The National Western Stock Show (NWSS), held annually in Denver, CO, since 1906, has been postponed until 2022 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“The COVID-19 pandemic does not allow for the Stock Show to host the annual event and comply with the health and safety guidelines that are necessary to protect Coloradans and help stop the spread,” read a released statement from the Western Stock Show Association board of directors and National Western Stock Show management.
“More importantly, the projected environment through to the end of the year is too uncertain and therefore not reassuring enough to allow a traditional Stock Show to take place without potentially compromising the health and safety of exhibitors, visitors, and the public at large.”
Paul Andrews, president and CEO of the NWSS, said they reviewed every possible option to host the event, including a modified show with reduced capacity, but “NWSS and the city of Denver could not find a path forward to have Stock Show and comply with the rules that govern gatherings of our size and rules of social distancing.”
The decision to postpone the show was made early so contestants, competitors and exhibitors “do not incur time and cost they can’t recover,” according to Andrews.
However, youth exhibitors that would have aged out at 18 years old after the 2021 show will be allowed to compete as 19-year-olds in 2022.
In a press conference held at the National Western Complex and broadcast live on Zoom, Andrews said the only other time the show was postponed was in 1915 during the animal health epidemic of hoof-and-mouth disease, when animals were unable to cross state lines.
Regarding why the event will be postponed even if a vaccine is approved, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock (D) said, “Even if a vaccine is approved and used by the end of this year—let’s say early- to mid-December—you still have the challenge of making sure everyone is being vaccinated, or at least enough people are being vaccinated and you have herd immunity occurring—that will not occur in January.
“Even the best models tell you it won’t happen until at least the end of the first quarter or the beginning of the second quarter. This is the right decision—tough decision, and one in which I know the membership of the board and the leadership of the NWSS agonized over, because of our longstanding history.”
The Stock Show typically draws over 700,000 attendees during the 16-day event, and sees an economic impact of nearly $120 million. The 2022 NWSS will be held Jan. 8-23 with the grand opening of the historic yards and Stockyards Event Center. — Anna Miller, WLJ editor
