Calling all Cowboys and Cowgirls!
SAVE THE DATE 🤠 Cowboy Camp is headed back to Bryce Canyon and celebrating 5 years of programming in 2026!
You won’t want to miss out on our biggest celebration yet!
📍 Tropic, Utah | Bryce Canyon Inn
🗓️ July 7-9th, 2026
Registration will open January 31st, 2026 on ZSuite (spots are limited and sell out FAST!)
Cost: $145 (includes lodging, meals and adventures)
What is Cowboy Camp?
Cowboy Camp is an agricultural literacy initiative that aims to inspire a new generation of leaders who are passionate about agriculture and equipped to make positive contributions to their local communities, whether through their careers or civic engagement. During this three-day, overnight camp, youth will engage in hands-on learning with agricultural practices, producers and communities.
What happens at Cowboy Camp?
Cowboy Camp serves as a platform for networking and mentorship, connecting 4-H youth with industry professionals who can provide guidance and support as they explore potential career paths. 
Cowboy Camp highlights the following 4-H project areas:
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🐎 Agriculture – Hands-on horse & livestock, Farming/Ranching, and rangeland learning
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🥾 Outdoor Education & Recreation – Adventure-based skill building in nature
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🌿 Environmental Science – Explore ecosystems, conservation, and natural resources
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🔬 Agriscience – Science-focused activities connecting agriculture and STEM
Below is just a small glimpse into all the fun we have!
Questions? Contact Heather Thomson
Get ready for an eye-opening experience with our exclusive tours at Cowboy Camp! Dive into the real-world workings of the agricultural sector and see firsthand how it operates. You’ll explore cutting-edge technologies, meet industry professionals, and discover exciting career opportunities in agriculture. This tour is your chance to see the behind-the-scenes action, gain valuable insights, and network with experts who can help guide your future career path. These tours change yearly and may focus on any ag-related industry (e.g. 2025's Tour of Mammoth Creek DWR Fish Hatchery).
Cast a line and reel in a rainbow, brook, tiger or cutthroat trout at Pine Lake. Located at 7500 feet in elevation, this lake is stocked yearly with “catchable” size fish (10 inches). Trout that have overwintered can reach up 18 inches in length!
Fishing is not only a favorite pastime for cowboys & cowgirls, but an industry fueled by agriculture.
Did you know that the fish used to stock Utah’s lakes were raised in a hatchery, or that the lake water doubles as a source for irrigation to grow crops? Agriculture is a part of everything in our world!
Explore the scenic beauty of Southern Utah from the back of a mule. Riders who choose this adventure will embark on a ride to Willis Creek Narrows through slot canyons. This ride, guided by Mecham Outfitters, tops out to a panoramic view of the Colorado Plateau Region.
Youth do not need extensive riding experience, but must be able to complete the entire ride.
Weight Limit is 240 lbs
All youth must wear long pants, closed toed shoes and a helmet.
At Cowboy Camp, youth dive into the world of Outdoor Education by participating in a mock Envirothon competition, rotating through hands-on stations in Soil & Land Use, Forestry, Aquatic Ecology, and Wildlife. Each year highlights a current issue impacting our environment and agricultural industry—such as drought—allowing participants to apply real-world problem-solving skills. The 2025 competition was held in the stunning Bryce Canyon National Park, and 2026 is already shaping up to be just as exciting!
According to a report published by the American Farm Bureau, “[Producers] comprise less than 2% of the U.S. population.” Today’s 4-H youth will be tomorrow’s leaders in agriculture, or the next generation of the 2%. However, that lens becomes far more encompassing when we view it with the ability to also influence the additional 98%. Cowboy Camp helps all youth find their place in agriculture; whether as producers raising and growing food, engineers designing machinery to harvest it, lawmakers creating policies to support it, or consumers making informed decisions.
Every camp activity is intentionally designed to teach, inform and provide accurate sources of information. There’s no better source for youth to learn about agriculture than from America’s producers.
After attending camp, youth will be Beyond Ready to take thier seat at the table in each of thier unique angles of advocacy. Come find your spark and learn with us at Cowboy Camp!
Who attends Cowboy Camp?
Ages 11-18 (Intermediates and Seniors)
This agricultural literacy initiative is specifically designed to bridge the gap between youth from urban backgrounds and those of rural communities. Cowboy Camp provides a unique opportunity for youth with little to no experience in agriculture to explore and learn about the western way of life. It’s also an excellent space for youth from rural backgrounds, who are already involved in agriculture, to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the industry. By fostering understanding, collaboration, and shared experiences, this program empowers youth to appreciate agriculture’s role in their daily lives and make informed decisions that support farmers and ranchers through purchasing habits, legislative advocacy, and career choices.
Despite its connotation, the word Cowboy does not denote one gender over another. In fact, some of the best cowboys are girls! The term is instead used to describe an individual that embodies resiliency, grit and dedication; always striving to provide for a richer future. Perhaps the greatest testament to the cowboy character is having maintained relevance in a modern society, all qualities successful, and Beyond Ready youth have too.
Cowboy Camp creates an important space for girls to get involved in agriculture and become confident within this industry. This experience ensures that all participants leave not only with valuable skills and knowledge, but also with the confidence to engage in meaningful conversations about agriculture’s role in our society.
Cowboy Camp is for all 4-Hers, regardless of project area(s) and gender. Come experience the Cowboy Culture with us!
2025 Evaluation Report