For Release: Immediate
Contact: Matt Brockman or Shanna Weaver
Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show
817-877-2400
matt@fwssr.com shanna@fwssr.com

Family Friendly Educational Experiences await Stock Show Visitors

Fort Worth, Texas - Besides featuring the legendary bucking bulls, rodeo clowns and midways, the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is a place where families can have fun and experience farm and ranch life at one convenient location. Many interactive exhibits about farm animals and production agriculture await visitors to the 112th Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show running from January 11 through February 3 at Will Rogers Complex.

Visitors get to take advantage of these activities for the basic price of admission to the grounds – no extra charges apply. General admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 16 and children 5 and under are free. Rodeo ticket holders are given free grounds access on the day of the performance.

“We want visitors to not only have fun on the midway, at the rodeo or enjoying a corn dog, but we want them to experience what makes farm and ranch life so special,” said Bradford S. Barnes, Stock Show executive vice president / general manager. “Providing events that are not only fun, but allow our guests to share in farming and ranching experiences is what the Stock Show’s all about.”

Perhaps the most fascinating of these experiences occurs in the Milking Parlor. The process of preparing cows for milking and the various steps involved to assure a wholesome and nutritious supply of milk and dairy products for consumers is displayed right before your eyes in a five-stall, glass enclosed milking facility. Representatives of Southwest Dairy Farmers demonstrate how milk is produced, processed and the procedures utilized to assure food safety for consumers. Times for the milking demonstrations will be posted in the Milking Parlor located between Cattle Barns 1 and 2.

Giving participants a virtual tour highlighting the ins-and-outs of farming and livestock production, “Planet Agriculture” presented by TXU Energy is a must see. Beginning with the farm, “Planet Agriculture” illustrates the transformation of the genesis of agricultural production into the food and clothing consumers enjoy every day. Located between the Sheep Barn and Cattle Barn 1, the exhibit is a farming and ranching experience utilizing one’s sight, sound and touch. Planet Agriculture is the creation of Texas Farm Bureau.

Chicks being hatched, ducklings sliding down a water slide and baby farm animals with their mothers are all under one roof called the FFA Children’s Barnyard. This fun and exciting exhibit provides visitors an up close view of young animals that normally are only seen on the farm. Managed by Texas FFA Chapters the exhibit is located between the Swine and Sheep barns and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

If it’s not enough to see the thousands of livestock at the Stock Show, there’s also a place to touch and pet them. The PlainsCapital Bank Petting Zoo, located in front of Will Rogers Auditorium gives visitors a chance to pet and even feed a variety of young animals including goats, sheep and wallabies. “Mo” a 2,000 pound buffalo who serves as the PlainsCapital Bank mascot will also be on hand occasionally throughout the show. The Stock Show’s website has a complete listing of Mo’s appearances.

Make plans to attend the legendary Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo - January 11 through February 3. Tickets to the “Best of the West” Ranch Rodeo, “Best of Mexico Celebración,” “Bulls Night Out” PRCA Extreme Bull Riding and the PRCA Rodeo are on sale by contacting the Stock Show Ticket Office at (817) 877-2420 or Ticketmaster at metro (972) 647-5700. Convenience charges are added at Ticketmaster locations and are nonrefundable. More information can be found at www.fwssr.com.