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Events across America celebrate the National Day of the Cowboy, July 28, 2007. Read more about the celebration and its history at the National Day of the American Cowboy site.

A United States Senate resolution (S. Res.130) was introduced by Wyoming Senator Craig Thomas, which includes pertinent facts, including "...approximately 800,000 ranchers in all 50 States are conducting business and contributing to the economic well-being of nearly every county in the Nation..." Read the text of the resolution below.

Read below about a special Art Spur for the National Day of the Cowboy.

watercolor 12x18
© 2007 Don Dane Studio
Reproduction is strictly prohibited without authorization from Don Dane Studio
"Great Day to be a Cowboy"

Below:

Special Art Spur for the National Day of the American Cowboy

2007 Senate Resolution

Senator Craig Thomas, 1933-2007

Read about the 2006 celebration, which included a special Art Spur feature, and a column by American Cowboy magazine editor Jesse Mullins, Jr., about the "National Day of the Cowboy." American Cowboy magazine launched the National Day of the Cowboy in 2004.

See some reports of activities here.

Art Spur

It's been said that a picture is worth a thousand words...we know many that are worthy of a poem.
In Art Spur, we invite poets to let selections of Western art and photography inspire their poetry.
Our eleventh piece offered to "spur" the imagination, as part of the celebration of the National Day of the Cowboy (July 28, 2007) is "Great Day to be a Cowboy," a painting by notable Kansas artist, Don Dane:

watercolor 12x18
© 2007 Don Dane Studio
Reproduction is strictly prohibited without authorization from Don Dane Studio
"Great Day to be a Cowboy"

Don Dane told us about the inspiration for this painting:

One of the cowboys I had gotten acquainted with my first trip to the Pitchfork Ranch was Dick Sayers. Dick is kicked back on his horse trying to relax or maybe stretch a little while holding his end of the herd during the spring branding.

The cowboy must do his job in all kinds of weather, but when all the conditions are right there is no better place he would rather be then sitting high in the saddle with a good horse between his knees.

Don Dane is an award-winning artist, with a particular focus on "cowboys, horses, and cattle." His watercolor and pencil sketches—made often on location, where he also photographs and researches his subjects—provide studies for his oil paintings. Don Dane's images have been featured on many gathering posters, including those of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch Youth Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Saddle Up!, and Silver Dollar City's A Salute to the Great American Cowboy."

Read more about Don Dane and see more of his work in our feature here and visit his galleries at www.DonDaneStudio.com for more.

Selected poems were posted at CowboyPoetry.com on July 27, 2007 in celebration of the National Day of the Cowboy. Read the resulting poems here.

A Great Day to be a Cowboy, by Yvonne Hollenbeck

A Good Day to be a Cowboy by Jay Snider

What If? by Sam Jackson

Great Day to be a Cowboy by Diane Tribitt

   Great Day for a Cowboy by Rod Nichols
Brothers Stay Together by Ken Cook
   A Moment's Grace, by Jan Price
Partners with the Wind by Glen Enloe
   Thank You for the Blessings, by Merv Webster

2007 Senate Resolution

United States Senate resolution (S. Res.130) was introduced by Wyoming Senator Craig Thomas, and on May 21, 2007, the resolution was agreed to in the Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

Photo Courtesy U.S. Senator Craig Thomas
U.S. Senator Craig Thomas waves to the crowd during the Cody Stampede
parade in 2006.

The resolution was co-sponsored by Senators Allard (Colorado), Bennett (Utah), Cornyn (Texas), Crapo (Idaho), Byron (North Dakota), Enzi (Wyoming), Murray (Washington), Salazar (Colorado), Baucus (Montana), Bingaman (New Mexico), Craig (Idaho), Domenici (New Mexico), Ensign (Nevada), Hatch (Utah), Landrieu (Louisiana), Reid (Nevada), and Stevens (Alaska).

Senator Thomas has contacted the White House for comment on the resolution. The President has commented in past years.

Following is the text of the resolution from the Congressional Record for May 21, 2007:

Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to Calendar No. 153, S. Res. 130.
   The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.

   The legislative clerk read as follows:

   A resolution (S. Res. 130) designating July 28, 2007, as the ``National Day of the American Cowboy.''

   There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.

   Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

   The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

   The resolution (S. Res 130) was agreed to.

   The preamble was agreed to.

   The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

   S. Res. 130

   Whereas pioneering men and women, recognized as cowboys, helped establish the American West;

   Whereas that cowboy spirit continues to infuse the Nation with its solid character, sound family values, and good common sense;

   Whereas the cowboy embodies honesty, integrity, courage, compassion, respect, a strong work ethic, and patriotism;

   Whereas the cowboy loves, lives off of, and depends on the land and its creatures, and is an excellent steward, protecting and enhancing the environment;

   Whereas the cowboy continues to play a significant role in the culture and economy of the United States;

   Whereas approximately 800,000 ranchers in all 50 States are conducting business and contributing to the economic well-being of nearly every county in the Nation;

   Whereas rodeo is the sixth most-watched sport in the United States;

   Whereas membership in rodeo and other organizations encompassing the livelihood of a cowboy transcends race and sex and spans every generation;

   Whereas the cowboy is an American icon;

   Whereas to recognize the American cowboy is to acknowledge the ongoing commitment of the United States to an esteemed and enduring code of conduct; and

   Whereas the ongoing contributions made by cowboys to their communities should be recognized and encouraged: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the Senate--

    (1) designates July 28, 2007, as ``National Day of the American Cowboy''; and

    (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Wyoming Senator Craig Thomas died June 4, 2007. Senator Thomas, who sponsored the United States Senate resolution (S. Res.130) declaring July 28, 2007 the National Day of the Cowboy, was born in Cody and raised on a ranch. He earned a degree in agriculture from the University of Wyoming and served four years in the U.S. Marines.

Senator Thomas was a popular three-term Senator who received more than seventy percent of the vote in both of his re-election campaigns. He was diagnosed with leukemia two days after the 2006 election.

Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi commented on the Senate Floor, "Craig died as he lived, with his spurs on, fighting for Wyoming until the very end."
Read more about Senator Craig Thomas and a statement from his family at his Senate web site.
[Photo Courtesy U.S. Senator Craig Thomas; U.S. Senator Craig Thomas waves to the crowd during the Cody Stampede parade in 2006.]