They Don’t Call It Cowtown For Nothing
Photos and Article by Charlie Gregory
June 11th, 2026
If you thought that Austin was the only home of the Texas Longhorn, you’d be mistaken. On a blistering morning in the Stockyards, hundreds of tourists and Texas natives line East Exchange Avenue, anticipating the arrival of the Fort Worth Herd. The Herd, the world’s only twice daily cattle drive, proudly marches through the brick laid streets, representing the heritage and history of the city called “Cowtown.”
Stockyards Sign on a Beautiful Summer Day, Fort Worth, Texas
The 17 Steers in the Fort Worth Herd Takes on the Streets of the Stockyards, Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth Herd Drover Tips His Hat to Audiences, Fort Worth, Texas
Spurred Boots on the Brick Streets, Fort Worth Texas
At exactly 11:30 a.m. each day, 17 steers, each one representing a decade of Fort Worth’s 177 year past, are led by modern cowboys called drovers to the Livestock Exchange Building. The spotted steers with their gigantic, glorious horns pay no attention to the crowds cheering and filming, and just follow the drovers in their path. While the image of cowboys riding on horses seems to be a common misconception about Texas, it rings true in this historic city. Each drover is clad with authentic western gear, wearing chaps, cowboy hats, spurred boots, and holsters to carry their pistols. At the end of their march, they tip their hats politely and stand proud to preserve a tradition that shaped Texas for more than a century.
Cattle drives originated as ways to sell cattle for beef during the 19th century, but now remain a way to show tourists and remind residents of Fort Worth of its rich history. Many of the most famous drives happened on the Chisholm Trail, leading from South Texas all the way up to Kansas. Fort Worth became a popular resting point for the millions of cattle and vaqueros that passed along the trail, and is the reason Fort Worth earned its name, Cowtown.
The Stockyards is the epicenter of cowboy culture in Texas, and it doesn’t end with the cattle drive. The streets are lined with steakhouses, famous bbq spots, western gear stores, and honky-tonks, and while the kitschy western hub can be a spectacle to many tourists, it remains one of the most lively and eventful locations downtown.
A Drover’s Holster, Fort Worth Texas
Fort Worth Herd Drover Waits for Cattle to Clear E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth, Texas
After the herd clears the streets, more cowboys lead the crowd into the Stockyards Station to enjoy more festivities. One of the most notable is the Legends of Texas gun show, which makes you feel like you're stepping right into the screen of an old-timey western movie. Actors dressed as sheriffs, deputies, and outlaws perform a comedic routine which involves shooting blanks at each other, playing dead and holding up smoking guns.
Gun Show Outlaw Plays Dead After Being Caught by the Sheriff
Gun show actor Pecos Slim was born and raised in Fort Worth Texas and says he has been working with the city for nearly two decades. Like the other drovers and actors, Slim’s getup accurately portrayed cowboys in the 19th century, proving that no matter how ridiculous the show may be, the authentic costumes showcase culture and history and reveal a colorful past. His axe that he carried, beaded bracelets and fringed boots all depicted his Native American heritage, and showed another prominent side of Texas history.
The Deputy’s Smoking Gun at the Stockyards Gun Show
Whether you're on vacation, or a Texas native that has never been, the Fort Worth cattle drive is an experience that won’t disappoint. Even in 2026, the Stockyards remains a time portal of cowboy culture that transports you back to the wild west. And if you miss the 11:30 show, the herd makes its second round everyday at 4pm.
Pecos Slim’s Axe, Fort Worth, Texas
Drover Overlooking the Texas Herd, Fort Worth, Texas.
Gun Show Actor Pecos Slim Telling Audiences About Cowtown History, Fort Worth, Texas