History

The American Royal Association, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and Kansas City's longest running show, has been a Kansas City tradition since 1899. During September, October and November, more than 250,000 people attend the American Royal. 

The American Royal began in a tent in the Kansas City Stockyards as a national Hereford Show. This show has grown into the annual American Royal Livestock Show drawing an audience of over 69,000 including owner/breeders, future business and agriculture leaders (high school and collegiate) and animal enthusiasts from a 30 state region.

The horse show was added in 1905 and has grown to include five shows (Quarter Horse, Hunter-Jumper, Arabian, Saddle Horse and 4-H). The horse shows draw over 7,000 horse-enthusiasts, owners, trainers, grooms and riders nationwide and a 12,000+ ticketed audience of horse lovers.

The first Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) sanctioned rodeo was added in 1950.

The American Royal Barbecue has continued to grow and is now nationally known as the largest Barbecue Contest in the world with over 70,000 people in attendance.

In addition, the American Royal reaches over 20,000 students with educational programs and events year long through the American Royal Museum, school tours and other programs.

The American Royal has attained the position as not only one of the oldest and best-loved traditions in Kansas City, but also one of the largest combined livestock, horse show and rodeos in the nation. Overcoming fire and floods has only served to emphasize its extraordinary stability.

About the Royal

"The first American Royal started in 1899 as the National Hereford Show, the first nationwide show for the exposition and sale of purebred cattle. It was held in a tent in the West Bottoms from Oct. 23-28, 1899, and featured 541 registered Herefords. During the 3-day sale, 300 Herefords were sold, at an average price of $334. The estimated attendance was 55,000."

Printed in the KC Star, 10/13/1908: "A small young lady was among the spectators in the 'big top' yesterday. With intense interest she watched the great cattle led into the ring by their attendants. Each of the men who led the entries wore placards, sandwich-man fashion, showing the number of the animal entered, its age and weight. The little girl puzzled over the cards for some time. At last turning to her father she said, in a loud whisper, 'Papa, those men must have got their cards all mixed up. That little man there must be more than two years old, and he can't possibly weight 1,430 pounds.'"

On November 7, 1921, the cornerstone was laid for the first American Royal building. The building was dedicated on November 19, 1922.  The estimated cost of the building was $800,000. The floor area was 7.5 acres.

History of the American Royal