A Great Pair for 100 Years: the National Western Stock Show and Colorado State University
Note to Editors: A logo of the 100-year anniversary and this press release are available online at http://newsinfo.colostate.edu.
1870 Territorial bill authorizes creation of Colorado Agricultural College, a land-grant institution, in Fort Collins.
1899 National Exhibition of Range Cattle is held January 24-26 in Denver.
1902 Colorado Cattle and Horse Growers Association hosts a small livestock show in November.
1903 The success of the Colorado Cattle and Horse Growers Association’s livestock show triggers the development of an animal husbandry department at Colorado Agricultural College.
1905 The Western Stock Show (now the National Western Stock Show) formally opens in January under the direction of Elias M. Ammons, president of the Colorado Cattle Growers Association and brother of Theodosia Ammons, professor of domestic economy at Colorado Agricultural College; George Ballentine, general manager of the Denver Union Stockyard Company; and Fred P. Johnson, publisher of the Record Stockman.
On March 10, the Colorado Cattle and Horse Growers Association elects Elias M. Ammons, a Douglas County cattleman, as president of the Western Stock Show in recognition of his outstanding service to the range industry and his influence in solving range problems and meeting new conditions.
1906 The National Western Stock Show is born with the chartering of the Western Stock Show Association. The first Western Stock Show is held from January 29 to February 3.
The first grand champion steer exhibited at the Stock Show comes from Colorado Agricultural College. The 1,150-pound Shorthorn steer is bought by a Denver butcher, James D. Miller, at a record price of 33 cents per pound.
Colorado Agricultural College wins $475 for first prizes for Aberdeen-Angus bulls and females, two-year-old Shorthorns and Grand Champion Shorthorn Bull. Complaints that the Aggies (Colorado Agricultural College) capture so many awards leads to a rule disqualifying them from competing in following shows, but the rule was not enforced.
A trainload of students from Colorado Agricultural College in Fort Collins arrives on the first day of the National Western Stock Show and spend the full day "practicing judging and practical look studying of the animals."
On a motion of Dean W.L. Carlyle of Colorado Agricultural College, "Western Livestock Show Association" is chosen for the name of the organization to operate the National Western Stock Show on an annual basis.
Alpha Zeta, the first honorary fraternity at Colorado Agricultural College, forms to recognize scholarly achievement in agriculture.
1907 George E. Morton accepts an animal husbandry position at Colorado Agricultural College and becomes the head of the department and a member of the governing board of the National Western Stock Show soon after.
1908 The Western Livestock Show Association reelects Elias Ammons as president for another term.
1912 After campaigning on a platform emphasizing the need for development of Colorado’s natural resources in agriculture and mining, Elias Ammons is elected governor of Colorado by one of the largest pluralities ever given a governor in the state’s history.
The Livestock Club at Colorado Agricultural College is founded by Roud McCann of the Animal Husbandry Department.
1914 Colorado Agricultural College has its first livestock judging team at the stock show – a tradition that continues today.
1922 Colorado Agricultural College debuts the Pure Seed Show in Colorado Springs and quickly moves it to the stock show.
Beginning in the 1920s, faculty from Colorado Agricultural College serve on special committees for the stock show.
1925 Elias Ammons, the first and only president of the Western Livestock Show Association, dies in May at the age of 64.
W.L. Petriken, president of the Great Western Sugar Co., fine horse fancier and exhibitor in the Horse Show, replaces Ammons as president of the Western Livestock Show Association.
1929 The first female livestock judge at the stock show is Evangeline Simmonds from Colorado Agricultural College’s Livestock Judging Team.
1934 Colorado Agricultural College creates the Little National Western – a tradition that continues today. Students gain experience in training, grooming and showing livestock.
Beginning in the 1930s, members of Colorado State College’s livestock club serve as ushers at the Denver stock show including John Matsushima, now a professor emeritus in the Department of Animal Sciences.
1941 George Lawrence, Colorado State College’s well-known herdsman, shows the Reserve Grand Champion Steer, an Angus bred by Albert Kniese of Anton, Colo.
1950s Colorado State University graduates three of the past presidents of the National Cattlemen’s Association: Robert D. Josserand (1953), Don B. Smith (1956) and Merlyn E. Carlson (1957).
1965 The Fed Beef Contest increases in entries and becomes one of the major practical education highlights under John Matsushima of Colorado State University, the Colorado Cattle Feeders and the Colorado Beef Board. Matsushima continues to this day as honorary chairman of the Fed Beef Contest.
1980 President Nicholas R. Petry announces the creation of the National Western Scholarship fund, with eight annual $1,000 four-year grants to Colorado State University and other higher education institutions.
1989 Patrick Grant heads up "National Western 2000," a fundraising group organized to support the City of Denver ballot proposal for a $30 million National Western Stock Show building expansion.
1990 Robert E. Moreng becomes the first Colorado State University faculty member to be elected to Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame.
2001 Patrick Grant, president and chief executive officer of the National Western Stock Show, joins Colorado State University’s Board of Governors.
2002 Albert C. Yates, the 12th president of Colorado State University, receives the stock show’s Citizen of the West award.
2005 Dr. Robert Shideler, scholarship committee chairman at the National Western Stock Show and Colorado State University alumnus and retired faculty member, receives the Livestock Leader of the Year award from the university’s Department of Animal Sciences. Colorado State University receives 27 $2,500 scholarships from the stock show.
2006 The centennial celebration of the National Western Stock Show will be held in Denver from January 7-22. The event includes CSU Day, planned on Jan. 14. At least two Colorado State University alumni are members of the 2006 executive committee: Don Norgren and Dr. James Heird.
Name changes at Colorado State University
1870-1887: Agricultural College of Colorado
1887-1934: Colorado Agricultural College or State Agricultural College
1935-1944: Colorado State College
1945-1957: Colorado Agricultural and Mechanical College
1957-present: Colorado State University
Sources: "A History of the Department of Agronomy/Soil & Crop Sciences," Colorado State University; "History of the Department of Animal Sciences" and "A Century of Progress" by Dr. John Matsushima, Colorado State University; "The Chronology of Animal Sciences," by Cheryl Miller, Colorado State University; "Riding High: Colorado Ranchers and 100 Years of the National Western Stock Show" by Thomas J. Noel.
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