The National Western Stock Show and Rodeo of Denver, Colorado represents the unofficial kick-off to the rodeo season with sixteen days of livestock showing and professional rodeo, as well as additional rodeo shows in a variety of formats. The National Western has been hosting the stock show since 1899 and the rodeo since 1931. With about half a million in payouts given out over the course of the competition, the National Western is one of the richest indoor rodeos of the season.


Originally simply a livestock show, the National Western has taken on a life of its own and offers almost as much rodeo competition and entertainment as the National Finals. The rodeo was selected as the number one indoor rodeo by the PRCA in 1997 and has remained a standard for winter rodeos ever since. There are nineteen pro rodeo performances over the course of sixteen days.

Denver also boasts a few feature rodeos that celebrate the past, present and future of the culture of rodeo. The Mexican Rodeo features Mexican-style roughstock and trick riding and roping; it's a choreographed performance rather than a competition but celebrates the contributions of the Mexican charro cowboy. The African-American Heritage Rodeo takes place on Martin Luther King Jr. day and includes some informal as well as traditional rodeo events. The PBR Touring Pro Finale takes place over three contests in Denver as well.

The Colorado vs. the World rodeo competition is unique to the National Western, pitting top Coloradan rodeo champions against representatives from the rest of the world.

The contest takes place over two semi-final rounds with a finals on the opening days of the National Western.

New for 2015, the National Western is hosting a head-to-head competition called the Super Rodeo Shootout. Last year's National Western champions in each event will make up Team National Western, going up against teams comprised of other event champions from other major rodeos across the country. The format is similar to a Wrangler Champions Challenge and should build on the excitement of cheering for a team, a facet of competition usually absent from the rodeo world.

For rodeo athletes, the National Western can make a cowboy's season. As an example, first-time NFR qualifier Richmond Champion won the National Western bareback riding in 2014 and credits that big victory with playing a large part in getting him to Vegas. Cort Scheer in saddle bronc and Mary Walker in barrel racing are also familiar NFR names who won last year's National Western. 

The National Western holds up its reputation as one of the premier rodeos of the winter season with over 600,000 fans attending annually. The rodeo and stock show are growing, with expanding dates and plans for a future National Western Center to link many of Denver's historic and cultural attractions. 

Explore the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo:
Website: National Western Stock Show and Rodeo
Facebook: National Western Stock Show
Twitter: @NationalWestern
YouTube: National Western Stock Show
Instagram: @NationalWestern

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