07/25/2026
Happy National Day of the Cowboy!
Today we celebrate the men and women who shaped the American West—and few captured that spirit better than Will James.
Born in Canada as Joseph Ernest Dufault, he reinvented himself as Will James and lived the life he wrote about. As a cowboy, horse breaker, author, and artist, he shared the grit, honesty, and freedom of the open range through his stories and paintings.
His classic book Smoky the Cowhorse won the Newbery Medal in 1927, preserving the true spirit of the cowboy for generations to come.
Today, we honor not only Will James, but every cowboy and cowgirl whose hard work, resilience, and love for the Western way of life continue to inspire us.
Happy National Day of the Cowboy!
