There truly is not anything like Denver’s National Western Stock Show.

Here are the takeaways from my first-ever rodeo with Denver’s historic, 118-year-old tradition.

It’s just simply something of its own.

When seeing the dozens of animals marching down 17th Street on Jan. 4 during the Stock Show parade, leaving plentiful amounts of poop droppings behind, I knew the Stock Show was going to be something special.

Upon experiencing it for the time ever this past week, I understand why more than 700,000 people from around the world attend. It’s just that unique, entertaining, educational and awe-inspiring.

Growing up in northwest suburban Chicago about the only animal experiences we had were zoos, the Illinois and Wisconsin state fairs. But we also enjoyed amusement parks, a large downtown area, a good music, arts scene and a giant lake.

I would say the most unique Chicago tradition is dyeing the river green for St. Patrick’s Day, free museum months and the Bears losing. But that’s it.

So clearly, nothing like having a tradition like the National Western Stock Show.

Driving along Interstate 70, outside of downtown, was the first experience of the city in June 2022. I looked out and saw both the Denver Coliseum and the mini building reading “Stadium Arena.”

That’s the first I’d ever heard of it, so research was required.

It would be impossible to replicate the essence of what the Stock Show is anywhere else around the world. I figured that out by attending.

The Stock Show is one of those happenings that separates Denver from any place else. There is nothing like the Stock Show’s old west heritage vibes and storytelling through its series of events, shows and commerce.

The Stock Show represents something that truly values the past, animals in stock culture, trade, competition, business, food and art.

From my first experiences, I can report what it was like — and what to look out for — in 2024’s Stock Show.

Arriving to the Stock Show

I decided not to roll the dice trying to park near the stock show.

It was a wise move for two of the times I went.

Parking in the Coors Field lot was better than fighting the crowds, and I then saddled up on the free (warm) shuttle bus to the stock show grounds. It avoided parking woes which had a good impact on my experience moving forward.

Even though I got on the wrong bus afterwards. Make sure you get on the right bus.

The tone was set right when I saw the hundreds of people walking up and down 44th and Humboldt streets. It was a healthy reminder that the show is not just about its old American west roots, but about the people gathering who attend and share the love of the Stock Show together.

It was also a reminder that people who celebrate the Stock Show in Denver — now including me — are an essential part of not only keeping the nearly 120-year stock show legacy alive, but also centuries worth of American west culture to reminisce about.

For me, arriving at the Stock Show was a way to remind myself that moving out west was not much different from those who came by way of different means centuries ago.

The trade show

Getting to know the grounds was hard, but that’s also what made it fun. The endless circle of vendors, animal showings and the people there immersed me into a unique experience that allowed me to embrace everything there.

I have never seen a cowboy hat fitting station, baby horses in a gift shop, three separate areas for events and a convention center to spread the experience out.

That, to me, makes it exciting to be a Denverite to be involved in such a unique and namesake tradition.

One thing at the Show Stood out most: the smell.

The expectation was maybe a stock show would smell more, stock-like. But depending on where I was on the grounds would be an array of smells from the food options, candles, incense and the many who decide to wear perfume or cologne.

There are hundreds of different smells to be had, depending on where you are at the Stock Show.

The good smells, mixed with the animal waste and hay, made it an array of sensations that gave it a carnival, state fair, convention and pumpkin patch all together experience.

Besides your ticket to the rodeo or wherever you go, at least find a couple hours to spend in the trade show areas. The choices of eats, shopping, massage chairs and activities kept me around.

It’s hard to find trade shows where it is more fun to look around rather than binge on shopping. The temptation of buying a clean, authentic cowboy hat for $55 was palpable. But if the budget is there, it would have been cool to say I bought my cowboy hat at the National Western Stock Show. It just did not happen.

The top five unexpected things I witnessed:

• An Alpaca
• Dippin’ Dots
• A 120-pound fluffy dog with a cowboy hat and ski goggles on
• Fried Oreos
• Candy stores

Something else unexpected came in the lower level of the Education Hall building where hundreds of goats and pigs were being kept for auction. The smell of the animals taking a shower in the back of the room was something I have never experienced.

The smell was definitely not all roses and lavender, but it’s one of those things that can be appreciated for experiencing when not ever being at a stock show.

All-in-all, being able to people watch and see the western style first hand at the Stock Show is another thing that stood out. The interactions between everyone involved were always cordial and that’s what makes the positive energy of the stock show palpable — most everyone is happy to be there.

But no energy matches the Stock Show’s rodeo energy.

My first rodeo

Stepping into the Denver Coliseum for professional rodeo and the Martin Luther King Jr. African-American Heritage rodeo show from Monday, Jan. 15, is something I will never forget.

The Stock Show has led me to regret not attending any rodeos in my first 26 years alive. I just had too much fun with it.

Between the highly skilled riders and the crowd’s energy, rodeo at the Stock Show is something that needs to be experienced.

Everyone rooting for everyone is what stood out to me. As much as it may seem about winning, I’ve learned that the Stock Show is mostly about being there and performing with an appreciation of American west culture.

And the love of the ride.

Being at a rodeo, let alone the Stock Show itself, showed how much dedication there is and how many moving pieces there are to make these things happen.

Speaking of dedication and many moving pieces, the Colorado Westernaires horse riding performers blew me away. I never realized there can be so much art behind horse riding and there being that much choreography.

I had the privilege to experience each rodeo event during the MLK Day rodeo. My favorite, though, was the steer wrestling event — something which I never heard of or saw in my life.

Cowboys and cowgirls are athletic. I never really thought about how athletic these riders are until I saw it in person.

The fact these riders can jump off a horse and tackle and wrestle cattle running at 15 miles per hour is something I don’t think other types of athletes in the world can do.

At least five bones in my body would break just by trying to jump off the horse. It came off to me as one of the more impressive things I have seen live.

But as whole, the National Western Stock show is impressive on its own.

The amount of options from food, activities, shows and competitions leave nothing to be desired.

For me, though, lots more is to be desired considering how much fun I had and I’m looking forward to my new annual tradition of attending the National Western Stock Show.