2010 National Western Stock Show Helps Build Multicultural Mix in Agriculture

Emphasis on Successful African-American and Mexican Rodeo Stars Provides Role Models for Youth

Dave Maddox
Dave Maddox, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Jan 26, 2010 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
DENVER -- Looking around at the National Western Stock Show with an eye towards cultural diversity, the crowds and the exhibitors don't appear to be a big ethnic mix. Is that because of lack of minority interest, awareness, or some other factor? Is it considered an area that the agricultural world is seeking to improve? The answer appears to be a big 'yes,' and the stock show is doing a big part to help.

Director Mel Brooks' 1974 movie "Blazing Saddles" made the point pretty clearly: our view of the Old West is usually pretty White. The Colorado History Museum, through actor-portrayed historic figures, has corrected that impression during Black History month. One important figure is Dr. Justina Ford, Denver's first female African-American doctor. The Black American West Museum, also in Denver and located in Dr. Ford's home, shows in even greater depth the mix of cultures that existed during the early days of Denver and other cities, even without the conscious pursuit of understanding that exists today.

As part of the stock show's schedule of rodeo events, extravaganzas starring Mexican and African-American stars are presented to showcase the variety of talent in this exciting part of the livestock world. The stock show parade in downtown Denver also includes a diverse slate of participants. Scholarships, a focus of the National Western Stock Show operation, enable students from a variety of backgrounds to pursue an agricultural education, and minority-focused internships are also offered.

The National Western Stock Show maintains an International Welcome Center which draws visitors from dozens of countries each year. The Denver area Asian Chamber of Commerce mentioned in their newsletter that the stock show has drawn together the international community through local chambers of commerce for a special rodeo event to promote cooperation and communication.

Last year, signs in the stockyard area advertising genetic material were posted in Russian. A visit to the International Visitor's Center revealed that, like many other aspects of agriculture, the breeding of cattle has gone international and trade in semen and ova has made the process fairly simple. As farmers and ranchers participate in a global economy, universities are working to promote global awareness as well as diversity in their agricultural programs, with student populations from around the world as well.

As visitors to the stock show become aware of the broad cultural heritage of the Old West, the stock show is contributing in many ways towards an even more diverse and challenging future.

Asian-American Chamber of Commerce,Newsletters

Laredo Community College, Increasing Multicultural Diversity in Agriculture: Education and Partnerships , USDA

National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum

National Western Stock Show, International Agri-Business Center

Published by Dave Maddox

Dave is a man with his eyes open, always exploring and sharing. With undergraduate work in literature and classics at Harvard University, he has worked in the computer field to enable his travel and other ha...  View profile

  • The American West has a rich and diverse history that is only recently being published and exhibited
  • National Western Stock Show is helping minority youth to have opportunities in agriculture
Even with overt discrimination, African-Americans played many important roles in the Old West. During Black History month, many museums tell their stories, a launching point for African-American youth in the New West's agricultural economy.

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