The 30th Annual Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District

The 30th Annual Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering

October 22-24, 2021

by Bailey Powell Aldrich

FFor three days in October, cowboys of the country nay, the world, will descend on Fort Worth for the annual Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering and Western Swing Festival presented by Railhead Realty. That’s right, “Cowboy Gathering” with capitalized letters. Brace yourself for a memorable revelry composed of poets, live music every night, ranch rodeo con-

testants, thematic vendors to satisfy every need and my personal favorite, wagon train participants. These are quite literally people who will roll into the Stockyards’ National Historic District on wooden spoke wheels, outfitted in their required authentic western attire. They will have traveled days, five to be exact, to celebrate this annual event with about 30,000 of their closest cowboy friends. I mean, you have to respect that kind of transitory hustle. The family Subaru just doesn’t give off the same vibe.

The numbers kind of speak for themselves, but people travel from all over the world to attend this jamboree, and this

year marks its 30th anniversary, to boot. It’s apt that the idea for this event was born in a conference room at the Cowtown Coliseum: Fort Worth is the per-

fect place for a cowboy music and poetry gathering. The very first gathering was deluged by 11" of rain, but you can’t dampen the spirits of these western wordsmiths, no. Thirty years later, one of America’s biggest gatherings of cowboys and cowgirls is still going strong, and you don’t want to miss it. It’s an authentic celebration of those who are a part of America’s backbone: people

who make their living working cattle on horseback and facilitating fabulous cuts of beef on our dinner tables. Food brings people together, and these folks make it happen.

While artforms fueled the genesis of the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering, it’s also a means for young people

committed to furthering their education to compete for scholarships. The awards-to-date are in excess of $1M.

Artful entertainment, ranch rodeo excitement, chuckwagon competition and educational efforts? This thing is the real deal.

Remember when that ’90s lady Paula Cole sang “Where have all the cowboys gone?” Now we know. They were probably in Fort Worth at the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering.

Bring the whole family to enjoy and support the incredible Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering October 22-24, 2021.

For ticket information, event schedule, and activities, go to www.redsteagallcowboygathering.com. Presenting Sponsor:

Railhead Realty

Sponsors: Gilchrist Automotive Cowboys & Indians Magazine Schaefer Outfitters