Museum and History Center will host Cowboy Day March 16

“Drago, drag out that hog leg. Get me some attention,” orders George Washington McClintock (John Wayne). BANG. “Yee-Hah! People. People. People. Gather round,” shouts Drago (Chill Wills) from the bed of a buckboard. That’s s scene from one of the most popular western movies of all time, McClintock, starring none other than John Wayne.

It surely won’t be that dramatic (and no firearms will be involved), but local residents won’t want to miss the first annual Cowboy Day at the Mariposa Museum and History Center on Saturday, March 16.

According to Amanda Adams at the museum, “This event is to honor the history, hard work, and commitment of Mariposa County’s cowboys and ranchers.” The day-long western affair will feature vendors, music, Cowboy Poetry headlined by Mariposa’s Wendy Brown, a bed quilt turning demonstration by the Mariposa Piece Makers, a costume contest, photo booth by Joanna Ransom Photography, a silent auction, raffle, gold panning sessions and many more fun activities.

Many local organizations will be participating as well, including the Mariposa Rodeo Royalty, the Sheriff’s Posse, and Made in Mariposa. Limited vendor spaces are available at this time and are $50 per space.

The proceeds raised from this community event will go toward supporting the museum’s Student Docent Program, which provides employment opportunities for local youth. This program teaches youth not only about the employment process, but important skills and qualities such as accountability, community work, and customer service. The student docents perform a variety of responsibilities including greeting guests, providing tours, operating the gift store, taking inventory, research, managing archival collections, fundraising, and others.

The Student Docent Program originated in 2015 to help provide more employment opportunities to local youth and help prepare them for college and careers as they become adults.

Currently, the program has three student docents: Wyeth Bothwell, Shasta Conner, and Patrick Cleary. The goal of this fundraiser is to continue this program and to add more student docents. It has become an essential part of the museum and is beneficial to the staff and community, in turn providing a positive work experience for the participating students.

Tickets are available now online at mariposamuseum.com or they can be purchased at the Mariposa Museum and History Center located at 5119 Jessie Street. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for ages 7 to 12, and ages 6 and under are free.

The Cowboy Day shindig will be on Saturday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On behalf of the Mariposa Piece Makers, the museum is requesting that interested community members submit their vintage quilts for the bed turning demonstration and to be displayed to the public. Those interested can contact the museum or stop by to complete a bed turning entry form.

The museum is also asking for donations of silent auction and raffle prizes for this event to help support the Student Docent Program. In addition, the museum organizers are looking to add additional Cowboy/Western Poets to the event.

Any and all support or donations are greatly appreciated by the Mariposa Museum and History Center’s staff and Board of Directors. The museum is a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Organization, and all donations are tax deductible.

“We invite the community to join us for a fun-filled day that will mark the first of many future Cowboy Days,” said Adams. For more information, contact the museum at [email protected] or call at (209) 966-2924.