The city of Fort Worth was nicknamed "Cowtown" shortly after the Civil War, as cowboys stopped for supplies in the town while herding their cattle from South Texas to the Chisholm Trail.
After the arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railway in 1876, various business people in the town began erecting stock yards in an effort to become a greater part of the cattle industry.
The stock show was held along Marine Creek, in a location with no buildings or enclosures, and only a few trees to provide shade for the animals and patrons.
[3] That first show was such a success that organizers gathered again in the fall of 1896 for a two-day event in October to coincide with the National Livestock Exchange Convention meeting.
Rominger (Bill), Wade Ross, Herbert Graves, Ward Farmer, and Ray McKinley, who were involved with the cattle and horse industry to define the new event.
The contest was approved and was added to the Stock Show calendar of events primarily because North Side Coliseum was the only arena with a capacity to accommodate the production and crowds expected.
[3] In 1927, the Stock Show introduced the first side release chutes for bucking horses and bulls, a development that is now a standard for the sport.
[5] During World War II, the Fort Worth Stock Show introduced the first "half-time" rodeo performance, as Gene Autry made an appearance.
[3] In 1958, the Fort Worth Stock Show also became the first to have live television coverage of a complete rodeo performance, as 8 million viewers tuned into ABC to see guest stars including Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.
[5] The event took a hiatus in 1943, when all available facilities in Fort Worth, as well as transportation modes, were dedicated to the World War II effort.
The Stock Show governing committee has made it a policy to deed all improvements to the city of Fort Worth.
The event lasts 23 days and is home to the World's Original Indoor Rodeo®, displaying 25[6] performances of professional rodeo annually.
While this practice is no longer utilized, tremendous support from numerous breed associations, local Fort Worth businesses and many volunteer assist in raising cash amounts for livestock premiums.
[10] The 2023 Stock Show also set a record for the highest purchase price at the Sale of Champions, when a 1,343-pound black European Cross named "Snoop Dog" was sold at auction by a 15-year old 4-H student from Canyon, Texas to local insurance company Higginbotham & Associates for a winning bid of $440,000.
[11] The Stock Show is incorporated as a non-profit organization, with the goal of creating “an educational showcase for the great livestock industry.
The Stock Show received praise for “helping to build a modern Fort Worth, boosting agribusiness education with grants and scholarships, and demonstrating a strong spirit of enterprise.” Based on a recent survey, the Stock Show generates an economic impact in excess of $100 million for the Fort Worth area.