Denver And The Wild West

It’s the middle of January. The weather outside is frightful. Our highs today are 2*F or -20*C. It’s frigidly cold, it’s snowing, and very windy. Some might just say this is winter. But here in Denver, we call it Stock Show Season. 

The Denver Stock Show has been a tradition since 1906, when the Denver Livestock Exchange hosted its first “official” Western Livestock Show under a circus big top tent. The annual National Western Stock Show is in full swing, celebrating 116 years of agricultural education, entertainment, and rich western heritage. Dating back to 1906, the Stock Show is held for 16 days each January and draws upwards of 700,000 attendees from all over the country. Not only does the National Western stake its claim as Colorado’s largest western trade show, it hosts one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos.  Today’s events cover a wide spectrum of western culture and time-honored traditions, ranging from grooming demonstrations and horse shows to mutton busting and cattle dog competitions. This year promises to be extra special as the show’s ranchers, farmers, and agriculture experts return for the first time since the pandemic hit in 2020. 

Bringing the stocks to Denver.

Before the show started, we visited some of the stock animals, including a couple of big Clydesdale horses, some ponies, and a very large Texas longhorn steer.

Zoe and Dad Marc bought some matching hats for the occasion.

We had all been to the Stock show before, and have all seen different events, but this was the first time for all of us to see it together, and to see the Wild West Show.

We celebrated the Denver tradition and went to the Stock Show last night with Mike, Lauren, Wendy, Marc and Zoe. Larry was unable to attend because he had a hockey game. There are many different shows to watch during the 16 day duration, but we attended the Wild West Show. The Wild West Show is a historical trip back to the authentic days of the Wild West, portrayed by re-enactments of the Buffalo Bill Cody Wild West Days.

The show included All Tribe Dances from the Indian dancers, Cowboys, The National Anthem performance, a trick roper, Annie Oakley and her shooting skills, trick riders, Steppe Riders, and The Mexican Charros, to name a few. It was all fun, and the athletes are very talented, but I think my favorites were all the trick riders and the Cosack riders.

Here are some of the events of the show.

As you can see, it was a wild and fun evening. I wish I could take credit for the photos, but for some strange reason, my camera was misbehaving last night and didn’t want to work. I am blaming it on the weather. Fortunately, The professionals were there to capture the evening’s entertainment. :)

Happy New Year everyone. May 2024 bring happiness, good health and prosperity to all. For those of you trapped in this winter freeze, stay warm and stay stay safe. ’Til next time.