Hey, friend! Welcome back to another post. Today, I want to tell you about the annual Western Heritage Awards that take place at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Let’s get started!
Here is a basic schedule of events:
- Friday morning: Workshop with Honorees/Inductees
- Friday evening: Kick-Off Party
- Saturday morning: Panel Discussion with Honorees/Inductees
- Saturday evening: Cocktail Hour & Awards Dinner
Friday Morning: Workshop
On Friday, I attended the workshop with Michael Grauer and Don Reeves. These men are both giants in the Western history world and to be in the same room with them is truly an honor. I loved hearing Mr. Reeves’ story from his time as the curator at The Cowboy.
The workshop is free to attend with Museum admission.
Persimmon Hill Trunk Shows
The trunk shows at Persimmon Hill are always a big hit! They bring in various artists and give them an opportunity to sell their work. I got to meet Matthew Herring with Hallet Peak last fall and have been a fan of his work for a long time! At the spring 2024 trunk show, his partner Rebekah was invited to bring her work as well! They are both extremely talented artists and I wholeheartedly recommend checking out their work. I have multiple pieces from them in my personal collection.
Friday Evening : Kick-Off Party
The Kick-Off Party Off Friday evening is so much fun! This is one of the first opportunities I usually have to see ALL of my friends in one place. Everyone dresses up in their best Western wear so the fashion is always amazing. You will need to purchase a ticket for this event. The few years I have attended, the Friday Kick-Off Party has not sold out like the dinner. You also have a pretty good chance at meeting some of the inductees at this event!
Saturday Morning: Panel Discussion
On Saturday morning, there is a panel with a couple of the inductees. They answer questions about their life, career, and love for the Western industry. This event is free to the public with Museum admission and usually fills up quickly. If you want a seat, you have to get there early! Otherwise, plan on standing in the back or on the sides.
Saturday Evening: Cocktail Hour & Awards Dinner
On Saturday evening, there is a cocktail hour before the awards ceremony where you can mingle and chat. You have to purchase a ticket to attend the cocktail hour and dinner. If you can’t get a ticket to the event because it sold out, it is usually live-streamed. Check the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s website to see where it is being streamed. I’ve seen both the Wrangler Network and the Cowboy Channel livestream the awards ceremony. If you missed the livestream, you can go back and watch the recording.
The awards ceremony is magical and you can feel the passion for the Western industry in the room. The speeches are heartfelt and will leave you feeling inspired! Everyone attends this event in their best black-tie Western wear and looks AMAZING!
Concluding Thoughts
The annual Western Heritage Awards at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a special event and I feel privileged to have been able to attend. The people who are honored at this ceremony are the trailblazers of the industry and are some of the hardest working people you’ll ever meet. They’re also some of the kindest!
It’s truly a special weekend I look forward to. I hope to see you there next year! 🙂
The Active Historian 
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