Founded in 1896, and centered around one of the country's premiere livestock exhibitions, the annual Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo continues to present an image of the American West that remains true to its history. Steeped in Cowtown tradition, the 24-day event offers a laid-back, casual atmosphere as authentic and unpretentious as the unmistakable aroma of leather and manure that floats in the air.

The show opens with Ranching Heritage Weekend, which features the Best of the West Ranch Rodeo, the AQHA Best of the Remuda Sale, the Invitational Ranch Horse Competition & Sale and other events. Thirty-six rodeo performances showcase bronco and bull riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, barrel racing, chuck wagon races, cutting horse competitions and calf scrambles. The "Best of Mexico Celebracion" dazzles crowds with the roping and riding of San Antonio's Jerry Diaz, a fourth-generation "charro," and the intensity of bull riding turns up a notch with two performances of Bull's Night Out, featuring PRCA Extreme Bull Riding.

Commercial exhibits by more than 200 vendors offer merchandise and services. Shop for arts and crafts, saddles, tractors, hot tubs, cell phones, western apparel and other items. Browse educational exhibits, sign up for prizes and see how barbed wire is made. Visit the livestock barns to see up close more than 22,000 cattle, horses, llamas, sheep, pigs, poultry, rabbits, pigeons and other top quality show animals.

Kids can explore the expanded Planet Agriculture and visit the Compass Bank Petting Zoo, the Children's Barnyard and the Milking Parlor (a working dairy). The Stock Show's mascots, The Moos Brothers (Hoss and Elwood), make scheduled appearances throughout the show’s run to greet kids, and the 6-acre Midway provides games, rides and plenty of food.

Among the special events are the All-Western Parade in Downtown Fort Worth (check back for 2008 date). Fridays are designated as Senior Citizens Days, offering special 50 percent ticket discounts to seniors. -- Gary Taylor