Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo
fort worth stock show rodeo formally southwestern exposition livestock show oldest continuously running livestock show rodeo held annually fort worth texas since traditionally midjanuary early february nonprofit organization stock show provided million dollar grant scholarship tenure continues provide hundred thousand dollar annually assist future leader agriculture livestock management city fort worth nicknamed cowtown shortly civil war cowboy stopped supply town herding cattle south texas chisholm trail arrival texas pacific railway various business people town began erecting stock yard effort become greater part cattle industry fort worth stockyard officially incorporated local rancher wished encourage interest cattle conversation rancher charles mcfarland charles french marketing manager fort worth stock yard resulted first area stock show event first would eventually become known southwestern exposition livestock show stock show held along marine creek location building enclosure tree provide shade animal patron early–day cattle exhibitor organizer texan capt william ikard henrietta breeder hereford k kimberlin sherman col j w burgess fort worth shorthorn breeder col b c rhome denton wise county men joined operator fort worth stock yard company organized armour company swift company meat packer official various railway company serving fort worth first show success organizer gathered fall twoday event october coincide national livestock exchange convention meeting parade opened fall show exhibitor preferred spring date show established march event fit series major livestock show held around country establishing regular circuit exhibitor herd following year event given name texas fat stock show tent erected animal visitor charged twentyfive cent fee view livestock local rancher promoted show northern meat packer hope improving local livestock industry citizen fort worth raised formed company oversee event group second president samuel burk burnett annual show renamed southwestern exposition fat stock show term lasted event dramatically expanded north side coliseum called cowtown coliseum built house event new indoor judging arena expanded interest stock show carnival midway soon added commercial exhibit display also increased number exhibitor travelled several surrounding state participate local newspaper editor ray mckinley suggested event incorporate competition among cowboy cowgirl stock show president marion sansom appointed committee men including buck sansom bob tadlock wo rominger bill wade ross herbert graf ward farmer ray mckinley involved cattle horse industry define new event member commission suggested using spanish name type competition rodeo although proposer used spanish pronunciation rohdayoh seeing word written committee chose use different pronunciation rohdeeoh refer new competition ray mckinley wo rominger presented idea executive committee contest approved added stock show calendar event primarily north side coliseum arena capacity accommodate production crowd expected fort worth rodeo considered world first indoor rodeo consisted total twelve performance two per day six day contest included lady bronc riding junior steer riding men steer riding men bucking bronco wild horse race—catchascatchcan saddle bridle contestant primarily wild west show performer male female vied prize estimated people attended first indoor rodeo event stock show introduced first side release chute bucking horse bull development standard sport opposed earlier frontgate chute side release allows animal rider arena gate open chute termed safest method yet devised protection cowboy animal fort worth stock show also first feature brahma bull riding contest originated one five major event sport worldwide bull riding considered dangerous surely exciting event rodeo nbc produced first live broadcast rodeo local station wbap broadcast world war ii fort worth stock show introduced first halftime rodeo performance gene autry made appearance type performance standard rodeo across united state many time degree success rodeo determined audience acceptance entertainment special fort worth stock show also became first live television coverage complete rodeo performance million viewer tuned abc see guest star including roy rogers dale evans event took hiatus available facility fort worth well transportation mode dedicated world war ii effort following year exposition moved rogers memorial center west side city event moved january february drew people since moving rogers memorial center stock show taken lead improving facility stock show governing committee made policy deed improvement city fort worth among improvement construction six allweather livestock barn four livestockhorserodeo arena two multipurpose commercial exhibit building heating air conditioning coliseum auditorium exhibit area paved lighted parking facility name changed southwestern exposition livestock show held every year midjanuary early february event last day home world original indoor rodeo® displaying performance professional rodeo annually addition exposition offer carnivalmidway live music entertainment rodeo roadhouse multiple kid friendly exhibit head livestock four acre commercial exhibit annually event generates estimated million local economy drawing exhibitor contestant fort worth locale average people attend show annually representing foreign country well u state eightyfive percent show event take place roof reducing effect local fort worthians refer stock show weather uncommon ice storm hit fort worth period average modern stock show economic impact million fort worth area initial stock show prize consisted gift donated fort worth area merchant practice longer utilized tremendous support numerous breed association local fort worth business many volunteer assist raising cash amount livestock premium million dollar awarded annually livestock rodeo champion participant prorodeo hall fame colorado spring colorado inducted southwestern exposition livestock show texas trail fame inducted show texas cowboy hall fame inducted show rodeo section fort worth stock show moved new dicky arena stock show cancelled due covid pandemic second time event history returning event set attendance record million visitor creating local economic impact million stock show also set record highest purchase price sale champion pound black european cross named snoop dog sold auction year old h student canyon texas local insurance company higginbotham associate winning bid stock show incorporated nonprofit organization goal creating “an educational showcase great livestock industry million dollar awarded educational grant stock show tenure apart grant texas h club ffa chapter member stock show also established endowed scholarship texas christian university texas tech university scholarship tcu benefit student ranch management program texas tech benefit student school animal science agricultural economics program additional grant given annually student college veterinary medicine texas university fort worth chamber commerce year ago honored show “spirit enterprise award” stock show received praise “helping build modern fort worth boosting agribusiness education grant scholarship demonstrating strong spirit enterprise” based recent survey stock show generates economic impact excess million fort worth area fort worth stock show rodeo southwestern exposition livestock show program fort worth public library archive