

1 pm – Mountain Saddle Band

2 pm – Doug Figgs

3 pm – Ramblin’ Rangers

Sunday, November 3, 2024

ARENA DEMONSTRATIONS

Presenting the Colors, Sonoita Rodeo Royalty; National Anthem, Sonora Schmitt

10 am – Regi Richter Horsemanship

11 am – Kids Stick Horse Races

11:15 am – Joel Eliot & George Masek Cattle Demo

12 pm – Charros y Modelos de Tucson

12:30 pm – Spanish Barb Horses

1 pm – Kids Stick Horse Races

1:1 5pm – Regi Richter Horsemanship

2 pm – Joel Eliot & George Masek Cattle Demo

2:45 pm – Charros y Modelos de Tucson

3 pm – Regi Richter Horsemanship

COWBOY CONVERSATIONS

12 noon – Maria Lisa Eastman “The Personalities and Poetry of Horses”

1 pm – Alison Bunting & Chip Fears   “The 1890 Cattle Drive from the Empire Ranch to California”

2 pm – Bunker DeFrance, Marty Freese, Gene Freese “Movies on the Empire Ranch”

MUSIC STAGE

9 am – Doug Figgs

10 am – Ramblin’ Rangers

11 am – Mountain Saddle Band

1 pm – Doug Figgs

2 pm – Ramblin’ Ranger

3 pm – Mountain Saddle Band

Date: November 2-3, 2024

Location: Empire Ranch Foundation

16801 E Empire Ranch Rd, Sonoita, AZ 85637

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