Financial Highlights

2008 Financial Highlights

• $53.8 million contributed to the production of the livestock show and rodeo
• approximately 31,000 entrants participated in the 3 week event
• averaged $1,735 per exhibitor to ensure their 2008 livestock and horse show experience was a first-class educational event
• $5.0 million awarded to junior exhibitors
• $8.1 million in new scholarships awarded to Texas youth
• $1.4 million invested in RITE http://www.ritemail.com/
• $ 930 thousand granted to other educational programs

In 1931, a group of cattlemen met to discuss the improvement and development of the cattle industry along the Gulf Coast area of Texas. That initial meeting was the beginning of the success story of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a non profit corporation dedicated to supporting agriculture and education, providing affordable family entertainment, and preserving Western heritage.

Over the last 76 years, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has fulfilled its purpose, making an impressive footprint on the livestock and agriculture industries and education.  Substantially all of the Show’s resources are dedicated to direct support of its agriculture and education programs, with 81% and 79% of operating revenues spent on program services in 2008 and 2007, respectively. Most importantly, the Show has played a notable role in enhancing the lives of young people in the state of Texas.

Agriculture
In 1932, the first Show was held with just a few hundred entries in the livestock competition. 76 years later at the 2008 Show, there were more than 31,000 entries in the livestock and horse show. To date the Show has hosted more than 1 million junior and open livestock and horse entries.

The annual junior and open livestock shows support our core mission to “encourage and promote the breeding, raising and marketing of better livestock and farm products.” Considered “the Show to win” by Texas youth, the learning experience goes beyond the technical aspects of raising and showing livestock to include the invaluable opportunity for these youth to develop leadership skills, public speaking abilities, and strong personal responsibility.

• Texas 4-H and FFA students from almost every Texas county travel to Houston each year, vying for the prestigious title of Houston champion. Since 1932, the Show has contributed more than $105 million to these junior and youth show exhibitors through prizes, premiums and auction money.

• The Show currently holds all the world’s records for each junior market animal auction. All auction proceeds go to Texas youth in the form of guaranteed auction premiums or scholarship awards.
• Since the beginning of the calf scramble program in 1942, more than 18,000 young Texans have been awarded more than $9.8 million worth of purchase certificates and bonuses.
• More than 2,000 international guests from approximately 80 countries attend the Show for entertainment and business purposes, purchasing livestock and agricultural supplies from U.S. vendors.

Entertainment
The founders of the Show believed that its educational mission would be best fulfilled in a public fair environment where the general public could learn about the agriculture and livestock industry. Today, RodeoHouston and many other family-oriented grounds activities support the facet of the Show’s mission.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a direct connection to spring time entertainment. There is fun for the whole family at Reliant Park during the world’s largest livestock show and rodeo.

• Children’s activities at the Show include pony rides, petting zoos, pig races, hatching chicks, a livestock birthing center, bee hives and more.
• Nearly 50,000 visitors received a tour of the agricultural education area of the Show.
• RodeoHouston is the world’s largest rodeo, measured by attendance that topped 1.2 million in 2008 with an average of 60,000 fans at each of 20 performances.
• RodeoHouston tickets average about $20 less than the national concert ticket cost.In 2008, RodeoHouston payed out more than $1.2 million in prize money to the competing cowboys and cowgirls.

Western Heritage
A full understanding of Texas’ agricultural and livestock industries is rooted in an appreciation of the state’s Western heritage. The Show is committed to preserving and celebrating the Houston area’s rich Western culture as part of its mission. 

• Since 1952, trail rides have grown into a signature tradition of the Show. Each year, more than 4,000 riders saddle up  to relive the Old West as part of 13 trail rides, heading to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo from points across Texas.
• More than 300,000 young amateur artists participated in the School Art Program in 2008, submitting projects based on Western culture, history and heritage.  585 pieces of the top artists from Kindergarten through 12th grade were invited to the Show. Since 1964, the Show has received more than 7 million entries.
• Black Heritage Day, an annual event, spotlights the contributions of black pioneers to the cultural achievement and heritage of the city of Houston and the state of Texas.
• Go Tejano Day celebrates Houston’s rich Hispanic heritage with day-long festivities, including a Mariachi Competition and Fiesta Charra.
• The Chuck Wagon Corral shows visitors the art of dining on the range.
• RodeoHouston includes cowboys and cowgirls participating in the toughest, oldest Western sport of rodeo, including bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping and tie-down roping.
• In 2008, more than 209,000 visitors enjoyed the in the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest in which more than 350 teams participated. 
• The Downtown Rodeo Parade has been a tradition for more than 70 years and includes 13 trail rides, decorative floats, marching bands and more.

Education
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo extends its commitment to the youth of Texas beyond the opportunity to participate in the state’s largest livestock show by granting and funding scholarships, educational endowments, agricultural research projects and other similar educational programs. Proceeds from the annual livestock show and rodeo allow the Show to commit $10.4 million to the youth of Texas through the Show’s youth and educational programs.

• In 2008, the Show increased its scholarship awards from $12,000 to $15,000. 537 students received nearly $8.1 million in scholarships for use at Texas colleges and universities.
• Since the inception of its scholarship program in 1957, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has committed more than $130 million in educational support to more than 20,000 Texas students.
• Each year, nearly 350,000 students are impacted by the Show’s competitions, scholarships and exhibits.
• In 2008 the Show increased its commitment to the Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence with a $1.5 million commitment, training teachers to teach reading support skills at pre-kindergarten through third grade levels.  To date, the Show has committed more than $13.5 million to the program.  This year, RITE enters its 10th year of operation, serving as the core reading curriculum in 41 early childhood centers, elementary and intermediate schools in the Houston, Kendleton, Spring and Aldine Independent School Districts. RITE is working with 546 classrooms serving almost 12,000 children. Since its inception, the program has helped almost 100,000 children learn to read and succeed.