Media Tip Sheet: Colorado State University and the National Western Stock Show

Note to Reporters: The following is a collection of experts and resources at Colorado State University related to the National Western Stock Show. The Stock Show runs Jan. 9-24 at the National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St., Denver.

Redeveloping the Stock Show Complex
Colorado State University is one of five partners — including the City and County of Denver, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, History Colorado, and the National Western Stock Show — that have come together to create a shared vision for the future of the National Western Stock Show Complex site as part of the Mayor’s North Cornerstone Collaborative Initiative. CSU’s footprint in the site will be part of what is now the Hall of Education, and the institution has proposed an equine sports medicine and community outreach clinic, a food systems learning center, a water resources center, collaborative arts programming, a business incubation and industry partnership center, and Denver Urban Extension programs, as part of the new National Western Center. The university aims to be an educational hub for the collaboration, and will present opportunities for hands-on learning. To speak with someone about CSU’s role in redeveloping the National Western Complex, contact Tiana Nelson at 303-376-2613 or Christiana.Nelson@colostate.edu.

Stock Show weather
Colorado State University State Climatologist Nolan Doesken is available to discuss "Stock Show Weather" and any aspect of Colorado’s weather and climate. Water supplies, drought trends, snow accumulations, winds, temperature extremes and seasonal weather patterns are all fair topics. Doesken’s 38+ years at Colorado State University conducting weather research, climate studies, data acquisition, analysis and archiving provides him the expertise to address a wide variety of climate-related questions. He can also talk about the statewide volunteer network, called the Community Collaborative Rain, Snow and Hail Network that has greatly improved precipitation monitoring and helps provide detailed storm analysis, drought, water supply and other water decision-making information to municipalities, homeowners, industries, utility providers, resource managers and educators. To speak with Doesken, contact Anne Manning at (970) 491-7099 or Anne.Manning@colostate.edu.

Livestock drug testing
Like competitive athletes who undergo testing for performance-enhancing drugs, livestock at the National Western Stock Show must submit to drug testing. In this case, the testing is primarily to ensure animals have not recently received medication that should be kept out of the food supply. Each year, the State Veterinarian’s Office oversees this process. On Sunday, Jan. 17, veterinary students from Colorado State University will assist in the National Western barns by collecting urine samples that are submitted for drug testing. It’s an unglamorous but important aspect of a large livestock event. For more information contact Mary Guiden at (970) 491-6892 or Mary.Guiden@colostate.edu.

Seedstock Merchandising Team
The CSU Seedstock Merchandising Team, a select group of eight undergraduate students, will be competing at the National Western Stock Show with four pens of cattle. The students selected these cattle from the 2015-born calf crop produced at CSU’s Agricultural Research, Development, and Education Center in Fort Collins. Since selecting them this fall, the team has been developing and preparing these cattle for the upcoming show. The team will have cattle at the Stock Show Jan. 9-17 (Jan. 16 is CSU day at the Stock Show). During that time, students will host a CSU booth in “the yards.” The team will host a free lunch in the CSU yard pens on Thursday, Jan. 14, at noon and will show their cattle on Friday, Jan. 15 (two pens of Hereford cattle) and Saturday, Jan. 16 (two pens of Angus cattle) beginning at 8 a.m. For more information about CSU’s Seedstock Merchandising Team contact Jennifer Dimas at 970-491-1543 or Jennifer.Dimas@colostate.edu.

Ag Adventure
CSU’s Ag Adventure, located next to the CSU booth, is an interactive exhibit created in conjunction with several Colorado commodity groups that teaches children about where their food comes from. The exhibit includes information from the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado Farm Bureau and commodity groups such as beef, dairy, eggs, potatoes, corn, wheat and honey producers. Guided tours are offered by 4-H agents from Adams, Jefferson, Broomfield, Denver, Arapahoe, Douglas and Boulder counties to about 20,000 school-aged children from the Denver metro area during the weekdays and other busy times, but self-guided tours are also available during off-hours. In all, more than 70,000 people visited Ag Adventure last year. For more information about Ag Adventure, contact Jennifer Dimas at 970-491-1543 or Jennifer.Dimas@colostate.edu.

4-H Day at the Stock Show, Friday, Jan. 15
Friday, Jan. 15 has been designated as 4-H Day at the NWSS. Each year on 4-H Day the 15 member State 4-H Officer team attends the stock show and rodeo. From 9 a.m. until the afternoon rodeo performance, State Officers and State 4-H staff are available at the CSU booth to answer questions about 4-H and hand out free giveaways, including clover tattoos. For more information about 4-H Day at the Stock Show, contact Jennifer Dimas at 970-491-1543 or Jennifer.Dimas@colostate.edu .

CSU Day at the Stock Show Jan. 16
CSU Day at the National Western Stock Show is Saturday, Jan. 16. Colorado State University has a long and storied connection to the National Western Stock Show – beginning with 600 students arriving with their livestock at the first Stock Show in 1906. CSU Day at the Stock Show is a celebration of Western heritage and Ram pride. The event features future Rams in the mutton bustin’ competition, which is sponsored by the CSU Alumni Association, and CSU leadership riding the stagecoach in the Pro Rodeo. Visit the CSU booth in the Hall of Education for great giveaways and watch for CAM the Ram. While at the Stock Show, plan to stop by the CSU exhibit booths on the second and third floors of the Hall of Education for information on academic programs and athletics, CSU giveaways and more. The booths will be staffed during the entire 16-day run of the Stock Show. Among the exhibitors: 4-H; Admissions; College of Agricultural Sciences; Alumni Association; College of Business; Colorado State Forest Service; CSU Extension; College of Liberal Arts; RamTrax Visitor Services; CSU’s Seedstock Merchandising Team; College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; and, CSU’s Vice President for Research. For more information contact Jennifer Dimas at 970-491-1543 or Jennifer.Dimas@colostate.edu.

Water in the West
Neil Grigg, civil engineering professor and renowned water resources engineering consultant, can discuss Colorado’s water history, drought management, government water resources planning, Western water management issues, water system infrastructure engineering, flood control and urban water systems management. Grigg published a book, "Colorado’s Water: Science and Management, History and Politics," which presents long-range views about Colorado’s water issues, including drought. He has authored or co-authored about 200 publications and several books about water resources engineering and infrastructure. To speak with Grigg, contact Anne Manning at (970) 491-7099 or Anne.Manning@colostate.edu.

-30-