The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo has been a part of the culture since 1896, and people come from all around the country to participate in its agricultural events. The city’s annual event works to keep cowboy culture alive through entertainment geared for all ages. Carnival rides, mule shows, bull riding and petting zoos, the stock show hosts a wide variety of daily events.
Fun times, Fast Rides and Fried Food
Rodeo attendees can kick up their boots for a short rest between stock show events by riding a Ferris wheel with a turkey leg in hand at the carnival.
Judge Childers, 7, forced his turkey leg toward his father Justin’s hands before sprinting past the gates of a monster truck rally ride. This is their fourth consecutive year attending.
“He really enjoys the rodeo,” Justin said as Judge ran around his feet munching on the turkey leg. “It’s what keeps us both coming back.”
Carnival rides that spin, whip and twirl are lit up all day at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. One can attempt a fun house maze or dare to enter the haunted house. Either way, a warm corn dog can be smelled nearby.
“We’re gonna go to the rodeo [later] and watch the bulls and cows,” Judge said.
Not all who see the lights of a slingshot ride may be attracted to the rodeo, but it opens the door for unlikely guests to experience their first Fort Worth cowboy event.
Dixie Briggs has been attending the stock show in Fort Worth since 2019 to show off her mule Sassafras. Briggs has been riding Sassafras for 10 years and appreciates the opportunity the stock show provides her and her family to exhibit their livestock, and the bonds built between the two.
“I think that there is a lot of passion, and it’s a lot of hard work,” Briggs said. “Fort Worth is where the cowboys are, and I’m really happy that Fort Worth is keeping the rodeo culture alive.”
Poppy’s Kiss, Silkies touch and a Goats Bump
Stock show attendees can kiss an alpaca, greet a cow, touch a silkie chicken and engage in a staring competition with a goat underneath one tent at the rodeo.
Westland Ranch Petting Zoo is showcasing its vast group of livestock at the stock show for the 20th year.
Kirby Swafford, manager of the petting zoo, has worked at the event since it started back in 2006.
“We can have upwards from 50 to 800 kids a day come through here,” Swafford said. “A lot of these city kids don’t get to experience the animals, and this is where they get to.”
Heaters located inside the tent help keep guests warm, but Swafford explained the animals are well acclimated to the cold temperature, and it doesn’t bother them.
Former TCC student Katie Pontiff has worked with Westland Ranch for almost 15 years and volunteers for them anytime a petting zoo event is hosted.
The only animals who sometimes freeze up are the fainting goats, but it has nothing to do with the cold.
“When we open up the trailer, it’s one of the most hilarious times, because we have to stand under it and catch them,” Pontiff said as she patted the head of a goat.
Westland Farm’s Petting Zoo will be set up every day until the end of the rodeo where all can visit, and the best part is it’s free.
Pontiff pointed out a mother and daughter alpaca, Poppy and Ruby, in the corner of their tent cuddled next to each other.
“The mama loves to give kisses,” Pontiff said. “Doesn’t matter how much crap she has in her mouth. She’ll go up for a kiss.”
Get Bucked/Fort Worths First Professional Bucking/Now Watch This Buck
Adrenaline bucked violently while the crowd endured the sight of the bull rider’s eight-second ride, but when the buzzer blared signaling the rider had succeeded, a roar erupted from the crowd.
Professional Bull Riders, a group of more than 800 bull riders from around the world, stopped at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth on Jan. 21 for the first time to compete during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.
Steve Coburn has worked at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo since he was 11 years old and has never missed a year since.
“You get to talk to people from all over the world and you never know what you’re gonna see from day to day out here,” Coburn said. “It’s just a neat place to work.”
On the frosty 14-degree evening, the two-day event launched into full throttle with the opening event in which the 40 challengers of the evening were introduced to the crowd.
Every competition begins with 40 riders who must last eight seconds on their bull each round. If a rider isn’t successful, they will not advance to the next round. If one completes the eight seconds, judges will present the rider with a score based on their and the bull’s performance.
After five intense rounds, Daniel Keeping and Rogerio Venancio tied in Day One, moving them both closer to receiving the title of Last Cowboy Standing in the 2025 championship. However, on the second day, Leandro Zampollo moved to the top of the chart and won the title of Last Cowboy Standing.
While Dickies Arena was one of PBR’s first stops on its yearlong tour across the country, Fort Worth’s Stock Show and Rodeo continues until Feb. 9 with daily events and a ProRodeo every evening with horseback and bull riding.
Dave Jahn attended the mule show on Jan. 26 in support of his friend Smokey Briggs, his daughter Dixie Briggs and her mule Sassafras.
“There’s no better people than rodeo people,” Jahn said. “It’s just good, clean and wholesome family fun.”
