Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, with attendance approaching nearly two million visitors per year, is the world's largest livestock exhibition as well as the world's largest rodeo event, and requires the support of sixteen thousand volunteers.
The three-week long event is held at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas and features bull riding, livestock judging, concerts, a parade, a carnival, trail rides, barbecue and wine competitions, shopping, sales, and auctions.
History
1931 - first established as "
The Houston Fat Stock Show and Livestock Exposition"
1932 - first Show is held at the Democratic Convention Hall
1938 - new location:
Gene Autry, "the Singing Cowboy"
- calf scramble event added to the Show's rodeo
1952 - The first trail ride (Salt Grass Trail Ride) commences from Brenham, Texas
1957 - first major educational scholarship ($2,000) awarded to Astrodome complex; Astrohall built for Livestock Exposition
1970 -
research program launched committing $100,000 annualy in support of research studies at various Texas colleges and universities
-
Elvis Presley sets attendance record of 43,614
1974 - The first
World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest
1975 - The Astroarena is completed
1977 - four-year scholarships increased from $4,000 to $6,000
1983 - four-year scholarships increased from $6,000 to $8,000
1989 - scholarship program expands to Houston Metropolitan area
1992 - four-year scholarships upgraded from $8,000 to $10,000 retoractive to all students currently on scholarship
1994 - broadcast via pay-per-view television
1996 -
George Strait breaks attendance record with 62,936 in the Show's 30th year at the Astrodome complex
1997 -
Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence is created as a 3-year pilot program with 4.6 million in funding
- www.hlsr.com and www.rodeohouston.com introduced
1998 - 4-H and FFA scholarships increased to 60 per program totaling 120 four-year $10,000 awards
1999 - 4-H and FFA scholarships increased to 70 per program totaling 140 four-year $10,000 awards
- Opportunity Scholarships awarded based on financial need and academic excellence
2000 - Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence extended another 3 years with another $4.6 million
-
Reliant Energy acquires naming rights for the Astrodomain; The renamed
Reliant Park includes the
Reliant Astrodome, Reliant Arena, Reliant Hall, Reliant Center and
Reliant Stadium
2001 - largest ever presentation of scholarships with 300 four-year $10,000 awards through the
Metropolitan, Opportunity and School Art scholarship programs - totaling $3 million.
2002 - George Strait sets paid attendance record for any event in the Reliant Astrodome with 68,266
- Reliant Hall is demolished
2003 - new location:
Reliant Stadium and Reliant Center
- Paid attendance of 70,405 for Go Tejano Day
- Carruth Plaza, a Western sculpture garden named in honor of past president and chairman,
