HSU’s Tradition of Western Heritage Day Educates Local Youth on Life in the West

(ABILENE, Texas)–Each spring, thousands of Big Country students travel to the Hardin-Simmons University campus to experience what life may have been like on the western frontier in the 1880s. Since the initial campfire and cookout event in 1982, Western Heritage Day has educated and entertained students and visitors of all ages.

Although this year’s event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Western Heritage Day is still a tradition HSU is proud to have celebrated on campus for almost 40 years.

Activities and Events

Western Heritage Day is one of HSU’s largest annual events, as over 4,000 local daycare and elementary school students flock to campus to partake in the many activities and events. Faculty, staff, and students team up to provide a well-rounded experience for attendees. All activities are aimed at educating Big Country youth about the integrity, honor, character, and hard work of the men and women of the frontier.

A volunteer works with a student on lassoing.

Special campus activities include a petting zoo, sheep shearing, folk dancing, western storytelling, HSU branding pit, chuck wagon snacks, old-timey clothes washing experience, face painting, the Fort Griffin Longhorn Herd, and performances from HSU’s Six White Horses and the World-Famous Cowboy Band. There are also demonstrations on trick roping, quilting and weaving, and boot and hat making.
Attendees are encouraged to enhance their western experience by bringing a sack lunch and having a picnic by HSU’s Reflection Pond of Anderson Lawn.

History

Western Heritage Day began in 1981 as a Founder’s Day celebration during Abilene’s Centennial festivities. In a video about the event’s history, retired HSU faculty member George Newman explains, “Lawrence Clayton, B.W. Aston, Randy Armstrong and myself just had a little campfire where we cooked some biscuits and some beans…we just had a small celebration within the campus.”

Students visit with the Six White Horses during a Western Heritage Day celebration.

After the success of the first event, the four decided to found an annual event in celebration of western heritage, which influenced both the culture of HSU and the surrounding community. The event moved from the Sid Richardson Science Center lawn to Anderson lawn to accommodate more visitors and activity booths.

Admission to Western Heritage Day is free to all Big Country daycare and elementary school aged students, but all participants must register prior to the event via the HSU website.

HSU’s Western Heritage Day is made possible each year by contributions from the Guy Caldwell Endowment for Western Heritage and the Lee and Lou C. Evans Endowment for Western Heritage.