People who love horses and the aura and authenticity of the West should plan on attending the 108th Annual Gunnison Cattlemen's Days, July 5 - 13, at the Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center.

The event features a county fair, parade, horse show, cowboy poetry, live music and dancing, horse races, and of course rodeo events sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). However, the true highlight of this festival is recognition of the Western way of life in the Gunnison Valley.

"Rodeo events represent many of the skills used on a working ranch. Horses sometimes buck, heifers and calves often need to be roped and tied to be doctored, and barrel racing shows horsemanship at high rates of speed," Cattlemen's Days President Dan Woodbury said.

For a brochure containing the schedule of Cattlemen's Days events or for more information, contact the Gunnison County Chamber of Commerce at (800) 274-7580 or visit www.cattlemensdays.com. Tickets for the rodeos go on sale on Tuesday, July 1, at the Cattlemen's Days ticket booth located in the Gunnison Bank and Trust parking lot. Tickets also can be purchased at the door and cost $12 for general admission and $15 for reserved grandstand seating. July 12 is family night and with a paid adult ticket kids get in free for general seating and $5 for grandstand.