Thousands of fourth- through sixth-grade students will ride into an authentic Western experience on Jan. 26 when they take part in the annual Ted Walker Youth Day in Old Tucson.

During the day, the students will be entertained and educated by living history presentations at Old Tucson Studios. In previous years, the presentations have been put on by the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Pima County Environmental Education, the Pima County Regional Wastewater and Reclamation Department and Buffalo Soldiers.

Walker, a longtime business leader, philanthropist and Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation commission member, founded a Youth Day in 1988 as a way to give children a true Southwestern experience. The event, now named in his honor, is sponsored by Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation in partnership with Old Tucson Studios, the Dan Felix Memorial Fund, the Arizona Sonora Western Heritage Foundation, and the Pima County Parklands Foundation.