In the heart of the Imperial County 30 miles north of Mexicali, Mexico, there's a city where nearly half the days of the calendar year reach over 90 degrees, and it isn't uncommon to top 120 degrees! The long summer is hot, and just perfect for cattle & feed industries.

Winters bring the snowbirds from the colder states who seek an affordable and guaranteed warm place to soak up some California sunshine. The tourist season is in winter when the weather is the finest of nearly any place in California.

Brawley in the southeastern part of the State of California is 210 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 126 miles east of San Diego. In 1902 someone tried to name the town in honor of J.H. Braly, who owned the land, but he refused to lend his name to the place, so a "w" was added to the word and to this day, it is called Brawley. The first post office opened in 1903 and the town was formed in 1908 when it was nothing more than a tent city of about 100 people.

Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, boating and fishing on the Colorado River, desert hiking, bird watching on the Salton Sea and severa golf courses provide entertainment for those who call Brawley home, and those who like to visit or stick around through the winter. when the weather is oh-so nice.

The biggest, most popular event is the annual Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo. It began in1957 and was named for the popular western song written by Tex Owens and made famous by Eddy Arnold. The event went "pro" in 1960 when it was sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Surrounding the event are two weeks of entertainment and activities that include selecting and crowning a queen, a chili cook-off, a huge parade in downtown Brawley, and the rodeo. Look for the event before Thanksgiving each year. cattlecallrodeo.com

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