Enraged bulls. Tamed horses. Long-haired rock stars. People in boots and Stetsons as far as the eye can see. These things converge but once a year, and when they do, it can be a tad overwhelming. This Stock Show season, we did the grunt work and put together this guide to help you along. From what to wear, who to see, and where to be, we answer all your questions to ensure you’re not getting roped into the wrong rodeo.
THE SHOW
A Chat with Brad Barnes
President/General Manager at Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show
For 14 years, Brad Barnes has been steering the gargantuan ship that is the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, known colloquially as the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo — in case you didn’t already know. Despite a hectic schedule manning the logistics of the city’s biggest annual event, Brad took some time to answer a few of our burning questions.
FW: Can you explain the kind of work that goes on behind the scenes to put on an annual event of this caliber?
Brad: We have a full-time staff of 21 men and women that put in a tremendous amount of work in preparation and execution of the Stock Show. Beginning in the late fall, seasonal employees start coming on board, and by the time the show begins, we’ll have more than 950 employees and 1,700 volunteers who help ensure the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo goes off without a hitch. The staff and volunteers do everything from painting, move in and set up of exhibits, parking, ticket sales, accounting, visitor safety assurance, and many other jobs to ensure our 1.2 million guests have a fun and enjoyable time.
FW: Outside of Dickies Arena, what improvements have you overseen at the Stock Show & Rodeo since the beginning of your tenure in 2005?
Brad: We’ve worked closely with the City of Fort Worth to continually expand and improve the Will Rogers Memorial Center. Our public-private partnership has allowed the Will Rogers Memorial Center to become the premier equestrian and livestock facility in the U.S., attracting millions in spending and tax revenues from not just Stock Show but the many other equestrian events held there throughout the year. The Stock Show has invested more than $60 million in improvements and expansion at Will Rogers since moving here in 1944. Moreover, the collaborative mentality has enabled the Stock Show, City of Fort Worth, and some of our neighbors such as the Cowgirl Museum, Museum of Science and History, and BRIT [Botanical Research Institute of Texas] to make this part of the Cultural District a fun and enjoyable place for everyone throughout the year.
FW: What additional improvements or changes can we expect in the near future?
Brad: We’re in the middle of a four-phase renovation of the original livestock facilities and barns built in 1948. Phase III will renovate the sheep and swine barns, and Phase IV will complete the project with improvements to Cattle 3 and Cattle 4.
Of course, we’ll continue to add new entertainment features to the Stock Show format. For 2020, we’re adding concerts in the Will Rogers Auditorium. The acoustics are so wonderful in there, we like to refer to it as “Fillmore Fort Worth.” Some awesome bands and acts have played the auditorium in years past, and we hope to bring back some of that excitement. We already have the classic rock band Foreigner booked as well as a great a cappella country group, Home Free. A mariachi competition is also added for 2020, and we’re expanding our popular Mustang events to include something called Extreme Mustang Makeover, which has a strong national following. Besides moving our Bud Light Roadhouse to the Simmons Bank Plaza at Dickies Arena, we’re adding a wine destination called The Corkyard, which will serve wine by the glass as well as light fare. Fort Worth is a diverse community, and we can continue expanding our features to make everyone feel welcomed and have fun at the Stock Show.
Boots & Bolos: What to Wear
Hey, no one’s gonna judge you if you’re rocking corduroys and sneakers — Fort Worth welcomes all walks of life, after all. But we do have some recommendations if blending in happens to be a priority. Whether you’re a boy or girl, Brad Barnes, president/general manager of FWSSR, recommends Justin boots, Wrangler jeans, a Dickies shirt, and a Resistol hat. Easy enough.
Glossary of Terms:
Bulldogger: A steer wrestler
Bullfighter: Rodeo clowns? Bullfighters might wear makeup, but they are no clowns. They’re athletes who protect the bull rider after he dismounts or is bucked off, sometimes stepping between the bull and the bull rider
Chute: A pen that holds an animal safely in position
Hazer: In steer wrestling, the cowboy who rides on the right side of the steer from the contestant to make sure the steer runs straight
Hooey: The knot that a cowboy uses to finish tying the calf’s legs together in tie-down roping
Piggin’ string: In tie-down roping, the small rope used to tie a calf’s legs together
Roughstock: The bucking horses and bulls used in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding
Stock Show: The main colloquialism for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. If you wanna shorten it, don’t dare call it the rodeo.
*Courtesy of Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
Yeah, but What If I Don’t Like Rodeos?
The rodeo ain’t for everyone; we get it. But Western wear skeptics, those who detest the smell of animal feces, and lovers of our four-legged friends need not feel out of place. While it is a rodeo in a city that claims the moniker “Where the West Begins,” we think you’ll find there’s something for everyone.
Mariachi Competition
Far more than flashy dress and dinner-table entertainment, mariachis are world-class musicians who can wail on a great polka tune. If you’re into the use of stomping as a form of percussion, this should be right up your alley. Will Rogers Auditorium, Jan. 25
Foreigner
The band had its heyday when mullets were in fashion, but its tunes, unlike its mullets, remain pretty timeless. Beware of potential riots if they refuse to play “I Want to Know What Love Is.” Will Rogers Auditorium, Feb. 5
Bud Light Roadhouse
Grabbing a beer and enjoying the company of others is a universally enjoyed pastime. And, during the Stock Show, there’s no better place in town to grab a brewsky than at the Bud Light Roadhouse, where a mix of booze, live music, and dancing will manifest into a headache the following morning.
Take a Walk Down Main Street Stock Show
If you enjoy people-watching, you’re sure to catch some characters when you take a stroll down Burnett Tandy Drive (also known as Main Street Stock Show). Serving as the main thruway for the three-week-long event, this is the place where Fort Worthians merge to strut their stuff.
Pro Tips for the Novice
While this ain’t our first rodeo, it could be yours.
Check Out Mutton Bustin’
Whoever thought a child riding a distraught sheep was a good idea is, well, brilliant. No joke, child on a sheep > man on a bull. Fortunately, mutton bustin’ takes place during the first three rodeo nights and Jan. 21 – 22, making this singular event worth the price of admission.
Don’t Sleep on John Justin Arena
Located just east of Rip Johnson Drive in the Richardson-Bass Building, this small arena is where you’ll find most of the horse activity, including the cutting horse show, miniature horse show, and the donkey and mule show. Bottom line, if you dig equines, we wouldn’t blame you for camping out around John Justin.
Shopping
Okay, this might not be too big of a secret, but there’s some serious Black-Friday-like shopping that goes down at the Stock Show. Inside the Richardson-Bass Building, dozens of merchants, from soap makers to leather goods to fudge, will be vying for your precious dollar; and they’ll likely get it, too.
Food
For culinarily picky cowboys and cowgirls, the Stock Show offers more than stadium nachos, hot dogs, and Hampton Farms peanuts. We recommend taking a stroll to the Amon G. Carter Food Court, located, weirdly enough, near the Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits on the west end of the Stock Show grounds. Here, you’ll find organizers didn’t skimp on delicious cuisine, as you’ll get to munch on some Mama’s Pizza, Coburns BBQ, or A Taste of New Orleans.
Parking
Look, during the busiest times (weekends and weekday nights during the rodeo) parking won’t be easy, so Uber or Lyft is the way to go. But if you’re either smartphone inefficient or just don’t feel like clogging your data with another app, you can pay $15 to park near the Stock Show or $5 to park near Billy Bob’s in the Stockyards, where a shuttle will take you to the main Stock Show entrance. Your decision depends only on how much you value convenience.
