For the 1.2 million people who will make their way to the Will Rogers Memorial Center and Dickies Arena January 13 through February 4 “show life” is a celebration, a ritual and an embracement of a lifestyle that’s truly Texas. It’s what the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is all about; rodeo, livestock and horse shows, shopping, carnival midway, food and fun and much, much more. The heart and core of Fort Worth’s legendary reputation for western fun and entertainment is the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.
Show life is an exciting life for the more than 10,000 Texas 4-H and FFA youth exhibitors who make their way from more than 230 of Texas’ 254 counties with hopes for show ring success and the chance to sell their livestock in the Jr. Sale of Champions. Millions will be up for grabs in auction proceeds, scholarships and livestock premiums.
“The momentum for the 2023 Show has been outstanding, but it got an extra boost, when the Stock Show’s Pro Rodeo Tournament was named the Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) recently,” said Stock Show President and General Manager, Brad Barnes. “The Stock Show’s website and the Dickies Arena box office has been busy with ticket purchasers, but there are still great values for rodeo performances so now’s the time to snatch them up.”
Rodeo returns to Dickies Arena where the top cowgirls and cowboys will thrill audiences, including world champions from the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and the PRCA. There are 25 rodeo performances giving fans numerous options to take in the sights, sounds and excitement of Fort Worth’s iconic celebration of rodeo action. Stock Show rodeos include the Best of the West Ranch Rodeo (Jan. 13 and 14), Best of Mexico Celebración (Jan. 15), Cowboys of Color Rodeo (Jan. 16), Bulls’ Night Out Xtreme Bull Riding (Jan. 17 and 18), Texas Champions Challenge (Jan. 19) and the FWSSR PRORODEO Tournament (Jan. 20 – Feb. 4). Ticket information can be found at https://www.fwssr.com/p/tickets
The Auditorium Concert Series presented by Ariat is also a hot ticket and features top comedic entertainment, as well as some fresh faces, including; popular country music artist John Michael Montgomery with Deana Carter, January 13; iconic blues metal band, Tesla, January 14; comedian and Netflix star Brian Regan, January 20; K-pop group Oneus, January 27; Git ‘Er Done comedian Larry the Cable Guy January 28; legendary country musician John Anderson with Bryan White, February 2, and alternative country band, Shane Smith and the Saints, February 4.
The FWSSR’s rich history of ranching is the centerpiece of the opening Ranching Heritage Weekend, also presented by Ariat which includes not only the ranch rodeo, but horse show events focusing on the talents of the ranch horse. Three horse sales; the FWSSR Heritage Sale featuring horses consigned by AQHA Best of the Remuda Award recipient ranches and the Select Quarter Horse Sale as well as the Invitational Ranch Horse Show and Sale are back by popular demand.
The rich diversity of the Stock Show and its deep Hispanic roots will be on display with the FWSSR Texas Invitational High School Mariachi Competition and two equestrian events – the Escaramuza and Charro Cala competitions. First, there’s the beauty of the Escaramuza women’s drill team competition, which now includes a youth component that awards winning team members with a $2,000 scholarship. The Charro Calla will also feature a youth competition, and the champion youth will receive a $3,000 scholarship, while providing a $2,000 and $1,000 scholarship to second and third places respectively.
Horse lovers will also enjoy the return of the popular Mustang Magic competition, presented by Lone Star Ag Credit, as well as Mustang Showcase training clinics. Collegiate ranch horse teams from across Texas and Arkansas will also be featured in “Bridles and Brains,” a test of both horsemanship and speaking skills, where schools will compete for their share of $7,500 in prize money.
Stock Show fans will want to add the Moo-seum experience to their calendars. Free access, courtesy of Central Market, to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (FWMSH), and Cattle Raisers Museum is available to all Stock Show guests. Among the activities available at these museums will be “Step into the Stock Show,” a joint effort with the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. The collaborative curation combines artifacts, video and imagery provided by the Stock Show with the technologies used by the Museum of Science and History to give museum guests a unique look at both the history of the Show and contemporary livestock exhibition.
With acres of “rodeo shopping” that includes everything from fashion to farm equipment there’s plenty of chances to find that perfect thing for you or a friend. Family fun remains popular with the Mattress Firm Petting Zoo, Children’s Barnyard, Carnival Midway, Texas Farm Bureau Insurance’s “Doorways to Agriculture,” and the always popular Milking Parlor.
Food is always a favorite with everything from corn dogs to cotton candy and cuisine fit for king at Reata at the Backstage or Reata at the Rodeo. Visitors to the show can relax on Simmons Bank Plaza with a glass of wine at The Corkyard or enjoy a brew and some awesome tunes in the Bud Light Roadhouse before and after rodeo in Dickies Arena. The atmosphere around the Will Rogers Memorial Center complex is never more vibrant than when the legendary Stock Show is in town.
