U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, addressed the Senate Floor to recognize the National Day of the American Cowboy and its importance in American culture. The U.S. Senate recently passed a bipartisan resolution, introduced by Barrasso, which designates July 26, 2025, as the National Day of the American Cowboy.
Barrasso acknowledged that this annual celebration began two decades ago, initiated by former Senator Craig Thomas. He expressed pride in continuing this tradition alongside Senator Cynthia Lummis.
In his remarks, Barrasso stated: “This Saturday marks the Day of the American Cowboy. This national celebration began twenty years ago. It was started by my predecessor, Senator Craig Thomas, and I am proud to continue it with Senator Cynthia Lummis today.
“By celebrating the American cowboy, we celebrate the men and the women who transformed a vast frontier into vibrant communities.
“The people who paved the way for the American dream, from the saddle of a horse, they made America great. The people who continue to believe that freedom is a gift, a gift from God, not from the government. That’s who cowboys are.
“The American cowboy represents the grit and the values that America is built on.
“Now, I’m from Wyoming, and in Wyoming, we believe in the Cowboy Code. We live it each and every day.
“It says, ‘Live each day with courage, take pride in your work, do what needs to be done.’ That’s what we do in the West.
“And, we need these values more than ever in America and especially in Washington D.C.
“Because cowboys will tell you ‘It’s not about the boots on your feet, not about the hat on your head,’ it’s about the values you embrace. Values that cowboys truly represent.
“The character matters more than credentials. The actions speak louder than words. The best government is the government that trusts the people to govern themselves.
“The American Frontier spirit is alive and well today.
“President Ronald Reagan said when he was in Cheyenne, Wyoming, of the American West, he said the thing he loved about Wyoming and the West—he said ‘People here still believe the future is ours to shape.’
“People in the West continue to create and shape that future each and every day.”
The National Day of the American Cowboy honors individuals whose work contributed significantly to building communities across western states like Wyoming.
