The annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo kicks off Friday with a schedule full of competitions, contests and horse shows.
This year the Stock Show and Rodeo will be open Friday to Feb. 8 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center with various events 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Hours for the stock show grounds are 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What started as a PR stunt by the Fort Worth stockyards company, to attract the interest of Chicago meat processors, has transformed to being known to be the core of Fort Worth, said Matt Brockman, Stock Show and Rodeo director of communications. The Fort Worth Stock Show epitomizes Fort Worth culture and celebrates the Western way of living.
“It’s part competition, it’s part celebration. It’s recognition of what makes Fort Worth the most unique city in the state of Texas, especially as it relates to our identity and heritage,” he said.
Beginning in 1896, the Stock Show and Rodeo would publicly showcase cattle to be sold at stockyards auctions, Brockman said. If cattle could be processed and harvested in Fort Worth, then it would spur the local economy and raise the value of livestock. Because of its success, a new tradition was etched in the city’s history and it became an annual event.
There are interactive educational exhibits that tell the story of the livestock and agricultural industry, explaining what Brockman calls agricultural literacy — how their food gets from farm to fork. Additionally, a petting zoo, Carnival Midway and Western themed shops will be available for attendees to explore.
Rodeo events include Cowboys of Color, Best of Mexico Celebración, “Best of the West” Ranch Rodeo and the ProRodeo Tournament. The livestock shows present animals of all shapes and sizes, including goats, pigeons, rabbits, poultry, pigs, lambs and cows. The horse show events include a miniature horse show, donkey and mule show, and barrel racing.
General admission to the event grounds is $15 for adults, $8 for children aged 6 to 16 and free for children five and under. The rodeo and other specific event tickets are sold separately and can be purchased online.
Reserved seating for the Stock Show Parade on Saturday at 11 a.m. is $25 at Sundance Square Plaza and $15 at the Convention Center. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available online.
Parking is $20 per vehicle. Spots are available in the Western Heritage Garage, Orange, Blue and Yellow lots, Farrington Field parking lot, N. Texas Health Science Center, Casa Mañana Lot and Dickies Arena West Lot. Visitors can find parking and traffic tips on their website.
According to their website, outside food and nonalcoholic beverages are permitted. Glass containers are not allowed on show grounds. Wagons and strollers are welcome on stock show grounds but not in the Cowtown Coliseum, Will Rogers Auditorium or Dickies Arena during scheduled events. Only service animals are allowed as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“The Stock Show is something that’s tightly woven into the fabric of the city of Fort Worth,” Brockman said. “It goes to the core of Fort Worth's identity as ‘the city where the west begins’ and [is] a celebration of the Western way of life.”
Those planning a visit can check the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo website for more information.
