March 31 & April 1, 2023

JS Bridwell Ag Center @ MPEC

Drawing • Jewelry • Painting • Photography • Sculpture • Silversmithing• Trappings • Woodworking

Cowboy True is a celebration honoring working cowboys and the art, gear, and trappings that come from their daily lives.

Cowboy True features artists and craftsmen from across the United States.  Artists are juried into the event based on their artistic skill and strong representation of the Cowboy way of life.

Get your tickets!

Schedule of Events

2023 Exhibitors

2023 Featured Artists

Public Contests

Purse Party Auction

GET ALL THE TICKETS!

Click the image or this link: Cowboy True Event and Raffle Tickets

Schedule of Events

We'll have timelines on Friday and Saturday activities soon! Events will include a chuck wagon round up, kids' arts activities, living history re-enactors, music, and more.

• daytime

  Friday School Arts Day
  Activities for Region 9 schools

  Contact Nancy Scott at assistant@artscouncilwf.org or 940-767-2787 ex114 for information about your school participating in these activities next year.

• 5:30pm-8:30pm

  Friday Night Preview Party

  An early look at the exhibitors plus entertainment
  (17 and under FREE with an adult ticket purchase)
  

  Artist Exhibits
  Live Music
  Line Dancing Lessons
  Artist Awards
  HX Chuckwagon appetizers
  Cash Bar

• 10:00am-5:00pm

  Saturday Daytime Exhibit
  Art exhibit featuring over 40 cowboy artists
  (17 and under FREE with an adult ticket purchase)
  

  Artist Exhibits
  Chuckwagon Round Up
  Little Eden Petting Zoo
  Live Music
  Painting Classes with How Great Thou Art
  Cowboy Poetry
  Trail Rides with Whispers of Hope
  ...and much more!
• 5:30pm-6:30pm

  Saturday Evening VIP Dinner
  Entertainment, refreshments, artwork, auction items and more!

  Chuckwagon dinner, entertainment, and exclusive door prize opportunities

• 6:30pm-9:30pm

  Saturday Evening Party

  Entertainment, refreshments, artwork, auction items and more!

  Complimentary Beer at check in
  Full Cash Bar
  Heavy Cowboy Hors d ’Oeuvres by Chef LaBoy
  Jalapeno Bites, BBQ Brisket Sliders, Western Burgers, Huevos Rancheros
  Live music by Hot Club of Cowtown!
  Door Prizes + Grand Prize Drawing

• GRAND PRIZE: $25/ticket for Gravely ZTX 52" LE Kawasaki ZT Mower

2023 Exhibitors

We're proud to include these artists in this year's exhibit selected by the Jury Committee.

2023 Featured Artists

Each year the committee selects a Featured Artist who represents a long history with the Cowboy True event.  Past featured and guest artists include: Bobby Dove, David Godfrey, Polly Kennedy, Laine Smith, John David Rule, Mike Vaughn, Kathryn Leitner, Stephen Jones, Jeremy Enlow, and Donna Howell-Sickles.

This year's Featured Artists are Jerry Smyers (Sculpture) and Kathy Smyers (Trappings)!

Public Contests

Our contests are now all closed.  Each year we offer hundreds of dollars in prizes, opprtunities for public display and performance, and more for the kids and adults who enter our contests.

• 2023 Junior Photography Contest
• 2023 Junior Art Contest
• 2023 Junior Poetry Contest
• 2023 Adult Poetry Contest

Purse Party Auction

Get ready to place your bids in our online silent auction... coming February 19th through March 5th. Shop the collection of new and gently used purses, handbags, totes, clutches, wallets and more. Proceeds benefit Cowboy True, the Arts Council WF and Whispers of Hope Horse Farm.

Click to see the auction!

All items are graciously donated by the Cowboy True committee, along with their families and friends. If you're interested in donating your purses or bags, please email development@artscouncilwf.org or call us at (940) 767-2787 ext. 113.

Artist Application

CLOSED JANUARY 31, 2023!

2023 Artist Applications are now closed. 

This year's judges! 

• Mike Vaughn – Mike Vaughn Handmade Boots
• Suzette Chang – National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Chief Education Officer

For questions, please contact Kristine Thueson at cowboytrue@artscouncilwf.org or 940-767-2787 ext 202.