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Gunnison County Colorado Prepares For 104th Annual Cattlemen's Days, July 9-18
Press Release

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Cattlemen's Days, Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado's annual cowboy rodeo and fair, returns July 9-18, and is a must-see event for rodeo enthusiasts. Dubbed the "Granddaddy of Colorado Rodeos," this event made its debut in 1900, and annually features a county fair, parade, chuck wagon cook-off, live music and dancing, horse shows, and of course rodeo events sanctioned by PRCA (the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association).

In its early days, Cattlemen's Days simply featured local ranch hands trying their luck with ornery livestock. Today, the event attracts more than 200 PRCA rodeo cowboys and cowgirls, the best livestock from across the country, an annual kickoff parade and more.

"Cattlemen's Days is a quintessential western event, featuring cowboys and girls competing in rodeo events and livestock shows, and entertaining people from all over the United States," said Jack Hanson, Cattlemen's Days President. "It's nine days of fun and excitement for all those who come."

For more information on this event or to participate, contact the Gunnison County Chamber of Commerce at 970-641-1501.

"We encourage visitors to take in all the activities that make this area a great summer vacation destination," said Jane Chaney, director of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association. "There are two million acres of unspoiled wilderness in which to trail ride and horse pack, and scenic campsites in every direction. We also have great mountain biking, sightseeing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, boating and fly fishing excursions for any skill level. In addition, shopping and fine dining can be found throughout the area."

For vacation planning assistance and more information, call 1-800-665-2957, or visit www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com

About Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado

Gunnison-Crested Butte is nestled among almost two million acres of pristine wilderness in southwest Colorado. The area is known to winter sports enthusiasts for world-class alpine skiing and snowboarding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing. Gunnison-Crested Butte is also a haven for outdoor summer activities. In the warmer months, visitors enjoy recreational activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, boating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fly-fishing, camping and horseback riding. Year-round visitors enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops and stimulating cultural opportunities, and have a wide range of lodging options -- from rustic inns to guest cabins and bed-and-breakfasts to full-service resort hotels.

Dubbed the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, Crested Butte is the site of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and Crested Butte Academy, a private college preparatory boarding and day school. Gunnison, a real western town, is home to the beautiful, high-country campus of Western State College, a four-year institution offering a variety of curricula, and the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport. In Gunnison County, visitors will find the Curecanti National Recreation Area, where dinosaur fossils were recently discovered; the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado's largest body of water and home to the largest Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States; and The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, our country's newest National Park. Gunnison County includes the quaint and historic towns of Pitkin, Gothic, Tin Cup, Marble, Powderhorn, Almont and Crystal, plus the more well-known communities of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte.

More information is available at www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com