The best sixteen days in January

The National Western Stock Show bills itself as the "Best Sixteen Days In January," and who am I to argue? After all, I have attended at least one event every single year for nearly two decades. 

Yesterday was the first of those sixteen days. Deb, Mary Jo, Cindy, Judy and I braved the opening day crowds...

for a fun day of shopping,

eating,

live music,

livestock,

horses... 

and rodeo!

The shopping was first.

NaMoPaiMo needs this.

Ten years ago, I chaperoned a third grade field trip to the Stock Show. Of all the things they saw that day, the kids liked the horse trailers with living quarters the most. 

It turns out that Deb, Mary Jo, Cindy, Judy and I are all just overgrown kids.  

This trailer was our favorite thing, too!

"Look, y'all. You can pet your horse while you're using the bathroom!"

We could have stayed in that trailer all day, but eventually, we tore ourselves away and headed back to the Coliseum. 

There we watched the Colorado portion of the Colorado vs. the World rodeo. 

The winners from each of Colorado's pro rodeos competed against one another for a place in the Finals, which was held later that evening. I was a little surprised that there weren't any roping events, just bareback riding,

steer wrestling,

saddle bronc riding, 

barrel racing... 

and bull riding. 

Along the way, we were entertained by mutton busters,

trick riders,

the Wells Fargo stagecoach,

 

and the Broken Spoke Clydesdales.

Oh, I love this badger faced horse!

This was such a fun day. So fun, in fact we're going back and doing it all again today.

Woo hoo! I can't wait! The National Western Stock Show really is the best sixteen days in January!