Meet El Vaquero, America’s first cowboy, as portrayed by Angel Vigil. A composite of many different historic figures, El Vaquero is a Spanish colonial cowboy. These cowboys were the first Europeans to ride the open ranges and sleep under the stars. They learned to tame the wild horses of the plains and delivered vast herds of cattle across great distances, mastering riding, roping and other skills.

Angel Vigil is a Colorado Heritage Artist storyteller.who is the author of six award-winning books on Hispanic and Western culture and arts. Vigil’s portrayal of El Vaquero will give color to the enduring American myth of a self-reliant cowboy riding tall in the saddle with an independent spirit representing all that is good in the American character.