Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo |
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Halter class at the 1908 show
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| Genre | Livestock show and Rodeo |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue | Will Rogers Memorial Center Fort Worth, Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Years active | 128 |
| Inaugurated | October 12, 1896 |
| Previous event | 17 January – 8 February 2020 |
| Next event | 14 January – 05 February 2022 |
| Attendance | 1,248,500 (2018) |
The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is a super old and famous event held every year in Fort Worth, Texas. It's the oldest event of its kind that has run without stopping! It started way back in 1896. This big show helps young people who want to work with animals and farming. It gives out lots of money for scholarships and other help every year.
History of the Stock Show
Fort Worth: Cowtown Beginnings
Long ago, after the American Civil War, Fort Worth was called "Cowtown." This was because cowboys would stop there for supplies. They were moving their cattle from South Texas along the famous Chisholm Trail.
Later, in 1876, a railway came to Fort Worth. Business people started building special places for cattle. These were called stock yards. They wanted Fort Worth to be a big part of the cattle business. In 1883, the Fort Worth Stockyards officially opened.
How the Show Started
Local ranchers wanted to get more people interested in their cattle. So, a rancher named Charles McFarland and a marketing manager named Charles French had an idea. They decided to hold the first local stock show in 1896. This was the very first event that grew into the Fort Worth Stock Show.
The first show was held by Marine Creek. There were no buildings, just a few trees for shade. Early cattle owners and organizers were from Texas. They worked with the Fort Worth Stock Yards Company. Meat companies like Armour & Company also helped.
Early Success and Growth
That first show was a big hit! So, organizers held another two-day event in October 1896. It started with a parade. Most people liked the spring dates better. So, the show became a March event. This helped it fit with other big livestock shows around the country.
The next year, in 1897, the event got a name: the Texas Fat Stock Show. Tents were put up for the animals. Visitors paid 25 cents to see the livestock.
Local ranchers told meat companies in the north about the show. They hoped to make the local animal industry better. In 1904, the people of Fort Worth raised $50,000. They formed a company to run the event.
Under its second president, Samuel Burk Burnett, the show grew a lot. This was from 1908 to 1922. The North Side Coliseum was built in 1908 for the event. It's now called Cowtown Coliseum. This new indoor arena made the Stock Show even more popular. Soon, a carnival and games were added. More businesses showed their products too. People came from many states to join.
Rodeo Fun
The First Indoor Rodeo
In 1917, a newspaper editor named Ray McKinley had a new idea. He suggested adding a competition for cowboys and cowgirls. The Stock Show president chose a group of seven men to plan this new event. They were involved with cattle and horses.
One person suggested using the Spanish word for these contests: rodeo. The group decided to use a different pronunciation, "roh-dee-oh." This new competition was approved. It was added to the Stock Show because the North Side Coliseum was big enough.
The 1918 Fort Worth Rodeo was the world's first indoor rodeo. It had 12 performances over six days. Contests included ladies bronc riding, junior steer riding, and men’s bucking bronco. Many contestants were Wild West Show performers. They competed for a $3,000 prize. About 23,000 people watched these first indoor rodeo events.
Rodeo Innovations
In 1927, the Stock Show made a big change for rodeos. They introduced side release chutes for bucking horses and bulls. This is now a standard part of the sport. These chutes let the animal and rider into the arena safely. It's the safest way for both the cowboy and the animal.
The Fort Worth Stock Show was also the first to have Brahma bull riding. This started in 1933. Now, bull riding is one of the five main events in rodeos worldwide. It's known as the most exciting and dangerous rodeo event.
Rodeo on TV
In 1932, NBC showed the first live rodeo broadcast. Local station WBAP aired it. During World War II, the Fort Worth Stock Show had the first "half-time" rodeo show. Gene Autry performed. Now, these half-time shows are common at rodeos.
In 1958, the Fort Worth Stock Show was the first to have a full rodeo performance shown live on TV. About 8 million people watched on ABC. Guest stars included Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.
Growing Bigger
New Home and Improvements
The event took a break in 1943. All facilities in Fort Worth were used for the World War II effort. The next year, the show moved to the Will Rogers Memorial Center. This is on the west side of the city. By 1948, the event was held in January and February. It attracted 250,000 people.
Since moving, the Stock Show has helped improve the Will Rogers Memorial Center. The Stock Show committee gives all improvements to the city of Fort Worth. They have built six all-weather barns for animals. They also built four arenas for livestock, horses, and rodeos. Two buildings for exhibits were added. Heating and air conditioning were put in the coliseum. Parking areas were paved and lit.
The Modern Show
What Happens Now
The name changed again in 1978 to the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show. It's now held every year from mid-January to early February. The event lasts 23 days. It hosts the World's Original Indoor Rodeo®, with 36 professional rodeo shows each year.
Besides the rodeo, there's a carnival with rides and games. There's live music and fun at the Rodeo Roadhouse. Many kid-friendly exhibits are available. You can see over 22,000 animals. There are also more than four acres of commercial exhibits.
Impact and Attendance
Every year, the event brings about $1.5 million to the local economy. Exhibitors and contestants come from all over. On average, over 900,000 people attend the show each year. They come from more than 80 countries and most U.S. states.
Most of the show's events are held indoors. This helps when "Stock Show Weather" hits, which can mean ice storms in Fort Worth. The modern Stock Show helps the Fort Worth area's economy by over $100 million.
In the beginning, prizes were gifts from Fort Worth stores. Now, many groups and businesses help raise money for animal prizes. In 2009, a record $210,000 was given to Ricki Buckalew for her prize-winning steer. Millions of dollars are given out each year to winners in livestock and rodeo events.
The Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show has been honored many times. It was added to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2008. It joined the Texas Trail of Fame in 2015. In 2019, it was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Helping Others
Giving Back to the Community
The Stock Show is a non-profit organization. Its main goal is to be "an educational showcase for the great livestock industry." This means it helps teach people about animals and farming.
Millions of dollars have been given out as educational grants. These grants help members of Texas 4-H Clubs and FFA. The Stock Show has also set up scholarships at Texas Christian University and Texas Tech University. These scholarships help students studying ranch management or animal science. Another $4,000 grant is given each year to a student at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University.
The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce honored the show with an award. They praised the Stock Show for "helping to build a modern Fort Worth." They also noted its help with farming education through grants and scholarships. The show truly shows a strong spirit of enterprise.
