If you have ever dreamed of living the cowboy life with beautiful scenery, few bosses and great family values, then Amarillo is the place for you in November.

Cowboys and cowgirls from ranches across the western U.S. will be in town for the 11th Anniversary World Championship Ranch Rodeo, sponsored by the Working Ranch Cowboy Association (WRCA). These men and women are the real deal, patrolling the wide open spaces on horseback at all hours of the day and in all kinds of weather.

Each ranch qualifies for this event by winning a regional ranch rodeo sometime during the year. A team of 4-6 hands usually competes for the ranch, but frequently the entire ranch brings family and friends with them to the event. Their reward for winning? One year’s bragging rights as World Champion.

The ranch rodeo events, such as team branding, wild cow milking and team penning, have their roots in the regular ranch chores of 100 years ago, many of which are still performed today.

Rodeo performances are 7 p.m. on Nov. 9, 10 and 11 with a final matinee performance scheduled for 2 p.m. on Nov. 12. Other cowboy events, open all dayleading up to the rodeo performance, include a top-notch cowboy art show and sale, an authentic bit and spur show, cowboy poetry and music performances, Pokey the Clown’s Jr. Ranch Rodeo and a ranch exposition trade show.

Horses play a major role in ranch rodeo. As part of the World Championship Ranch Rodeo, visitors can watch the annual Working Ranch Horse Show sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Journal. Great ranch horses ridden by the best cowboys, many representing legendary ranches, will go head to head in one of the toughest ranch horse competitions held in the country. The top horses will win an opportunity to compete at the RHAA Finals. (Ranch Horse Association of America). And ranch rodeo enthusiasts will enjoy the naming of the Best Remuda Award, sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Association, Bayer Animal Health and WRCA, and given to the ranch with the best horse program.

All events are under one roof in the Amarillo Civic Center and all events are included in one ticket price.

Tickets are available through Panhandle Tickets either on-line at www.panhandletickets.com or over the phone at 806-378-3096. Ticket prices range from $15 to $24, depending on the date of the performance and the seat location. Saturday night’s performance usually sells out.