Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

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The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, also called Rodeo Houston or abbreviated HLSR, is the world’s largest live entertainment and livestock exhibition. It also includes one of the richest regular-season rodeo events. It is considered Houston‘s signature event.  With attendances at over 2.5 million you can see that everything really is bigger in Texas.

Traditional trail rides, which start in different areas of Texas and end in Houston, precede the Rodeo events.  The City of Houston celebrates this event with Go Texan Day, where residents are encouraged to dress in western wear the Friday before the rodeo begins.

 

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One of my favourite things to do in Houston is the Rodeo.  Maybe its because my idea of Texas growing up was cowboys and all things Cowboy I never thought Id visit yet alone live there.  There are Rodeo’s all over the state and in fact in many states in the USA but the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is the creme de la creme with its top country artist doing live shows every night and amazing cowboys doing their thing.  It doesn’t end here, with great food stalls, great shopping and entertainment you could spend the entire 3 weeks here and if you invest in a pass for the entire event you can do exactly that.  If you cant afford that you could volunteer and depending on your committee and the work you are doing you can get in free to all of the events.

$350 MILLION TO THE YOUTH OF TEXAS

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a Section 501(c)(3) charity that benefits youth, supports education, and facilitates better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentation. Since its beginning in 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has committed more than $350 million to scholarships, research, endowments, calf scramble participants, junior show exhibitors, School Art participants, and other educational youth programs.

The Calf Scramble

IMG_2199 IMG_2198 Since the addition of the event in 1942, it has been one of the more popular events during the actual rodeo. The event features 14 calves and 28 students who must try to capture one of the calves, put a halter on it and bring it back into the “winners square” in order to claim the win. One of the rules is that as long as a contestant is actually in the act of holding the calf (i.e. Holding it by the tail) to get the halter on, no other participant may interfere unless the calf wriggles itself free. It’s at this point where the calf is fair game once again. The event is held nightly between major events in the Reliant Stadium. Each of the students who catch a calf is awarded a $1,250 certificate to purchase a registered beef heifer. Raising and showing this heifer becomes a yearlong project as the scrambler sees to the grooming, feeding and care of the animal. The exhibitor returns to the Houston Livestock Show the following year for a special competition. Calf Scramble exhibitors receive a $250 bonus when they return to compete with their heifer, totaling their $1,500 certificate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Livestock_Show_and_Rodeo


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About Sandra

Just a girl from Ireland who wants to live everywhere. Not a planner, a winger when it comes to travel. I don't even like people who plan too much. Without spontaneity there is no depth. A jack of all trades. A great friend, loyal and passionate and I expect the same in return. Always ready for the next adventure at a moments notice.
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