Where the West begins, and where the legacies of the industry’s greats live on in vivid memory.
From the red-brick roads of the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, where longhorns mosey down Exchange Avenue, to the vibrant cityscape along the Trinity River and Dickies Arena, Fort Worth is a city rich in culture and deeply rooted in history.
Once mockingly dubbed the “Panther City” by the Dallas Daily Herald in 1875, Fort Worth has since risen into a thriving metropolis, one that proudly embraces its Western heritage and stands as the home of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (FWSSR).
Welcome to Cowtown.
Long before Fort Worth became a modern city skyline, it was a cattle town defined by trails, stockyards and tenuous settlers. That legacy still lives today in the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo—an event created by the cattle industry, shaped by history and elevated into one of the most prestigious stages in professional rodeo.
It is no coincidence that one of the nation’s largest and most successful cattle-processing centers is also home to one of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s (PRCA) oldest and most prestigious rodeos.
Fort Worth, affectionately known as Cowtown, emerged as a major city hub in the early 20th century, serving as a central meeting and processing point for cattle ranchers. Situated at the crossroads of several famed cattle trails, the city became the heart of the cattle market, and ultimately the home of one of the most influential stock shows and rodeos in the world.
With cattle came livestock shows and industry meetings, and eventually, a rodeo.
The rodeo traces its roots to 1896, when it began as a display of Western heritage and skill. The event soon became a fixture in Fort Worth history. The Cowtown Coliseum—originally built in 1908 as the Northside Coliseum—was billed as “the most opulent and dynamic livestock pavilion in the entire Western Hemisphere” and served as the rodeo’s first permanent home.
In 1944, the Stock Show moved to Will Rogers Memorial Center, further expanding its reach and economic impact on the local community and the national livestock and rodeo industries. In 1968, the FWSSR made history again, becoming the first rodeo to receive complete live national television coverage on NBC.
Over the decades, the FWSSR has served as one of rodeo’s most prominent stages, shaping the legacies of history-making cowboys. In 1978, PRCA’s single-rodeo earnings record was broken when Tom Ferguson won $12,873 in tie-down roping and steer wrestling—underscoring the event’s reputation as one of the most lucrative stops in professional rodeo.
In 1979, legendary rodeo figure Neal Gay was hired as the Stock Show’s rodeo producer, beginning a long and influential tenure for the Gay family and Rafter G Rodeo Company. During this same era, Bob Tallman began his long-running legacy as the rodeo’s announcer.
Just to name a few, legends shaped by the near-month-long annual production.
As the decades roll on, so does the legacy of the FWSSR and the memories it creates for both spectators and athletes. From legendary cowboys backing into the Stock Show’s coveted boxes to life-changing livestock exhibitions, the event imprints Western heritage in countless ways.
Further cementing Fort Worth’s place in rodeo history, Dickies Arena—designed with rodeo athletes in mind—opened in 2020. That same year, the FWSSR ProRodeo Tournament debuted, introducing a tournament-style format that is both fan-friendly and fiercely competitive. With a purse of $1,272,000, it ranks among the richest and most prestigious rodeos in the world. Kicking off the major Texas winter rodeo run, commonly referred to as the “Texas Swing”.
As one of the first major rodeos of 2026, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo will set the stage for athletes’ 2026 campaigns as they pursue qualification for the National Finals Rodeo. The FWSSR ProRodeo Tournament will run from Jan. 23 through Feb. 7, with each bracket featuring the sport’s toughest competitors.
From cattle drives and dirt roads to sold-out crowds under the lights of Dickies Arena, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo has never lost sight of its roots. What began as a gathering point for ranchers and livestock has grown into a proving ground for champions, where careers are launched and legacies are sealed.
Officially kicking off on January 16, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo once again stands at the crossroads of tradition and opportunity. And in a city built by cattle, courage, and competition, the story continues because– This Thing is Legendary.