The National Western Stock Show - 4655 S. Humbolt St., Denver - Phone 303-433-7444 - Dates Jan 12-27 - Cost: Grounds admission $7 adults $2 children 3-11; $9 adults, $3 children Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Tickets to rodeo, horse shows and Wild West Show vary from $10 to $50.
Each year as soon as the New Year’s celebration
is over, cowboy attire becomes the
“in” thing to wear as the National Western
Stock Show comes to town.
In 2008, the National Western opens Jan.
12 and wraps up Jan. 27. The schedule of
events for those dates stretches for pages. Of
course, there are horse shows and livestock
judging, but the event also includes wild
West shows, rodeos and equestrian events
plus hundreds of vendors offering items
ranging all the way from livestock trailers to
rattlesnake-head hat bands.
As the name indicates, the event is a stock
show. There are judging competitions for
horses, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, llamas,
bison, yaks poultry and rabbits.
Other livestock-related events include a
sheep-shearing contest, a junior livestock
show and the catch-a-calf competition
where young livestock enthusiasts try to
catch a calf they keep and are judged next y
ear on their ability to raise and care for the
animal.
There also are a number of livestock sales
where millions of dollars change hands as
prize animals are sold to new owners.
The National Western Stock Show is
Colorado’s largest trade show. The Denver
Metro Chamber of Commerce reports the 2005
National Western Stock Show had an economic
impact of about $84.1 million, a figure that
has grown by about $8 million since the last
report based on the ’98 stock show.
All of the stock show activities are centered
at the National Western Stock Show Arena
and Hall of Education near 46th Avenue and
Humbolt Street, the Events Center at 1515 E.
47th Ave. and the Denver Coliseum. For information,
tickets, the event schedule and event
locations, call 303-297-1166.
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