Rodeo Events

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.

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 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. 

   

Fort Worth is excited to announce that they will be host to Go West Summit January 28th-31st, 2013! Go West Summit is the premier business-oriented travel tradeshow selling the American West. We bring together the world's top international tour operators with specialty suppliers who offer year-round products in a 13 state region of the Western United States.

Monday starts off with a Buyers only exclusive tour of Fort Worth. This will be for tour operators from all over the world to get a sneak peak at all the Fort Worth has to offer.

Opening night will kick off on Monday evening at Billy Bob's Texas with an event called "Two Step Across Texas". Cities from all over Texas are coming together to welcome this group. In the 25 years that Go West Summit has been meeting this will be the first meeting in the State of Texas!

Tuesday, after a long day of meetings this group will spread out across Downtown and the Stockyards for a dine around. This gives attendees the chance to Experience Fort Worth on their own. If you happen to be out and about that night and see someone looking lost show that Fort Worth hospitality that we are known for and ask if they need directions somewhere! Check out our dinning selection and point them in the direction of your favorite restaurant!

Wednesday the conference celebrates the last day of meetings with a reception by Omni Hotel, an evening out at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and after hours in Sundance Square at Lone Star!

Thursday offers six different tours around the Fort Worth area depending on the attendee’s interests. They range everywhere from the Western Experience at Wildcatter Ranch to Shopping at Paragon Outlets,  Cowboys Stadium Tours to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, a walk in JFK's footsteps to a fast pace tour at Texas Motor Speedway. There is never a short supply of things to do in North Texas!

Help us in Welcoming Go West Summit this January to Fort Worth! Fort more information contact your Tourism Team or Go West's Website.

There is no better place to experience the Western lore and mystique of the cowboy lifestyle than the annual Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering and Western Swing Festival. Every year, thousands of spectactors, cowboys and locals alike gather for the 'Best Gathering and Best Family Event' voted by the readers of American Cowboy Magazine.

The 22nd annual event in the Historic Stockyards: October 26-28, 2012, is fun for all ages filled with a variety of entertainment. Get your tickets now for the Friday or Saturday special edition Red Steagall Rodeo at Cowtown Coliseum. Shoppers can visit Mule Alley for cowboy goods and accessories. Last year, we scored a pair of vintage Justin Boots for just $20! Enjoy the chuckwagon cook-offs and set-up along Exchange Avenue. Of course, there will be live cowboy poetry and music as well.

So, boot up and come out to the Stockyards National Historic District this weekend for some cowboy fun!

 

-Rhys Arangio 

National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum might be quite the mouthful, but it is FULL of unique treasures from Fort Worth and our nation's history.  It is the only museum in Fort Worth that is dedicated to the multicultural cowboys and cowgirls of the west. Come and visit the unique, historical accounts of how cowboys lived, dressed and saddled up in the colorful exhibit area. One-of-a-kind buckles, saddles and memorabilia are on display by World Calf Roping Champion, Fred Whitfield, Rodeo Legend Charles Sampson and three time IPRA Steer Wrestling Champion, Ronnie Fields. 

 

To view the 2012 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Western Parade map, Click Here.

Don't have plans for tomorrow yet? Don't fret! There's plenty to do around Fort Worth!
Kick start your healthy resolutions by visiting a Cowtown Farmer's Market (Open am-noon) on Saturday. 

For a place to celebrate when the clock strucks midnight, check out one of Fort Worth's newest additions to the nightlife scene. Barcadia combines the concepts of a bar and an arcade, so if that's not entertainment enough, they'll be playing 80s retro to dance to all night as well as a champagne toast at midnight. 

West 7th's Brownstone is hosting a New Year's Toast including $5,000 cash and prize balloon drop, up to $2,000 in door prizes, live DJ and full on red carpet and paparazzi. This party is sure to be the ultimate NYE bash.

Buck into 2012 and experience non-stop Professional Bull Riding in the Stockyards National Historic District. Catch all the Stockyards Championship Rodeo action at Cowtown Coliseum Friday and Saturday night, starting at 7:50pm.

Rich in history and tradition, the oldest livestock show in the nation, The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo will celebrate its 116th  anniversary this January 13-February 4, 2012, at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.

This Fort Worth legendary annual event started in 1896 with a group of local cattlemen in the Stockyards National Historic District. In 1944, the show moved from the Stockyards to the Cultural District at the Will Rogers Memorial Center, which was the most opulent facility of its time. In 2008, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and is now the World’s Largest Indoor Rodeo.

During the show, visitors and locals alike can experience a variety of entertainment from livestock exhibitors, “Best of the West” Ranch Rodeo, PRCA Extreme Bull Riding, Cowboys of Color Rodeo and much, much more! Don’t forget to download the FWSSR app for the full entertainment schedule!

You can purchase tickets through the online order form or visit the ticket office when it opens, Nov. 28th.  We suggest purchasing the souvenir pin, good for grounds admission during the entire 2012 Stock Show and includes admission to the Rodeo Roadhouse. This is a super Stock Show saving and for under $40, it’s the best value!  Don’t forget, ground admission includes admission to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, the Cattle Raiser’s Museum and the Cowgirl Museum.

Don't miss the premiere celebration of the West in the Stockyards National Historic District! Celebrate the 21st edition of the 'Best Gathering and Best Family Event' for Red Steagall's Cowboy Gathering and Western Swing Festival!

Live music includes Red Steagall himself, Don Edwards, Dan Roberts, Jean Prescott, the Quebe Sisters and The Burleson Family.

Don't miss this cowboy event fun for the whole family! For more information, Click Here.

Weekend events include: 

Wagon Train and Trail Ride from Jacksboro, Exciting Ranch Rodeo Action, 
Chuck Wagon Camp and Competition, Horsemanship Clinics, Trappings Show,
Cowboy Poetry and Cowboy Music, Ranch Cutting Horse Assn. Rodeo Finals, 
Youth Poetry Contest, Youth Fiddle Contest, Youth Chuck Wagon Cook-off, Texas Trail of Fame, Cowboy Church, Western Swing Dances

For more info on dining in Fort Worth, Click Here. 

Walk through the Fort Worth Champions exhibit entrance at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (Located in the Fort Worth Cultural District) and you already feel like a champion yourself. Step through a stadium tunnel to hear the cheers of an exuberant crowd as you are completely immersed in the interactive Fort Worth Champions exhibit which runs through Sept. 5, 2011. The interactive “Celebration Zone,” conceived and developed by the Museum’s Design and Exhibits teams, sets the stage for exploring the spirit of competition across time. Seven towering, translucent panels serve as a thematic gateway into each display, surrounding the guest with a whirling collage of images and sounds: A field of sprinters morphs into the blue waves of an Olympic pool then transforms to the lush green fairway of a golf course, then again to a football gridiron, to an endless race track, and even to arenas of the past.

The exhibit profiles more than 25 Fort Worth-based leading sports figures and teams from multiple disciplines whose stories are told through an impressive array of artifacts, trophies and multimedia. Among the items on view: TCU and Philadelphia Eagles football legend Davey O’Brien’s Heisman, Maxwell and Walter Camp trophies; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Bob Lilly’s 1972 Super Bowl championship ring; Johnny Rutherford’s McLaren M24 Indy Car; World-champion boxer Paulie Ayala’s Bantamweight Championship belt; trick rider and rodeo pro Tad Lucas’ riding leathers and memorabilia; and special displays honoring TCU’s football, track, equestrian, baseball and rifle teams. The Rose Bowl trophy honoring the TCU football team's 2010 undefeated season will also be on display periodically when not in use by the team. These symbols of ultimate accomplishment are paired with archival footage, historical mementos and photographs, and audio interviews with the athletes to convey the opportunities and obstacles they faced on the road to success. Fort Worth Champions allows for the showcase of our city's wonderful athletes that contriute to the Fort Worth culture!

This is truly an inspirational attraction from the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History for the whole family to enjoy! For more information on events in Fort Worth, Click Here.

 

Celebrate Spring Break and St. Patrick’s Day all in one!  On Saturday, March 12, don’t miss Cowtown Goes Green in the Stockyards National Historic District.

One of many Fort Worth Kids Events, this St. Patrick’s Day event features pony rides, a petting zoo, games and contests with Radio Disney, face-painting, live Irish music, Fort Worth Herd CowCamp featuring hands-on roping lessons, stick horse races and more, the Fort Worth Cattle Drive followed by Cowtown Goes Green Parade.

Admission is free.  While you’re there, enjoy the shopping, dining, and other attractions in the Stockyards National Historic District, including Stockyards Championship Rodeo, Stockyards Station, Billy Bob’s Texas and more.

For more information on Fort Worth Events, visit www.FortWorth.com.