Saddle up rodeo fans because the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo® is right around the corner! Celebrating 61 years of wild western action, Rapid City, South Dakota is rearing to go as they prepare for the 2019 Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo®. Occurring January 25th through February 3rd, Rapid City encourages rodeo and stock show fans alike to come on out and “Do Big Things!”
With a history rich in farming and ranching and originating from an idea to protect and honor agriculture communities, the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo® was born. With humble beginnings in 1958, members of the Rapid City Chamber Ag Committee aimed to combine the rural lifestyle with the quickly growing urban community of Rapid City. Starting out as a stock show showcasing only three breeds of cattle (Angus, Hereford, and Shorthorn,) the “Winter Show,” as it was originally called, made a splash in Rapid City and continued to grow and thrive. Each year saw great improvement as more breeds of cattle were added to the lineup. In 1966, the Winter Show received the new name, The Black Hills Stock Show® when ownership of the event was passed on to Central States Fair, INC. It wasn’t until 1978 that the first “Winter Rodeo” occurred in conjunction with the stock show.
Since its conception in 1958, the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo® has blossomed into a full-fledged extravaganza. While the stock show itself begins January 25th, the fun begins much earlier. The celebrations commence on January 11th with the Black Hills Stock Show® Press Social & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. In the following days, various events will entertain audiences. Some events leading up to the stock show include National Reined Cow Horse Association competitions, 2019 Best of the West Roping Futurity, and the American Quarter Horse Association Winter Classic. However, this is not all! From live music to the 2019 North American Sheep Dog Trials, there is something the entire family can enjoy. A full calendar of events can be found at https://www.blackhillsstockshow.com/events.
With such success over the years, it’s no surprise that the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo® has made a positive impact in its community.
“In 2012, an economic impact study indicated that Black Hills Stock Show® has an economic impact of $21.9 Million dollars, with a direct economic impact of $15.2 million” (https://www.blackhillsstockshow.com/about.aspx).
Not only does the Black Hills Stock Show® send money back into the community, it also provides job/internship opportunities for locals and scholarship opportunities through the Central States Fair Foundation, “a 501 (c) 3 organization geared to supporting youth, agriculture and long term capital improvements to the Central States Fairgrounds” (https://www.blackhillsstockshow.com/p/about/151).
Rapid City, South Dakota is proud to invite you to the 61st Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo®. As stated on their website, “we offer everything western and a little extra too. You won’t have to leave the blacktop to see the real west as we bring it all to you in Rapid City.” We hope you will join Cowboy Lifestyle Network as we head to Rapid City to share in one of the largest celebrations in South Dakota!
Hop online to https://www.blackhillsstockshow.com/p/34 to buy tickets and book your stay at a Rapid, City Hotel.