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10 Fun Facts about the American Royal, Kansas City

The American Royal, Kansas City is a comprehensive programme of fun. It began in October of 1899 as the National Hereford Show, the first nationwide show for the exposition and sale of purebred cattle. The show was held in a tent located in the Kansas City Stockyards, the agricultural hub of the Midwest.

The show outgrew the tent and a permanent structure was built in 1908 by the Kansas City Stockyards and became the home of the American Royal until 1922 when the first permanent structure dedicated solely to the American Royal was built.

Smokers and saddles, livestock judging and high-speed whirling are in store (plus so much more) during the American Royal. It is an iconic event that spans almost the entire fall season, featuring more than 40 activities and attracting visitors from across the country. Below are 10 fun facts about the American royal, Kansas City.

1. American Royal, Kansas City Historic Roots

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The first official American Royal Horse Show occurred in 1905 with the help of prominent horse trainer Tom Bass. The following year, Loula Long Combs performed in her first American Royal horse show. Loula came from a prominent Kansas City family who was known for owning some of the best horses in the country.

Both Tom Bass and Loula Long Combs became prominent figures of the American Royal Horse Show. She was often greeted with a standing ovation when entering the ring on her phaeton with two of her Boston bulldogs riding with her. Loula continued to compete for over 50 years at the horse show, often winning. Today the American Royal features horse shows varying from local competitors to nationally renowned trainers and stables.

2.  Drovers Magazine Came up with the name American Royal

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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 the beef industry publication Kansas City Drovers Telegram titled “Call it the American Royal”.

Drovers, America’s beef business source (popularly referred to as Drovers Magazine or Drovers) is a monthly magazine that claims to be the oldest livestock publication in the United States. It derives its name from Drovers which is a British term for livestock herding.

3. Kansas City Royals was named after American Royal

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There are two famous royals in the Kansas City area – the Kansas City Royals and the American Royal. Both boast their own version of the World Series – one competes with a ball and a bat, and the other with smoke and meat.

Kansas City didn’t have a major league baseball team until 1955 when it briefly became the home of the Kansas City (formerly Philadelphia) Athletics. After the Athletics moved on to Oakland after the 1967 season, Major League Baseball moved quickly to expand to 24 teams, including one in Kansas City. The newly dubbed Kansas City Royals played their first game at the old Municipal Stadium near downtown in 1969.

The name “Royals” pays homage to the American Royal, a livestock show, horse show, rodeo, and championship barbecue competition held annually in Kansas City since 1899.

4.  The American Royal is the birthplace of the Future Farmers of America (FFA)

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In 1925, just prior to the start of the Great Depression a noticeable trend was taking place in America. The male population was choosing to leave their family farms in order to pursue careers outside of farming.

As an attempt to counteract this movement, the state of Virginia proposed forming an organization that offered farm boys an opportunity to develop leadership skills, confidence and pride in the fact they were farm boys. When the idea was presented during the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City, Missouri in 1928 the Future Farmers of America was born.

5.   Hear the Story of  Dr. BBQ

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The winner of the first American Royal BBQ competition in 1979 was a physician and psychiatrist Dr. rich Davis whose sauce became the famous K.C masterpiece BBQ sauce.

Rich Davis was interested in food in general and barbecue in particular. He abandoned a medical career to become a barbecue expert. A former medical school dean and practising child psychiatrist, Davis made the switch after creating a new Midwestern-style barbecue sauce, called K. C. Masterpiece, which he eventually sold to the Kingsford Co.

He is an American Royal Hall of Fame Inductee.

6. American Royal Zephyr

Postcard photo of the Kansas City Zephyr/American Royal Zephyr. Image by Burlington Route from

During the early and mid-1990s, a streamlined passenger train service ran between Chicago and Kansas City named the American royal Zephyr.

The American Royal Zephyr was a streamlined passenger train service operated by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad between Chicago and Kansas City. This CB&Q Zephyr was named for the American Royal, one of the Midwest’s largest and oldest livestock exhibitions, professional rodeo, and horse shows.

The American Royal Zephyr made its inaugural run on February 1, 1953, as an all-new overnight streamliner between Chicago and Kansas City. The new train was prompted by the completion the previous October of the $16-million “Kansas City Shortcut”, 49 miles of new track that made the route shorter, flatter, and straighter. The American Royal Zephyr was discontinued in 1971.

7.  American Royal Thrilling Rodeos

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Then of course you have the rodeos – from Youth Rodeos to that iconic ProRodeo, it’s always exhilarating when you see cowboys and cowgirls in action – especially in an area where it’s so integral to the culture!

Hundreds of elementary students from around the region will attend field trips to the Royal complex and attend the youth rodeo as an introduction to the agricultural industry.

The action and competition of the American Royal ProRodeo and Youth Rodeo attract the best cowboys and cowgirls from around the country. You won’t want to miss the excitement and thrill of Rodeo action.

8. World Series of Barbecue

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The American Royal is home to the World Series of Barbecue as well as a host of livestock shows, ProRodeos, and Horse Shows. The American Royal World Series of Barbecue is the largest barbecue competition in the world, attracting teams from across the United States and internationally to compete for the title of Grand Champion.

The World Series of Barbecue Open Competition is available to any team who can come down and show off their best barbecue skills. Teams compete in Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork (shoulder or Boston Butt) and Beef Brisket. In order to be eligible for Grand Champion, Open teams must turn in for all four categories.

Additionally, teams can compete in each category alone, a Sausage category, Sides and/or Desserts, and there is a Kids’ Que competition as well. The American Royal host’s sauce contests,  BBQ rub contests, and even classes for BBQ judging.

9.  American Royal is Volunteer Fueled

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Each year hundreds of individuals donate their time and talents to further Royal’s purpose of providing opportunities for agricultural competitive learning, educational experiences and scholarships that inspire and cultivate dreams.

Whether helping with the setup of the World Series of Barbecue® awards ceremony or the livestock exhibitor’s social, operating a tack taxi or handing out ribbons during the horse shows, volunteers are at the heart of American Royal activities.

10.  American Royal offers many Scholarships

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The American Royal offers scholarships for outstanding leadership and academic excellence as well as competitive events. Throughout the year scholarships are be awarded to individuals or teams through applications or in the show arena.

Academic and Leadership scholarships include the Seaboard Royal Scholars Program and Veterinary Scholars Program. All students must be pursuing agriculture, food, natural resources or veterinary degrees and demonstrate academic and leadership excellence in their schools and communities.

Scholarships to individuals and teams participating in the judging competitions, junior and intercollegiate livestock judging contests, 4-H meats and livestock judging contests as well as crops judging contests are awarded throughout the fall season. Equestrian scholarships are offered to riders in the Saddle Horse Show, Youth and Open, Cutting Horse, and Quarter Horse Show.

For over 100 years, the American Royal has been a part of Kansas City’s history. Through multiple buildings and the addition of multiple events and programs, The Royal has transformed into what it is today. The American Royal continues as a Kansas City tradition offering opportunities for scholarships, education and competition to youth and adults from around the country who attend its events and educational programs.