Hadasah Espinoza, 9, finishes strong in the pole bending event at The National Western Stick Horse Rodeo during a free grounds admission day at the National Western Stock Show on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Chaz Boeder practices riding a personal transporter and roping at the same time on the last day of the National Western Stock Show on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Bullrider Blaine Devers stands in the doorway next to the chutes during the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Sunday was the last, but not the least day of the National Western Stock Show in Denver. The Draft horse show made for a grand finale. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
The HW Hutchison Family Stockyards Event Center opens to the public on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
Bullrider Blaine Devers tapes the wrists of his gloves before riding bull Rico during the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Sunday was the last day of the last day of the National Western Stock Show. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Lee Simmental Farms’ Lane Engelbrecht, right, helps guide the farms’ simmental cattle through the shows’ brand new stockyards during a free grounds admission day at the National Western Stock Show on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Bullrider Blaine Devers attempts to hang onto bull Rico during the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Sadie Wynne of Newcastle, Okla. has a tear fall down her face as she scratches her first-place market steer under the chin during the National Western Stock Show Junior Livestock Champions Auctions on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
A crowd gathers for the opening of the Vida Building on the Colorado State University Spur campus on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
The HW Hutchison Family Stockyards Event Center opens to the public on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
Kendall Henderson looks out to the arena with other children before participating in the mitten busting show during the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Athlete Jhanii Hardin presents the Pan-African flag during the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Stacy Clark has to use a step ladder to take all the harnesses and other equipment off of one of her enormous draft horses on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. Sunday was the last, but not the least day of the National Western Stock Show in Denver. The draft horse show made for a majestic grand finale. Clark owns the horse team that represents the Clark Family Orchards in Palisade. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Ella Holtmeyer finds a pony just her size at the HW Hutchison Family Stockyards Event Center opening on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
Wanda Yoder shines up a harness after the draft horse show before packing it away. Sunday was the last, but not the least day of the National Western Stock Show in Denver. The draft horse show made for a grand finale. Yoder’s family owns the team that represents the Yoder Family Hay Company in Westcliffe. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Highlights from the first day of the 116th National Western Stock Show on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
Jeremiah Garner, 6, works hard to stay on the mechanical bull during the Exceptional Rodeo in the Temple Grandin Equine Center on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at the CSU Spur Campus in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Anthony Yarborough hold on to his trophy while being helped out of the arena after the mitten busting show at the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Mia the cow is brushed and pampered before her competition appearance at the National Western Stock Show on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
The HW Hutchison Family Stockyards Event Center opens to the public on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
Auctioneers take bids while Sayde Allen holds her reserve grand champion market lamb during the National Western Stock Show Junior Livestock Champions Auctions on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
The Great American Petting Farm exhibit is a popular place to make new friends at the 116th National Western Stock Show on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
Kiera Rogers, 14, browses on her phone while her Boer goat looks on before a showing during a free grounds admission day at the National Western Stock Show on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Zola Simpson has her photo taken by her grandmother, Diane Simpson, on the last day of the National Western Stock Show on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Rylee Rodgers, 12, of Searsboro, Iowa, tries to lead her grand championship market steer “Yellers” out of the ring during the National Western Stock Show Junior Livestock Champions Auctions on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
The Westernaires put on a light show during the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Construction crew members of the Colorado State University Spur campus Vida building wait for its official opening on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
People lean over the fence to pet Rhylee Rodgers’ grand champion winning steer “Yellers” in the lobby of The Brown Palace on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Sunday was the last, but not the least day of the National Western Stock Show in Denver. The Draft horse show made for a grand finale. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Denard Hunt from Oklahoma City wrestles a steer to the ground during the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Second grader RyLeigh Vigil, 7, cracks up Miss Rodeo South Dakota Adrianne Schaunaman as they participate in the Exceptional Rodeo in the Temple Grandin Equine Center on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at the CSU Spur Campus in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Cole Phillips of Bullard, Texas, walks his grand champion market hog around the ring during the National Western Stock Show Junior Livestock Champions Auctions on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Dominique Hoffman and Apriol 2 take the Monarch jump at the 2022 National Western Stock Show Gambler's Choice Jumper Stake. Hoffman and Apriol 2 took 8th place. (Scott Weiser/The Gazette)
Renee Kallio opens a door with her foot as she carries mannequins and pulls a box of merchandise to a trailer for her friend and owner of Cowgirl Glitter western wear, based in Galveston, Texas, at the National Western Stock Show’s Hall of Education on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Rylee Rodgers, 12, of Searsboro, Iowa, holds her grand championship market steer “Yellers” in the ring during the National Western Stock Show Junior Livestock Champions Auctions on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Bullrider Leondie Linebarger prays backstage before riding during the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
A photographer looks on during a trick roping show between events at the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Jeff Keener, President and CEO of the South Metro Denver Chamber, observes a sculpture of a cat in the foyer of the new Vida Building on the Colorado State University Spur campus on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Denver, Colo. The interactive sculpture is designed to teach visitors about feline behavior. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
Teddy Crow, 4, holds his trophy and cowbell during the Exceptional Rodeo in the Temple Grandin Equine Center on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at the CSU Spur Campus in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Charlie Klages watches some of the baby chicks while being held by his grandfather, Phil Chenowith, on the last day of the National Western Stock Show on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Colorado State University graduate and scientist Dr. Temple Grandin visits the new Vida Building on the Colorado State University Spur campus as it opens on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
Kendall Henderson is all smiles while having her helmet removed after participating in the mitten busting show during the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Visitors check out the new Vida Building on the Colorado State University Spur campus as it opens on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Denver, Colo. The building houses a fee-assisted Dumb Friends League vet clinic and Temple Grandin Equine Center with glass walls so visitors can see all. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
Jermaine Walker Jr. looks on to the arena during the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
The National Western Stick Horse Rodeo participant Zoan Rodriguea, 3, takes a minute to play in the dirt while her competitions waits during a free grounds admission day at the National Western Stock Show on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Jeremiah Garner, 6, laughs as he rides the rocking bull during the Exceptional Rodeo in the Temple Grandin Equine Center on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at the CSU Spur Campus in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Bullrider Leondre Linebarder’s helmet sits at his feet on the chute while waiting to ride his bull during the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Steam rises from the griddle of one of the many vendors on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. Sunday was the last day of the last day of the National Western Stock Show. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Four-year-old Rhys Robertson-Delaguardia engages in equine therapy with Adel the horse at the Temple Grandin Equine Center inside the Vida Building on the Colorado State University Spur campus on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
Sunday was the last day of the last day of the National Western Stock Show. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Rhylee Rodgers’ grans championship winning steer “Yellers” looks out into the lobby of The Brown Palace on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Harrell Williams Jr., from Prairie View, Texas, practices before competing in the junior breakaway roping competition during the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Temple Grandin signs a copy of a book for Miss Rodeo Montana Briann Grimshaw during the Exceptional Rodeo at the Temple Grandin Equine Center on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at the CSU Spur Campus in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Muttenbuster Jax J. Martinez Small holds on to his sheep so long that it’s able to rejoin it’s herd during the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Temporary worker Randall Beyer disassembles rows of poultry cages in the National Western Stock Show’s Hall of Education after the stock show’s last day on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Jhani Hardin of Tulsa, Okla. stretches out to grab the ribbon off her calf during ladies steer undecorating competition at the African-American Heritage Rodeo at the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver, Colo. Hardin would hit the dirt hard after the attempt and was carried out of the arena on a stretcher. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Children lean over the wall as the Colorado Stars & Stripes, Co. presents a series of flags during the Exceptional Rodeo in the Temple Grandin Equine Center on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at the CSU Spur Campus in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Five-year-old Wynn Davis practices her veterinary skills on a toy cat at the Vida Building on the Colorado State University Spur campus on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Denver, Colo. The building houses a fee-assisted Dumb Friends League vet clinic and Temple Grandin Equine Center with glass walls so visitors can see all. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
Harper Miller, 4, gets some instruction on calf roping from Colorado Stars & Stripes, Co. member Michelle Martin during the Exceptional Rodeo in the Temple Grandin Equine Center on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at the CSU Spur Campus in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
The HW Hutchison Family Stockyards Event Center opens to the public on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
National Western Stick Horse Rodeo participants, from left, Noah Adams, 5, Cadence Saiz, 3, and Eli Brage, 3, wait for their events to begin during a free grounds admission day at the National Western Stock Show on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Country western artist and Nashville native Jenny Tolman performs at the grand opening of the H.W. Hutchison Family Stockyards Event Center and the Ron and Cille Williams Yards.
Donald Labun dresses for the occasion on first day of the 116th National Western Stock Show on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
Sunday was the last day of the last day of the National Western Stock Show. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Temple Grandin lines up for a photo with all the participants of the Exceptional Rodeo at the Temple Grandin Equine Center on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at the CSU Spur Campus in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Candy Gunning brushes Lead Belly, her three-year-old alpaca, on the first day of the 116th National Western Stock Show on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
Charlie Carrel riding I'll Be Frank takes the 200-point Joker Jump to win the 2022 Gambler's Choice Jumper Stake at the National Western Stock Show. (Scott Weiser/The Gazette)
The Great American Petting Farm exhibit is a popular place to make new friends at the 116th National Western Stock Show on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
An auctioneer keeps an eye out for bidders during the National Western Stock Show Junior Livestock Champions Auctions on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Second grader RyLeigh Vigil, 7, shows and tells Miss Rodeo South Dakota Adrianne Schaunaman his age as they pair off together to participate in the Exceptional Rodeo in the Temple Grandin Equine Center on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at the CSU Spur Campus in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Highlights from the first day of the 116th National Western Stock Show on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
Sunday was the last day of the last day of the National Western Stock Show. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Cami Miller of El Dorado, Kansas, is comforted by her mother Charlene Miller after auctioning off her grand champion catch-a-calf during the National Western Stock Show Junior Livestock Champions Auctions on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)
Country western artist and Nashville native Jenny Tolman performs at the grand opening of the H.W. Hutchison Family Stockyards Event Center and the Ron and Cille Williams Yards.
The Great American Petting Farm exhibit is a popular place to make new friends at the 116th National Western Stock Show on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Liz Copan / special to The Denver Gazette)
Tara-Ashley Gable and Dream Bling take a jump at the 2022 National Western Stock Show Gambler's Choice Jumper Stake. (Scott Weiser/The Gazette)
MBP electrician Eric Perez carries a coil of wire away as he and other electricians work to remove all the electrical connections from the now-empty Cille and Ron Williams stockyards the day after the end of the National Western Stock Show on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in Denver, Colo. (Timothy Hurst/The Gazette)