Cowboy Festival at Historic Empire Ranch - Saturday 11/07/2026
Trip Cost: $10
The Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival is the Foundation’s annual public event celebrating Arizona’s Western history and culture. Previously called the Roundup & Open House (2000-2017), the Festival also showcases Bureau of Land Management and Empire Ranch Foundation’s efforts to preserve the Empire Ranch for future generations. Enjoy Western heritage demonstrations including wild horse and burro training, cowboy mounted shooting, silversmithing, telegraphy, falconry; arena and livestock exhibits; cowboy cooking and Western entertainment. This event features many opportunities to capture live action shots and videos. You can even register directly with Empire Ranch for a 45-minute trail ride ($50 per rider).
Find more information about the Cowboy Festival here.
We’ll meet at the Photography Club at 8:30 AM for carpooling, departing at 9:00 AM. In previous festivals, hay bales were often used for seating during some of the events so please dress accordingly. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes (not sandals). A hat, sunscreen and water are also recommended. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge, if available. For those carpooling, $15.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver.
Most of the rooms of the Empire Ranch House are wheelchair accessible through the breezeway (zaguán) entrance, as are most of the other buildings/structures. The public restrooms, located north of the Ranch House, are wheelchair accessible. The grounds at Empire Ranch consist of rough grassy fields, bare ground, uneven gravel surfaces and mostly flat but uneven terrain that can be challenging.
Denise LeCount O'Brien and Sarah Sheehan will be the trip leaders. Please contact Denise at 309-830-0177 or email at She will be disseminating more information to registered participants via e-mail as we get closer to the event. Please add your trip leader's email and phone number to your contact list so you don't miss out on any important updates.
GVR requires that every person participating in the club's field trips must sign a waiver absolving GVR of any liability. You will be required to sign the waiver at the Photography club before the trip departs if you haven't already done so.
The last date to cancel for a refund is October 31, 2026. If you need to cancel, please contact the Field Trip Co-Chair Lynn Rozema at 719-351-5193 or email lrozema51@gmail.com. We may have people on the wait list to take your place.
If you have to cancel on the day of the trip, please call Denise as soon as you know you cannot make the trip.
NOTICE:
All participants need to be responsible for an assessment of their mobility and health issues relating to field trips. Some trips may not be appropriate, but you must make that determination. However, the trip leader may deny participation in a specific field trip to anyone deemed not suitably prepared or able to walk with the group.
Be sure to have your GVR card with you for each and every field trip. Without it, you won't be allowed to go on the trip. No refunds will be granted for failure to comply with this requirement. To protect GVR and club member benefits, GVR has implemented a new process that requires each field trip participant to come into the club and scan his/her GVR card to confirm eligibility. We no longer have the option of typing in your name or GVR number – only the physical GVR card will do.
We will no longer meet in the parking lot. We will meet in the GVR Photography Club where you will scan your GVR card confirming your eligibility to go on the trip. We’ll also review important/late-breaking information, pair up drivers and riders, provide driving directions, and give participants a chance to visit the restrooms prior to departure. Again, be sure to have your GVR card with you.
In order to participate in this event, you must be a member of the GVR Photography Club and GVR.
The GVR Photography Club is located in the Recreation Village of Santa Rita Springs.