Saddle up and head for Sonoita this Saturday, Oct. 24, for the 9th Annual Empire Ranch Roundup and Open House. The event will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Empire Ranch headquarters on the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. Admission is free, but a $5 parking per vehicle donation is encouraged.�  Membership contributions supporting the Empire Ranch Foundation would be appreciated.� 

“We really have a great lineup of more than 80 presenters and performers, including Mariachi Apaches from Nogales High School, Western balladeer Bruce Andre and The Deserts Sons,” said Christine Auerbach, administrator of the Empire Ranch Foundation.

Auerbach added that this year’s event will feature arena and Western skills exhibits, wagon rides, the Kid’s Corral, barbecue and auction “It's all non-commercial and efforts go to raise funds for the preservation of this historic structure.”� 

For those not familiar with the history of the ranch, it dates to the 1870s. Acting in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), The Empire Ranch Foundation is a non-profit, volunteer organization that was formed to protect, restore and sustain the Empire Ranch historical buildings and landscape as an outstanding Western heritage and education center.� 

For more information, visit the Empire Ranch Foundation Web site at HYPERLINK "http://www.empireranchfoundation.org/"www.empireranchfoundation.org or call (888) 364-2829.