For the forth year running, Americans everywhere will be celebrating the National Day of the American Cowboy (NDAC), this year slated for Saturday, July 26, 2008. Parades, chuck wagon cook-offs, roping contests, street fairs, and rodeos are just a few of the many different regional events taking place all across the country to commemorate the American cowboy and cowgirl and their important contributions to our nation’s history and culture.

American Cowboy, a leading Western lifestyle magazine, launched the National Day of the American Cowboy campaign in 2004. They asked Americans to support the passage of a resolution designating the fourth Saturday of July the official day of the American cowboy, and encouraging them to pay homage to the cowboy through celebrations, ceremonies, and related activities.

“Ask just about anyone to name the greatest national symbol this country has ever produced, and most will likely tell you it’s the American cowboy,” said Bill Garrels, publisher of American Cowboy. “In fact, the cowboy is such an enduring emblem of all that we love and admire about this country that we felt it our duty to help create a national day of observance to honor this great national hero.”

The NDAC resolution was first passed by the United States Senate in 2005, thanks to Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming, the resolution’s sponsor and leading proponent, and the outpouring of public support in the form of petitions and letters to legislators and President George W. Bush. That same year, President Bush issued a statement of support for the resolution, claiming “We celebrate the cowboy as a symbol of the grand history of the American West."

The resolution was again passed in 2006 and 2007, and is currently awaiting passage for 2008 (it has to be reintroduced each year until it is officially designated a national day of observance by the President). “As public enthusiasm for NDAC continues to grow in leaps and bounds, we’re confident that the fourth Saturday of July will soon be named a permanent celebration on the national calendar,” Garrels said.

In the meantime, America Cowboy continues to help coordinate and promote celebrations throughout the country, and will be co-hosting its own event at the renowned Grizzly Rose, “Denver's Wildest Western Nightclub,” on Saturday, July 26. Festivities at “The Griz” will include live country music, line dancing lessons, mechanical bull riding, and much more.

For more information about NDAC at the Grizzly Rose, other planned events, and general information about the campaign, visit the official NDAC website at .