| The American Royal
in Kansas City, Missouri is a livestock show, horse show and rodeo held each year in October and November at Kemper Arena. The Future Farmers of America was founded during the Royal and Kansas City's professional baseball team the Kansas City Royals derive their name from the Royal.
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AMERICAN ROYAL TICKETS
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History
The American Royal began as a cattle show in 1899 in the
Kansas City Stockyards. The name "American Royal" was inspired by a 1901 editorial in beef industry publication
Kansas City Drovers Telegram
entitled "Call It The American Royal." The editorial noted the
Royal Agricultural Society in
England has a similar event called the
Royal Show.
The first American Royal horse show was added in 1907, and has grown to include five shows (
Quarter Horse,
Hunter-Jumper Horse,
Arabian Horses,
American Saddlebred and a
4-H show).
In 1926, the American Royal invited vocational agriculture students to judge livestock. During the 1928 American Royal, 33 of the students meeting at the Baltimore Hotel in downtown Kansas City formed the
Future Farmers of America. The group proceeded to hold a convention every year during the Royal in Kansas City until 1998.
The original home of the American Royal was destroyed by fire on
Valentines Day in 1925. The structure was rebuilt in time for the event that year and served as the center for events until the American Royal complex was built across from Kemper Arena in 1992. During
World War II, the Royal complex was converted into a glider factory.
thumb bull and
Kemper Arena and the Kansas City Livestock Exchange Building in the former
Kansas City Stockyards of the
West Bottoms as seen from
Quality Hill
Events
The American Royal is an annual eight-week season of barbecue competition, rodeos, livestock shows, equestrian events and agricultural activities benefiting youth and education.
The barbecue contest is divided into several categories: brisket, pork ribs, pork shoulder, chicken, sausage, side dishes and dessert.
The American Royal, one of Kansas City’s premier fall events with annual economic impact of more than $62 million, hosts the world’s largest barbecue contest, one of the Midwest’s largest livestock exhibitions, one of the top five ranked rodeos in the nation and is home of the national championship horse competition.
Organization
The American Royal is a not-for-profit, community volunteer-based service organization which raises funds to fulfill its vision & mission through endowments contributions, sponsorships and event revenues.
In 2005, the organization contributed more than $1.3 million in financial support in the form of scholarships, educational awards, educational programs, community donations, competitive awards and prize monies and premiums.
See also
- Rodeo bareback rigging
- American Royal Zephyr