The National Day of the Cowboy is one where people can remember and celebrate America’s cowboy culture and pioneer heritage. Recognized on the fourth Saturday in July, National Day of the Cowboy honors the American cowboy, often a symbol of freedom and adventure. Created in 2005 by the National Day of the Cowboy Organization, the day celebrates cowboy culture in the American West associated with the years following the Civil War.

One of the important jobs performed by 19th-century cowboys was to drive cattle from Texas northward to Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming. At the time there wasn’t a direct railway line that connected Texas with the Northern and Eastern portions of the U.S. Cowboys often used cattle trails to move up to 3,000 heads of cattle at a time.

Cowboys would move cattle along the cattle trails to the towns known as cow towns in Kansas. They would also use the Chisholm Trail to move cattle north of the Mexican border to Abilene. Other trails included the Shawnee Trail that led to St. Louis, and the Great Western Trail that led to Dodge City.

National Day of the Cowboy recognizes that cowboys were more than just cattle herders. They were people who truly loved adventure and the land. Cowboys were often seen as loyal and willing to work hard.

The folks at 7 Branch Farm in Lumber Bridge continue to celebrate the American cowboy each year. The public is invited to join 7 Branch’s seventh annual National Day of the Cowboy event on July 23 and 24. The 7 Branch Arena hosts the only sanctioned professional rodeo close to the Fayetteville area. The event will show what it truly means to be a cowboy/cowgirl and to live by the code.

The rodeo will recreate events from the Old American West including bucking horses, calf roping, mounted shooting and more. This year the rodeo is bringing back barrel races where professionally skilled horseback riders attempt to run a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. There are estimated to be about 100 competitors in this year’s rodeo. The preshow event will take place at 5:30 p.m. with live entertainment from country singer/ songwriter Tyler Tew. There will also be bounce houses, pony rides and more from the kids. The main show will start at 8:00 p.m.

This year, like others in the past, tickets are selling fast. “We encourage rodeo fans, and those wanting to come out to purchase tickets online and get here early,” said Buddy Blackman. The rodeo will have bleachers but will fill up quickly, so people are more than welcome to pull up a chair in the lawn seating area. This event is family-friendly, so no alcohol will be sold or permitted on the property.

7 Branch was started by Blackman’s father, Ron Payne. The family-run farm started with only eight acres. Today, 7 Branch has 30-plus acres and hosts several rodeos and training events every year. When approached by the National Day of the Cowboy Organization to start a rodeo in North Carolina, there was no hesitation for 7 Branch. Part of the rodeo’s proceeds benefits Cape Fear Valley’s Friends of the Cancer Center, which 7 Branch has supported for several years.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.dayofthecowboync.com or at the gate. Tickets are $15 per person, and kids 3 years old and under get in free. 7 Branch Arena is located just outside Hope Mills at 62 McGougan Road in Lumber Bridge. For more information, call 910-813-7881.