The Show's New Footprint

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's quest to make each year's presentation better and easier for attendees to see everything has inspired revisions resulting in this year's layout or "footprint."

Blue Ribbon Judges

A livestock judge's job is a tough one in Houston -- to determine just the right degree of structure, balance, feathering, coat and conformation. Minute degrees of variation in one of these areas could mean the difference between a Grand Champion and a great disappointment to the youngsters who bring their animals to the Houston Livestock Show.

Impact of Pay-Per-View -- Now and in the Future

From stadium box to cable box and beyond, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has expanded across the airwaves to touch the nation and the world with its RodeoHouston 1998 pay-per-view series. The Show's package features four of the most dynamic acts in country music, along with the world's top rodeo cowboys and cowgirls.

Taking Stock of Our Proud Past

Over the years, committee volunteers, life members and other friends of the Show have donated or loaned these memory-filled items to the Show. Often, the donations were made anonymously and simply left at the Show's offices. In 1990, Show officials formed the Western Art Committee to acquire, preserve, catalog and present such art and artifacts that reflect the organization's history.

1998 Attractions & Events

1998 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Entertainer Line-Up ...

Drum Runners

They've come a long way from the event's humble beginnings as a competition among 74 members in the Girl's Rodeo Association for purse money totaling $29,000 at 60 events. The sport has now evolved into an association of more than 2,000 contestants competing for more than $2 million, under the umbrella of the Women's Professional Rodeo Association.

Volunteer the RITE Way

It began in the summer of 1997 as one of the most significant educational programs developed and underwritten by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in recent years. To date, the Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence, known as RITE, has successfully trained 75 teachers in an innovative phonics-based reading program to teach students how to read in pre-kindergarten through third grade.

Meet Scholar #1

Since 1957, thousands of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo scholarship recipients have followed in Ben Dickerson's successful wake and have discovered that the Show is not just about scholarship money -- it's about being part of a family.