Cowboys, clothiers, livestock, rodeo queens and much more share the limelight beginning Saturday at the 104th National Western Stock Show, Rodeo & Horse Show.
The event is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the weekends until Jan. 24 at the 100-acre National Western Complex at Interstate 70 and Brighton Boulevard.
More than 350 vendors sell everything from saddles to salad dressing. And hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money is at stake for those who race around barrels, lasso and pen cattle, or ride bulls and bucking broncos.
And there are countless opportunities for kids and adults to learn about life on the range and their Western heritage.
More than 600,000 ranchers, cowpokes, rural residents and city folks have attended the 16-day show in each of the past 12 years.
The show is nonprofit, and each year, it funds scholarships in studies related to agriculture and rural services at colleges in Wyoming and Colorado.
Here’s how this year’s show rolls out:
SATURDAY
7 a.m. Western National 4-H horse judging contest — SA
8 a.m. 4-H/FFA livestock judging contest — C 4-H/FFA meat judging contest, CSU, Fort Collins — TBA Colorado fiddle championships — BPAA Quarter horse halter and performance classes — EC
9 a.m. Stock show officially opens Gelbvieh Bull Futurity — SYA Poultry judging — EH3
10 a.m. Junior poultry showmanship — EH3
12 p.m. Antique tractor exhibit — SA
2 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring Pikes Peak Range Riders — C
4 p.m. Llama/alpaca Show — SA
4:30 p.m. Mile High Select quarter horse and paint horse sale preview — ECP
5 p.m. Mile High Select quarter horse and paint horse sale — EC
6:30 p.m. An Evening with a Llama/Alpaca — SA
7:30 p.m. (T) Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza, featuring Jerry Diaz, escaramuza charra, Mexican bullfighters, mariachis, bronc riding, Paso de La Muerte, Westernaires, Mutton Bustin’ — C
SUNDAY
7 a.m. 4-H/FFA livestock and meat-judging contest awards breakfast — TBA
8 a.m. Catch-A-Calf Show, photo session and awards — SA Colorado fiddle championships — BPAA Gelbvieh and Balancer Pen of Bulls Show — SYA Quarter horse performance classes — EC
9 a.m. Fellowship of Christian Cowboys service — LCAA
10 a.m. Mass — C
12:30 p.m. National Gelbvieh Junior Heifer Show — SA
1 p.m. Limousin Junior Heifer Show — SA
2 p.m. (T) $15,000 Dodge Invitational Freestyle Reining — EC
2:30 p.m. (T) Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza, featuring Jerry Diaz, escaramuza charra, Mexican bullfighters, mariachis, bronc riding, Paso de La Muerte, bull riding, Westernaires, Mutton Bustin’ — C
Gelbvieh Sale Cattle Parade — SA
4 p.m. Llama/Alpaca Show — SA
5 p.m. National Gelbvieh sale — BPAA
7 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo featuring Miss Rodeo Colorado’s coronation, Westernaires — C
MONDAY
7 a.m. AQHA Ranch Horse Classic- ranch cutting and working ranch- horse phases — EC
8 a.m. National Gelbvieh and Balancer Show — SA National Red Angus Pen Show — LCAA
12 p.m. Red Angus junior stock growers’ activities — SYA
1 p.m. National South Devon sale — BPAA Paint horse roping, reining and Western riding classes — EC
2 p.m. National Limousin sale cattle parade — SA
3 p.m. Red Angus Mile High Classic sale — LCAA
4 p.m. AQHA Ranch Horse Classic- ranch trail, ranch riding and conformation phases — SA
6 p.m. National Limousin sale — BPAA
7:30 p.m. (T) PBR Bull Riding Denver Chute Out and Team Penning — C
TUESDAY
7 a.m. Paint horse performance and halter classes — EC
8 a.m. National Limousin MOE and Lim-Flex Show — SA Red Angus Junior Breeding Heifer Show followed by the Red Angus Open Show — SA
9 a.m. Lowline Junior Heifer Show/Showmanship — SYA
11 a.m. National Lowline Peoples Choice Show — SYA
1 p.m. National Lowline sale — LCAA
7:30 p.m. (T) PBR Bull Riding Denver Chute Out and Team Penning Finals — C
WEDNESDAY
7 a.m. AQHA Ranch Horse World Championship Show: amateur ranch cutting, amateur and open ranch trail, amateur and open ranch riding — C Paint horse performance classes — EC
8 a.m. Limousin and Lim-Flex Pen and Carload Bull and Female Show — LCAA National Lowline Pen Show — SYA
9 a.m. Boer Goat Show — SH1 National Lowline Female Show (full-blood and percent) — SYA
12 p.m. National Angus ROV Bull Show — SA
2 p.m. Hereford Junior Breeding Heifer Show — SA
4 p.m. Angus “Denim and Diamonds Sale” — BPAA
5 p.m. Junior market goat showmanship — SH1
6 p.m. Team Mutton Bustin’ 101 — SA
7:30 p.m. (T) PBR Bull Riding Denver Chute Out finals — C
THURSDAY
8 a.m. Angus sale bull show — SA AQHA Ranch Horse World Championship Show: amateur working ranch horse, amateur and open ranch conformation — C National Lowline Bull Show (full- blood and percent) — SYA
9 a.m. Hereford Pen of Heifers Show — LCAA 9 a.m. Junior Market Goat Show — SH1
11 a.m. Angus Junior Breeding Heifer Show — SA Hereford Pen/Carload Bull Show — LCAA
12 p.m. Denver National Maine-Anjou/ MaineTainer sale bull evaluation — SYA
2 p.m. Junior market goat championship selection — SH1
3 p.m. National Braunvieh Show — SYA
4 p.m. Angus bull sale — BPAA
6 p.m. AQHA Ranch Horse World Championship Show: open ranch cutting and working ranch horse phases followed by the Open World Championship awards ceremony — EC Dog Agility Games — SA Red Meat Club Dinner, invitation only — NWC
7 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring Westernaires, Mutton Bustin’ — C
JAN. 15
7 a.m. Hunter/jumper classes — EC
7:30 a.m. Collegiate livestock judging contest — C
8 a.m. National Angus ROV Female Show — SA National Hereford Bull Show — SA
9 a.m. Collegiate wool-judging contest — Adams County Fairgrounds
10 a.m. Denver National Maine-Anjou and MaineTainer Pen of Heifers Show followed by Pen of Bulls Show — SYA National Braunvieh Sale — LCAA
2 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo featuring the Westernaires — C
3 p.m. Colorado Angus Association Foundation female sale — LCAA
6 p.m. National Hereford sale — BPAA Team Mutton Bustin’ 101 — SA
7:30 p.m. (T) $10,000 National Western Gambler’s Choice Open Jumper Stake — EC
7:30 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring the U.S. Industry Leader of the Year award, Mutton Bustin’ — C
JAN. 16
7 a.m. Hunter/jumper classes — EC
7:30 a.m. Collegiate carload judging contest — SYA
8 a.m. National Hereford Female Show — SA
8:30 a.m. Angus Carload/Pen Bull Show — LCAA
11 a.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring Catch-A-Calf Contest, the Westernaires, Mutton Bustin’ — C National Charolais pen show — SYA
1:30 p.m. National Shorthorn Pen Show — SYA
3 p.m. Denver National Maine-Anjou bull/female sale — LCAA
3:30 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo featuring Catch-A-Calf Contest and Westernaires — C
5 p.m. (T) Wild West Show — EC Junior market lamb showmanship — SH1
6 p.m. Dog Pull — SA Western Elite Female Sale — LCAA
7:30 p.m. Jumper classes with $5,000 Top of the Rockies open jumper stake — EC
8 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo featuring Westernaires, Mutton Bustin’ — C
JAN. 17
7 a.m. Hunter/jumper Classes — EC
7:30 a.m. Collegiate judging contest awards — TBA
8 a.m. Collegiate Meats Judging Contest, Swift and Co. — TBA Simmental Pen of Bulls Show — SYA
8:30 a.m. Junior MaineTainer Breeding Heifers/Open MaineTainer Show/Junior Maine-Anjou Breeding Heifers/Open Maine-Anjou Show — SA
9 a.m. Chianina/Chiangus/Chimaine Pen of Bulls/Females Show — LCAA Junior Market Lamb Show — SH1
10 a.m. National Shorthorn Sale Cattle Parade — SA
11 a.m. Chianina/Chiangus sale cattle evaluation — LCAA Fellowship of Christian Cowboys service and National Western Founders memorial service — C
12 p.m. National Shorthorn sale — BPAA
12:30 p.m. ACA Peak of Performance and Style sale — LCAA
1:30 p.m. National Salers Futurity Bull Show — SYA
2 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring Westernaires and Catch-A-Calf Contest — C National Salers Pen Show — LCAA
2:30 p.m. National Charolais sale — BPAA National Shorthorn Junior Heifer and Junior Shorthorn plus Heifer Show followed by National Shorthorn PACE Bull Show — SA
4 p.m. (T) Wild West Show — EC
4:30 p.m. 35th National Salers sale — LCAA
5 p.m. Junior market lamb championship selection — SH1
6:30 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo featuring the Canadian Livestock Man of the Year award, Catch-A-Calf, Mutton Bustin’ — C Jumper classes — EC
JAN. 18
7:30 a.m. Collegiate meats judging awards breakfast (closed to the public) — NWC
8 a.m. Hunter/jumper classes — EC National ROE Charolais Show — SA Salers Junior Breeding Heifer Show/ 35th National Salers Open Show — SA Simmental Pen of Heifers Show — SYA
11 a.m. Piedmontese Show — SYA
1 p.m. (T) Super Dogs — EC National Shorthorn PACE Female Show followed by Open Shorthorn plus Show — SA
2 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo featuring Westernaires and Mutton Bustin’ — C
3 p.m. American Galloway Show — SYA
4 p.m. Simmental sale — LCAA
6 p.m. (T) Martin Luther King Jr. African-American Heritage Rodeo of Champions, with announcer Sam Howry, Oklahoma relay race, ladies’ steer undecorating, Mutton Bustin’ — C
7 p.m. (T) $40,000 Jack Daniel’s Grand Prix — EC
JAN. 19
7 a.m. Open Horse Show performance classes — EC
8 a.m. Pens of 3 and 5 Prospect Calves Show — SYA Simmental Junior Breeding Heifer Show/Simmental Bull Show — SA
2 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring Westernaires and FFA Heifer Wrangle — C
4 p.m. Pens of 3 and 5 prospect calves sale — LCAA
5 p.m. Dog Fly Ball Games — SA Junior market swine showmanship — SH1
6:30 p.m. (T) Super Dogs — EC
7:30 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring Westernaires, FFA Heifer Wrangle, Mutton Bustin’ — C
JAN. 20
7 a.m. Open Horse Show performance classes — EC
8 a.m. Simmental Female Show — SA
9 a.m. Junior Market Swine Show — SH1
9:30 a.m. National Western Commercial Heifer Show followed by CCA Producers’ Show — LCAA
1 p.m. Andis cattle-grooming demonstration — BPAA
2 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring Westernaires — C Bellringer commercial female sale — LCAA
2:30 p.m. American Junior Highland Cattle Association activities — BPAA
3 p.m. NARHA demonstration — EC
4 p.m. Junior market beef showmanship — SA
6 p.m. Pfizer Stockman’s Night barbecue — LCAA
7 p.m. Junior market swine championship selection — SA
7:30 p.m. (T) An Evening of Dancing Horses (R) — EC (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring freestyle bullfight, Westernaires, Mutton Bustin’, Conservationist of the Year award — C
JAN. 21
9 a.m. Draft horse halter classes — EC National Tarentaise Show — SA Stock-dog sale preview — SY
10 a.m. Junior Market Beef Show — SA
10:30 a.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring Westernaires and Mutton Bustin’ — C National Western Family and Seniors Day, Rodeo performances — C
11:30 a.m. Chuckwagon Celebrity Beef Cook-off — SY
1 p.m. Draft Horse and Mule Performance Log Skid Race — EC Second annual stock-dog sale — LCAA
2 p.m. American Junior Highland Association Junior Challenge — BPAA Yak Pen Show — SY
4 p.m. Draft Horse Performance, featuring North American 6-Horse Hitch finals — EC Junior market beef championship selection — SA North American Classic Six-Horse Hitch finals — EC
6 p.m. Highland Junior Breeding Heifer Show followed by Highland Market Steer and Prospect Calves Show — SA
7 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring freestyle bullfight, Westernaires, Mutton Bustin’ — C
7:30 p.m. (T) An Evening of Dancing Horses — EC
JAN. 22
8 a.m. Draft horse and mule halter classes — EC Miniature Hereford World Show — SA National bison judging — SY National Highland Show — SA Stock-dog trials (preliminary cattle competition) — SY
8:30 a.m. Breeding Sheep Shows (meat breeds) — SH1
10 a.m. Texas Longhorn Show (unhaltered) — SYA
11 a.m. Draft horse and mule performance classes — EC
2 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring Westernaires — C Open Prospect Heifer Show — SA Yak Halter Show — SYA
4 p.m. Sheep lead competition — SH1
6:30 p.m. Auction of junior livestock champions — BPAA Dog Agility Games — SA
7 p.m. (T) Draft horse and mule performance classes, featuring feed team race, North American Six-Hitch Classic Series finals and lightweight pull — EC
7:30 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring freestyle bullfight, Westernaires, Mutton Bustin’ — C
JAN. 23
8 a.m. Draft horse and mule performance — EC Junior ewe lamb showmanship (meat and wool breeds) — SH1 Open Prospect Steer Show — SA
8:30 a.m. Breeding Sheep Shows (wool breeds, natural colored) — SH1
9 a.m. Texas Longhorn Youth Halter Show — SYA
10 a.m. National Highland sale — BPAA
Stock-dog trials (cattle finals) — SY
Stock-dog trials (final cattle competition) — SY
11 a.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring Westernaires and Mutton Bustin’ — C Gold Trophy bison sale — LCAA Texas Longhorn Show (haltered) — SYA
1 p.m. (T) Draft horse and mule performance classes, featuring feed team race, 4-horse hitch and middleweight pull — EC
2 p.m. Miniature Hereford world sale — BPAA
3 p.m. Stock-dog trials (intermediate sheep competition) — SA
3:30 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring Westernaires and Mutton Bustin’ — C
7 p.m. (T) Draft horse and mule performance, featuring feed team race, North American six-horse hitch world championship finals and mule parade hitch — EC
8 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo, featuring Westernaires and Mutton Bustin’ — C
JAN. 24
7 a.m. Draft horse and mule performance classes — EC
9 a.m. Sheep-shearing contest, (junior, intermediate and pro) — SH1 Stock-dog trials (open sheep competition) — SA
11 a.m. Fellowship of Christian Cowboys service — C
1 p.m. (T) Draft horse and mule performance classes, featuring feed team race finals, open six-horse hitch and 8-horse hitch, and heavy weight pull — EC
2 p.m. (T) PRCA ProRodeo finals, featuring Westernaires, Mutton Bustin’— C Stock-dog trials (final open sheep competition) — SA
