The Buckaroo Traditions Gathering will be held from November 15 to 17, 2024, at the Winnemucca Events Center in Winnemucca, Nevada. Admission is $5 for adults, and kids are free, making it a family-friendly way to experience the spirit of the Western cowboy.
Founded by Scott and Andrea Van Leuven along with their daughter Kadie Zeller, the Buckaroo Traditions Gathering (BTG) was created out of a desire to preserve and celebrate the unique traditions of the Great Basin buckaroo culture. With longstanding customs like stockmanship, horsemanship, low-stress cattle handling, and bridle horse training, BTG brings together skilled ranch hands to share the art of working cattle without the pressures of time. The event provides a rare opportunity to witness these traditions firsthand while fostering a deeper understanding of the buckaroo way of life.
At its heart, BTG is dedicated to protecting the skills and crafts that are essential to the buckaroo culture. Beyond cattle handling and roping, the event also highlights the work of bit and spur makers, rawhide braiders, and Native American artisans whose contributions to Western tradition are invaluable. These crafts are passed down through generations and are an integral part of the cowboy lifestyle in the American West. Through the Buckaroo Traditions Gathering, the Van Leuven family hopes to build a lasting platform for horsemen and women, Western culture enthusiasts, and community members to gather, learn, and celebrate these cherished traditions.
These are some of the things that you can expect to see at BTG. Held over a three-day weekend, BTG offers a variety of events that showcase traditional methods used on working ranches. Here’s a glimpse of what attendees can expect:
Day 1: The gathering opens with a stock horse competition where participants demonstrate the versatility and skill of their horses in events like ranch horse cutting and steer stopping. This is followed by the men’s and women’s one-man doctoring competition, where competitors quietly rope and lay down an animal to “doctor” it as if treating an illness—an essential skill on working ranches.
Buckaroo Trade Night takes place in the evening, offering a chance for buckaroos to trade gear and goods in an open market setting, free to the public. The Outside Circle band will perform at the Winner’s Casino after the events on Friday and Saturday nights.
Day 2: The day kicks off with the first round of a four-event roping competition, where teams of three people made up of a combination of men and women work together in the three-man doctoring event. Teams must sort and handle cattle with precision, head and heel the designated animal, and lay it down. The day continues with elimination rounds that narrow the field to the highest-scoring teams.
The afternoon highlights include an open goat roping event for everyone. The Big Loop Jackpot roping will follow in the evening. The rules for the classes are at Btgathering.com/classes-rules for the goat roping.
Day 3: Sunday starts with the men’s one-man doctoring finals, showcasing slow, careful work to sort and rope an animal without stress. The day culminates in the “Top Hands Big Loop Finals: Greatest Buckaroo Cow Doctoring,” where the top four teams sort out a cow, rope, and lay her down with finesse—demonstrating the ultimate in stockmanship and respect for the animals.
Throughout the weekend, BTG also offers diverse resource vendors providing educational information and resources to support rural living. These vendors share knowledge and tools to help ranchers, families, and the public thrive in their communities. From health and safety information to practical tools for better land and animal management, the resources available aim to strengthen and empower the local community, helping them succeed in all aspects of rural life.
In addition to the competitions and educational resources, the Buckaroo Gear Gathering features vendors throughout the weekend, offering everything from tack and clothing to handmade bits, spurs, and Western art—perfect for holiday shopping.
To learn more, view the full schedule, and purchase tickets, visit btgathering.com. Don’t miss this chance to witness the rich traditions of the buckaroo culture and connect with the incredible community that keeps it alive.
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