Denver, CO. – The National Western Stock Show presented by Centura Health drew excited crowds of Coloradans and out-of-towners alike. The gates closed and the arenas cleared as the best 16 days in January came to an end. A final attendance tally of 702,697 guests made the 2023 NWSS the fourth highest attended show in event history. The grand champion attendance record of 726,972 was set in 2006 during the 100th Anniversary.
“When you look across the grounds at the sea of faces, young and old, from near and far, you can’t help but get overwhelmed with pride and gratitude,” said Paul Andrews, President & CEO of the National Western Stock Show. “The Stock Show is where families and friends come together to celebrate our western heritage and tradition. We are thrilled with the incredible number of folks that joined in the celebration.”
In addition to strong attendance, the three primary funding events for the National Western Scholarship Trust also had a successful year. The Auction of Junior Livestock Champions recorded sales of $1,390,500. The Citizen of the West dinner, honoring former Wyoming Governor Matthew Mead, sold out, and the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale set a record $1,003,000 in sales.
“These three events fund 110 scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 per student,” Andrews said. “We are incredibly grateful to all the supporters and buyers who contribute to these events, as they are directly funding the future of agriculture by helping students who are studying in the fields of agriculture and rural medicine.”
Andrews also notes that the success of Stock Show relies upon the dedication and hard work of more than 800 volunteers, the support of the City of Denver, the WSSA Board of Directors, sponsor partners, and the livestock, horse, and rodeo committees. National Western is grateful for the many sources of support for our annual event that contribute to the continuation of this tradition year after year.
The 2024 National Western Stock Show dates are January 6 – 21, 2024.
About the National Western Stock Show
Established in 1906, the National Western Stock Show is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides college and graduate-level scholarships in agricultural science, business, and rural medicine. It is our mission to serve producers and consumers throughout the world by being the premier annual livestock show and center for year-round events. The 16-day show in January also serves as an entertainment arena, hosting one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos, world-class horse shows, prestigious Coors Western Art Show, family and educational events, and Colorado’s largest western trade show. For more information, visit nationalwestern.com.