Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo could possibly be labeled as one of the ‘Greatest shows on Earth’.  If you have not been to the show, you should make plans to go next year. Not only is it a fun place to go, but you will have the chance to learn a few things and help give back what you have learned to others.

I have loved the rodeo since I was a kid. As I grow older, I have learned to not only love the rodeo, but appreciate what it does and what it brings to the city!

(Direct quote) “Since its beginning in 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has committed more than $265 million to scholarships, research, endowments, calf scramble participants, junior show exhibitors, the Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence™, School Art participants, and other educational and youth programs. Of that total, the Show has committed more than $152 million in direct educational program support, since the first scholarship was awarded in 1957.”

The following is a semi breakdown of where the money is going for this year alone:

All recipients of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo scholarships must demonstrate academic potential, citizenship/leadership and financial need, and they must attend a Texas college or university.

Not only does the rodeo bring jobs, but there are more than 24,000 volunteers who bring the show to life!  The amount of time and preparation it takes to make this show happen is unreal.  

The amount of work by the kids themselves is AWESOME! You will not see a harder working group of kids than you will see here. They must care for their animals at all times! In the pictures, you see kids bathing their livestock and getting ready to show them. I commend these kids for their determination and brevity! It is crazy to see a 50 pound little girl dragging around a 700-1000 pound steer! If only the Steer knew!    

After you have seen some of the animals and walked enough to build your appetite up, it is time to eat. Here at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, you can find almost anything you can imagine to eat. Well, anything but a salad! There you will find everything from “Bar B Q’d” whatever to “fried” whatever! You can even get “fried beer!” It is some of the best food you will ever eat! And the “only” place you can get some of it!

And if you still haven’t had enough, you can ride some rides, you can go inside and do activities with the kids, see animals give birth, go bungee jump, the list goes on and on! To the left is a picture of my wife and youngest Daughter ( Katelyn) doing a sand art project. You can learn about Bee's, how to grow sunflowers, how to milk a cow and even meet Elsie herself! (to the right is Katelyn with Elsie the cow!)

Still not what fancies you? Go learn how to race radio controled cars! There are too many things to post pictures of what can be done at the rodeo on here but I think you can get the idea I am trying to get across!

Hope to see you there next year!