Do you smell that? That scent of promise, excitement, anticipation, joy, cows.

Cows?

Yes! Cows!

This weekend marks the beginning of the 106th National Western Stock Show!

Yeehaw!

I fear the exclamation point key on my keyboard would give out if I used it as many times as necessary to adequately express my excitement.

But take my word for it, this is a grand time for all.

While the official opening is this weekend, today marks the day when a herd of longhorns are driven down a main vein of Denver.

Like this:

I haven’t been able to go photograph this parade in two years (when the above photo was taken), but I don’t think the tradition has changed much since then, and you get the idea.

Beyond this opening parade, there are rodeos and cowboys and chickens and horses and more cows and boots and hats and all sorts of wondrous, Western things to look forward to.

I’ll be going as much as possible during its run – which is Jan. 7-22 – and you should too. You won’t regret attending this iconic, Colorado event.

So don your favorite cowboy boots and do-si-do yourself on over.

I’ll see you there.

To get yourself in the spirit, here is a little past coverage of the Stock Show a.e. photography style.