115th NWSS was scheduled to run Jan. 9-24, 2021.
The National Western Stock Show (NWSS) is the latest event to make the decision to cancel until the following year. The 2021 annual NWSS was scheduled to run from Saturday, Jan. 9 to Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. Today, officials announced that they are "postponing" events until January of 2022.
"We’re extremely saddened by the need to announce today the postponement of the National Western Stock Show until January 2022," said NWSS President and CEO Paul Andrews in a press conference on Monday.
According to his statement, Andrews mentioned that the current restrictions in place surrounding capacity and social distancing was a deciding factor behind postponing the show, as there was no way to meet the requirements and still deliver the quality experience to visitors and participants.
"We can't risk the health and safety of visitor, staff, and exhibitors," he said, adding that the financial aspect had to be taken into account, as well. The decision had to be made now due to the intense planning and expense that go into the stock show, and the organization didn't want itself or participants incurring costs for a show that may have been canceled later this year.
Interestingly, this is only the second time the stock show has been postponed since its inception in 1906. A Hoof and Mouth Disease outbreak, which affects livestock, caused the show to cancel in 1915.
"That was a disease of the animals. This is pandemic us humans have to face," Andrews said.
One silver lining is that construction of the updated National Western venue will continue on unimpeded, and without the extra costs of the January event, which will help it provide a topnotch experience in 2022 for stock show visitors.
"The city is in full support of the decision. This institution that is part of who we are as Denver is now on we wanted to see postponed. But, it was the right decision," said Mayor Hancock, adding that the city is dedictated to doing everything it can to ensure the 2022 show is a success.
