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04/12/2003 Archived Entry: "Ellsworth to have special cowboy weekend"
ELLSWORTH TO HAVE SPECIAL COWBOY WEEKEND
Events: Many activities will take place at the End of Trail Town
The Capital-Journal
Ellsworth will return to the past like never before today, Saturday and Sunday. The End Of Trail Town is bracing itself for the biggest blowout since the cowboys hit town in the 1870s.
The newest addition to the special cowboy weekend, The Grand All-Horse Parade, returns Ellsworth to the day before the motor car. Rob Phillips, of the Eldridge Hotel, has for years produced the successful Christmas parade in Lawrence. The Edridge Hotel is coordinating the wagons to make Ellsworth's Grand All-Horse Parade an extravaganza. The "Cavalcade Of Carriages" will represent all the high wheeled horse-drawn vehicles associated with the Eldridge reputation. Phillips said there will be covered wagons, chuckwagons, doctor buggies, box wagons, spring ranch wagons, carriages, a stage coach and even a school bus. The bus is an original enclosed wagon that was originally used to "bus" children to school in the Larned area. Wagons from Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas are registered. Individual cowboys and saddle clubs will fill out the parade. The parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday in downtown Ellsworth.
The traditional events for the weekend include the 1870s Cow Camp, beginning at 6 p.m. today, with a chuck wagon meal and lots of camaraderie around the campfire.
The Cowgirls Ranch Rodeo takes place this evening at the Ell-Kan Rodeo Arena. A Cowgirl Auction begins at 7 p.m. followed by the rodeo at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the Cowgirls Ranch Rodeo is $5 per person.
Saturday morning, cowboys roll out of their bedrolls with the sun. There will be a hot cowboy breakfast available from the chuckwagon.
The Grand "All Horse" Parade, featuring the Eldridge Hotel's "Cavalcade of Carriages" starts at 11 a.m. Many of the outfits in the parade will be on display in the afternoon just north of the Cow Camp.
Hungry? Head out to The End Of Trail Working Ranch Horse Show. The Ell-Kan Saddle Club will be serving a cowboy deal. The Ranch Horse Show is a true cowboy event. Admission is $5 per person. The ticket also is good for admission to the Ranch Rodeo on Saturday evening.
The 1870s Cow Camp lasts all day with reenactors living the frontier life and relating their experiences to just about anyone who will listen. Lots of Old West displays and some demonstrations of "how it used to be" brings the camp to life.
Chuckwagons were the center of operations on the trail drives to Kansas. All afternoon, the participants in the Historic 1870s Chuckwagon Cook-off will be on hand showing off their wagons in all their glory. The cook-off is judged at 4:15 p.m. and spectators can partake at 4:30 p.m. The cost is $9 per plate.
The Ranch Rodeo Cowboy Auction is at 6 p.m. The rodeo begins at 7 p.m. The End Of Trail Ranch Rodeo has a reputation for bringing in some of the best cowboys cow country has to offer. Each ranch team carries on the time honored tradition of "riding for the brand" to compete for the championship. Events include team penning, wild cow milking, team doctoring, double mugging and team calf branding. The End Of Trail Ranch Rodeo is sanctioned by the Ranch Horse Association of America. Admission is $5 per person.
The Kansas Vigilance Committee will be shooting it out Old-West style at the Butterfield Gulch beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday. The Gulch is 1/2 mile east of US-156 highway on K-140. Turn south for about a quarter of a mile, watch for the signs.
Cowboy Church Service will be at the 1870s Cow Camp at 9 a.m. Sunday. Most of the cowboys are from some distance away. Many will begin to break camp early. Take that into consideration for Sunday plans.
The C.O.W.B.O.Y. Society came into being because of its love for the cowboy way of life. For more information, call the Ellsworth/Kanopolis Chamber of Commerce at (785) 472-4071 or Drovers Mercantile at (785) 472-4703.