The 103rd edition of the National Western Stock Show ended Sunday with attendance over the 16-day event down 4.5 percent from last year.

A total of 643,100 spectators visited the rodeos, livestock and horse shows and other exhibits. While down from the 2008 attendance of 673,449, the show marked its 12th consecutive year of drawing crowds of 600,000 or more.

Many spectators, like Shari Wheeler, 24, of Denver, were return customers. Because of the poor economy, however, Wheeler and her husband caught a bite to eat before arriving and spent money only on tickets - no food or drink.

The recession, however, didn't prevent Gerald Gorman and his wife, Mary Ann, from walking off with a boxed and mounted butterfly.

The Buffalo, N.Y., couple have been coming to the stock show for eight years. They stay with family and time their visits to coincide with the show. This year, between parking, tickets and food, they spent their usual amount of $100 to $200.

"Sometimes it's a good buck. Other times you don't find what you want," said Gerald Gorman, a retired Ford auto worker.

Stock show spokeswoman Kari DeCastro said Sunday that figures for vendor sales were not available yet. Some vendors reported sales up and others down, she said.

Salesman Steve Petley managed something he was unable to do during last year's show.

He sold a Summit Hauler, a big rig with 350 horsepower, a 150- gallon fuel tank and an overhead video system for just under $128,000.

"This show for us is not necessarily about what you sell here. It's exposure," said Petley, adding that he picked up six solid leads that might culminate in sales later in the year.

Crowds slip a little

Stock show attendance was down 4.5 percent this year.

*2009 643,100

*2008 673,449