Animal Production

Stock Show free-parking offer may not have lassoed more visitors

The 107th National Western Stock Show rode out of town yesterday, leaving behind a passel of questions about how the Stock Show complex and concept can be rebranded for the future. One innovation this year was free parking, but overall attendance was also down to its lowest level since 2004.

The Common Link food truck could be a link to the Stock Show's future

See also: It's time to take stock of the Stock Show

It's time to take stock of the Stock Show

See also: The Common Link food truck could be a link to the Stock Show's future

Coors Western Art Show sets new sales record

Yee-haw! While galleries across the country have had a tough time in recent years, the Coors Western Art Show at the National Western Stock Show Complex got off to a fast gallop last week, selling more than $800,000 worth of art at the Red Carpet Reception three days before the show officially opene ... More >>

Photos: The people and animals of the 2013 Stock Show Parade

If you've noticed more Western wear on your neighbors and coworkers than usual, that can only mean one thing: The National Western Stock Show is in town. Westword photographer Brandon Marshall stopped by the Stock Show Parade yesterday to capture the people and animals of this annual downtown event ... More >>

Get Ready to Ride

Horsing Around

Michael Hancock announces stock show will stay here in Denver -- but which here?

Mayor-elect Michael Hancock hadn't even moved into his office in City Hall when he learned that claim jumpers were trying to woo one of Denver's longtime institutions: the National Western Stock Show. That discovery quickly followed the revelation that Aurora had been working with Gaylord Entertainm ... More >>

National Western Stock Show board meets on same day Gaylord could get state subsidy

Today, the state's Economic Development Commission will choose which, if any, of six projects that applied will get subsidies under the Regional Tourism Act. Eco devo chief Ken Lund has recommended that just one be granted incentives: Gaylord, which wants to build an Aurora hotel/resort complex.

National Western Stock Show corrals the Rodeo All-Star Weekend

Yee-haw! The National Western Stock Show has saddled up for the future. Although NWSS chairman Jerry McMorris passed away yesterday, leaders went through with the announcement of a deal that will help steer the direction of the Stock Show, expanding it beyond an every-January event into more of a ye ... More >>

Health department puts a stop to raw milk sampling at Denver Urban Homesteading

On the frontier of urban homesteading, you frequently encounter uncharted territory. James Bertini, the founder of Denver Urban Homesteading, recently ran into a gray area in the state law regarding raw milk.

National Western Stock Show's past should be part of the discussion of its future

​Yesterday, we parked our car off Packinghouse Road, outside the Stockyards Inn, tucked in back of the historic Livestock Exchange Building -- which got its start in 1898, then was expanded in 1916 and 1919 -- and walked into another world. The world of the National Western Stock Show.

Reader: The rodeo is a celebration of life, and a tradition to be celebrated

In a tradition that officially dates back to 1906, and unofficially to the early days of ranching in the West, the National Western Stock Show is in town. And the annual event celebrates a lot more than funnel cakes and cowboy boots. On Monday, Show and Tell asked readers whether they loved or hate ... More >>

Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy

Michael Hancock gives the National Western Stock Show another ride

Hold your horses! Cowboys only have to stay on a buckin' bronc for eight seconds, but the debate over the proposed National Western Stock Show relocation continues to bump along. Five weeks ago, Mayor Michael Hancock gave NWSS officials until October 1 to come up with an explanation of why they wan ... More >>

Reader: Michael Hancock's National Western Stock Show win-win-win may end in Denver loss

Hancock.​Patricia Calhoun's Wake-Up Call post about Mayor Michael Hancock seeking a win-win-win regarding a potential move of the National Western Stock Show raised a red flag for one reader, who thinks a potential compromise wouldn't result in a victory for Denver at all. Here's his post.

Michael Hancock wants to hog-tie the National Western Stock Show in Denver

​Mayor Michael Hancock defined his concept of a "win" for Denver in any "win-win-win" solution for the National Western Stock Show during a speech before the venerable City Club of Denver yesterday: "Folks, we have got to find a way to keep the National Western Stock Show in Denver," he told t ... More >>

Michael Hancock's office misses a chance for face time in the Los Angeles Times

​With four communications staffers in Michael Hancock's office and director Wil Alston focusing on raising the Denver mayor's national profile, couldn't one of them have returned a call to the L.A. Times about the potential move of the National Western Stock Show? Last time we looked, the Tim ... More >>

Michael Hancock saddles up to keep the National Western Stock Show brand in Denver

Hancock.​A week after his inauguration, Mayor Michael Hancock really takes the reins today. This morning, he'll hold his first Mayor-City Council meeting (five of the reps are complete newbies -- unlike Hancock, who was on council for eight years). That'll be followed by the initial gathering ... More >>

Michael Hancock appoints panel to wrangle National Western Stock Show plans

​Michael Hancock announced yesterday that he's appointed a panel of pols, business people and other civic-minded types to decide what to do about the possible relocation to Aurora of the National Western Stock Show, "a Denver treasured asset," as the mayor-elect calls it. He adds, "We understa ... More >>

National Western Stock Show heading to Aurora? Hold your horses!

​Back in the wild, wild West, rustlers were shot for stealing your property. Here in the mild, mild West, they hire lawyers and lobbyists and ask you to help build their new corral. Because now it looks like Denver will not only lose the National Western Stock Show to Aurora, but may pay for t ... More >>

Reader: National Western Stock Show wouldn't be the same sans manure stench at current site

​Patricia Calhoun's post about the prospect of the National Western Stock Show moving to Aurora prompted a great comment from a person whose online handle will be familiar to longtime political observers in these parts. Here's what he had to say.

Stock show gay jokes: Earlier controversies over routines about lynching, using "Jew" as a verb

​ Earlier this week, the National Western Stock Show apologized for gay jokes told by its rodeo clown/bullfighter and announcer. But the incident wasn't the first of its kind for the stock show. In 1997, there were two others: one in which a black rodeo clown made a joke that many interpreted ... More >>

Top 10 things Stock Show guys can still make fun of now that gay people are off-limits

Funny.​Earlier today, a spokeswoman for the National Western Stock Show apologized for a series of tired gay jokes made by its rodeo announcing crew and clowns, and told a Westword reporter that the jokes won't be back. Good for them. But we don't want to leave the announcers in the lurch when ... More >>

Bill Ritter takes his last ride in the National Western Stock Show Parade (PHOTO)

​Outgoing Governor Bill Ritter mounted up for a ride through the streets of downtown Denver Thursday as part of the National Western Stock Show Parade, an annual tradition that kicked off at Union Station at noon. See him in action below.

How Colorado cooled the controversy between the Humane Society and big agriculture

Bison: It's on the menu at the National Western Stock Show

​Millions of bison used to thunder across the plains of Colorado. Today, the nation's largest mammals still travel across the state - but they do so by truck. Nearly ninety buffalo are in Denver right now for the National Western Stock Show -- 57 were unloaded Tuesday and another thirty or so ... More >>

Yee Haw!

Why this Valentine's Day may be your last chance to eat Oysters for years to come

Rocky Road

Wrong Turn

I-70 Viaduct Might Get Rerouted Through Stock Show

Back in Stock

Lock, Stock and Barrel Racing

Consumed

Honey, I'm Home

Consumed

How Sweet It Is

Consumed

A Good Egg

Taking Stock

Wear a badge proudly at the National Western Stock Show.

Off Limits

Animal farm

Penned In

Tired of trying to get around the Stock Show, Globeville residents want the Stock Show to get around them.

Best place to cuddle an alpaca

Switzer-Land Farm, Estes Park

Where the Buffalo Moan

They’ve been worshiped, they’ve been slaughtered. Now bison are back—so why won’t you buy some burger?

The Buzz Stops Here

Dying bees have their Colorado keepers in a state of hive anxiety.

Hive Anxiety

To bee or not to bee? Denver's zoning department just answered that question.

SEX AND THE SINGLE BIRD

BEFORE THAT THANKSGIVING TURKEY IS CARVED, A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE, FOR THE POULTRY GUYS.

LETTERS

CORPORATE SWINE

A BIG-TIME HOG FARM LANDS IN THE MIDDLE OF SMALL-TOWN POLITICS IN KIT CARSON COUNTY.

CORPORATE SWINE

THE LITTLE RAILROAD THAT SAID IT COULD

THE NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW FINDS A BURR UNDER ITS SADDLE: A TINY RAIL CARRIER.

TROUBLE BREWING

THE TUCKER FAMILY SAYS HAY GROWN BY ANHEUSER-BUSCH GAVE ITS DAIRY COWS A ROYAL HANGOVER.