DENVER, CO, JAN. 20, 2006- 011806_NWSS_CFW - Stetson Copus, 15, of Burkburnette, TX, walks the red carpet as he arrives with his Grand Champion Steer, Husker, at the Brown Palace in downtown Denver CO. (RELEASE - Aternoon Tea at the Brown Palace to Includ

DENVER, CO, JAN. 20, 2006- 011806_NWSS_CFW - Stetson Copus, 15, of Burkburnette, TX, walks the red carpet as he arrives with his Grand Champion Steer, Husker, at the Brown Palace in downtown Denver CO. (RELEASE - Aternoon Tea at the Brown Palace to Include Grand Champion Steer Public is Invited to View the Steer on Friday, January 20, 2006 From 11:00am until 2:00pm Led into the atrium lobby on a red carpet by its Junior Exhibitor, the Grand Champion Steer will be on display during Afternoon Tea on Friday, January 20th for city-slickers to get a close-up view of the prize-winning animal. Afterwards, the steer will return to the National Western Stock Show where it will be sold as part of the evening's Auction of Junior Livestock Champions. The tradition of livestock animals in the lobby of the Brown Palace dates back to the early years of the 100-year-old National Western Stock Show. In 1945, Dan Thornton, who later became governor of Colorado, sold two Hereford bulls for $50,000 each. Mr. Thornton wanted a Life Magazine photographer to shoot the picture of them in the lobby of the Brown Palace, hence the animals were led into the hotel. In January 1958, a horse named "Rex" startled guests and staff alike when he and his rider, Monte Montana, strolled into the lobby and picked their way up the grand staircase to drop in on a meeting of the Rodeo Cowboys Association in the second floor Gold Room. "Bubba," a Texas Longhorn steer, and his owner Gary Henry, arrived at the front desk of the Brown Palace and signaled the beginning of the National Western Stock Show in 1988. The Grand Champion steer, part of the 2006 National Western Junior Auction, will be on display in the atrium lobby from 11:00am until 2:00pm on Friday, January 20, 2006. The public is invited. The exhibitor who has raised the steer will accompany it to the hotel. I hope to see you then! Julie Dunn (DENVER (Photo By Craig F. Walker/The Denver Post via Getty Images)