There’s plenty for kids to do at stock show, from milking a cow to watching a chick hatch

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is chuck-full of events and activities for young cowboys and cowgirls.

This year’s edition kicks off Friday and last’s until Feb. 4 at Dickies Arena, Will Rogers Auditorium and the surrounding area. The Star-Telegram has a guide for everything you need to know from tickets and scheduling, to parking and discounts.

Here’s a sample size of events and activities for kiddos at this year’s show:

Mooseum Experience

General admission to the stock show will grant visitors access to three Fort Worth museums:

• The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
• National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
• Cattle Raisers Museum
  
  

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History will have two new exhibits opening Friday titled, “Step Into the Stock Show” and “Texas Rangers Bicentennial”. The museum also plans to open seven days a week during the 23-day Stock Show & Rodeo.

The “Step Into the Stock Show” exhibit showcases artifacts and video from past shows, including Amon G. Carter’s Stetson hat, dress saddles and more. Visitors can explore a wide range of artifacts at the “Texas Rangers Bicentennial,” including original documents, weapons and other historical items from the law enforcement agency’s 200-year history.

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, is all about celebrating and honoring the women who made the west what it is today. The museum has several exhibits and displays for families to learn more about ranchers, politicians and cowgirls.

The Cattle Raisers Museum is located on the second floor of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Families can learn about the origins of the cattle industry, its heyday of legendary drovers and how today’s modern technology plays a role.

All three museums are located within walking distance of each other and the Stock Show & Rodeo grounds. If a visitor is already a member of either three museums, then the cost of their ticket to the Stock Show is covered.

Kids Gone Wild

Despite the name, parents should not fret about the “Kids Gone Wild” event taking place at 11 a.m. on Jan. 22 in the Cattle Arena.

The free event lets families explore with their kiddos the wonder’s of nature and the animals in it. A wide-range of animals are on display for families to check out, from snakes to insects.

Other activities include a crafting station, digging in the dirt and fishing in the kid fish tank.

Milking Parlor

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, families can learn how milk gets from the cow to the glass.

Experts from Southwest Dairy Farmers will be conducting milking demonstrations nearly every hour at the Milking Parlor. The instructors will demonstrate how to milk a cow, describe how milk goes from the farm to consumers and answer any questions. The Milking Parlor is located at the Livestock Barns area.

Carnival Midway

Families can kick back at Carnival Midway with ferris wheel trips, amusement rides and carnival food.

Operated by Talley Amusements, Carnival Midway is completely cashless with all purchases, including games, rides and food, deducted from programmable wristbands. Magic Money wristbands can be purchased online for $40 and comes with $50 in carnival credits.

Wristbands can be reloaded by using the Magic Money phone app. The carnival is located in the north east corner of the stock show and hours vary day-to-day.

Petting Zoo and Pony Rides

It wouldn’t be a stock show without getting to see and touch furry friends. Here are a few of the animals at the petting zoo:

• Rabbits
• Llamas
• Giant Sulcata Tortoises
• Pygmy Goats
• Chickens
• Ducks
• Porcupines
• Lemurs

For $2 a cone, families can purchase food to feed the animals. Pony rides are also available for $5 a person with a 75-pound weight limit. Both activities are open from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily just north of the Will Rogers Coliseum.

Children’s Barnyard and Doorways to Agriculture

The Children’s Barnyard is essentially a Stock Show nursery where families can watch chicks hatch right in front of them and learn how different animals are born and cared for. Future Farmers of America students will be on hand to answer any questions from children.

Families can open “Doorways to Agriculture” at a Texas Farm Bureau-sponsored interactive exhibit. Here, children can spin cotton through a gin, learn how important animals are to humans and how ranching affect’s everyone.

This story was originally published January 11, 2023 at 3:50 PM.

Brayden Garcia

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Brayden Garcia is a service journalism reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Brayden mainly writes about weather and all things Taylor Sheridan-related.