By Jim Bret Campbell, Executive Director
In capturing content and video for the Cash Family Ranch Life Learning Center, I spent a lot of time out on ranches this spring and early summer. In so many ways, what we do to gather, sort and brand a set of calves hasn’t changed much in the past 100 years. It still takes good cowboys on good horses to handle cattle in most parts of cow country. Every place I visited still drags calves to the fire because it’s awfully efficient if you have a good crew, good horses and some hands who can rope. And it’s a way that we can hold onto our heritage and pass it down to future generations.
On the other hand, it was hard to deny the changes that were evident around the working pens. Health and handling protocols, implants, cell phones, and laptop computers are commonplace. Almost every rancher uses data along with visual and historical observations to make management decisions. Half the time when I call a member of the Ranching Heritage Association board, I hear cattle bawling in the background. They’re using technology to make the best use of their time while staying true to the heritage of the past.
National Golden Spur Award Honors
“The Rancher,” sculpted by Harold “H.” Holden is presented annually to the recipient of the National Golden Spur Award.
We are taking a similar approach with the National Golden Spur Award. The ranching and livestock industries have joined together to recognize outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the ranching and livestock industries since 1978. Starting with Albert Mitchell, who was the first Golden Spur recipient, the list of award recipients includes a litany of legends of the ranching and livestock industries.
The National Golden Spur Award partner organizations have worked together for almost five decades to recognize these outstanding individuals. After 45 years, though, feedback from partners, event attendees and award recipients indicated that it was time to re-think the way that we presented the National Golden Spur Award. Our special thanks to the Golden Spur task force, comprised of members of the RHA board of directors and appointed by the Ranching Heritage Association Executive Committee, for their dedicated efforts in designing this new format. The focus has been on elevating the promotion, production and engagement of the awards presentation while continuing to emphasize our heritage and tradition through the selection process.
The National Golden Spur Award and the Ranching Heritage Association Working Cowboy Award are the most prestigious awards presented by the ranching and livestock industries. Presentation of the National Golden Spur Award is a joint annual recognition historically given by six of the leading state and national ranching and livestock organizations: the American Quarter Horse Association, National Cattlemen’s Foundation, Ranching Heritage Association, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Texas Farm Bureau, and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
This year’s re-imagined Golden Spur Award Honors night will feature:
- Honoring 2023 National Golden Spur Recipient Craig Haythorn of Arthur, Nebraska
- Honoring 2023 RHA Working Cowboy Award Recipient Jimbo Humphreys of Dickens, Texas
- Superstar recording artist Cody Johnson (singer of chart-topper “Til You Can’t”), along with Country Music Association Award Winner Trent Willmon performances.
- The National Golden Spur Award Honors will be at the state-of-the-art Buddy Holly Hall Center of Performing Arts & Sciences
It will be a great night celebrating the ranching and livestock industries in honoring our heritage while focusing on the future. Get your tickets now before they are all gone.★
