The Super Bowl of Livestock Shows
January 11-26, 2025
Livestock you will find at the Stock Show
The National Western Stock Show is a 16-day livestock show held in Denver Colorado every January, hosting over 25 different breeds of cattle and many other species of livestock. With more than 12,000 head of livestock moving in and out of the gates each year, visitors can watch traditional competitions including breeding, market, and showmanship, or those primarily aimed for recreation or companionship (llamas, alpacas, poultry, and stock dogs). Viewing these events is all part of the Stock Show experience and can be done with a grounds admission ticket!
Youth involvement is one of the highlights of the livestock shows. Young exhibitors from across the nation participate in our competitive arenas for prize monies, national recognition for their achievements, and a chance at college scholarships.
Experience the Super Bowl of livestock shows, learn about raising and showing livestock, and witness first-hand the hard work and dedication of local, national, and international exhibitors and ranchers from around the globe.
Auction of Junior Livestock Champions
Of the thousands of junior market animals that compete at the National Western Stock Show each year, only 96 of the very best qualify for the exciting Auction of Junior Livestock Champions.
Herd Sire Display Bulls
Open Breeding Cattle Shows
The Livestock Department processes an excess of 20,000 entries each year. Known as the “Superbowl” of livestock events, exhibitors bring animals from all over the United States and Canada to participate, and we have visitors and educators come from all over the world.
Junior Livestock Shows
Judging Contests
Catch-a-Calf Contest
Specialty Breed Shows
Alpacas
Dates: January 2024, Stadium Hall 1
Alpacas are one of America’s newest entries into the livestock industry. The initial animals were imported from 1984 until 1997 when the government closed the quarantine facility in Key West, FL. Since that time the industry has flourished and now approximates 160,000 in the US.
Bison
Dates: January 2024, Yards
Bison were the center of life for the Plains Indians, providing them with food, clothing, shelter, and spiritual aspirations. Although commonly called buffalo, the American Bison is not a true buffalo. Its closest relatives are the European Bison (Wisent) and the Canadian Woods Bison, not the buffalo of Asia or Africa, such as the Cape Buffalo or Water Buffalo.
Stock Dogs
Dates: January 2024, Yards + Stadium Arena
From backyard pets to a cowman’s top assistant, dogs truly are man’s best friend. The National Western Stock Show takes pride in highlighting the relationship between these amazing animals and their human counterparts through our cattle and sheepdog competitions.
Goats
Dates: January 2024, Junior Barn
The Boer goat was developed in South Africa as a breed meant for meat production. The term “Boer” refers to the descendants of the Dutch immigrants, most of them farmers, who settled the country; thus, Boer goat simply means “farmers’ goat.”
Llamas
Dates: January 2024, Stadium Hall 1
Along with alpacas Guanacos and Vicunas are members of the camel family and originated on the central plains of North America about 10 million years ago. They were domesticated in the Andean highlands of Peru more than 5,000 years ago.
Sheep
Dates: January 2024, Junior Barn
From wool shows and sheep lead contests to breeding sheep exhibitions, the National Western Stock Show offers a variety of events to showcase one of the largest segments of the western livestock industry.
Swine
Dates: January 2024, Junior Barn + Stadium Arena
As part of the National Western junior livestock competition, more than 500 market hogs from across the nation come to Denver to be shown by youth aged 9 to 18. The swine are judged on conformation, structural correctness, and muscling.
Yaks
Dates: January 2024, Yards + Stockyards Event Center
Originally from the Himalayan Mountains, and a center point of the Tibetan culture, yaks were first introduced to North America in the early 1900s. Both a beast of burden and spiritual focus