Rancheros visitadores
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"Why don't we use the themes of fellowship, a lovely country and a lovely time of the year down in Santa Barbara County, but make the horse the central motif of it?"[1]
The Rancheros Visitadores or the "Visiting Ranchers" is a social club in the United States[citation needed]. It has members from across the United States, with most originating from the central and western United States. The group meets on ranch land in Santa Barbara and embarks northward on a 60-mile (97 km) journey across the countryside after receiving a blessing at the Santa Ynez Mission[citation needed].
The group was founded by John Mitchell, son of a Chicago bank president, Naval Aviation Serviceman in World War I and husband to Lolita Armour of the meat-packing industry[citation needed]. Mitchell was a member of the exclusive Chicago club but also the Bohemian Club. It was after returning from a two-week Bohemian Grove encampment that he discussed with some friends about forming their own version[citation needed]. This led to the creation of the Rancheros and began with the first full ride in May 1930[citation needed].
Ranchers until the 1860s would drive cattle to nearby Missions, where they would meet other driving groups, move to the next Mission, until all the cattle were brought to market.
[edit] References
- ^ John Mitchell in Neill C Wilson. 1955. Los Rancheros Visitadores: Twenty-Fifth Anniversary. Rancheros Visitadores. pp.17-8
