Greetings from the winter rodeo trail!
“Winter” is certainly the operative word lately. While our friends up north are no rookies when it comes to snow, we’re still digging our way out of a winter blast that was unusually brutal for Oklahoma! The ice may have slowed us down for a moment, but the 2026 rodeo run is about to heat things up. My calendar is officially full, and I’m ready to roll.
Here’s a look back at January:
International Finals Rodeo (IFR)
The first stop on the 2026 Rodeo Road Trip was the International Finals Rodeo at the legendary Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma. We kicked things off in style with the Gold Buckle Gala right here at The Cowboy.
Kid’s Day was a total blast! There is nothing like seeing the next generation embrace the spirit of the West. We handed out more than 350 National Rodeo Hall of Fame “Cowboy Kits” and had a great time watching aspiring cowboys and cowgirls try their hand at trick roping and designing their own Hall of Fame back numbers.
Fast Fact: Did you know the IPRA has been celebrating rodeo for over 60 years? With more than 2,400 members, they sanction 300 rodeos annually—including 40 across the border in Canada!
National Western Stock Show & Rodeo
Next, the trail took us to Denver, Colorado, for the 120th anniversary of the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo.
Fun fact: The rodeo portion was actually added in 1931 to celebrate the event’s 25th anniversary!
Pat Fitzgerald (CEO of The Cowboy) and Jeff Ewing (Executive VP & Chief Development Officer) were on hand to celebrate and share our Western heritage story.
Beyond the dirt and the lights of the arena, Pat shared The Museum’s “Find Your West” message at a meeting of Colorado Concern, an alliance of over 150 business and civic leaders (above). This annual NWSS tradition is a vital bridge, connecting Colorado’s urban business sector with its deep agricultural roots.
In honor of the 120th anniversary of NWSS and the 95th anniversary of the Rodeo, we were excited to share a copy of the first year’s Official Daily Program, January 17 to 24, 1931, from our Dickinson Research Center (below).
Official Daily Program, National Western Horse Show and Rodeo, Denver, Colorado, January 17 to 24, 1931. Rodeo Programs and Ephemera Collection, Dickinson Research Center, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
What’s Next?
The dust (and snow) is just beginning to settle on January, but the road is calling. Stay tuned for the next postcard as we head deeper into the 2026 season!
See you down the trail,
Joey
Interested in becoming a part of The Cowboy’s Rodeo community? Click the link below to purchase a Rodeo Membership.
