Here's a little history about the Livestock Show & Rodeo...
In the 1940's, after years of San Antonio not having sufficient or adequate facilities to host the many fairs and expositions being held in the city; Mr. Joe Freeman began organizing volunteers to raise money to build a "multi-purpose coliseum" to hold the many fairs, expositions and specifically a livestock exposition for the Youth of Texas. In January of 1948 construction of the Joe and Harry Freeman Coliseum began - it was completed in September of the same year and was opened to the public.
The first Annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo was held on February 17, 1950 at the Coliseum and was held there every year until February of 2003, when the Livestock Show & Rodeo was moved to the newly built, state of the art SBC Center located right next door.
In 1984, the San Antonio Livestock Exposition Executive Committee (SALE) began to think about encouraging 4-H and FFA high school students interested in the agricultural industry to major in agricultural-related studies in college. In 1984, they started the SALE Scholarship Fund awarding 15, four-year scholarships to students entering Texas colleges in the fall of the same year. To date, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo's commitment to education exceeds over $87 million. In 2008, $8.5 million was committed in the form of scholarships, grants, endowments, auction, calf scramble program and show premiums paid to youth.
Many hours of hard work by committed SALE volunteers make the San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo one of the largest and most prestigious events in the city with over 1 million visitors entering the grounds each year.
The dates of this year's Livestock Show & Rodeo are February 5 through Feb. 22, 2009. There are some events going on already - in preparation for the Livestock Show & Rodeo.
The Texas Longhorn Cattle Drive will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. You'll feel like you went back 100 years to the days when the streets of San Antonio were only trails. Cowboys will guide a herd of Texas Longhorns right through the heart of San Antonio (down Houston Street from Christus Santa Rosa Hospital /I-35 to the Alamo!!! This is a free event - bring the family and don't forget your camera. For more information call 210-225-5851. See you there!!!
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Angelia, thanks for stopping by. This is the 60th Anniversary Year of the San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo!! I never realized all of the events that are held in conjuction with the Livestock Show & Rodeo until this year. 
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