Livestock Exhibitors

Established as the Houston Fat Stock Show in 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ has grown to more than 30,000 entries. The Houston Livestock Show™ is organized by three categories of competitions: Junior Show, Open Show and Youth Show.

The Show is not only the largest livestock show, but also sets world records at the junior market show auctions. In 2016, junior auctions, including school art, totaled a record $12,350,133.

What to Expect as a New Exhibitor




Handbook

2020 Handbook

Judges

2020 Judges





Residue Avoidance Program

In cooperation with the Texas Veterinary Medical Association and with the approval of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ developed a residue avoidance program in 1989 for all junior market animals.

Selected animals are tested extensively, and any animal testing positive will be disqualified. The Show continually aims to assure consumers that their animal purchases from the market auctions are safe, wholesome products, free from any substance residue.

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2020 Auction Schedule

Auction Date Time
Commercial Steer Monday, March 9 2 p.m.
Lamb & Goat Friday, March 13 noon
Poultry Saturday, March 14 noon
Barrow Friday, March 20 noon
Steer Saturday, March 21 11 a.m.



How Junior Market Auctions Work

Based upon placing, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ establishes a guaranteed minimum payment for each exhibitor who qualifies for a junior market auction. The Show also sets a cap amount above the guaranteed minimum for each auction lot. When bidding exceeds the cap amount, the additional funds go into the Show’s Educational Fund to be used for scholarship and grant recipients. Amounts bid between the guaranteed minimum and the cap are accumulated in the bonus pool, and are used to cover any lots that did not bring the guaranteed amount, as well as auction expenses and auction committees’ operations.

Additional Premiums

Junior Auction 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Lamb & Goat $1,194.19 $812.40 $1,161.73 $1,003.50 $976.34
Poultry $342.51 $747.96 $272.39 $795.86 $960.65
Swine $1,113.95 $657.87 $582.80 $855.97 $953.56
Steer $3,788.80 $3,457.95 $2,766.77 $3,263.05 $4,484.87



The following payout distribution shows the guaranteed payment and the cap amount for each exhibitor placing. Each auction is conducted by a dedicated committee of volunteers who pre-sell a majority of the lots to ensure that each exhibitor receives a minimum guaranteed amount, regardless of whether or not a bid is received on every lot. Guaranteed premiums are set at a level to maximize the fundraising ability of each auction committee while ensuring that exhibitors receive a premium over market value. Auction committees actually begin pre-selling lots in the fall of the year with the goal of raising the total guaranteed premium in advance of the auction.

Barrows

PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM CAP
Grand Champion $40,000 $50,000
Reserve Grand Champion 25,000 30,000
Breed Champions 10,000 12,000
Reserve Breed Champions 7,500 10,000
Division Champions 4,000 7,500
Reserve Division Champions 3,000 7,500
1st Place 2,000 7,500
2nd Place 1,750 7,500
3rd Place 1,500 7,500
4th Place 1,250 7,500
All Remaining Places 1,000 7,500

Broilers

PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM CAP
Grand Champion $30,000 $40,000
Reserve Grand Champion 15,000 20,000
1st – 10th Place 4,000 5,000
11th – 15th Place 1,250 5,000
16th – 25th Place 800 5,000
26th – 50th Place 700 5,000
51st – 75th Place 600 5,000
76th – 100th Place 500 5,000

Goats

PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM CAP
Grand Champion $30,000 $40,000
Reserve Grand Champion 20,000 25,000
Division Champions 10,000 15,000
Reserve Division Champions 7,500 12,000
1st Place 5,000 7,500
2nd Place 4,000 7,500
3rd Place 3,000 7,500
4th Place 2,000 7,500
5th Place 1,500 7,500
6th Place 1,100 7,500
All Remaining Places 1,000 7,500

Lambs

PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM CAP
Grand Champion $40,000 $50,000
Reserve Grand Champion 25,000 30,000
Breed Champions 10,000 12,000
Reserve Breed Champions 7,500 10,000
1st Place 5,000 7,500
2nd Place 4,000 7,500
3rd Place 3,000 7,500
4th Place 2,000 7,500
5h Place 1,500 7,500
6th Place 1,100 7,500
All Remaining Places 1,000 7,500

Steers

PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM CAP
Grand Champion $75,000 $85,000
Reserve Grand Champion 40,000 45,000
Breed Champions 15,000 20,000
Reserve Breed Champions 12,500 15,000
1st Place 6,000 15,000
2nd Place 5,000 15,000
3rd Place 3,000 15,000
4th Place 2,750 15,000
5th Place 2,500 15,000
All Remaining Places 2,250 15,000

Turkeys

PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM CAP
Grand Champion $30,000 $40,000
Reserve Grand Champion 15,000 20,000
1st - 12th Places 4,000 5,000
13th - 24th Places 700 5,000
25th - 36th Places 600 5,000
All Remaining Places 500 5,000

Results & Photos

Order your Houston Livestock Show™ photos through Show Champions. 

Search for results by contest, date or keywords. Please allow for at least a day after the contest for results to be posted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have remaining questions about the shows, parking, registration and more? Easily find the answer here. All answers may also be found in the Exhibitor Handbook.

Contact

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™
P.O. Box 20070
Houston, Texas 77225

News

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