The City of Santa Clarita will be kicking off its Cowboys in the Schools program on Friday, January 27, 2006 at with an assembly at Emblem Elementary in Saugus and beginning at 8:30 am. The program, which was started in 2002 and is now part of the City Arts Education Program, is intended to bring the popular Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival into local schools. This year’s show, entitled "The American Cowboy: From His Boots to his Music" features an assembly including cowboy music, poetry, and trick roping. Two assemblies will be held each assembly day. Poet Joe Herrington, The Lost Canyon Rangers, and roper Jim Brooks will start the program off at Emblem Elementary with performances and demonstrations for students. Emblem Elementary is located at 22635 Espuella Drive in Saugus. Another assembly has been scheduled for Valley View Community School, located at 19414 Sierra Estates in Newhall, on Thursday February 16. Cowboy trick roper Jim Townsley will be at the event, showing off his roping skills in addition to Joe Herrington and the Lost Canyon Rangers. “We are pleased to be able to offer this event for the children in our community,” said Phil Lantis, Arts and Events Administrator for the City. “These assemblies give youth a fun way to learn about and develop an appreciation for the rich cowboy history that Santa Clarita enjoys.”

For more information, please contact the City’s Arts & Events office at 661/286-4018.