American Royal activities begin this week

Barbecue. Check.

Cows. Check.

Manure. Check.

Yep, the American Royal can claim the bona fides to call itself “KC’s most authentic asset.”

The 115th Royal kicks off this week with the Quarter Horse Show Thursday through Sunday at Hale Arena in the West Bottoms.

The action will continue through Nov. 11-15 with the United Professional Horsemen’s Association’s National Championship Saddlebred Horse Show, a ticketed event that draws people from around the country and beyond.

Other ticketed events will include the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo on Sept. 26-27, the World Series of Barbecue on Oct. 2-5, the Livestock Show on Oct. 22-Nov. 2 and the Cutting Horse show on Nov. 5-7. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster, the Kemper Arena box office noon-5 p.m. weekdays or the Municipal Auditorium box office from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.

Non-ticketed events include the Arabian Horse Show on Sept. 18-20, the Youth Rodeo on Sept. 23-26 and the Hunter Jumper Show on Oct. 14-18.

The American Royal Association said more than 270,000 people attended last year. That was without a parade, which was canceled because of concerns about lightning. This year’s parade, which is to go up Grand Boulevard from Pershing Road to Truman Road, is scheduled for Sept. 27.

The Royal’s mission is to promote and celebrate agriculture and to develop future generations of leaders through agrarian values and skills. The Royal generates more than $1 million a year for youths and education.

“We have been around for more than a century, and we’re looking to build on that history,” Royal President Bob Petersen said in an announcement. “We want everyone in Kansas City to know that the American Royal is more than our fall festival. The American Royal is Kansas City, and we want youth to benefit from everything we do.”

This story was originally published September 1, 2014 at 6:59 PM with the headline "American Royal activities begin this week."