FORT WORTH, TEXAS - Will Rogers Memorial Center is fast becoming the home of champions - or, at least, championships. Ranch Sorting National Championships will bring two premier events to the Fort Worth facility this year, including its national finals. The South Central RSNC Ranch Sorting World Series comes to Will Rogers April 26-28 this year, and that will be followed by the RSNC National Finals June 4-10.
Ranch Sorting is a sport with roots deep in Texas cattle tradition - it evolved from the common ranch work practice of separating cattle into pens for branding or transport - and the organization's numbers continue to grow. Formally established in 2007, and now with more than 17,000 members and more than 400 shows booked for this season, RSNC expects more than 6,000 teams to participate in the national finals in June.
"The great sport of Ranch Sorting is exploding all across the U.S. and we couldn't be more excited about the chance to bring our sport and members to Fort Worth," said David Wolfe, President of RSNC. "We think this is a great fit and a great venue, and we can't wait to show Fort Worth and the Will Rogers Memorial Center what we have to offer."
This new agreement brings these fast-growing showcases to Fort Worth through 2015, with options available for two additional years for both shows - meaning an annual economic impact estimated at $3.4 million per year.
"We are thrilled to add Ranch Sorting National Championships to the roster of top-flight equestrian events and competitions now calling Fort Worth and the Will Rogers facility the home for their showcase events," said Kirk Slaughter, Director of Public Events. "This organization has experienced and continues to see great growth in membership and participation at their shows so this is a great fit for our facility and the tradition of celebrating equine excellence at Will Rogers."
Established in Fort Worth in 1936 to house events near downtown and in the Cultural District, the Will Rogers Memorial Center attracts more than two million visitors a year. It is host to an extensive variety of cultural, educational, recreational and sporting events and has become a premier destination for national and international equestrian events. www.willrogersmemorialcenter.com
About the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau: The FWCVB is the official destination marketing organization of the 16th-largest city in the United States. The organization is dedicated to promoting Fort Worth as a premier business and leisure destination, with thriving centers of culture and commerce. For more information, visit www.FortWorth.com.