Yippee! We Are Off to the Stock Show!
The National Western Stock Show is a big deal in the Denver area every January, since 1906! It is two weeks dedicated to anything and everything ranching and farming. The true spirit of the cowboy is strong and well alive during this time. It reminds us that Colorado is still the center of the West and that its cowboys still roam its plains and mountains. And they still provide America with folklore, tall tales and beef.
The National Western Stock Show
Right in the heart of Denver, since 1906, the National Western Stock Show has been the ultimate livestock, rodeo and horse show in the country. It serves the agricultural industry through its trade show, western heritage and entertainment and education programs for the youth in all things Ag. As a farming family we truly appreciate all that the National Western Stock Show does to carry on western traditions and support the Ag community. The history of the National Western Stock Show is one rich in traditions, culture, work ethics, education and love for a lifestyle that shall live on thanks to this organization. If you’re in the area, I strongly suggest that you take the time to go enjoy some real western life. This year it will run until January 26.

Bringing Western life home
If you are not in the area, and even if you are, there are so many ways to keep Western life alive right in your living room. And no, I’m not suggesting that you bring in a horse… But picture books, of course!
Starting with B is for Buckaroo: A Cowboy Alphabet written by Louise Doak Whitney and Gleaves Whitney and illustrated by Susan Guy transport yourself in a world where the horse is king, the cows rule and hard work is what you do best. In this list of picture books you probably find old friends and, I hope, meet new ones. This is not an exhaustive list, this is just some of the picture books that my family and I have enjoyed.
Picture books
From tall tales to real life heroes this list will in turn scare, enchant and delight all buckaroos, young and old.
- Pecos Bill, by Steven Kellogg. The story of the first cowboy is the most exquisite of Tall Tales and will keep you laughing.
- Cowboy Camp, by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Mike Reed, is another one for a good laugh.
- Calico the Wonder Horse, or the Saga of Stewy Stinker by Virginia Lee Burton is fantastic, definitely one of our favorites.
- John Deere, That’s Who! by Tracy Nelson Maurer, illustrated by Tim Zeltner, will introduce you to the hard working side of farming and ranching. (Highlighted in the February 2025 Booklover and Bookworm Booklists)

- Buffalo Music, by Tracy E. Fern, illustrated by Lauren Castillo, is the beautiful true story of Annie Goodnight, the rancher who saved the buffalo from extinction (Highlighted in the September 2024 Booklover Booklist). And it will pair beautifully with The Buffalo Are Back by Jean Craighead George, illustrated by Wendell Minor (one gorgeous book!).
- The Original Cowgirl: The Wild Adventures of Lucille Mulhall, by Heather Lang, illustrated by Suzanne Beaky. Lucille was an amazing cowhand and entertainer, what a woman! (Highlighted in the October 2024 Booklover Booklist)
- Cowboy Charlie: The Story of Charles M. Russell, by Jeanette Winter is the story of the cowboy painter, Charles Russell. (Highlighted in the March 2025 Booklover and Bookworm Booklists).
- Then for a zest of Colorado history I highly recommend C is for Centennial: A Colorado Alphabet, by Louise Doak Whitney, illustrated by Helle Urban
- And for the littlest cowboy I love Cowboy Small, by Lois Lenski.
For horse lovers
Because there is something so special about the cowboy’s right hand, his horse, we have to highlight its presence in our favorite books.
We love the series Billy and Blaze, by C.W. Anderson, the friendship story between a young boy, Billy and the pony he receives for his birthday, Blaze. Billy and Blaze have many, many adventures together and will thrill both boys and girls. Beautifully illustrated and written this is a series of picture books worth owning.

Marguerite Henry is the queen of horse literature and Every. Single. One. of her books is worth reading (and I am NOT a horse person). All of her books are chapter books but contain beautiful illustrations as well. From Misty of Chincoteague to Brighty of the Grand Canyon you will discover a whole new world that will fascinate you. Another couple of our favorites are White Stallion of Lippizza, about the Lippizzaner horses’ school in Vienna, Austria; Justin Morgan Had a Horse, about the breeder of the Morgan horse (highlighted in the February 2025 booklists); and King of the Wind: The Story of Godolphin Arabian, one of the fastest racehorse in history. Truly each is a treasure and you will learn so much, and not just about horses.
Chapter books
We have two very favorite chapter books in the matters of ranching around here. Well, really nine as one of them is a series with 9 books… Any guesses?
First up is the ultimate ranching autobiography: No Life for a Lady, by Agnes Morley Cleaveland. Agnes was born on a New Mexico ranch in 1874 when the “Wild West” was not just a saying but a reality. Instead of going to school she’d rather be hunting grizzlies or rounding cattle. Did you know that it takes 50 acres in New Mexico to feed one cow? I learned that through Agnes’ experience. Truly this book will leave you wanting for more. It is a masterpiece.
And I do have more for you: the Little Britches series by Ralph Moody. I don’t know where this series was hiding my entire growing up years, but it would have been wonderful to have had it. This is the true West seen through the eyes of 10 years old Ralph Moody, when he moved from Boston, Massachusetts to Littleton, Colorado in the early 1900s. Ralph and his family experienced it all from cattle dying, tornadoes, riding a mule to school to the famous Colorado Water Wars. This was the time when entire herds of cows traveled through the streets of Littleton. This was a time of bravery, hard work and initiative. From collecting coal along the railroad tracks to riding range in the summer, Ralph experienced a West that we can only imagine today. So worth reading! The audio version on Audible is fantastic, and highly recommended for road trips. I cried at the end of the last book on audio, it felt like losing a friend….

Last little tidbits
Everything you need to know about going to the 119th National Western Stock Show can be found here. Check out this teacher’s guide, it has a lot of great things in it to enhance your adventure. Amy McFarland, the main author, is my daughter’s Ag teacher at Aims Community College and she is one of the best teachers I have ever encountered.
What we enjoyed the most: visiting the animals and petting zoo as well as the events in the main arena throughout the day. We only had a grounds admission, the shows were a little too much for us this year. A visit to CSU spur was also great, we watched some animal surgeries as well as some great workshops on different animals.
If Ag machinery is more your vibe, the Colorado Farm Show will take place in Greeley from January 28th until the 30th, 2025. This show is definitely more geared towards Ag equipment and farming than ranching. The second day is Dairy Day, January 29th, with everything cows happening and being highlighted. A fun one to go to with kiddos.
Last but not least, I wanted to recommend this fantastic cowboy cookbook. It has brought us lots of dinner adventures: A Taste Of Cowboy: Ranch Recipes and Tales from the Trail, by Kent and Shannon Rollins. The recipes are very doable and have amazing results. We have really enjoyed cooking on a campfire. It is a nice time for the whole family to spend time outside together and learn many great skills. Kent Rollins also has a You Tube channel worth exploring!
I wish y’all happy trails!
Love,
Mattie