Standing tall with tradition, stepping proudly toward the future. -- The 1998 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

This slogan, which bridges our past with our future, really says it all. The 66th edition of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will begin in just a few short weeks, and that alone is something that brings out the best that Houston has to offer.

Rich in tradition, our Show brings people of all ethnicities and social backgrounds together for three weeks of fun, excitement, thrills and fellowship. The fourth largest city in the nation slows down a notch to welcome performers, exhibitors and students of all ages to the world's largest livestock show and richest regular-season rodeo.

It doesn't matter whether you live in a penthouse in downtown Houston or hail from rural West Texas, there's a place for you at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Our tradition is well chronicled and certainly vital to our success. We are most proud of the more than 12,000 volunteers who are the lifeblood of the Show. Without the tens of thousands of hours these dedicated people provide, we could not function at the level at which we now enjoy.

We are proud of our accomplishments as a charity, providing educational aid and scholarships to more than 16,000 students during the past 41 years. Commitments through the 1997-98 school year will push us over the $50 million mark in overall educational support.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues to be a major success story because we maintain its rich Western heritage while being open to change. Despite the current success of the Show, we can never afford to become complacent. We must look to our future with the same vision that brought us where we are today.

Our staff looks to improve the Show each year after analyzing feedback from our volunteers, staff, sponsors and customers. Sometimes a slight revision is in order, while other times require a complete overhaul. There are several major changes in 1998, most notably the new layout of the grounds.

The "footprint" for the 1998 Show has been changed to a more customer-friendly design. Destination: AGVENTURE and AGVENTURE Grandstand will be placed closer to the Astrodome, making both more accessible. The main carnival will extend along Circle Drive, from the West entrance to the North entrance of the Astrodome, allowing expansion for the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest.

Other new features include an all-day mini carnival designed for the younger crowd. A new store, located in Rodeo University, will sell only logo merchandise, including books, videos and licensed products.

In an effort to get people home a little bit earlier during the week, we have moved the start time of the evening rodeo performances to 6:30 p.m. Each night's performance will begin with calf roping and bareback bronc riding prior to the grand entry.

Our web sites on the Internet www.hlsr.com and www.rodeohouston.com have been redesigned and are more "user friendly." I encourage you to utilize this valuable resource for updated schedule and ticket information throughout the year.

It is our hope that these changes will improve the quality of our Show and enhance its entertainment value. Pride and tradition have always been the cornerstone of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo -- it is our willingness to look to the future and take decisive action that allows our proud tradition to live on.


Jim Bloodworth, President