27-01-2025
National Western Stock Show: 98 junior livestock champions fetch record-breaking amount
DENVER (KDVR) — It's time to take down those holiday lights and buckle in for a long year until the 120th National Western Stock Show, as the 2025 event marketed as the 'best 16 days in January' came to a close.
Organizers said this year drew over 658,109 visitors during the two-week-and-two-day stint, with fans donning their best Western regalia for the traditional events. The participation places 2025 among the top 10 stock shows for attendance in history.
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The stock show set its record attendance numbers in 2006 for the 100th anniversary — 726,973 people attended that year. This year's attendance numbers had to compete with the frigid cold — 91 hours straight of this year's stock show were held while the temperature remained below freezing.
'Every guest that walks through our gates is part of the Stock Show family, and we are incredibly thankful for their support,' said Paul Andrews, President and CEO of the National Western Stock Show, in the Sunday afternoon release.
The NWSS highlighted its Auction of Junior Livestock Champions which had 98 animals that fetched a 'record-breaking $1,452,500 — the highest total in stock show history.'
The funds go to the National Western Scholarship Trust, which gives scholarships to students pursuing agriculture and rural medicine careers. The Coors Western Art Exhibit and Sale also gives its process to the trust, which broke records with $1.4 million in sales to date, the stock show shared.
'Thanks to these events and the incredible generosity of our supporters, we're able to fund 120 scholarships annually, ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 per student,' Andrews said in the stock show release. 'These scholarships represent an investment in the future of agriculture, helping students pursue their dreams and make meaningful contributions to their communities.'While this year's stock show is over, it's time to save the date for next year's: The National Western Stock Show is set to return to Denver on Jan. 10-25, 2026.
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