WESTERN: Days

Dressed in period garb with several others, Gloria Woodward, with Empire Horse & Carriage in Grass Valley, brought two Clydesdale and two Percheron horses with a carriage in tow to participate in the parade, which followed the cattle drive.

“We love sharing the horses with everybody, especially the kids,” Woodward said. “Back in the ’20s and ’30s, we almost lost all the draft horses because the tractors were taking over.”

Woodward said keeping the breed going and participating in parades is important.

“We love the horses, and we love the fact that there’s still a town where you can drive cattle,” she said.

Colusa Western Days committee member Terry Bressler echoed Woodward’s sentiment about keeping history alive.

“Western Days tries to keep the cows and cattle around so kids can see what it was like back in the day,” Bressler said. “The cattle drive is something the whole town can enjoy – people line the streets and sit on their porches to watch the parade go by.”

He said the long-running event was almost canceled last year due to a lack of funding.

“We’ve had the event forever, and last year we almost lost it due to funding, but Sun Valley Rice Mill stepped up and sponsored it last year and this year,” Bressler said.

He said this year, they’re having a chili cook-off because it’s cheaper to make chili versus beef and will allow for more people to enter the competition.

A Sunday rib cook-off is on the schedule, and breakfast and lunch are provided at the event.

“This is the first year for the cowdog show, and it’ll be big,” Bressler added.