Frequently Asked Questions

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was organized for charitable, educational and scientific purposes to encourage and promote the breeding, raising and marketing of better livestock and farm products at public fairs and to promote and maintain research and educational functions within the livestock industry. It is the general policy of the Show to utilize, in the fiscal year subsequent to which it is earned, the excess of its revenue over expenses for the furtherance of its exempt purpose, including the granting and/or funding of agricultural scholarships, educational endowments, agricultural research projects and other similar programs and the funding of related capital additions and improvements. The funds of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo are used exclusively to meet necessary expenses for its upkeep and operation and in furtherance of the exempt purpose of the organization.

The yearly scholarship and direct educational support includes:

• more than $1.5 million in Opportunity scholarships;
• $2.1 million in FFA and 4-H scholarships;
• more than $3.3 million for Metropolitan scholarships;
• more than $1 million for Area Go Texan scholarships;
• $225,000 for School Art Program scholarships
• $150,000 for FCCLA scholarships
• $485,400 for Graduate Assistantships at seven Texas colleges and universities
• $575,000 for Grants
• $1.5 million for the Rodeo Institute of Teacher Excellence™
• $222,850 for other Educational Programs

Currently, 2,092 students are on Show scholarships. Enrolled students are attending 90 different Texas colleges and universities. The value of these scholarships is nearly $24.8 million.

Since the inception of its scholarship program in 1957, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has committed more than $140 million in direct educational support to the youth of Texas.

More than 300,000 young amateur artists participated in the School Art Program in 2009, submitting projects based on Western culture, history and heritage.

Since the beginning of the Calf Scramble program in 1942, 18,242 boys and girls have been awarded $9,853,500 worth of purchase certificates and bonuses.

• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo rodeo competitors, visitors, livestock show contestants, vendors and others have direct expenditures in excess of $220 million annually. Once economic multipliers are applied, the financial impact created by the Show is nearly $345 million.
• In 2009, 1826 foreign visitors from 94 countries brought their money to Houston while attending the Show, and went home with a great impression of the United States' fourth largest city.
• General attendance at the 2009 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was 1,890,332*. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the third largest fair or festival in North America.
  *record all-time grounds attendance

With 26,285 livestock competitions and horse show entries in 2009, the Houston Livestock Show is the largest in the world.

The Houston Livestock Show holds the records in all junior market auction categories:

• Grand Champion Goat purchased in 2009 for $120,000
• Reserve Grand Champion Goat purchased in 2009 for $131,000
• Grand Champion Lamb purchased in 2008 for $185,000
• Reserve Grand Champion Lamb purchased in 2007 for $125,000
• Grand Champion Pen of Broilers purchased in 2007 for $201,000
• Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Broilers purchased in 2007 for $140,000
• Grand Champion Turkey purchased in 2007 for $175,000
• Reserve Grand Champion Turkey purchased in 2007 for $106,000
• Grand Champion Barrow purchased in 2008 for $162,000
• Reserve Grand Champion Barrow purchased in 2009 for $113,000
• Grand Champion Steer purchased for $600,001 in 2002
• Reserve Grand Champion Steer purchased for $365,000 in 2005
• Grand Champion Work of Art purchased in 2008 for $185,000
• Reserve Grand Champion Work of Art purchased in 2008 for $150,000

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a charity which benefits the youth of Texas. Since the Show's beginning in 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has contributed more than $250 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. Currently, 1,934 students are on Show scholarships. Enrolled students are attending 88 different Texas colleges and universities. The value of these scholarships is nearly $24.8 million.

In 2009, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo committed more than $10.9 million in scholarships and educational programs. Each year, nearly 2,000 students attend college on direct Show-sponsored financial assistance. Scholarship applications are available from high school guidance counselors or by calling the Office of Educational Programs, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, at 832.667.1000. You also can request an application via e-mail by sending your name and complete mailing address to sigust@rodeohouston.com.

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A: Applications to enter the Calf Scramble should be submitted through your agricultural science teacher or county extension agent and participants will be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis. You must be 14 years of age by Jan. 1, 2009, but not older than 18 and enrolled in a Texas 4-H or FFA program.

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The Show's school tours program offers complimentary tickets to those scheduling group tours. The tours take place in Capital One Bank AGVENTURE, which hosts a variety of livestock and activities focused on children of all ages. The tours are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Oct. 1 the year before the next Show.

For information on how to schedule a tour for your group, please visit www.rodeohouston.com and click on Education and School Tours and Field Trips or call the information line at 832.667.4790.

The mayor of Houston and the Harris County judge present proclamations each year declaring "Go Texan Days." Go Texan Days last the duration of the Show, but most businesses and schools encourage employees and students to dress up and celebrate "Go Texan Day" the Friday prior to the downtown parade. In 2010, the parade is on Saturday, Feb. 27, so many groups celebrate "Go Texan Day" on Friday, Feb. 26.
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• Only the top cowboys and cowgirls are invited to compete, and in 2009, nearly 400 athletes were invited to ride and rope at RODEOHOUSTON.
• In 2009, RODEOHOUSTON awarded more than $1.4 million in prize money to the cowboys and cowgirls. In 2010, more than $1.5 million will be awarded in cash and prizes.
• With paid attendance of 1,182,128 in 2009, RODEOHOUSTON is the world's largest rodeo.
• RODEOHOUSTON features seven events: bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping and tie-down roping.

The Houston Rodeo concert stages have hosted legends and superstars of all kinds: Elvis Presley, Selena, Roy Rogers, Julio Iglesias, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Conway Twitty, Bill Cosby, The Jackson Five, Wynonna, Charley Pride, Gene Autry, George Strait, Brooks & Dunn, and Sonny and Cher, to name a few.

Three performers have topped the 1 million mark in number of fans they've played in front of at the Houston Rodeo: Reba McEntire, Charley Pride and George Strait.

Elvis Presley thrilled a total of 295,743 fans at the Houston Rodeo in 1970 for six shows and in 1974 for two shows.

Charley Pride holds the record for the most performances with 37 in 20 years.

The top five paid attendance records were set by the following as part of RODEOHOUSTON performances:

• 74,147 - Go Tejano Day – Ramon Ayala and Alacranes Musical (2009)
• 73,459 - Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus (2008)
• 73,291 - Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana / Cheetah Girls (2007)
• 73,003 - Brad Paisley (2008)
• 72,867 - Brooks & Dunn (2006)
• 72,843 - Hilary Duff (2005)

Future tentative dates:

• Tue., March 2 - Sun., March 21, 2010
• Tue., March 1 - Sun., March 20, 2011
• Tue., Feb. 28 - Sun., March 18, 2012
• Tue., Feb. 26 - Sun., March 17, 2013
• Tue., March 4 - Sun., March 23, 2014

The star entertainers will begin performing after the last rodeo event is completed each evening and the stage is set. Actual start times for the concert can vary day to day due to the varying number of rodeo competitors and other factors. Monday through Friday, with a 6:45 p.m. RODEOHOUSTON start time, the evening performers USUALLY take the stage between 9 and 9:30 p.m. On the weekends, with a 3:45 RODEOHOUSTON start time on Saturday and Sunday, the performers TYPICALLY begin between 5:45 and 6:15 p.m.

The safety of everyone is paramount for Show patrons to enjoy a fun atmosphere. Please note that all personal belongings (such as purses, camera cases, back packs, strollers, etc.) are subject to search at any given time on the Show grounds by Show officials and/or law enforcement officers for security reasons. Anyone refusing to be searched will not be allowed on the Show grounds. Video taping is not allowed within Reliant Stadium, nor are outside food and drinks, including those purchased elsewhere at Reliant Park.

Season ticket suite holders can have catering services provided during each day of RODEOHOUSTON in Reliant Stadium through Aramark. To learn more, refer to Aramark's Web site. If you are interested in learning more about season tickets, click HERE.

Children under the age of 2 are admitted free into Reliant Stadium for the rodeo and star entertainer performances if they do not require a separate seat.

Children ages 2 and younger are admitted free to the livestock show, World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest and the Horse Show.

Although there are no guarantees, history is usually a good indicator of what you can expect weather-wise. The months of February and March tend to be mild compared to the rest of the country. The best thing to do is be prepared for anything! Watch the AccuWeather.com Video Forecast to learn more about Houston weather trends and current conditions, information on flight arrivals from Houston's major airports, and road conditions in and around Houston.

An individual must be a member of one of the sanctioned trail rides to ride a horse in the parade. Persons riding on floats are invited by the float presenters.

The 2010 World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest will be held Thurs., Feb. 25 - Sat., Feb. 27, in the Reliant Park parking lot. Learn more about it on our Web site by clicking HERE.

All committee volunteers must be members of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, please visit the Become A Member section of the Web site.

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• Currently, there are more than 22,000 volunteers serving on nearly 100 Show committees.
• Committee members each donate an average of 67.7 hours of service to the Show every year.
• Every single ZIP code in Harris County has committee members living in its neighborhoods.
• The committee volunteer group is 41 percent female and 59 percent male.

The average committee volunteer:

• is 43.29 years old;
• has been a Show volunteer for 7.19 years;
  has lived in Houston for 25.02 years (for the 87.3 percent who live in the Houston area); and
• spends 16.94 hours per year in Show meetings

Area Go Texan committee members spread good will and help promote the Show in the 60 counties around Houston, reaching counties approaching the cities of Dallas, Waco and San Antonio.

The Show's recycling efforts resulted in 109,900 pounds of recycled cardboard and 13,169 pounds of recycled aluminum from the 2008 Show.

Exhibits are selected from applications. The 2010 application deadline is Aug. 31, 2009. If you’re interested in future Shows, click HERE to receive an application/information packet contact the commercial exhibit office at 832.667.1000.

Accessible parking is located on the south end of Reliant Stadium off Westridge, where there are about 100 permanent places. In the South Kirby lot there will be an additional 250-plus spaces dedicated to handicap parking. These spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

When you order organizational plates, TXDOT sets aside more than 70 percent of the annual $30 or $40 specialty plate fee for the Show's purposes. The specialty plate fee is collected in addition to the regular registration fee. Please note that this external site is not affiliated with the Show.

Go to the Texas Department of Transportation's Web site for more information.

A: Participants are selected in October and November for the calf scramble. Children must be older than 14 and younger than 18 on Jan. 1 of the Show year. They must be either a 4-H or FFA member and need to let their agricultural science teacher or county extension agent know that they are interested.

A: RODEOHOUSTON is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women's Professional Rodeo Association. There are seven rodeo events and each event has a limited number of contestants. Only the top cowboys and cowgirls are invited to attend. In other words, RODEOHOUSTON features the best of the best.

A: RODEOHOUSTON is the richest regular-season rodeo in the world, offering a purse in 2009 of more than $1.4 million. In 2008, a total of 1,206,511 tickets were sold for the 20 rodeo/concert performances.

A: Championship rodeo action once again will be available on Pay-Per-View television. For more information on plans for the 2010 Show as it becomes available near Show time, click HERE.

A: The star entertainers will begin performing after the last rodeo event is completed. Actual start times for the concert can vary day to day due to the varying number of rodeo competitors and other factors, but the evening performers USUALLY take the stage between 9 and 9:30 p.m., and the twilight performers TYPICALLY begin between 5:45 and 6:15 p.m.

A: You can view all of Reliant Stadium's RODEOHOUSTON seating sections by clicking HERE. * Please note the the seating map reflects season ticket availability.

For a listing of daily rodeo competitors, you can check our Web site.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo offers several different kinds of scholarships and eligibility requirements may vary.

However, all applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen; permanent residents are not eligible to apply.
• Attend a public high school from which you will graduate at mid-term or in the spring of the year in which you seek an award. Students who are home-schooled or who attend private or parochial schools may not apply.
• Be a resident of the state of Texas.
• Plan to attend a Texas college or university and have applied for admission to such an institution. The Show does not fund scholarships to attend out-of-state schools. Even if you plan to attend a school with an "open admissions" policy, you still must have applied at the time application is made.
• Meet academic standards for class rank and SAT/ACT scores as stated within the application. No one may apply who has not taken either the SAT or ACT test and who cannot furnish documentation of scores.
• Submit a completed application with appropriate documentation.

Depending on the type of scholarship, applications are available from the Office of Educational Programs of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a coordinating organization (4-H, FFA or FCCLA), counselors at participating public high schools and/or the Show Web site. Please note, hard copy applications must be submitted; the Show will not accept applications submitted electronically.

If you request an application from the Office of Educational Programs, include your name, e-mail and home addresses, the name of the public high school you attend, and the type of application requested.

Applications must be mailed to the Office of Educational Programs, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, P.O. Box 20070, Houston, TX 77225-0070, by the deadline date.

Downloaded applications may not be submitted to the Show electronically. Hard copy applications, with accompanying documentation and original letters of recommendation, must be submitted.

Metropolitan - for students attending participating public high schools in Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller counties. Applications are available through the Show and/or counselors' offices at participating schools.

Opportunity - need-based scholarship for students attending participating public high schools in Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller counties. Applications are available through the Show and/or counselors' offices at participating schools.

4-H, FFA, FCCLA - scholarships awarded to members of these respective organizations. Applications available through each respective organization; criteria and deadline dates vary.

Area Go Texan - A total of 70 scholarships are awarded to students representing the 60 participating counties in the Area Go Texan program (counties outside the greater Houston area). Applicants must meet residency requirements respective to these 60 counties, as well as other criteria. An additional 10 scholarships will be presented to students at large within the participating counties. Applications are available through the Show, online, and from high school counselors, Agriscience teachers and county extension agents in the participating counties.

School Art - scholarships awarded to students participating in the Show's School Art Program and Quick Draw Contest who are graduating seniors.

Hildebrand - open to qualifying exhibitors in each year's Junior Market Lamb competition. One, four-year, $15,000 scholarship is presented to the outstanding junior market lamb exhibitor. Applications are available through the Show's Exhibitor Handbook. Deadline is the evening of the lamb sift. Interview necessary.

Yes, except for 4-H and FFA. You should apply for all Show scholarships for which you are eligible. However, 4-H and FFA prohibit a student from applying for both, regardless of your membership or eligibility; to do so results in disqualification from either organization.

No. Recipients can receive only one Show scholarship.

Deadlines vary with the type of scholarship. See the scholarship descriptions.

No, with two exceptions. The only Show scholarships that require an applicant to have exhibited at the Show are the Hildebrand (for junior lamb exhibitors) and the School Art (participants in the school art program).

No, there are no restrictions on the major field of study for any Show scholarship, as long as the major leads to a four-year degree.

Yes, the Show funds its scholarship recipients who begin their academic pursuits at community colleges or junior colleges. However, the student must show academic progress and finish at a four-year institution if he/she has received a four-year award.

No.

Yes. Children of Show members or Show committee members are eligible to apply but receive no special consideration.

Applications are evaluated by independent committees using a comprehensive scoresheet with points awarded for academics, citizenship/leadership and financial need. Their rankings are validated by the Show's Office of Educational Programs.