Denver is a hip city proud of its urban lifestyle but don’t let our chic city ways fool you. Dig around a little and you’ll still find our western roots. You can see those roots best when the national western stock show comes to town with three weeks every January the mile high city turns country. The national western stock show draws stock men from all over the west and pro rodeo competitors come from around the world to compete in professional bronco and bull riding events. The national western stock show has been a Denver tradition for more than a 100-year.
Male 1: The enigma for Denver and I hope that we don’t have to give this up is the old stock yards here. This is where it all started, these are the cattle that built the western and without them we wouldn’t have the Wild West and the cowboy’s that we have today.
Located just 0570, the national western complex hosts more animals than any other stock show in the world. In 2006 more than 725,000 people dusted off their ten gallon hats, pulled on their wranglers and headed out for some old fashion, country western fun.
Female 1: I think this little sashes inside this is well equipped, it’s a family tradition and we love coming every year.
The national western stock show showcases nearly 20 different breeds of cattle from angus to the long horn. With their massive horns reaching up to six feet across, long horns are some of the most easily recognize cattle in America. One of the most popular attractions at the rodeo is the westerners. This youth riding club is based on Jefferson county and they have been wowing rodeo crowds from more than 50-years.
Female 2: One of the best things about being a westerners is being able to perform in the rodeo and one of my favorites things is being backstage with all the girls and then being able to come out and all the lights and its very exciting.
Another crowd pleaser is Mutton Boston. Its hard to tell who’s having more fun, the people in the stands or the little ones clinging for dear life onto the back of the sheep. It’s a little softer than raging bulls or a bucking bronco and a little closer to the ground. Kids who prefer a tamer experience can visit the children’s ranch land where they can get up close and personal with more than 60 different animals but the stock show isn’t just for animals. It’s a place to shop for unusual items. You can spend hours just going through the exhibition hall because it has everything you ever need. Here is a horse watering crop or how about a saddle, at the national western stock show, you don’t have to be a cowboy or cowgirl, but maybe for the only time in your life, its cool to pretend.
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