Fort Worth Events

For aficionados of Texas barbecue, few events inspire as much excitement, argument and sheer, mouth-watering hunger as the publication, every five years or so, of Texas Monthly’s list of the best BBQ joints in the state. The newest list is out, and two Fort Worth locations made the cut. Which was all the excuse I needed to hop in the car and order myself a plate of sausage and brisket.(Full disclosure: I’m a writer-at-large at Texas Monthly, though I had no involvement with the selection of the barbecue list.)

The first of the two Fort Worth spots on the list is Cousins Bar-B-Q, which has a handful of locations around Fort Worth, and where I'm especially a fan of the meaty, but incredibly tender ribs. But the other Fort Worth spot Texas Monthly singled out was Longoria's BBQ, where I'd never been. Located just south of I-20, it actually made the unranked Texas Monthly list previously in 2008, and was also ranked as the third best barbecue spot in the area by D. Magazine in 2010. 

I'm now ashamed to ask this question: But, seriously, what took me so long to get to Longoria's? Located in a funky old diner setting, featuring old pictures of James Dean on the walls, Longoria's house specialty is brisket sausage -- a savory, none-too-greasy link where you can really taste the smoke from the pecan wood. It's served sliced into thick pieces, with an accompanying barbecue sauce that contains a little bit of spice (Tabasco, our server told us), and a gentle blast of sweetness (brown sugar and honey, we guessed, though the server seemed intent on keeping the house recipe secret).

We also tried the sliced brisket, though David Longoria -- who runs the place and gave us a behind-the-scenes tour of the smoker --  also offers brisket beef jerky, chopped brisket, chorizo, chicken, turkey and St. Louis style ribs on his menu. For $8.50, you get a meat and pick two sides (for us: potato salad and -- just to keep things slightly healthy -- green beans) , and the requisite slices of white bread -- it's a Texas classic done beautifully. 

Of course, Fort Worth has many iconic barbecue spots that didn't earn mention in Texas Monthly  -- and, indeed, part of the fun of these sorts of lists is the arguments they inevitably inspire. (Five other places in the DFW area did make the cut.) Should Fort Worth's legendary Angelo's have claimed a spot? What about the much-loved Railhead Smokehouse,, whose sprawling patio is the Happy Hour choice of many on Friday afternoons? The Fort Worth outpost of legendary Hill Country BBQ spot Cooper's?

Are there any best-kept secrets that fell completely beneath the magazine's radar, and that you're willing to share in the comments section below?

My guess is that the never-ending debate over who serves up Texas' best barbecue certainly won't be settled anytime soon -- but at least we'll all get to enjoy some great brisket while we're fighting about it.

Hundreds of years ago, settlers who came to Fort Worth were greeted by rolling prairies for as far as the eye could see. Today, those welcoming fields have been replaced by growing cities and towns, but Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) remembers this heritage and culture with the annual celebration of Prairie Day.

BRIT's Prairie Day offers family-friendly education about the beauty and importance of the North Texas landscape through hands-on events and activities that kids will love. Kids will be encouraged to get a little dirty as they help to make seed balls, a Prairie Day tradition. Using a Native American technique, visitors will combine seeds, humus, and red clay into tiny packets of life that will be tossed into the fields surrounding  BRIT to populate the area with native plants. Imagine the fun of returning to the BRIT next spring to see the plants you helped to grow!

Other activities throughout the day will combine fun family games with opportunities to learn about nature, including face painting, balloon twisting, and a variety of games provided by the Log Cabin Village.  In addition, live music and cowboy poets will be on hand to entertain the crowd. 

Don't miss these other great activities:

• Beekeeping demonstrations
• Soap and candle making
• Children’s coloring contest
• Basket Weaving
• Solar Cooking Demonstrations
• Meet two special guest prairie dogs

The 3^rd annual Prairie Day event will be held on Saturday, May 18^th from 10 am to 2 pm at BRIT Headquarters 1700 University Drive.

In the same breath as you utter the Kimbell Art Museum, what usually trips off the tongue are so many of the master artists that are the pride of its permanent collection: From Caravaggio, Velazquez, David, Rubens, El Greco, and La Tour, to Cezanne, Matisse, Murillo, Bernini and, of course, the first-painting believed to have been executed by a brashly talented, young artist named Michelangelo. And this constellation of European greats totally omits the museum's exquisite holdings of African, Asian, African and precolumbian art.

But it isn't often that the Kimbell serves as the podium -- or canvas -- from where one can appreciate art from the Andes. Until now. With Wari: Lords of the Ancient Andes, opening June 16, the museum will acquaint patrons with the creative force of the Wari people, the actual ancestors to the better known Incas. It is the first North American exhibition of its kind and it will transport patrons back to between 600 and 1000, when the Wari people created what many deem to have been Peru's first empire.

Containing 145 objects, the exhibit will run the gamut of media and materials the Wari worked in -- from precious metal ornaments, ceramics from polychrome, to joyously colorful mosaics, objects formed of sculpted stone and wood, and lushly woven clothing that constitute some of the most expertly executed textiles in what would form the illustrious tradition of Andean textile artistry.

Details: Wari: Lords of the Ancient Andes -- From June 16-September 8, 2013 at the Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth. www.kimbellart.org    

Other upcoming Kimbell Art Museum exhibitions and events to look forward to:

The Age of Picasso and Matisse: Modern Masters from the Art Institute of Chicago - October 6, 2013- February 16, 2014. This exhibition marks the grandest loan of its kind from the celebrated Art Institute of Chicago. Among the treasures, culled from the first 50 years of the 20th century, will be 10 works by Picasso, 10 by Matisse, in addition to great pieces by Braque, Juan Gris, Chagall, and Mondrian among many others. The Kimbell will be the only venue for this exceptional and landmark show.

Opening of the new Renzo Piano Pavilion -- November 27, 2013. The much anticipated new pavilion by one of the world's most sought-after architects will permit the Kimbell to host world-class touring exhibitions at the same time that it still has its permanent collection up for view in its classic Louis Kahn-designed original building. The glass, concrete, and wood-constructed pavilion will not only include plentiful classroom space, a well-stocked library, but also a 298-seat auditorium that is sure to become the next acoustically pristine music venue for Fort Worth music lovers. 

There is nothing quite like the joy that comes from a family bike ride. With every turn, not only do you travel forward, but you also keep the air clean, get some exercise, and join a global community of riders who are traveling the miles using pedal power. 

Be a special part of the biking community this Saturday, May 18^th as you join with bicycling enthusiast Mayor Betsy Price and the bike patrol of the FWPD for the annual Southside Bike Ride. A leisurely ride through Fort Worth’s Near Southside neighborhood kicks off at 9:00 am at One Safe Place, 777 W. Rosedale St. raising awareness for safe bicycling practices for participants of all ages. At the end of th ride, families will enjoy a kid’s bike rodeo, booths promoting family health, and a special chance to meet local police officers and firefighters. You can even get your picture taken with the Chief of Police.

The event is free and you can register online or at the event on Saturday morning.  Don’t forget to grab your $10 commemorative T-shirt, proving that you and your family are bicycling rock stars. All proceeds from the event go to support the FWPD bike patrol in purchasing new equipment and fund special training.  For more family fun in Fort Worth, visit our Family-Friendly page.

If you are looking for a fun-and free-way to spend your weekend, bring your family out to Stockyard Exchange for the annual Frontier Forts Days, May 10-11, 2013. During the two-day event, the Stockyard National Historic District will take you back in time to the wild and wooly days of the Texas frontier. During the festival, cowboys, Native Americans, and military personnel come together to reenact a time when these vastly different cultures mingled and clashed, as they forged the future for the city of Fort Worth. 

Exchange Avenue will be transformed to the 19^th century and lined with encampments from the Texas Forts Trail. Wander through the camps to learn about the tools and daily life of the soldiers, as well as get a unique glimpse of the relationship between Texas and US Military. Parades, demonstrations, and other cultural encounters are ongoing throughout the day to give you a glimpse of the journeys and people who shaped the land.

With so many action-packed activities on the agenda, the kids will be so entertained that they won’t even realize they are learning about an important period in Texas history.

You won’t want to miss:

• Artillery demonstrations
• Infantry and Cavalry demonstrations
• Native American performances
• Live music
• 10 Fort encampments
• Military parades and presentations

Frontier Forts Days will begin on Friday, May 10 at 10:00 am and run through Saturday May 11 at 5:00 pm. 

Photo: Brian Hutson

It's hard to think of a more felicitous marriage of Fort Worth tourist-attractions than the marvelous music making of a Cliburn Concert, set against the incomparable backdrop of the Tadao Ando-designed Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

And, sure enough, both will come together this Sunday, May 5th for an event designed to celebrate all the cultural richness that has become Fort Worth's calling card. As hosted by the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau, the concert is also part of a multi-event celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week, running from May 4-12.

With a welcome from no less a potentate than Fort Worth's mayor, Betsy Price, the concert will also establish quite a cultural precedent as it will be the first musical event of its kind ever to be held on the verdant front lawn of the Modern. The free, outdoor concert will feature a familiar Cliburn performer, Spencer Myer, whose concert will also act as a prelude to the Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition -- kicking off on May 24, and running till June 9.

Besides the concert, the public can gain free admission to the spectacular Modern Art Museum and a free Spanish language tour at 2pm. 

In addition to the Cliburn Concert, the host Convention and Visitors Bureau will also be giving away everything from bandanas, and sunglasses to Molly Pins (get 'em while they last) to the concert attendees. 

Some of the other upcoming activities to celebrate Texas Travel and Tourism Week include Reata restaurant offering drink specials ($5 Frogaritas all day on May 6 just by mentioning "Fort Worth CVB Travel and Tourism week"); free docent-led tours at the Sid Richardson Museum in downtown, Fort Worth; and a "Public Knowledge" event (with Elvis as the principal topic of the occasion) at the Magnolia Motor Lounge --  organized by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

Details: Free Cliburn Concert at Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth this Sunday, May 5 at 3:30 p.m.

Get ready NASCAR fans because this weekend is the first big race week of 2013 at Texas Motor Speedway! This is one of the best racing events in Texas! The Sprint Cup events are annually rank among the largest sporting events in the United States and are also the largest-attended, single-day sporting events in the state of Texas.

This weekend’s races have made national news! The National Rifle Association has revved up its relationship with NASCAR and will title sponsor its first NASCAR Sprint Cup race. The former Texas 500 race will now become the NRA 500. This race will make its depute Saturday evening.

April 12^th - O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series

April 13^th -  NRA 500 NASCAR Spring Cup Series

For a complete list of weekend activities click HERE. Can’t make it this weekend? Don’t worry there are three major race weekends at Texas Motor Speedway each year. Can’t get enough of the action? Experience the thrill for your self during the Total Driving Experience where you can test drive a 405-horsepower Z06 Corvette at Texas Motor Speedway and experience the track from the driver’s perspective! Check out this and other Thrill Seeking Tours at www.FortWorth.com.

Spring has finally sprung! Now that the weather is warming up, it’s the perfect time to explore the great outdoors! What better place to do that than the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge? With over 3,600 acres for visitors to explore the Nature Center is one of the largest city-owned centers in the United States. The Nature Center offers an extensive list of monthly things to do.  This is the perfect kid-friendly outdoor activity for a Saturday or Sunday funday! Check out one of their family friendly nature hikes, kayak/canoe tours or educational programs. See the complete list monthly activities on the Nature Center's Calendar.

Mark your calendar for the 21^st annual Buffalo Boogie on Saturday, May 11th! This is the Nature Center’s annual event to raise financial support for the herd of Bison that call the Refuge home. In 1973, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge donated three bison to the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge. Since then the herd has grown and serves many purposes for the Nature Center like land management, recreation and conservation. The Buffalo Boogie is a 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk (the 5K Chip-Timed Run on a USATF certified course). 

This Earth Day, (April 22, 2013) Fort Worth will be celebrating in style as the city launches the Fort Worth B-Cycle, the first-ever bike sharing system in North Texas. Texas is making environmental strides as the only state with three cities to have a bike-sharing program: San Antonio, Houston and now, the City of Cowboys and Culture. If you're not familiar, bike sharing is an environmentally-friendly mode of transportation based on the shared use of public bicycles. Run by the nonprofit organization, Fort Worth Bike Sharing, the system will feature 300 specially designed Trek bicycles available for checkout from 30 docking stations located throughout the city: from Downtown Sundance Square to the Cultural District and the Near Southside.

Memberships for the new bike share program are for sale and if you sign up before the Earth Day launch on April 22, you receive a $10 discount on an annual membership by using promo code, "earlybird." An annual membership costs $80; students, seniors and military can purchase for $65. Annual members will receive "B-cards," which enable them to more quickly checkout bikes from the bike share station. Another perk for these annual members is that they can use their B-cycle memberships in other B-cycle cities, including San Antonio, Houston, Denver and Nashville. The Earth Day event launch will include a featured send-off of approximately 300 volunteers riding the bicycles from Burnett Park to each docking station. Avid cyclist, Mayor Betsy Price and Councilman Joel Burns will be among the riders. Come on out for this special Earth Day celebration at Burnett Park on April 22-Let's Ride! 

Photo: Fort Worth Bike Sharing - Jason Lamers, Mayor Price's Chief of Staff testing out the B-Cycle

What are you doing this weekend? Come enjoy a 2.5 to 3 hour delightful tour of some of Fort Worth's best restaurants! Texas Foodie Tours offers tours on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 1:30pm. Each tour consists of 5 or 6 locally-owned restaurants, wineries, pubs, and bakeries to sample their delicious food and drinks! Some of these might include favorites like J and J Oyster Bar, T and P Tavern, La Bella Cupcakes, Dos Gringos, Los Vaqueros, or  Times Ten Cellars. You will hear about local lore, learn about historic events, and experience the current culinary scene. Sit back and savor the sights on a climate-controlled bus as you travel to diverse areas of Fort Worth -- both historical and contemporary.

Check out their website for a complete list of tour dates. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Limit of 16 people per tour and ages 12 and up are welcome on these tours. For a limited time get 35% off your tour. Offer good now through May 31st, 2013 - get your coupon on our Deals & Discounts page!

The best part, no two tours are the same! You will experience new restaurants on each tour, so you can keep coming back! Check out www.FortWorth.com to learn more about Tours and Foodie Tours!

Over 5,000 art teachers will be in Fort Worth this Friday and Saturday, (March 8-9, 2013), for the National Art Educators Conference at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Downtown Fort Worth. Last year, the conference was held in New York City, so it is a great opportunity for Fort Worth and the arts programs we offer. 

On March 9, the Fort Worth Near Southside is offering a free festival for these art educators in conjunction with the conference, and are encouraging the Fort Worth community to come out and attend. The open street pet and family-friendly festival will feature a variety of non-profit groups and working artists that use art as a means to help our community thrive. Six blocks of closed streets lined with artists tents and "Make and Do" tents make up this incredible family event open to children of all ages. Activities include creating art and learning how art can benefit the community. Items from students and established artists alike will have items for sale, ranging from all price points. 

Want to learn more? Become inspired and start believing.

Check out this free Fort Worth activity during spring break at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, where over half of the nation's currency is produced! From Tuesday, March 12 – Friday, March 15, 2013, enjoy two floors of interactive exhibits and displays showcasing the history of currency and the intricacies of the printing process. During your free self-guided tour (last tour at 4:30 p.m.), you can actually see billions of dollars being printed as you walk along an enclosed elevated walkway suspended over the production floor! It is an amazing sight to see, and kid of all ages will love this discovery! The tour experience also includes a high-definition theater film, the Moneyfactory Gift Shop, and a vending and rest area.

During the employee craft demonstrations, experience both floors of activities. On the first floor, witness Intaglio engraving artisanship at the engraver’s workbench, educational activities in the Kid’s Corral and see how currency was printed circa 1900 at the refurbished spider press (image below). Second floor activities include plate making for offset printing presses, see mutilated currency reconstructed piece-by-piece, and learn how Intaglio printing plates are “grown” in a nickel solution. For more information about this Spring Break event, click here.

For more Texas-sized fun to see and do this Spring Break, visit FortWorth.com/Spring-Break!

Photo Courtesy: Bureau of Engraving and Printing

It's no secret that we’re not all barbeque and Tex-Mex in Fort Worth. In addition to succulent steaks, righteous ribs, farm-to-table dining, and mouth-watering Mexican fare, you’ll find world-class flavors from around the globe, including sophisticated Italian dining and exotic Asian cuisine. In fact, some of the greatest culinary artists, Jon Bonnell, Tim Love and Lanny Lancarte call the City of Cowboys and Culture home. As the culinary scene in Fort Worth continues to rise, there's no better time to share Fort Worth's finest and no better way to celebrate the thriving culinary scene than Fort Worth's first annual Food + Wine Festival next spring: March 27-30, 2014!

Be sure to save the date, as you don't want to miss this celebration of the Fort Worth food culture!

Chandler Bownds has had his PRCA card for two years and has won several major rodeos in that short amount of time. In 2011, he was not only named Resistol’s Rookie of the Year, but also qualified for the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Be sure to catch Chandler on February 8th and 9th when he will be competing at the 117th annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo!

Name: Chandler Bownds
 
Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
 
Rodeo Event: Bull Riding
 
How did you become interested in riding bulls?
My Dad is a team roper and when I was little I used to follow him around every time he went to go rope. However, I was introduced to bull riding and raising bucking bulls at age ten when I met stock contractor Lyndal Hurst. His daughters moved into our school district and we stock showed together.  He invited me to come and try to ride and it stuck…I’ve been doing it ever since then.
 
What is your most memorable moment in the arena?
My most memorable moment in the arena is when I was 95 points and tied the arena record is Ellensburg, Wa.
 
Who would you consider one of your heroes in the sport of rodeo?
Lane Frost because he was a great bull rider and an inspiration to the rodeo world. I had the honor of meeting Lane Frost’s parents at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo a couple of years ago. I consider that to be a memory I will never forget.

What would your advice be to someone interested in becoming a bull rider?
Set a goal, try hard, be positive, and surround yourself with a good support system. Make sure you have the right equipment, especially your Justin boots, and you get on a lot of practice bulls when you get the opportunity. Most of all, don’t forget where you came from and what it took to get there.
 
What is your favorite thing to do outside of competing when you visit Fort Worth?
I like going to a Rangers game or hanging out with friends that live in the area.
 
What is your favorite place to eat when you visit Fort Worth?
 My favorite place to eat is Fred’s. It’s a great atmosphere and I like to listen to some of the bands that they have play there.

Photo Credit: James Phifer

For the past five years, Dusty Tuckness has been hired as one of two PRCA Rodeo bullfighters for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. As part of being a bullfighter, Dusty puts his life and body on the line each time a bull is bucked and/or a rider is down or hung up. For this, bullfighters are one of the biggest reasons that bull riders are able to compete and stay healthy. He wears very little padding, his trademark makeup, cowboy hat, cleats and “baggies.” Like many bullfighters, Dusty has taken some hard hits in his career – most recently during the televised 2012 National Finals Rodeo – and if he is able, gets right back out there to do his job for each performance and never misses a beat. He fights bulls with a fluidity and style that makes his job look effortless which is one of the many reasons he has won the PRCA “Bullfighter of the Year” award  three times.

Name: Dusty Tuckness

Hometown: Meeteetse, Wyoming

Which rodeo Events do you/have you participated in?
 Bullfighting and I got on a few bulls but didn’t like it though.

What are your current rodeo related career achievements?
•    2X Professional Bullfighters Tour World Champion
•    3X Bullfighter of the Year – PRCA
•    4X NFR Bullfighter
•    3X College National Finals Bullfighter
•    6X Mountain States Circuit Finals Bullfighter
•    Salinas Bullfight Champion
•    Big rodeos I’ve worked: Odessa, Fort Worth, Houston, Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo (previously DNCFR); Cody Stampede, Central Wyoming Fair, Cheyenne, Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo, Nampa, Idaho; National Western Stock Show & Rodeo, Omaha, Nebraska; American Royal, Oklahoma City and Greeley, Colorado.

What would your advice be to someone interested in getting into fighting bulls/ cowboy protection?
Get to a good Bullfighting school and learn from someone who knows what they are talking about.

What is the your most memorable/favorite Stock Show moment?
I survived, LOL. There are a lot of great moments from the Stock Show. My first year there, the group of guys that were working the Rodeo was a lot of fun: Andy Burelle, John Harrison, Gizmo, the trick riders and myself. We all got along and hung out all the time. My 2nd year, Andy Burelle, Ted Bert, Chad Denton and a few others would stay up late every night playing monopoly. We had a lot of fun with it. Sometimes when I am working the event, I’ll sit up in the stands and just look into the arena and think of all the greats that have either competed or fought bulls in that arena. The history is awesome, and I’m just glad to be a part of it.

What type of preparation does it take throughout the year to get ready for a Show the size/length of the FWSSR (23 days/ 36 rodeo performances)?
My preparation really doesn't’t change much going into the FWSSR because I work out and train all year long. The FWSSR is one of a kind rodeo though. You have to be mentally and physically tough because it is the longest rodeo you can work – 23 days, 36 rodeo performances, and 12-15 Bull Riders per performance.

How has your experience in the rodeo arena benefited you in life (to date)?
My experience in the arena has had a big benefit in my life because I grew up in one. My dad fought bulls and it’s something I have always wanted to do. It’s what has helped make me the person I am today.

What has been your worst rodeo-related injury?
Worst injury that I have had would have to be when I tore my shoulder up and had to have surgery.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of the FWSSR when you visit Fort Worth?
Well, we do make a few trips down to Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. We eat there a lot when we are there for the Rodeo.
 

The smash hit Broadway revival of West Side Story will open at Bass Performance Hall in Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth on January 15 and will run through January 20. More than 50 years ago, this musical changed theater forever and is back mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, West Side Story soars as the greatest love story of all time and remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever.  Make an evening in Sundance Square with many dining choices before the performance. I’ll be there on opening night. See you there! Get your tickets now! 

For more Fort Worth entertainment and events, visit www.FortWorth.com

 Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg

The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame pays tribute to the cowboys and cowgirls who have excelled in the sports of rodeo, cutting and ranching, and those individuals who have dedicated their lives to promoting and preserving Texas Western heritage. The Sterquell Wagon collection features more than 60 Old West wagons, carts and sleighs. At the Exploratorium, children can learn to pack for a trail drive and dig for treasures in the sawdust, among other hands-on experiences. Western-themed apparel, jewelry and souvenirs are available in the gift shop.

Induction into Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed on individuals who have shown excellence in competition, business, and support of rodeo and the western lifestyle in Texas. This year's induction will take place January 17th, 2013 at the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District.

This year's Inductees include:

• Dr. Tandy Freeman, III - Medical Director for the Justin Sports Medicine Team and Professional Bull Riders Sports Medicine Program, Team Physician for the Dallas Mavericks and a member of the physician pool for the U.S. Ski Team.
• Sandy Kirby - A 9-time qualifier for the bull riding and 5-time qualifier for the bareback competition. Kirby took home the Bareback Average title in 1973 and the Bull Riding Average title in 1974.
• Edwards Family & Edwards Ranch - The Edwards Ranch, which has been operating over 160 years, is considered prime real estate in Fort Worth. Over the years parts of the ranch have been sold and developed into Trinity Park and the Fort Worth Zoo.
• Tommy Steiner - The Steiner Rodeo Company has been home to some of rodeos finest stock including 6 Black 6, the 1975 Bull of the Year; 11 Red Lightning, the 1978 Bull of the Year and Stormy Weather, the 1975 Bareback Horse of the Year just to name a few.

Rick Smith Spirit of Texas Honoree:

• Randy White – A retired professional football player, White has appeared in numerous western and children’s fundraising events and is involved in celebrity roping events as well as with other western organizations.

Proceeds benefit the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in their ongoing education and preservation efforts. Click here for more information on the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony or other Events in Fort Worth.

We caught up with Rikki Buckalew, Fort Worth Stock Show exhibitor who presented the 2010 Grand Champion Market Steer, War Admiral (a 1,309-pound European crossbred). That year, during the Sale of Champions, she set an all-time auction record when Larry B. White Jr. Investments purchased War Admiral for a record of $210,000. What makes her story that much more special is that she overcame health issues just to be able to compete during the Show. She has since gone on to Texas A&M and will graduate next fall.

Name: Rikki Buckalew

Hometown: Graham, TX

Livestock Events: I showed steers at all of the major livestock shows in Texas for eight years and goats for four years. I also showed heifers at major live stocks in Texas for two years.

Favorite Stock Show moment: My favorite stock show moment was my senior year of High School when I showed my steer, War Admiral, at the Fort Worth Livestock Show. The experience was special because I knew it was my last livestock show as an exhibitor and it was my last opportunity to see what all of mine and my family’s hard work had brought. It was also special because I did not even know if I was going to be able to participate in my last livestock show. But thankfully through the work of my family, close family friends, and doctors I was able to show and win the title of Grand Champion Steer.

What type of preparation does it take throughout the year to get ready for a Show the size of the FWSSR? Preparing for a livestock show the size of the FWSSR is no easy feat. It requires time, patience, and lots of hard work. It requires making the trek to the barn to feed and water your animal when it’s freezing cold or blistering hot. It requires spending hours working with your animal so that they are properly trained and show ring ready. You have to groom your animal, keep them cool during the horribly hot days of summer, and clean their pens every day.

How has your experience in the livestock arena benefited your immediate future and how do you expect it to benefit you long term? Being in the livestock arena has benefited me in so many ways. The biggest two lessons it has taught me to be is being cool and collected under pressure. It has also taught me to accept defeat and success both with grace and humility. These lessons will benefit me in so many ways in my future career, school, and even in daily life.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of the FWSSR when you visit Fort Worth?
I enjoy walking around Sundance Square and visiting all of the shops. I also enjoy watching performances at Bass Hall, touring the Kimbell Art Museum, and visiting the Stockyards. Fort Worth has so much to offer and there is always something new and exciting to do!

Besides food at the Stock Show, what is your favorite place to eat when you visit Fort Worth?
My favorite place to eat when I visit Fort Worth is Razoos in Sundance Square. I love the atmosphere and I have always had great service. Everything on the menu is delicious and their bread pudding is the best I’ve ever had.

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is a 23-day extravaganza, offering a unique atmosphere rich in tradition and history. Also known as Tarrant County's largest annual event, the Show attracts more than one million visitors each year. This year's event will last from January 18th - February 9th, 2013.

The 117-year old event is the nation's oldest livestock show, featuring over 22,000 head of world-class livestock on exhibit. The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is home of the World's Original Indoor Rodeo®.

In addition to the various livestock shows and professional rodeo thrills, Stock Show patrons can also enjoy interactive educational exhibits, nearly 200,000 square feet of unique shopping, live music, an exciting carnival, great food and much more! Experience this legendary event full of western heritage, family entertainment and lasting education each January through February at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.

Rodeo tickets range from $19 to $25 and will be available for:

• "Best of the West" Ranch Rodeo @ 7:30 p.m. January 18-19th
• Best of Mexico Celebracion @ 7:30 p.m. on January 20th
• Cowboys of Color Rodeo @ 2 p.m. on January 21st
• "Bulls' Night Out" @ 7:30 p.m. January 22-23rd
• World's Original Indoor Rodeo January 24th-February 9th.

Check www.fwssr.com for a complete list of times and events for the 2013 Stock Show and Rodeo. Check back on our Facebook page for a FWSSR photo contest January 2-January 14! 

The ticket office at 3401 W. Lancaster Ave. will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Fans also can purchase tickets by calling 817-877-2420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.