RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—OCTOBER 6, 2015—The annual Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium starts on Friday and runs through Sunday at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack as a “festival to preserve the cowboy way of life,” according to the singer-songwriter and founder Ray Reed.

It has grown into an iconic New Mexico event for all ages.

They wide-ranging event brings together musicians, storytellers and western artists. There are the famous chuck wagons, horse demonstrations, western swing dancing and the Kids Rodeo.

The World Championship Chuck Wagon Cookoff Competition offers $13,000 in awards in the categories of food, meat, potatoes, bread, beans, dessert and overall winner. It was featured on the Food Network’s All American Festivals.

“The Cowboy Symposium is a western classic,” Ruidoso Downs general manger Shaun Hubbard said. “It is the highlight of the fall season in Ruidoso and one of those events that when you go, you will come back. You will never forget the Cowboy Symposium.”

The music starts on Thursday night with the headliner Crystal Gayle, on Friday night is the Super Swing Dance with a variety of the world’s top western swing performers and on Saturday night is a lineup of four entertainers, featuring Bill Anderson.

The Kids Rodeo, for ages 3 to 10, is a highlight and it will be held on Saturday with registration starting at 10:30 a.m. and the rodeo at 12:30 p.m.There are stick-horse barrel races, dummy roping and a goat scramble.

For horse enthusiasts there will be a reining competition on Friday and Saturday, and mounted shooting competition. Clinicians Craig Cameron, Diane Willoughby and Mackie Redd will share their skills.

To see or download the full program, go to cowboysympoium.org and scroll down to select the “2015 Program” button.