National Western Stock Show

The National Western Stock Show was organized in 1906 in Denver, Colorado, to display livestock from local ranches and to educate ranchers about new and innovative technology in the agriculture industry. The collection documents the history, early development, and activities of this organization.

From the description of Records of the National Western Stock Show, 1906-1979. (Poudre River Public Library District). WorldCat record id: 233706016

Late in 1905, an initial meeting was held of interested livestock commissioners, stockyard company executives, packers and cattlemen in Denver, Colo. The first show named the Western Livestock Show opened Monday, January 29, 1906 and ran for 6 days. The following year, 1907, its name changed to the Western National Stock Show. In 1981, the event increased to 12 days. The show continues to be held annually in Denver, Colo. in January for 12 days.

From the description of Records, 1930- [manuscript]. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 21966951

The National Western Stock Show was organized in 1906 in Denver, Colorado, and continues to be an important agricultural event every January. It attracts ranchers and farmers from around the world, who display their stock and learn about advances in livestock management techniques.

In 1905, several forward-thinking agriculturalists realized the need to hold an annual stock show to demonstrate better breeding and feeding techniques to area stockmen. This group included Elias M. Ammons, president of the Colorado Cattle and Horse Growers Association and later governor of Colorado; George Ballentine, general manager of the Denver Union Stock Yard Company; and Fred P. Johnson, publisher of the Record Stockman. The first National Western Stock Show was held January 29 through February 3, 1906. The show has been held every January thereafter with the exception of 1915, when a serious outbreak of hoof and mouth disease in other states caused its cancellation

Originally limited to the western United States, the show was expanded by 1908 to include entrants from around the world. A horse show was included as an annual event in 1908, and a rodeo was added in 1931. By 1925, the 4-H Roundup event was also held in conjunction with the stock show. With the ever-growing numbers of people in attendance, the city of Denver and the Union Stock Yards began to construct buildings and set aside land to enlarge the site. By 1981 the organization owned numerous buildings, more than twenty acres of stockyards, several acres of parking, and total assets of about five million dollars. Each year the National Western Stock Show continues to attract crowds, setting new records for attendance.

More historical information is available in Ten Days Every January: a History of the National Western Stock Show by Willard E. Simms, published by the Western Stock Show Association, c. 1980.

From the guide to the Records of the National Western Stock Show, 1906-1979, 1946-1970, (Colorado State University, Colorado Agricultural Archive)