Houston…Livestock, BBQ, and Entertainment
When you think of Houston, what comes to mind may be the traffic (horrific), the weather (humid), oil & gas, Tex-Mex, BBQ, Sports, NASA, and miles and miles of freeway.
One other Main Attraction is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
It isn’t just a rodeo, either. For almost 3 weeks in March, we are all cowboys and cowgirls!!!
But it’s not only about showcasing our Western heritage; it also provides entertainment and supports our youth with scholarships and grants.
The Houston Fat Stock Show and Livestock Exposition was created in 1931 when 7 men met for lunch at the Texas State Hotel (now the Club Quarters Hotel) to discuss ways to preserve the cattle industry.
The first Show was held in 1932 at the Democratic Convention Hall (now demolished), and moved to the Sam Houston Coliseum in 1938.
Gene Autry was the first entertainer in 1942. And, one of my favorite events, the calf scramble, took place.
In the Calf Scramble, several calves are released into the ring. Young students scramble to catch a calf. There are more students than calves! Students with a calf receive a certificate for a registered beef heifer or market steer to raise for next year’s show.
TRAIL RIDES
The first trail ride originated from Brenham, TX, about one hour west of Houston. Four men on horseback traveled to Houston to raise awareness of the rodeo.
Today, there are over 11 trail rides with 2,000 riders…on horseback and a few chuck wagons!!
On a personal note…I have always wanted to participate in one of the Trail Rides. I have no idea why because I have no desire to go camping again.
On the Friday before the Rodeo Parade in downtown Houston, the riders converge at Memorial Park just outside of the downtown area. They camp overnight before riding into town for the parade.
I’m sure visitors to the area are surprised to see cowboys, horses, and chuckwagons riding into the city.
BBQ
It wouldn’t be Texas without good food and BBQ. In 1974, the first World Championship Bar-B-Cue Contest was held. Today, more than 250 teams compete! Teams have their own tents (most are by invitation only) and make it a mini-show of their own.
My brother and his band, Checkered Past, have played for one team for over 16 years.
The entertainers have included:
Elvis (1970, 1974), Fergie, Toby Keith, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Jelly Roll, Jimmy Buffett, Johnny Cash, John Legend, Keith Urban, Kenny Rogers, Wynonna, KISS, and many more.
The Livestock
It’s much more than Rodeo Show…there are the animals. While you are at the show and during the day, you can see the cutting horse show, the paint horse show, and the ranch horse show.
You can also catch contests and judging competitions for Texas 4-H and FFA Students.
Students spend hours raising “their prized steers” in hopes of winning the prize for Grand Champion. Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale paid a record $600,000 in 2021 for Shorty, a white and orange-spotted steer.
TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT $326 MILLION IN 2024
-$18 Million Total Fiscal Impact
-$15 Million Direct Fiscal Contribution
-3538 Direct Jobs & 5694 Total Jobs in Greater Houston
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a tradition. During those 3 weeks, everyone is a Texan…we’re all cowboys or cowgirls! It’s ok to wear cowboy hats and boots and to say Yee-haw!!!
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