The three words heard most above the bawling of the Texas Longhorn cattle across the southern plains of Texas in 1873 were “Head’ em up!”

From Oct. 19-22, Ellsworth is bringing the “whole herd” to town — the 2023 International Chisholm Trail Association Conference and the Ellsworth Cattle Trail Sesquicentennial Commemoration and an R.W. Hampton concert — all in one weekend.

“I think it’s a fantastic opportunity,” said Dennis Katzenmeier, Ellsworth, ICTA president, “and it is extremely unique to Ellsworth, because it’s the Ellsworth Cattle Trail.”

This year is the 150th anniversary of the Ellsworth Cutoff. To commemorate the anniversary year-long commemoration is being held in trail towns in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Trail drivers’ history and entertainment will be held in towns spreading the length of the trail.

The kick-off event was April 15 at the Kansas Pacific Railway Stock Yards, Ellsworth County Historic Museum, Ellsworth. An historic marker was placed at the location of the stock yards of the Kansas Pacific Railway. The event was hosted by the ICTA and the National Drovers Hall of Fame Association.

Katzenmeier said for those who are registered for the ICTA conference in Ellsworth, a field trip is planned for 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, to visit the site of the petroglyphs of the Kansas Smoky Hills and Ellsworth Trail cattle swales on the Katzenmeier Cattle Company ranch. Meet at the Ellsworth Recreation Center, 211 W. Douglas Ave. for the tour.

“Drover Mike” Grauer will also visit Ellsworth schools.

At 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 20, the annual ICTA Conference kicks off with registration at the Ellsworth Recreation Center. The public is welcome to attend the conference, but must first register by going to www.chisholmtrailassn. com and clicking on Chisholm Trail Conference.

Speakers include Wyatt McCrea, Ken Spurgeon, Grauer and Deb Goodrich as well as entertainers Hampton, Ron Wilson and Jeff Davidson. A Drovers lunch will be served at noon, as well as a banquet with western dining at 5 p.m.

The R.W. Hampton concert will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Ellsworth City Hall Auditorium. Tickets are available at www.chisholmtrailassn. com and www.eventbrite. com The Ellsworth Cattle Trail Sesquicentennial Commemoration will be Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21-22.

On Saturday, Ellsworth merchants will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Ellsworth Cattle Trail. The Ellsworth County Historical Society Museum Complex in downtown Ellsworth will be open to the public from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

From 11 a.m.-4 p.m. the National Drovers Hall of Fame Insurance Building in downtown Ellsworth hosts an open house.

From noon-9 p.m., the National Drovers Hall of Fame Association hosts the Nick Lentz beer hall in the Ellsworth City Hall Auditorium.

At noon, a drover’s lunch will be served in front of the Ellsworth City Hall Auditorium.

At 1 p.m., the Tallgrass Express String Band performs in the Ellsworth City Hall Auditorium followed at 3 p.m. by cowboy poetry by Scott Wiswell, Greg Swob, Colby Richard and John Marks.

At 5 p.m., a drover’s supper will be served in front of Ellsworth City Hall Auditorium, followed at 7 p.m. by a cowboy ball featuring the Jonathan Dahlke String Band.

At 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, a cowboy church service will be conducted with Hampton at the old church located on the grounds of the Ellsworth County Historical Society Museum Complex.

The public is invited to attend all of the weekend’s events.