For Wes Allison, the National Western Stock Show in Denver has been the “Super Bowl of livestock shows.”

He would know. Allison has been a leader within the Texas rodeo scene for decades.

Allison is now preparing to take over Denver’s annual event celebrating Colorado’s agricultural economy as the CEO and president of the stock show and National Western Complex beginning in May.

He’ll take the reins of the stock show in time for its 120th anniversary next year and as new buildings under construction at the complex are nearing completion.

Allison began his career on the livestock show management side at the Houston Livestock Show, overseeing livestock exhibits. He then moved to Waco, Texas to run the Heart O’ Texas Fair and Rodeo as president and CEO for 23 years.

His resume caught the eye of the National Western Stock Show board during their search for a new leader as his achievements mirror the trajectory the event is heading toward.

When his hiring was announced in late February, the organization noted his experience in expanding operations, supporting agricultural educational programs and turning the Heart O’ Texas into a year-round, multi-event venue.

The National Western Center is growing as a campus ever since the city of Denver began looking at redeveloping its 250 acres in 2015.

The Legacy Building and the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Livestock Center are both scheduled to be ready to debut in time for the 2026 stock show, which will kick off Jan. 10. A replacement for the historic Denver Coliseum is still on the table, though they’re still waiting on the city to find funding.

The sprawling campus is part of a wider effort to sustain and grow the National Western Stock Show over the next century, as well as attract other events year round to the site. Allison said he aims to make the center a place where people learn about Western ideals of hard work, grit, courage and integrity — and make Denver more known as a hub of Western culture.

“We want to be the destination to experience the spirit of the American West,” Allison said.

The new buildings are a legacy from the outgoing CEO of the stock show, Paul Andrews, who ran the “best 16 days in January” for 15 years, Allison noted.

“As we continue to grow those facilities,” he said, “his work in those will live forever as a testament to Paul’s great leadership.”

Allison said he aims to take the vision forward as the next phase of new buildings opens to the public.

“We believe he’s the right guy at the right time to take us to the next level of opportunity with the National Western Stock Show,” said Douglas Jones, board chairman of the National Western Stock Show.

Jones noted there’s still progress being made on securing financing to build a new arena to host bigger events than the 74-year-old Coliseum can.

He said there was a site east of the railroad tracks called “The Triangle,” 60 acres in size, that could be a suitable fit for an arena, adding he believes the city can get the money necessary to build it.

“Once the Equestrian Center is finished, which hopefully is done in 2027, then the west side of the campus will be complete,” Jones said. “The new Coliseum, and the additional uses, will then follow in the coming years ahead.”

Allison grew up around agriculture, being raised in West Texas and beginning with 4-H and youth rodeo competitions. He went to Texas A&M University and got a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics and a master’s in agriculture.

He said he hopes during his tenure as CEO is to push more efforts into supporting scholarships for agricultural careers, though not only for farming and sciences.

“We need doctors and lawyers and all of those professional folks who can support agriculture,” he said. “Because it’s an important part of our United States economy, and certainly an important part of the Colorado economy.”

When Allison takes over the show next year, he said he’s most excited to see the Yards — which he hasn’t been to since he was a kid.

And then there’s the rodeo, of course.

“I get to watch it on the cowboy channel,” Allison said. “I get to live it now.”